You can’t teach passion. But you can catch it. In fact, it’s quite contagious. And like an infectious disease, it will sneak up on you from out of nowhere when you least expect it. It can slay giants, knock down walls, and open doors of opportunity. Passion can transform a person and change the world. However, unlike a real contagious disease, passion can be quickly dissolved. In leadership, we see it happen too often. Without a constant feeding of passion, we lose momentum, focus, and love for the game (career). Without … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Starting a College Ministry
by Brad Baker, College Pastor–Saddleback Church 1 in 4 Millennials report not having a specific religious affiliation. What a perfect time to launch a ministry to reach and develop 18-25 year olds. If you’re wondering where to begin, allow me to share some ideas (most of which come from my mistakes and what I wish I would’ve done when I began 12 years ago). #1. Think of yourself as a cross-cultural missionary. Today's access to technology (on average, Millennials own 2.4 Internet-connected devices) has fragmented this … [Read more...]
GIVEAWAY--Enter Today || 20 copies of Creation Restored
The Synopsis Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. As the main characters in the Book of Genesis, many of us have been hearing stories about these men since we were children. The problem is, such stories are usually broken up into isolated fragments: Abraham on Mount Moriah, Jacob wrestling with God, Joseph and his multi-colored coat. When we dig deeper, we see that these men are part of a single, seamless story-one that stretches from the first page of the Bible to the last. Join authors Matt Carter and Halim Suh as they examine Genesis … [Read more...]
Summer break is finally here! Now what?
by Gus Hernandez, Jr. Summer break! Two words that almost immediately bring some form of excitement upon every college student. These two words even become a motivational phrase helping students persevere through the last few weeks of the semester. So now that summer break is finally here, what should you do during this time? I want to offer three simple suggestions for maximizing your summer break: relax, reflect, and re-establish. Relax This one may seem obvious, but I believe you should purposefully take some time to just unwind … [Read more...]
Along-The-Way Discipleship
by Kevin Hall I've grown up going to Sunday School, "big church," small group Bible studies, retreats, and mission trips. Like most Christians, I learned how important it is to read the Bible and pray. I heard many Bible stories and even learned great applications for my Christian life. But, like most churches, my church didn't teach me how to read the Bible or how to pray. Sure, I learned the order of the books of the Bible, and of course, I heard many prayers. But the discipleship component was missing. Through the years, I learned … [Read more...]
Make Mom Proud
She stayed by your side through chicken pox and teenage tantrums. Mothers deserve their holiday. But you don't have to spend a lot; just invest some thoughtfulness. Calendar Girl For about $20, create a custom calendar with photos of the whole family. Imagine Mom's surprise as she flips through each month to find funny and sweet remembrances. Chef for a Day OK. You're not Emeril Lagasse, but you can still kick this Mother's Day up a notch by preparing a meal just for Mom. Plan a simple menu and prepare a few dishes the day before. … [Read more...]
10 Simple Ways to Encourage Your Pastor
by Ben Reed Truth: "Hey preacher man, good sermon!" is nice…but come on, we can do better than that, right? We can do better than the shoulder squeeze with the solemn look in the eye. We can do better than the slow head nod of approval—especially when we remember that our pastors spend hours each week pouring out their hearts on stage, ministering to and in our communities, and shepherding hard-heads like us. The work of a pastor is often lonely, difficult work. We need your encouragement. And encouragement isn't that … [Read more...]
Some Things I’ve Learned
by Melissa Deal My husband, B.J., and I had been married for two years when we found out we were having a little boy. We were so excited—and to be honest, terrified. There was so much to think about, so much to plan for. And what if we did it wrong? But the moment my child was placed in my arms, none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered was cherishing every single minute of this new life. That's why I started keeping a journal for him. Just a little something filled with letters, poems, words of life, and hopefully a … [Read more...]
Theology Thursday: The Gospel Reversal
Next week, we at Threads will release the second volume of Matt Carter's and Halim Suh's study of Genesis called Creation Restored. It's relevant, challenging, and gospel-saturated. Trust me, you'll want to get a copy. Here's a quick promo video to get you going: Matt and Halim do a great job connecting the story(ies) of Genesis with the good news of Jesus Christ. One example comes from a specific chapter in this new study, called "The Gospel Reversal," which explores a crazy, disturbing "aside" in the story of Joseph involving … [Read more...]
“Rise of the Religious Nones” among Young Adults
Dr. Thom Rainer, president of Lifeway Christian Resources and author of the book Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation, recently blogged about “The Rise of the Religious ‘Nones.’ ” Rainer notes that “Millennials [those born between 1980 and 2000] represent the first generation in history where a majority had no religious or church background.” His thoughts greatly impact the church’s efforts to minister to this generation. Here are his thoughts: Much of the literature … [Read more...]
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