Connecting with God Through Worship

Overview In my book, A Leader Worth Imitating (Principle 2: Presence),  I explain that there are five ways for people to connect with God and encounter Jesus: scripture, prayer, worship, community, and service. In this article, I will explain how people can connect with God through worship.  Worship in the Book of Psalms While worshipContinue reading “Connecting with God Through Worship”

Advent Week 4: The Opposite of Fear

Advent Reading Plan: Luke 2:1-21 Have you ever noticed that in the Bible, when angels appear to people, their first words are often, “Do not be afraid”? We see this in the angelic messages to Mary (Luke 1:30), Zechariah (Luke 1:13), and the shepherds (Luke 2:10). To be fair, if the angels looked like theContinue reading “Advent Week 4: The Opposite of Fear”

Advent Week 3: What Have You Stopped Praying For?

Advent Reading Plan: Luke 1:5-25 “What have you stopped praying for?” That’s the question that comes to mind when I read the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1:5–25. In verse 13, an angel appeared to Zechariah and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bearContinue reading “Advent Week 3: What Have You Stopped Praying For?”

Advent Week 2: How to Hear From God

Advent Reading Plan: Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25 One thing I’ve always found interesting about the Christmas story in the Bible is how God foretells Jesus’ birth in different ways with both Mary and Joseph. In Luke 1:26-38, Mary is visited by an angel. The angel told her “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have foundContinue reading “Advent Week 2: How to Hear From God”

Advent Week 1: About Those Long Genealogies

Advent Reading Plan: Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 4:23-37 Have you ever heard that song, “Father Abraham?”  Perhaps you sang it in Sunday School or around a campfire.  It goes like this: Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them and so are you So let’s just praise the LordContinue reading “Advent Week 1: About Those Long Genealogies”

Why Advent is Important // Advent Bible Reading Plan

As we enter the last month of the year, we also step into the first week of Advent. Like many people, you probably have a to-do list as long as Santa’s naughty/nice list, detailing all the tasks you need to complete before Christmas in the next four weeks. There are halls to deck, chestnuts toContinue reading “Why Advent is Important // Advent Bible Reading Plan”

Overcoming Gethsemane: Lessons in Leadership Resilience

As a leader, there will be times when you want to quit. This is why resilience is important. Resilience, simply put, is seeing something through to the end.  When we look at the leadership of Jesus, we see He saw things through to the end. An example of this is at the Garden of GethsemaneContinue reading “Overcoming Gethsemane: Lessons in Leadership Resilience”

What is Servant Leadership?

Similar to how Jesus used parables to teach spiritual principles, author Patrick Lencioni uses fables to teach leadership principles. In his leadership fable, The Motive (2020), Lencioni explains that there are two different kinds of leaders. The first kind of leader sees their leadership as a reward for all of their hard work. The second kindContinue reading “What is Servant Leadership?”

Jesus’ Example: Managing Anger as a Leader

As a leader, you will get angry at times. In fact, you should get angry. I don’t mean when your team makes mistakes. After all, mistakes help people learn and grow. I mean you should get angry when you see people take advantage of the vulnerable.  Because of this, the question is not whether aContinue reading “Jesus’ Example: Managing Anger as a Leader”

Why Metrics Are Important

As a leader, it’s one thing to have a purpose, it’s quite another to know if you are fulfilling it. This is why metrics are important.  Metrics, simply put, are what you measure. In a work setting, you might measure sales, profits, and customer service. In a church setting, you might measure attendance, new salvations,Continue reading “Why Metrics Are Important”