Category: Ministry

Book Reviews, Influence Magazine, MinistryLeave a comment

The Well-Read Pastor | Influence Magazine

georgepwood

Pastors wear many hats in their congregations. On any given day, someone may ask them to explain a particular Bible verse or help mend a marriage or supervise an audit of the church’s finances. No wonder the average U.S. pastor buys four books a month, according to a 2013 Barna report! Pastors have a need to know. Because reading is so important to ministry, pastors must think carefully about what and how they read. Over the years, I have developed 10 convictions about my own reading habits that may be helpful to you. Reading is a spiritual discipline. A spiritual … Continue reading The Well-Read Pastor | Influence Magazine

Influence Podcast, MinistryLeave a comment

How to Overcome Cynicism, Compromise, and Disconnection | Influence Podcast

georgepwood

Cynicism. Compromise. Disconnection. Irrelevance. Pride. Burnout. Emptiness. No one expects to experience these negative feelings, but everyone does. As Christians and as leaders in the Church, the question we need to ask ourselves is what we should do about them. That’s the question I explore with Carey Nieuwhof in Episode 152 of the Influence Podcast. Carey Nieuwhof is teaching and founding pastor of Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario, and author of Didn’t See It Coming, published by WaterBrook. P.S. This article is cr0ss-posted from Influence Magazine with permission. Continue reading How to Overcome Cynicism, Compromise, and Disconnection | Influence Podcast

Influence Magazine, MinistryLeave a comment

Head, Heart, and Hands: Three marks of a holistic Pentecostal ministry

georgepwood

On any given day, an Assemblies of God pastor may read a scholarly commentary in preparation for Sunday’s sermon, counsel a church member who is experiencing an emotional crisis, and help a poor family in the community pay its bills. Pentecostal ministry is holistic, in other words. It encompasses what we believe, what we feel and how we behave — our head, heart and hands, respectively. The biblical foundation of this holism is the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34–40). Asked to name “the greatest commandment in the Law,” Christ Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18: “‘Love the Lord … Continue reading Head, Heart, and Hands: Three marks of a holistic Pentecostal ministry

Ministry, Politics & CultureLeave a comment

Leading the Church in a Polarized Era

georgepwood

Yesterday, I published an essay on InfluenceMagazine.com entitled, “Leading the Church in a Polarized Era.” Here is the introduction: Regardless of who wins the presidential election on November 8, you can be sure of one thing: Half of America will be disappointed with, if not outraged by, the results. In nearly 30 years of voting, I have never seen the electorate so polarized about candidates and issues. It has been said that war is the continuation of politics by other means. This year, reversing the terms of that statement seems truer: Politics is the continuation of war by other means. … Continue reading Leading the Church in a Polarized Era

Ministry, TheologyLeave a comment

The Best Is Yet to Come: Why Credentialed Women Ministers Matter to the Assemblies of God

georgepwood

From Enrichment Journal: That’s a critical point for young women who are very sincere and see this servant model of leadership in Christ and are not comfortable with a rights issue. This has nothing to do with rights for men or women in ministry. That’s not the rationale for following Jesus in leadership in ministry. Don’t we cripple ourselves in the Kingdom by not empowering both men and women to use their God-given gifts? Wood: I’ll tell you a sad story. Just a few months ago, a very competent, young, ordained, seminary-trained, female graduate interviewed for a pastoral position of a church … Continue reading The Best Is Yet to Come: Why Credentialed Women Ministers Matter to the Assemblies of God

MinistryLeave a comment

George Barna & David Kinnaman on the Rise of the Churchless – Barna Group

georgepwood

From the article at Barna.org: In Churchless, their first collaborative effort, Barna Group founder and former president, George Barna, and current Barna president and owner, David Kinnaman, take a look at the rising population of adults who do not attend church. Based on two decades of Barna Group interviews with thousands of churchless men and women, the book outlines a profile of the unchurched and the cultural context that has led to the trend away from church. “It’s critical to recognize these trends have a huge impact on how our churches and faith organizations work,” says David Kinnaman in a joint … Continue reading George Barna & David Kinnaman on the Rise of the Churchless – Barna Group