What I learned from being a bi-vocational pastor
I served as a bi-vocational pastor of a tiny church in central Kentucky. We started with six people. It was my first pastorate, and I had no idea what I was doing.
Sam Rainer
Op-ed Contributor
Sam Rainer is president of Church Answers and pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida.
How to handle incessant urgency for pastors, church leaders
In this case, his urgent concern was not malicious. But that’s the problem. People mean well when they call you in urgency.
Pastors with initiative build healthier church relationships
Many pastors rigorously protect their study time in God’s Word. The same intensity should apply to personal relationships.
Leading the church when you doubt yourself
Leaders must recognize doubt for what it is. Pastors especially must be open to the fact they will have doubts. The only response is to worship through the doubt.
The pastor’s dilemma of balancing the prophetic voice with the shepherd’s hand
As a pastor, I find it challenging to balance the prophetic voice with a shepherd’s hand.
10 bad church work habits every pastor should avoid
When leaders get into a pattern of long-term bad behaviors, they are often detrimental to the church. But do not confuse a bad day with a bad habit.
5 warning signs of false teachers
False teachers add to Scripture to control the behavior of others. The motive is often power. Other false teachers will remove from Scripture to live as they want and participate in otherwise prohibited behavior.
What size must a church be to trigger the need for revitalization?
Churches are notorious for living in a state of tension between fragility and resiliency. They hang on by their fingernails, but those nails are quite strong.
6 questions to discern toxic conflict vs. healthy conflict
Conflict can be healthy. The greatest art is produced at a point of tension. Innovation occurs when the heat of conflict rises. Accountability is difficult apart from some level of conflict.
Be the church that embraces children, not just tolerates them
However, the families visiting your church will know whether you embrace their kids or not. The churches that welcome children have a higher likelihood of families returning — not just once but often!
