Over 25+ years of ministry I’ve had some terrible talks. Here’s what I did wrong and what I’ve learned to do better (I hope!)…
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If Jesus was Your Youth Pastor…
My assumption is that Jesus is the Youth Worker archetype. In other words, Jesus is the original model for how a youth worker engages in ministry with teenagers. (Side note: I believe he is the archetype for every human in any endeavor, by the way). If I’m right, if this is true, then the practice […]
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Crown’s Bible, Theology and Ministry Department
As our new freshman descend upon campus this weekend, here’s a little peek into what they’ll be experiencing in our Bible, Theology and Ministry Department at Crown College. This Fall marks Crown’s 100th Anniversary… and less importantly, but still significantly, the start of my 7th year as a part of this team. We are so […]
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LIFE 2016 Workshop – Naked Broken Leader
Gave the following presentation to youth leaders at LIFE 2016 in Kansas City. The goal was to help youth workers and pastors follow the patterns of leadership embodied by Jesus. Follow this link for the Prezi notes:
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Wisdom from my Students on How to Equip the Church
Near the end of the semester, I asked what I believe is a very important question for the future of the church in North America. This took place in a class called “Engaging Culture in a Post-Postmodern World.” The idea of the course is that our society is enduring a period of increasing intensities and that followers of […]
Read moreYou’re Only as Cool as Your Last Event
I recently read a tagline for a minor-Christian 'celebrity' pastor that has ironically been used for dozens of speakers in recent years: [Insert Name] is the pastor of the 'fastest growing' church in America. Well, get ready buddy, because somebody else will soon be the taking your place. You might have been the fresh face last […]
Read moreInterview with Pastor Rob Mapstone
Pastor Rob Mapstone 1/15/14 Rob Mapstone is the pastor of The River Church in Chaska, MN, a small church, Rob says, filled with people that know they need God's love. Rob has a knack for explaining deep truths from the Bible and he has a gift for caring deeply for people. He is not afraid to […]
Read moreStudy Guide – Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. How do the 2nd phrase of verse 1 relate to the first phrase of verse 1? This is another psalm of Davvid. In verses 2-3, […]
Read more10 things that would make me a better pastor
Like many of you, I am quick to find my flaws. The first flaw I find in myself is that I really don't find most of my flaws. There are myriad of shortcomings in my life that I have yet to recognize! But I try, for the most part, to be honest about my failings […]
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Perhaps ‘Senior Pastor’ Is a Stepping Stone into Youth Ministry?
“When are you going to become a real pastor?” Throughout the last twenty years that’s the question I would hear if I gave a good sermon, or launched a successful ministry initiative, or cared effectively for people in their times of need. The people who asked this question usually had sincere motivations. Their intention was not […]
Read moreNEXT youth workers conference sponsors
At Crown we are delighted to have a growing list of sponsors for our NEXT youth workers conference. Each of these sponsors is personally connected to our school and each supports our emphasis on training for effective generational transference of faith and leadership. | NEXT registration page |NEXT facebook page | Thank you (in alphebetical order) […]
Read morenet-working sheep & fish
JOHN 21 DO YOU LOVE ME? —-> THEN FEED MY SHEEP. The #1 objective: Peter was to extremely love Jesus by extremely loving those whom Jesus extremely loves. There was a 'put-into-action' expectation that Jesus had for Peter, and for any disciple (learner/apprentice/practicioner). Jesus assumed that loving him and loving others went hand-in-hand. The Divine premise […]
Read moreLatest Romans16 whiteboard
It's not aesthetically pretty, but this latest-rapid-rendition of Romans 16 is beautiful in my eyes. Our Youth & Family class at Crown blitzed through this ultimate example of networking & partnership ministry, with all it's hubs and nodes and ages and women and men and races and cultures and status… Romans 16 is the living […]
Read moreOutcomes in Ministry & Life: Lessons from Stephen & Philip
I've reworked a Chapel message given at Crown College a couple months ago into a Prezi. I also shared this with the TreeHouse staff on Monday. Though I would often like to control circumstances and results, the goal of ministry and life is to trust the Lord in/for the outcomes. Hope the lessons learned from […]
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Generational Transference in the Bible: The Gospels
John Wilkes suggests, “Responsibility without authority disables rather than empowers followers.”[1] So it is that Jesus gave his authority and blessing to his disciples. Jesus gave them opportunities to practice the challenges to leadership through an environment in which they were formed spiritually and empowered. It’s interesting to note that Jesus sent the twelve disciples on a responsibility-based action-learning experience early on […]
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