Developing Rhythms of Renewal: Practicing Rest and Sabbath
“ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. ” Exodus 20:8-10 ESV One of the greatest ironies of my ministry was how often I felt guilty for taking time to rest. I can’t even count the times I preached about the importance of trusting God, yet I hesitated to take time off because I feared things would fall apart. I often encouraged others in our church to slow down, but
3 days ago2 min read
The Performance Trap… Freedom From Unrealistic Expectations
“ For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. ” Galatians 1:10 HCSB I just read this verse again, and boy, is it humbling! Perhaps you can identify with this, but for most of my ministry, I carried a very quiet and relentless pressure… the feeling that I had to please everybody in the congregation! Of course, I would not have said that out loud for
Nov 123 min read
A Hidden Weight: Stress in Ministry
“ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair .” 2 Corinthians 4:7–8 (ESV) Make no mistake about it... both pastors and ministry leaders carry a specific kind of weight, often unseen by the people under their care. There’s the weight of teaching and preaching God’s Word, shepherding those who hurt and need direction, managing t
Nov 33 min read
Balanced Leaders & Healthy Churches
Here is a revelation… a pastor’s health is never really private. The emotional, spiritual, and relational well-being of a leader inevitably shows and even flows into the life of the ministry they lead. But when a leader is rested, prayerful, and even grounded in Christ, there will be a ripple of peace throughout the entire organization. But when a leader is exhausted, overwhelmed, or unbalanced, the strain is felt by everyone around them. Here is what we need to acknowle
Oct 284 min read
5 Principles to Help Pastors & Ministry Leaders Rebuild Work-Life Balance
Like so many other ministers, there were several seasons during my ministry when life felt out of balance. There was always another meeting to attend, another counseling session referee, and another fire I had to put out. And before I knew it, rest eluded me, relationships were stressed, and I constantly struggled to find contentment in life and ministry. But I did eventually come to learn this lesson: balance and renewal can be restored. I started to understand that God
Oct 214 min read
The Cost of an Unbalanced Life in Ministry
Finding a healthy work-life balance is difficult and one of the greatest challenges pastors and ministry leaders face today. The call to...
Oct 94 min read
5 Reasons Work-Life Balance Is Elusive for Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Many pastors and ministry leaders I know believe the phrase “work-life balance” is an impossible dream. You see, the call to shepherd...
Sep 303 min read
