Outside of Christ, there is no greater communicator in the Bible than Solomon. Proverbs is a book of metaphors. One common denominator to all great preaching other than the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is a metaphor. A metaphor uses the imagination to picture your point.

People who call themselves Christians are involved in just about every activity you can possibly imagine, and sometimes attempt to justify very ungodly actions by claiming that they are ministering to others through their sinful lifestyles. As we live in a culture that tolerates every type of life and justifies every type of lifestyle, how can we know what we should and shouldn’t do, especially in questionable areas?

Selfie—it was the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year for 2013. And it says a lot about the influence of social media on American society. But perhaps it says more about the narcissism of American society in general. Because in the end, our social media doesn’t make us who we are; it reveals who we are.

Making a decision to leave the mission field is monumental and should only be done after much prayer and counsel. I pray that the Lord will use these questions to either solidify a direction that you are already leaning toward, or to completely change your mind according to His will.

Teach yourself to constantly ask, “How would Pastor want this done?” The answer is not, “hap-hazard,” or “mediocre.” Certainly the answer is, “with excellence.” Don’t allow yourself to accept “good enough.”

It is vital to be aggressive and proactive in reaching people. And it is just as vital to minister to their needs after we reach them. Too often, churches who are good at reaching the lost flounder when it comes to caring for the needs of young Christians.

The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” It was a dark and difficult time for the children of Judah. They had been uprooted from their homes, separated from their families, and placed in a pagan land.

As younger leaders engage in the ministry, they bring a set of fresh questions and concerns. Questions are healthy and good—they prove a leader is thinking. Sometimes, however, I’ve watched older preachers blow off the questions of young men, responding with a spirit of pride, feeling offended that the younger generation would dare question our practices.

Recently, a younger pastor asked me to speak at a meeting on the topic, “Why I am a Baptist.” I must go on record to say that I am not only a Baptist; I am an independent, separated Baptist, and I am proud to be so.

If there was one message spoken by the Lord Jesus during His earthly sojourn, it was the message, “Follow Me.” When He was calling those fishermen to become His disciples and eventually apostles, He said to them, “Follow Me.” When He approached the seat of customs where Levi worked, He said, “Follow Me.”