What comes to your mind when you think of the word renew? At first we might think of something that is expired and needs to be renewed, such as a driver’s license or passport. Or, we might recall a time when we ran out of our medicine and needed to renew a prescription.

I had the privilege to be saved and raised in independent Baptist churches. Having now served as the pastor of an unaffiliated Bible-based Baptist church for twenty-eight years, I’m deeply grateful for my heritage. Why? Because even though other groups do good works, the autonomous Baptists have generally believed in and practiced the ten traits below which are clearly emphasized in Scripture and are timeless in their effectiveness in local church ministry.

Hyper Calvinists believe in unconditional election—the teaching that there is no condition for God choosing you to be saved before creation, other than His secret will. In fact, one well known Calvinist has even stated that faith is not a condition for election.

This year marks my twentieth year to pastor what researchers call a megachurch—a church averaging over two thousand people in weekly attendance. Statistics on pastoral tenure in churches suggest that for a pastor to remain twenty-eight years in the ministry, let alone in one church, is unusual—especially when twenty of those years are overflowing with the needs of a large congregation.

For a perfectionist, particularly a type A perfectionist, the word excellence has a nice ring to it—a seductive ring. “You say I should pursue excellence? Sure! I’d be glad to. In fact, I’ll do more. I’ll insist on excellence—at every level, in every realm.” And that’s just the beginning!

I have yet to meet a church leader who didn’t desire to impact his community for Christ. The very reason we invest our lives into the work of the local church is that we believe in the power of the gospel and the love of God for every person.

Teenagers are a delightful challenge—even to themselves! The teenage years can be full of fun and yet puzzling and frustrating all at the same time. There’s so much growth, change, and transition taking place in this move from childhood to adulthood.

As Jesus walked with His disciples to Gethsemane, He gave them some final instructions. He explained the nature of the relationship He wanted them to have with Him after His resurrection. He compared what He wanted for their lives with that of a fruitful vine.

It seems to me that there are two extremes when it comes to the will of God. One extreme is demonstrated by those who are willing to let their experiences trump the Word of God. The other extreme is the position that the only way God speaks to man today is through His Word.

The resurrection of Christ is the distinguishing event of Christianity and the critical point in our salvation (1 Corinthians 15:17–19). The Great Commission is the critical command in spreading the gospel (Matthew 28:19–20), and our obedience to this command is the distinguishing mark of a growing church.