Photo Credit: risingsunchurch.org Recently a church leadership team asked me the following question: “What is the purpose of the church weekly gatherings? “ As I thought about their question, I realized that the New Testament has much to say about the worship of God’s people on a weekly gathering. Among those statements, Whatever else is [...]

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In today’s episode of the Transformed podcast, we explore the treacherous world of pastoral leadership. Matt’s guest today is Larry Osborne, lead pastor at North Coast Church in northern San Diego County.  As they discuss Larry’s new book, Sticky Teams, Larry will expose the hidden roadblocks, structures, and goofy thinking that sabotage even the best-intentioned [...]

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Artwork Credit: dorasdaddyspeak.blogspot.com Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general. The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel in Splinters (1 Kings 12-22) [...]

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Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general. Today we want to explore … Weeding the Garden of My Soul Repenting of Daily [...]

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Artwork Credit: currie-baptist.org.uk Often church leaders ask me, “How can we help our people care for one another more? I like to refer them to Acts 2 and ask them if they have a dynamic small group ministry. When I first came to faith, I joined a small group (long before they were popular or [...]

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Artwork Credit: ragamuffinsoul.com Many churches ask me, “How do we grow our people into deeper faith?” As the Gospels and the book of Acts demonstrate, the best way to grow your faith is to live it in community! Jesus chose 12 to be around him. Paul constantly has a circle of men around him, training [...]

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Artwork Credit: forums.civfanatics.com Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general. 1 Kings: The Rise and Fall of a Nation Leading to Civil [...]

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PBS, FRONTLINE AND AMERICAN EXPERIENCE REVEAL CRITICAL ROLE OF RELIGION IN AMERICA, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT Follow the Political and Spiritual Journeys of Religious Figures to Uncover How Religious Faith Shaped America We have just finished a thorough review of this monumental film series and highly recommend it to everyone. It is comprehensive and speaks [...]

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Clip Art Credit: tantrumtoddlers.com If you have been in ministry for more than 6 months, you are aware that not everyone wants to “follow the leader.” Agendas and motives can be self-centered, and, when acted upon, often bring hurt and harm to the people of God. David, Israel’s most godly king experienced the agony of [...]

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Over the past months my pastor, Rick Warren, has challenged us to consider what God might do with us in the next ten years. What would our lives be like if God answered the prayers of our heart? This got me thinking and praying. What would I like to see God do in and through [...]

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