Do you remember the account of the Israelites in the Old Testament? The generation of Israelites led by Moses was unable to enter the promised land because the people were unwilling to trust God and face the giants in the land. Fast-forward forty years, when Joshua was tasked with rallying a generation of believers to give their whole lives to something their parents were unwilling to do. Unlike their parents, Joshua’s generation did exactly what God commanded. Have you ever contrasted these two generations? Moses’ generation was … [Read more...]
I Don’t Want to be One of the Ten Spies
Fear does not advance the kingdom of God, but faith does. Numbers 13-14 has been on my mind a lot over the past few days. If you’re not familiar with the story (or if you need a quick refresher), let me sum it up for you: The Israelites are standing on the edge of Canaan, the land that God had promised to give them years before. These people had experienced firsthand the delivering power of God when He set them free from slavery in Egypt, the sustaining power of God as He provided for them during their journey through the … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Prepare Your Ministry for Transition
One day you won't be leading the ministry you're leading right now. What are you doing to get your ministry ready for that day? It might sound ridiculous to say this, but the first day you take a new position, you need to start preparing it for your last day there. Why? You don't know when your next transition is coming. It could be 6 years or 6 days from now. What would happen to your ministry if God's hand suddenly began to move you without warning? I believe we will be held accountable, not only for how we lead our ministries … [Read more...]
Friday Links
Here are some articles, blogs, and podcasts from this past week that you may find helpful as you work with young adults in your church and community. “Money Doesn’t Have to Be So Stressful” by Ron Blue and Karen Guess Blue and Guess acknowledge that they see many young adults are stressed about money issues. However, they are advocating for young adults to be contentment generation with lives built upon Hebrews 13:5. “If God Loves Me, Why Am I Still Waiting” by Ann Swindell Many young adults “waiting” on something,—whether … [Read more...]
What’s the Deal with Young Adults and Church?
There is a great deal of interest in reaching young adults and engaging them in church. Additionally, churches are wrestling with the twenty-something generation dropping out of church. Lots of different things are being done to retain them, bring them back to active church involvement, or just reach them for the first time. There are no easy answers here or they would have already been discovered. Understanding a little of what is going on is beneficial to addressing any problem area. Here are some thoughts for … [Read more...]
Don’t Put It Off
A few days ago, I made my yearly trek to my doctor's office to get my wellness checkup. A few days prior to that I took care of giving up a few vials of blood that would give my doctor some indication of how I’m doing with all of those factors that deal with exercise, eating well, and general health issues for a guy in his mid-40s. It’s a smart thing to go see my doctor on a yearly basis to make sure everything is working properly! In fact, I’ve already got my appointment made for next year. When it comes to health, most of us will … [Read more...]
It’s Not About Convenience
Just a few days ago as I was exiting my local supermarket after picking up a few things, I failed to notice that the exit doors were NOT the automatic doors that open when someone comes near. I face-planted right into the glass door in front of several families that were coming into the store. On my most recent trip that required me to fly, I ran into the bathroom in between flights. On my way out, I stopped to wash my hands and was furiously waving my hands in front of the sink for a solid 20 seconds before I realized that it was … [Read more...]
Embrace the Urgency
There are some things that call for an urgent response. When the water pipe bursts in your kitchen and water is spewing all over the place, the best response is an urgent dash to shut the water off. If you happen upon a vehicle accident with injuries, the best response is an urgent phone call to 911. When I read the book of Acts and observe the early church’s response to Jesus’ promise that He is coming back, there's an urgency among the followers of Christ. They're intent on making sure others know the message and hope of the … [Read more...]
3 Scandalous Sides to Young Adult Ministry
This past weekend I read a scandalous story. It’s a story of cheating, being taken advantage of, and losing everything. It's also one of the most wonderful stories ever told. My daily Bible reading took me to the Old Testament prophet Hosea. His story includes marrying a girl named Gomer who was promiscuous in almost every way imaginable. But Hosea loved Gomer, even when Gomer didn’t return that love. Hosea bought her back even though she was technically already his. He gave it all. She was unfaithful. He was faithful. Even in … [Read more...]
It’s Important to Have That Someone
Last week I was sitting at a local coffee shop answering emails and catching up on work responsibilities. It was mid-morning and there were several conversations going on around me. I never intentionally listen other conversations, but sometimes the talking is so loud it leaves no doubt about the topic of conversation. A real estate deal was being brokered a few tables over from me. Another guy was trying to sell a new client on why his company should be chosen to do his marketing. There were also two students discussing a project … [Read more...]
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