Every mission trip is built on a deep truth wrapped in a sticky lie. Although we don’t intend for it to happen, that lie can bury the truth in what we say and hear. For example, try to spot the lie in each of these statements: “You need to come be part of this experience, and Jesus will change your life there.”…
The question from one of my teenagers was both jolting and inviting: “I’m just not into the Bible—is that okay to say out loud?” “You can absolutely say that,” I assured him. “Can you tell me more, though? I’d like to understand what changed for you—there was a time when you read the Bible all the time.”…
Looking for ideas to raise funds for your next mission trip? How much time do you have? No, really. [tweet_dis]When it comes to fundraising, it’s a question of time.[/tweet_dis] For example, you’re in one of two timelines right now: Time is of the essence.…
Say you could snap your fingers to create the perfect senior pastor. What do you envision? What traits would you want more of? less of? Or perhaps you simply desire more consistency? [tweet_dis]Senior pastors are brain-twisting enigmas.[/tweet_dis] (Keep in mind: the person who just wrote those words is a senior pastor!)…
Credible art museums are defined by what isn’t on the walls as much as by what is. What if your credibility in life and ministry can be curated in a similar way? Time-management experts bark that the key to life is scheduling everything in advance and saying no to whatever doesn’t fit.…
Remember when you first started figuring out your sexual identity? One day you’re strangely obsessed with a “special” someone in a “special” way. Soon you’re awakened to a new world of attraction you didn’t realize was always in front of you.…
Years ago, I made amazing youth ministry calendars. Jealous? Between finding the right fonts and Photoshopping students into clever clip-art, each calendar took about 10 hours to create. My hope was that if one of our students accidentally dropped the calendar at school (because what student wouldn’t carry around such an amazing calendar?),…
I’m a sucker for inspirational speeches in movies… Mikey speaking up at the bottom of the well in The Goonies. Aragorn telling an army that courage can fail, but “not this day” in Return of the King. Woody explaining to Buzz that there’s nothing like being a toy in Toy Story.…
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about evangelism, it’s that I have a lot to learn about evangelism… but not really. That sounds arrogant. Let me clarify. I recently took part in a rather intriguing peer panel on the subject at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference.…
You only have so much time with students every week. Should you give them an on-ramp… or take them to the highway? Should you begin a youth night with dodgeball or a discussion? Should you end your message with pizza or communion?…
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