One of the most important lessons I have learned in my two decades as a pastor is that it is important to choose our battles. Neglecting this can easily destroy the pastor and/or the congregation. […]
An Important Lesson For Christian Ministry
Category: Leadership Blog
The Painful Truth About Being a Pastor
I have been a pastor for over twenty years. I enjoy it and I’m thankful that this is my career. However, there is a truth about being a pastor that I just can’t shake. When […]
What a Complex Disease Taught Me About Leadership
A number of years ago I got very sick. So sick that I thought I was dying. I had quite a few different symptoms that made it difficult to diagnose. Some of my symptoms included: […]
How to Preach Topical Sermons
I know that there are some preachers that are very against topical sermons. It is expository or nothing. While I’m sympathetic to this, I don’t fully agree. I think there are times when a topical […]
Should People With Mental Illness Be In Church Leadership?
Dale Partridge has recently given his opinion about people with mental illness in leadership in the wake of the suicide of Jarrid Wilson. It is not accepting or tolerant or understanding or compassionate to hire […]
Why I’m Glad That I Changed My Day Off
Some pastors don’t believe in a day off. “The devil doesn’t take a day off and neither should we.” Except maybe the devil isn’t the best example to follow. For many years I have taken […]
How Could a Pastor Commit Suicide?
We are hearing more and more about pastors committing suicide. How can that be? Aren’t pastors supposed to be extra-spiritual? Shouldn’t they be the last to consider suicide? It is heart-breaking to hear these stories. […]
Is God’s Love Reckless?
I have heard some people critical of the song from Bethel Music titled Reckless Love. The problem they claim is that God’s love is not reckless. The definition of ‘Reckless’ from dictionary.com is: utterly unconcerned about […]
Worship and Music Are Not the Same Thing
I once applied for a youth pastor position and was horrified to see that the role included “worship leading.” My fear was because I have no ability in singing or instruments. I equated worship with […]
Power of Proximity – Review
I have seen an encouraging increase in church’s dedication to helping the poor. Even evangelical churches are mostly beyond concerns of poverty relief as part of “the liberal agenda.” The teachings of Jesus on helping […]
Thoughts on Family Ministry
I recently had the opportunity to teach a course on Family Ministry at Tyndale University College. It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on what family ministry looks like today. Many churches do […]
What is the Difference Between Pastoral Counselling and Pastoral Care?
One of the roles of pastors is to be there for people in their congregation when they are going through a hard time. This may be called pastoral counselling or pastoral care. Except, those are […]
A Surprising Discovery
I have been teaching at Christian schools on the undergraduate level since 2010 (you can find my CV here). Most of the courses I have taught have been in the area of New Testament, although […]
What Are the New Steeples?
The past week I have visited the community that I grew up in. There are no high rises in this area of town. In fact the highest features are church steeples. Both times I was […]
Good News: Praise in the Park
My Good News for this week is about the outdoor service Queen Street Baptist Church had yesterday. We do this Praise in the Park every year at Montebello Park. While we have a beautiful church […]
The Church is Not a Building But Take Care of That Building
Growing up, I thought the church was the building. The church was a place that people went to. It was only as I grew in my faith that I understood that the people are the […]
Reasons Why Family Ministry is More Complicated
Some people define family ministry as ministry aimed specifically at children or youth. I prefer a wider definition, one that includes the entire family. I have been reflecting on family ministry and how things have […]
The Church of Us vs Them – Review
One of the problems with the church, whether the global church, within a denomination or even within a local church, is the conflict that has resulted in an us vs them mentality. The issues change […]
How Should Churches Look at Past Ministry?
I have had people in my congregation make comments like, “This ministry was done thirty years ago and worked, filling the church, we should go back and do that.” The problem with that thinking is […]
How Can Pastors Get Involved In the Community?
I love my church and spending time with the people in my congregation. They are great people and there is plenty of time I can spend with them. However, I also have a conviction that […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. The Type of Leader God Uses, Part 2 – Rick Warren The 4 Commissions from Jesus – Philip Nation The Importance Of Investing In People […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Stop Walking Around Like a Sack of Stink – Dan Rockwell Five Ways to Identify Potential in People – Steven Ackley 3 Ways to Prevent […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. 7 Good Reasons Why I’ve Stayed In Ministry for 37 Years – Dan Reiland My First Days As a Pastor – Darryl Dash Nicodemus and […]
How Scotiabank Taught Me About Leadership
Scotiabank, the bank we use, recently updated their mobile app. Not surprisingly, there were some glitches. I went on Twitter and found it was not just me but plenty of people were complaining about the […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts to check out. 5 Brain-Savvy Tips that Improve Team Creativity – Charles Stone Your Most Important Message – Gary Hoag 10 Things to Do When Your Christian Life Has Become […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. How to be a Kingdom Seeker and Not An Empire Builder – Steve Brown Ten Common Pastoral Care Challenges Pastors Face – Thom Rainer 3 […]
Growing Young – Review
Most churches feel like they are growing old. But what if we could grow young? That is the topic of Growing Young by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder and Brad Griffin. They are all involved in […]
A Picture of What Ministry Can Look Like
At Queen Street Baptist Church we have been running a ministry on Saturday nights for our downtown community. My wife Amanda gives leadership to both the worship service and the meal that takes place there, […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Building Purpose Driven Churches the Jesus Way – Tom Holladay Clarity and then Cleverness – Philip Nation 7 Contradictory Cultural Trends – And 7 Ways […]
The Family – Review
I have been doing some research on Family Ministry and came across The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home by Jack and Judith Balswick. This book covers so many topics concerning families, including […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. How to Respond to Stupid Suggestions – Dan Rockwell Four Ways Language Sustains Your Culture – Steven Ackley How to Have an Insignificant Ministry – […]
What Theological Education Should a Pastor Get?
I would like to say as much as possible but it really depends. The more the better but life circumstances can limit how much formal education some can get. The first question to ask is […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Criticism: How to Handle Your Critics Like a Pro – Carey Nieuwhof 5 Really Tough Decisions Pastors Make – Dan Reiland 3 Practical Challenges of […]
5 Reasons I’m Glad I Quit Pastoral Ministry
No this is not an announcement that I’m quitting ministry or resigning from my church. This is a reflection about a decision I made just over six years ago. I resigned from the churches I […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. How productivity helps you pray – Matt Perman Real Hope for Real Life – Bill Finch 5 Smarter Ways To Embrace Infrequent Church Attenders – […]
5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them – Review
Pastoral ministry is one of the most rewarding careers and yet it has its share of difficulties. As long as we allow people in churches, pastoral ministry will be messy. However, if we are not […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that I came across this week. 21 Ways to Keep a Church from Growing – Ron Edmondson Shazam and the Power of Word – Russell Moore Ten Reasons the Formerly […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. 5 Ways to Lead When You’re Not in Charge – Maina Mwaura Mothers are Drowning in Stress—Here are 6 Ways Your Church Can Help – Tara Beth […]
A Helpful Exercise For My Preaching
While pastoring is more than preaching, developing my preaching skills is high on my priorities. There is one thing I do that I find is very helpful in this area. I always write out a […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Seven Surprising Ways to Prepare Yourself to Share the Gospel – Kevin G. Harney The Danger of Veneered Christianity – Jeff K. Clarke In Church […]
Perspectives on Family Ministry – Review
I began my pastoral career as a youth pastor. The model we worked with was that you had specific ministries for children, youth, young adults, young families, men, women and seniors. Dividing up according to […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Are You Forgetting the People in the Pews While Growing Your Church? – John Bosman Adaptive Decision Making, Change, and Leadership – Part 1 – […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that I came across this week. The Positive Side of Leading Under Pressure – Brandon Cox 5 Simple Ways to Assess The Effectiveness of Your Leadership – Carey Nieuwhof What […]
Leadership as Influence
Last Sunday I preached a sermon that some people felt challenged by. Some people even disagreed with me. In this sermon, I suggested that all people who have influence are leaders. Part of this was […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts to check out. Why it may be Good and Time for a Church to Die – Paul Alexander The Biggest Difference Between Churches That Are Raising Young Leaders And Those […]
Preaching to a Diverse Audience
I love my church, especially in its diversity. We are have a variety of ethnic groups, ages and people with disabilities. It is something to celebrate but it is also a challenge, especially for preaching. […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Is Your Sacrifice for Jesus Getting in the Way of Your Faithfulness to Jesus? – Michael Kelley Not Everyone Will Like You, And That’s Okay […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts you should check out. The Enneagram, Leadership, and Knowing Yourself – Daniel Im 4 Ways to Recognize Team-Members Without “Skin in the Game” – Eric Geiger Emerging Adults and the […]
Bill Hybels and James MacDonald: Are Megachurches the Problem?
Ten years ago, if you looked at “celebrity pastors,” many would have considered Bill Hybels and James MacDonald to be as solid as they come. The expectation is that they would both finish well and […]
When Helping Hurts – Review
I have always been convinced that the church’s role is to help people in need, especially the poor. But what does that look like? Is it as simple as throwing money at a need? That […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. Prayer Doesn’t Fix Everything, But It Changes Everything (Yes, There’s a Difference) – Brandon A. Cox 5 Ways to Survive The Mental Game of Leadership […]
Why I Still Learn From Andy Stanley
I regularly listen to Andy Stanley’s Leadership Podcast. I do this despite some of the controversy over Stanley and criticisms toward him by many evangelicals. If you look at posts about Andy Stanley on my […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Pulpit Discipleship: Organizing Your Annual Preaching Calendar For Maximum Effectiveness – Jeff Hamilton Advice for the A-Type Leader with a Million Good Ideas – Ron […]
Why As a Pastor I Read Military History
Many pastors read books on leadership, theology and other related subjects. But what about military history? This is an area that I read a lot about, both out of personal interest and professional development. I […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. 5 Pastoral Promises We Need to Make – Joel Rainey The 3×3 Goal Achievement Strategy – Michael Hyatt Church, Today We Need Dr. King’s Vision […]
Why I Want to Return to Military Chaplaincy
For a number of years, I served as a chaplain (padre) in the army reserves here in Canada. I absolutely loved it. But I eventually released for two reasons: one was that I was starting […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Clean Water or the Gospel? – Justin Narducci You’re a Pastor, Not a People Pleaser: Learn How to Say ‘No’ – Joe McKeever 7 Powers […]
The Peacemaking Church – Review
Unfortunately, one of the realities of church ministry is interpersonal conflict. As long as we allow people in churches, we will have conflict. That is why I was happy to read Curtis Heffelfinger’s The Peacemaking […]
The REACTION Dashboard – Review
When I was sent the REACTION Dashboard, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought it might be a guide to help leaders react properly to difficult situations. That is not it at all. Rather […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. 5 Dangers of “Tower of Babel” Church Revitalizations – Chuck Lawless 10 Reasons Why I Am Thankful to Be a Pastor – Brandon Hilgemann How Do […]
What a Pastor Should Accomplish in the First Year at a Church
As I write this, I am just starting my fourth year at my church. It has been an amazing time and it has made me think about other pastors starting at new churches. Reflecting on […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Twenty Really Weird Criticisms Pastors Receive – Thom Rainer 6 Apps to Help You Set 2019 Goals – Barnabas Piper How to Plan a Daily […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. A “Just in Case” Christmas – Michael Kelley 3 Questions to Evaluate This Year and 3 to Help Plan for the Next | Facts & […]
Why I Do Blue Christmas on a Sunday Morning
What is Blue Christmas? Blue Christmas is an acknowledgment that Christmas isn’t joyful for everyone and that some people feel “blue,” often because of the loss of a loved one. Many churches offer a Blue […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. Favorite Resources of 2018 – Darryl Dash The Most Expensive Hire You Will Ever Make – Eric Geiger All Faith Groups, Evangelicals Included, Need to […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Why Pessimists (and Realists) Are Hard to Follow as Leaders – Carey Nieuwhof 9 Ways to Boost Brain Power – Charles Stone Why the North […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. 7 Advantages Of Long-Term Church Membership – Karl Vaters 7 Words for Leaders Who Worry – Ron Edmondson Does God Believe in Elon Musk? – […]
Why Our Church Celebrates Advent
I have had some people surprised that our Baptist church observes Advent. “Isn’t Advent a Catholic thing?” Advent comes natural to me as I was raised Anglican and it was an important part of our […]
The Hospitable Leader – Review
What kind of leader do you want to serve with? An authoritarian leader that simply lays down the law? There is another way and that is the Hospital Leader. Terry Smith writes in his book […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that I came across this week. Staying for the Long Haul | Facts & Trends – Craig Thompson Inside the Surprising New Science of Gratitude – Erin Wildermuth Caring for […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Your Marriage Is Your Most Important Ministry – Eric Geiger Live at the Intersection of Grace and Truth – Landon Reesor How to Keep People […]
Top Five Things I Have Learned As a Pastor
I have had the role of a pastor, on and off, for over twenty years. It is an important part of my identity and I’m thankful to be able to serve in this way. As […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. 3 People Issues That Get Church Staff Teams Stuck – Carey Nieuwhof 7 Questions to Ask Yourself to End your Day Well – Charles Stone […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. 7 Attributes of Pastors Who Succeed at Church Revitalization – Ron Edmondson Five Ways a Congregation Can Prevent Short Term Pastoral Tenure – Thom Rainer […]
Pastors and the Imposter Syndrome
I first heard of the imposter syndrome in the context of blogging. Bloggers often write from the perspective of an “expert,” giving advice in a specific area. But it is not uncommon for bloggers to […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Go and check them out. The Spirit of Fear – Phillip Larsen Stop Being Your Own Worst Critic – Rishawn Biddle Eugene Peterson’s Long Obedience […]
That I May Know God – Review
I have been interested in the topic of spiritual formation and have been picking up books related to it. If you are unfamiliar with spiritual formation, it seeks to go beyond just imparting Bible knowledge […]
Remembering Eugene Peterson
As I write this, it is the day that Eugene Peterson died. I never met Peterson but I appreciated his ministry, whether the translation of the Message or his writings on discipleship. I truly believe […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Renewing Your Church: Resetting, Refocusing, Restructuring – Brandon Boone How to Prepare to Teach Bible Study – Joe McKeever Frustrated with Others But Comfortable with […]
I Wish I Wrote My Sermons Like This Before
I am so happy with my new routine for writing sermons. I wish I started doing this twenty years ago. The funny thing is I began this out of necessity. My wife has started at […]
The High Definition Leader – Review
The High-Definition Leader has been on my radar for some time. I held off because I misunderstood the title, By “High-Definition,” I assumed it was another leadership book making the reader guilty for not being […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Go and check them out. 16 Types of Church Attenders and Workers – Chuck Lawless 7 Reasons People Are Not Leading Who Could Be – […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that I came across this week. Go and check them out. Benched: 5 Ways Busy Leaders Shove Volunteers to the Sidelines – Tony Morgan The Biggest Challenge Of Restricted Funds […]
White Picket Fences – Review
The concept of privilege, especially white male privilege has been prominent in the media and elsewhere. I will confess that I have struggled with how to respond to the concept. Many of the discussions have […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. 8 Characteristics of a Great Campus Pastor – Paul Alexander Intentional Friendliness: Making A Great First Impression In A Smaller Church – Karl Vaters 7 […]
3 Major Reasons People Resist Change
During my time as a pastor, I have often encountered people who resist change. They are not the majority but they are a vocal minority. Why do people resist change? While there are people in […]
Becoming a Welcoming Church – Review
I have spent the past year focusing on how to make our church more of a welcoming church. For that reason, I was happy to discover Thom Rainer had written Becoming a Welcoming Church. This […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Go and check them out. 10 Things The Best Leaders Do To Get Even Better – Brian Dodd 4 Tasks of Mission – Juan Sanchez […]
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Review
I had a copy of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. What delayed me in reading it was the subtitle, A Leadership Fable. I pictured talking animals discussing leadership but it was […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. Russell Moore Responds to the Statement on Social Justice – Stephanie Martin Two Seemingly Contradictory Truths About Habits – Darryl Dash 3 Reasons Church Complexity […]
What Our Church Does For Disability Ministry
When people find out that I’m interested in disabilities, I often get asked what we do at our church for disability ministry. Like myself, people are always look for ideas. So when I get asked […]
2 Models of Christian Ministry to Avoid (Or Not)
Over the last number of decades, there have been quite a few Christian leadership books that have drawn from business models. Some pastors even promote non-Christian business books as positive models for leadership. This is […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Loving And Letting Go: 3 Keys To Serving A Community On The Move – David Fantin On Hoping – Barnabas Piper The 7 Most Likely Challenges […]
2 Things I Wished I Learned More in Seminary
My wife is just beginning her seminary studies and that is making me reflect on my own experience in seminary. I had a fantastic experience at McMaster Divinity College and I had a very good […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Changing the Culture of your Church – Paul Alexander 5 Preaching Styles In 25 Years (Here’s What I Changed And Why) – Karl Vaters 7 […]
Apologetics and Preaching
While I consider myself an apologist, my primary role is that of a pastor of a local church. But I don’t find these roles to be contradictory. I try to include apologetics in my pastoral […]
When Pastors Mess Up
This is not about when pastors mess up by having an affair, developing an addiction or being financially dishonest. I’m talking about the regular mistakes that pastors make on a regular basis. They are common […]
How to Grow – Review
What is the gospel? For many people, the gospel is the message by which one gets to heaven. But the Bible presents a much fuller concept of good news. It is a gospel that is […]
Weekend Leadership Roundup
Here are some leadership posts for you to check out. Learnings of a Multi-Site Campus Pastor – Bryan Rose The Lie Church Planters Believe | Facts & Trends – Ryan Rice, Sr. When Goals Don’t […]
1 Bad Response to Bill Hybels (and 3 Good Ones)
As we sort through the mess with Billy Hybels and the situation at Willow Creek, there are any number of responses we could have. There are both good and bad responses that we could have. […]