I’ve studied and written about spiritual warfare for more than 30 years now. In fact, you can study the topic with me through the Church Answers “Church Equip” course, “Engaging in Spiritual Warfare.” In some ways, that short course reflects the core of what I’ve taught over the years.
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Each year, Southern Baptists kick off December by observing a Week of Prayer for International Missions before the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis. This week, as believers learn about missionaries serving around the world, the call is to pray for those faithfully sharing the gospel through international missions.
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As I’ve thought about how to help churches thrive, I want to suggest five steps that might help your church thrive in 2025.
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Christmas can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, we usually give gifts that don’t last anyway. This Christmas, give one of these gifts to someone that doesn't cost any money.
Being a pastor is difficult. I remember my mentor in ministry telling me when I was in my early twenties that if I could do anything else, I should do that. He warned me there would be days that I wished I was working in any other sort of job. He was right. But I couldn’t do anything else–or rather—I couldn’t without feeling I was running from God, and he agreed that was a sign that God was calling me to be a pastor.
I recently heard somebody say that one of the ways to endure well in ministry is to realize that ministry is not about you, it’s all about Jesus. The same is true of marriage. When you embrace that marriage is about Jesus first, and you and your wife second, one of the secrets of a joyful, enduring marriage comes to light: love Jesus better, and you will love your wife better.
