Blog Archives

When the Going gets Tough
Will you join me in serving our Lord in the local church? We need to come back together to gain knowledge and wisdom, find encouragement and support, and to worship our King we say we love!

He Clears the Temple
God created the church as a place to worship and serve Him. It’s a place to learn, become a family, and minister to those in need.

We are Better Together
The Lord knows we are better together. United, we will stand; divided, we will fall.

Has The Church Settled?
Have we settled for something less than what Jesus intended for His church?

Leading Into the Future But Glorifying God In the Process
We have entered into some of the most difficult times culturally, yet we have more opportunities to serve and love others if only we would cast out fear.

My Journey to Writing a Christian Novel – Pt. 3
The best way for our churches – and subsequently God’s kingdom – to grow is by word of mouth. So open your mouth and invite someone.

Diet Jesus
Personal preferences, manmade guidelines, and secular rationalizations are a cheap substitute for real satisfaction: The giver of life, Jesus Christ.

7 Reasons You Can and Should Be a Small Group Leader and Host
You don’t need to know Greek and Hebrew or remember Scripture references without mistakes to lead a small group.

Five Things Small Group Attendees Need to Know
Small groups are part of discipleship and valuable to churches, so consider the following if you’re part of one.

The Early Church: A Blueprint for Unity
Unfortunately, the world has shouted down Christians and Jesus, who came to earth to radically change it and start a movement of love and grace.

WHY ARE PEOPLE TURNING THEIR BACKS ON CHURCH?
With a significant downward spiral going on in church attendance, maybe we should go back to the basics and hear from a passionate church planter.

The Letters of Paul: What Was His Purpose?
Not only were Paul’s letters intended to be shared but also to explain the mission of God.

Fully Functioning and Radical
If we are the body of Christ, why aren’t our hands reaching out to the hurting and our arms to the broken?

Increasing the Size of Your Map
Everything Jesus did as God was about intentionally seeking and saving the lost.

Your Spiritual Wake Up Call
If you’ve become spiritual drowsy, maybe it’s time to get serious about church.

The Churchless Christian
Many Christians no longer believe church attendance is necessary to have a full life in Christ.

Is the Church Really Filled With Hypocrites?
If you have been burned, disappointed, or hurt by the church, you are not alone.

Lace Up Your Church’s Shoes
As we disciple new believers, let’s make sure to start with the basics.

The Blood That Binds Us
As part of a faith community, do you create harmony of disunity?

Handling the Hurt
It shouldn’t happen and it hurts a lot more when it does . . . but God.

The Only Thing That Truly Satisfies
If you neglect it, you’re starving your body of necessary nourishment.

5 Challenges for Your Thanksgiving
Christians should be the first people to express true gratitude this season.

Wake Up, Church
Frustrated with people rewriting Scripture? Speak truth on love.

A Grace-Filled Church
Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we want to make an eternal impact on our city.

Criticism then Evaluation
Is it time to consider asking the tough questions about the church you love?

When Does Discipleship Begin?
Is pre-conversion discipleship a real possibility for disciple makers?

Here’s Why I Serve
Yes, God commands it, but what are the other reasons to serve in your church?

What it Means to Pastor Your Flock
Leading your church is a blessing and a privilege, but it is also a daunting task.

The Ice Age in Which We Live
Church leader, what are doing to stay in a good place spiritually and emotionally?

3 Steps to a Gospel Focus
Knowing who you are in Christ and having a deeper relationship with him is priority one.

3 Ways to Deeper Church Relationships
Leading people to Christ and the cross requires authentically loving people.

Reaching Your Community With the Gospel of Love
You can’t always blame culture for your church’s lack of growth.

Does Your Church Love the Unclean?
A church that fails to minister to the undeserving is a church without a harvest of souls.

Upgrade Your Church Culture
Building a culture in your church that truly glorifies God takes passionate devotion.

Church. Not Just a Routine
Is church a Sunday routine or a life-changing opportunity to worship the Creator?

4 New Testament Reasons We Freely Give
Tithing really means giving BACK to God.

What Are People Looking For in a Church?
Church is the people of God coming together to worship God and living out His mission.

A Peaceful Transfer of Stewardship in 2021
God has given us the responsibility to steward our lives well and according to his will.

Christian Service is Impossible Without Worship
At my local church, it is made clear that every member of the body is expected to serve the Lord […]

You Can Serve and Help Heal Your Faith Family
This message is for you if you are a discouraged, unsure or insecure follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, I realize we […]

8 Wrong Responses to Conflict and Anxiety
Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your […]

How to Deal With Prideful People
When someone opposes you, do your words kind of soften? Are you tempted to pull punches, or change the subject altogether? […]

When Godly People Get Depressed
I recently wrote the following tweet, and it received a lot of reaction. Good people get depressed. Godly people get depressed. […]

Just a Baby
I know it sounds wrong to say but Christmas really is a strange time of year in some ways. For […]

Are You Spiritually Dehydrated?
Sometimes life can be completely and utterly exhausting. I’m talking stress from work, family, or money issues to being mentally […]

The War Against Christianity
(Originally posted February 2015) Newsweek has started 2015 with a cover article entitled “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin.” […]

Three Prayers for Effective Evangelism
“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God […]

Go Ahead: Burst Your Bubble
By Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Our family was living in Romania in 2000 and we had […]

Invitation to Life
All it took was an invitation. An invitation to go to the church around the corner. My family had just […]

Valley of the Dry Bones: Replanting Temple Baptist Church By Drew Cline, Lead Pastor
Ezekiel 36:36 (ESV) “Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I […]