Here’s a round up of this week’s posts and the top leadership and productivity articles I’ve read this week, from a variety of Christian ministry blogs. You’ll also find a summary of this week’s content on www.equippinghispeople.com.
Here are the top five articles on leadership or productivity from Christian ministry blogs I’ve read this past week:
Leader: Establish Authority before Exhibiting Authority by Ron Edmondson
Sage advice from Ron, as I’ve learned this lesson the hard way recently. Ron says new leaders often forget to establish their authority before making major changes, using positional authority where taking the time to build relational authority would be more effective.
Be Tender-Hearted and Thick-Skinned: How Humility Protects Pastors from Pastoral Burnout by Aaron Menikoff
Unfortunately, says Aaron, pastors can control neither the rate nor the quality of the criticism that comes their way. Some of it is wonderful, helpful, and life-giving. Other criticism is simply unfair, unjust, and unkind. The solution is to be tender-hearted and thick-skinned. This article helps build resilience.
Francis Chan’s Letters to the Church by Tim Challies
A good number of my colleagues seem to be reading this book at the moment, and some zinger quotes are being posted on social media. So I was grateful for Tim’s balanced and thoughtful review of this book, which despite the cons he lists, I will still read soon.
7 Questions for Preachers to Ask about Their Preaching Calendar by Chuck Lawless
Chuck’s blog is one of the Christian ministry blogs I read quite often. I’m reaching the point of the year when I spend some serious time planning out my preaching for the coming year. So I am grateful to Chuck for this reminder about what to think and pray about. In particular, he suggests a number of ways we might ensure we are preaching from the whole Bible.
An Ancient Solution to Digital Weariness by Zach Barnhart
As a way of disciplining our use of digital devices and social media, Zach suggests fasting. Fasting is an ancient practice designed to free us from what we hold most dear. Fasting provides an opportunity to routinely and starkly remind ourselves of who we are and what truly nourishes us. He suggests a cleansing fast – a period of time with no phone, no computer and no television. He also encourages a speaking fast where we remain online, but decide not to react for a period of time. We will never be fully in the know. We will never say everything. We will never satisfy our deepest longings. Fasting reminds us of all these truths. You may not start with an extended, long-term fast. But start somewhere—for the sake of your soul.
And why not read some of the www.equippinghispeople.com posts you may not have seen this week:
- Salvation Army Fellowship: Are We Losing It?
- Productivity: The Challenge of Balance
- Christian Leadership: Why Me?
- Leadership: No Talent Required
- Are You Worrying?
- Soultime: Best Christian Meditation App [Updated]
- Social Media: The Best Use of Your Time?
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