Pastoral Leadership

Diet books and weight loss plans abound in the land of plenty. More than half of the population is looking for a quick fix on how to shed a few pounds.

Growth continued until when we were four and a half years old we left a Baptist denomination, and we were sued for everything we owned.

An old proverb states, “For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the rider was lost, for want of a rider the battle was lost, for want of the battle the kingdom was lost, and all for the want of a horseshoe nail.”

Baptist preachers have always known that beliefs matter. The challenge has been in convincing the congregations of the same. The pastor spends hours in study searching the Scriptures. He cross references verses.

The nation was in a free fall heading for destruction. Not a single drop of rain had fallen for three and a half years.

Some years ago, I stood in a long line at the pharmacy in a Target store. The young lady behind the counter was exceptionally friendly, cheerful, and helpful, and she kept her customers in a good mood during a long wait.

When Pastor James Bing of Fort Meyers, Florida, was asked to pray at a presidential event, he did the unthinkable.

Bob McQueon, a former congressman from Ohio who is also a Christian, tells this story about taking his son to McDonalds.

A little over four years ago a dear Korean lady, Mrs. Lee, visited our church for the first time. She knew the Lord, but her husband did not.

Excellence may become the forgotten attribute in our casual-obsessed culture. We seem to be mired in a mundane malaise of mediocrity.

Acts chapter twenty-seven is the account of Paul’s voyage to Rome. The ship and the passengers Paul was with were severely endangered due to bad weather on this voyage. Although the ship was damaged beyond repair, thankfully, no one on board lost his life.

First Chronicles 29 records King David’s final speech to his kingdom. It was a call to sacrificial giving for the building of the Temple. All of it was to be done from the heart and to the Lord.

Many of us have or will face major challenges, obstacles, and opportunities in ministry. It is during these times we will feel a sense of inadequacy and uncertainty about what to do and how we will get it done. The eyes of those we have been called to lead are on us during those times.

Leadership is more than just going somewhere in life. Leadership is taking others along. Maxwell is fond of sharing that leadership is influence, and as we influence others with our lives we are providing direction. It is important that we don’t think of ministry in terms of things we need to get done.

I would like to share a few helps with you to assist you in managing your time well. These are pointers that have worked for me, and I trust they will help you.

God’s future plan for your church will undoubtedly look considerably different than God’s future plan for another church. This is where broad biblical principles (such as “go reach the world”) come into specific focus for each individual church.

Our 2010 theme for Lancaster Baptist Church is "By His Spirit." Truly, the Holy Spirit's filling is a "must have" for every spiritual leader. Without His ministry in and through our lives, we will not properly fill the leadership roles in which God has placed us. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can see Him do the impossible!

Recently, I began to feel pain and pressure in my stomach and chest, and I ended up in the emergency room. The doctor came to my bed and told me that I had an aortic dissection and an aortic aneurysm. My response was, “Are you kidding?” He wasn’t joking.