Rick Warren's Online Community for Pastors and Church Leaders
As pastors we live with the constant tension between the ideal (our dream for our church) and the real (how things actually are). Here are 10 key points I want you to remember this coming year --
1. Ministry is a marathon, not a 50-yard dash. It’s not how you start that matters. It’s how you finish the race. Sustainability counts …
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“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Luke 16:10a (NIV)
How you spend your money says a lot about how much you can be trusted spiritually. That’s what Jesus tells us in the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. Jesus says in Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be …
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“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)
God loves you so much that he sent Jesus on a mission of love with a message of love. Christmas is a yearly reminder that God loves you. The Bible says God is love. It …
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“But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’” (Luke 2:10 NLT)
Knowing God is for you will change your whole perspective on life. You’ll stop thinking of God as someone looking down from Heaven, ready to yell “Gotcha!” any time you mess …
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Where did we get the idea that Christmas needed to be perfect?
How many of you stress over the holidays because you want to be sure to give that perfect gift, set that perfect table, serve that perfect meal, say that perfect thing?
Christmas is a mess. That’s how Christmas started – messy.
Normalize It -- Mess is the way it …
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Smiling
Taking a shower
Calling up a friend to talk
Exercising
Doing a random act of kindness
Making the bed
Reading the Bible
Cleaning the kitchen
Sweeping the floors
Going for a walk
Praying
Taking a few deep breaths
Going to see your doctor
Meditating
Organizing your closet
When your mental map says that …
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Strained marriages begin to break under the pressures of trying to have the perfect Christmas. During a time that is supposed to be one of the happiest and most joyful, many couples feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Gift giving can become a financial strain. The added busyness at Christmas can cause spouses to feel neglected and …
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Editor's note: You may freely adapt this article for use in your congregation.
If you are looking to grow deeper spiritually in the New Year, try one of the following next steps --
You were Planned for God’s Pleasure
Ask God to help you find purpose - You’ll never find purpose until you’ve made the most important decision …
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Jesus taught, ‘Use your worldly resources to benefit others and to make friends. In this way your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.’” (Luke 16:9b NLT)
He isn’t saying you can buy yourself into heaven. That’s impossible. God has already paid the price for us to spend eternity in heaven. Jesus’ death on the …
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You may not own a home or even your own car. But if you’ve got a blog today, you’re sitting on a very valuable piece of property. With the trust in traditional media decliningand trust in social media channels on the rise, bloggers today have undisputed influence. This moment in time is especially true for Christians who are brand …
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