Leading women to advance the gospel
I’m plagued with a burden that I’ve played it too safe. And what’s even more dangerous, …
Resources for Planter Wives
Vulnerability: The currency of bravery
As we conclude this series on True Bravery, we end with the ultimate factor that produces …
God calls the unlikely to be used for the extraordinary
There are many examples of bravery in the Bible. Esther. Moses. Ruth. Joseph. Rahab. Paul. The …
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We are to be courageous as we give ourselves completely to God’s work. But how? Lately, …
How to strengthen a child’s resolve to cling to truth
Recently in our home, the background music of noisy toys and the Bubble Guppies theme song has given …
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Is your calling based on identity?
Every Christian is called to be a missionary, and this calling extends wherever we are. Every …
Five ways to pass bravery on to the women you lead
We have been hearing from some very wise women about how true bravery is necessary in …
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I sat in my elven-sized, silver Toyota Yaris, crying. My family was miles away on the …
Building relationships with those different than me
It’s hard to imagine there existed a time before walls. Today, we can barely imagine how …
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Four ways to lead our children toward bravery
A new year provides a time for reflection. We recount the stories that make up the …
Another year brings with it the history of story after story of pastors who are removed …
Gravity is not something we can see or feel. However, it’s constantly at work. Gravity works …
“True Bravery” really comes down to one thing
When I think of bravery in 2017, I think of the people of Aleppo—the fighters for …
5 ways to protect the vision from God
All people protect things that matter to them. Be it a wedding ring, a picture drawn …
God’s people have always been called to bravery
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the …
In our previous blog, we issued a call to show daring courage and take necessary risk …
Biggest ministry lesson from 2016: True bravery
Flourish unintentionally started a New Year’s tradition by discussing valuable lessons learned in the previous year. …
How to remain an effective pastor in 2017
Over the past few years I’ve grown increasingly convinced that my (over)dependence on technology is having …
The most significant viewpoint we can have of ourselves
A statement on Twitter three years ago revolutionized my version of baby Jesus in the manger. …
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Most popular of 2016: #1 Five ways to engage: The City
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular of 2016: #1 Five ways to engage: The City Read More »
Most popular of 2016: #4 Raising kids to love the church: Jeff Christopherson
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular of 2016: #4 Raising kids to love the church: Jeff Christopherson Read More »
You know you’re a pastor’s wife if…
It’s happened to all of us. People say and do some unusual things. Things can get …
Most popular of 2016: #5 Preacher notes: Danny Akin
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular of 2016: #5 Preacher notes: Danny Akin Read More »
Most popular of 2016: #7 Five ways to engage: The campus
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular of 2016: #7 Five ways to engage: The campus Read More »
How and why we still tuck in our adolescent kids
We still tuck in our kids. It’s just that the tucking looks a little different these …
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Most popular in 2016: #8 Redefining success: Gospel conversations
The North American Mission Board is blessed by a wide array of voices that speak to …
Most popular in 2016: #8 Redefining success: Gospel conversations Read More »
Four steps to take before confronting others
In my last post, we talked about everyone’s favorite topic, receiving reproof. I mean, who doesn’t love a hard …
Three reasons to be receptive to reproof
I can remember clearly where I was standing the first time it happened. I was engaged, …
How to handle a one-sided friendship
I was asked, “Why does friendship at times feel one-sided?” That question, of course, could mean …
God’s heart in reproof is to make us more holy
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the …
I love the whole holiday season, from the first signs of fall to the beginning of …
Waiting for the bus in a frigid, biting wind reminded us of the ease of transportation …
The healthy practice of letting go
Not only did Jesus set an example of being sent. He also set an example of …
“As the Father sent me so send I you” (John 20:21). Sent is a word straight from …
Bivocational church planting: ReThinking It
By Brad Brisco Over the past several years there has been an increasing interest in church …
Four grace-filled responses to the Jen Hatmaker conversation
Surely this headline caught your attention: “The politics of Jen Hatmaker: Trump, Black Lives Matter, gay …
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How the influence of others makes us more useful
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27: 17). In reflection on our …
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On Monday, I stayed in my pajamas until 4 p.m. Although I woke up early and …
Why time away from your church is a good thing
Today finds me sitting on a lava rock in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. …
Why Christians should care about politics
During the course of a presidential campaign, it is common to hear evangelicals, especially younger ones, …
Four ways to deal with annoying church members
It happened almost every Sunday morning. His cell phone would ring loudly in the middle of …
Are you an emotionally healthy woman?
I have found much enjoyment these last few weeks in telling my friends, “I’m reading a …
The year was 1990. It was the month of March, and I had been diagnosed with …
In the middle of a busy day, I found myself having a mental “conversation” in which …
How to raise kids to love the church
I’ve been part of church plants ever since I can remember. My dad took over as …
What is an arepa and what does it have to do with starting churches? Fabian Perea, …
Ben Mandrell and his family left their large church in Tennessee to plant Storyline Church in …
Raising Kids to Love the Church: Laura Christopherson
Six months into our first pastorate, I had a real “aha” moment. I didn’t even know …
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How to praise God on the most awful days
On Monday, December 15, 2014, I found myself somewhere I really didn’t want to be. I …
Raising kids to love the church: Jeff Christopherson
Laura and I always invested our savings in the next church plant, so we were constantly …
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God brings redemption into our mourning
Attachment to one’s mother is a mystery of the heart. The desire to know my mom …
Planting, and then pastoring that church in the years that follow, is an ever-shifting role that …
Five years after being planted, Valley Life Church has given birth to three other churches, which …
How to respond when the wicked prosper
She was weeping over the phone. Grief, anger and frustration were pouring out of her as …
When I think about the things I wish I would’ve known prior to launching WALK Church …
A good, hard look at sin and repentance
This summer has been rough in some ways. Not in every way, of course. I did …
What does it mean to meditate on the Bible?
“The Psalms represent the Bible’s own spiritual root system for the great tree we call Christianity.” …
The fallacy of our spiritual gifts: Part 1
Brett and Noelle are busy penciling in 200 dots in the new member’s class at church. …
How the Psalms speak words of life into the dark
Trouble brings out the best in some. I am not one of those people. Externally, I …
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One phrase in a powerful sermon completely paralyzed me. Dr. Robert Smith Jr., who serves as …
Stop assuming your neighbors are hostile to your faith
Some of the headlines are ominous. The value of religious liberty is on the decline. Many …
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Six ways to teach children about suffering
My oldest son just turned five, and this age is a joy. He understands the world …
Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 2
We are talking about the hard parts of ministry [part 1] that you may not have …
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The pen is in your hand, the card opened and yet you are paralyzed. What should …
Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 1
When my husband and I married, we were packed and ready for seminary. I felt prepared …
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The most frequently asked questions regarding race
The following post from Trillia Newbell’s blog gives great insight and wisdom as we continually learn to better …
The most frequently asked questions regarding race Read More »
Proverbs 31:26, “The law of kindness is on her tongue. . .” The Proverbs 31 woman …
Community requires vulnerability
For the first eight years of our ministry, I didn’t have a friend to my name. …
Stories from the frontlines: Dustin Nimmo
This week we interviewed three practitioners serving on the field as church planters. These are their …
Entering the conversation about the racial divide
I grew up in a town stamped and molded by racial issues that were never discussed. …
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Stories from the front lines: Whitney Clayton
This week we interviewed three practitioners serving on the field as church planters. These are their …
Finding freedom from your own expectations
If you are like most women, you are your own worst critic. Being hard on ourselves …
Why church planters need long-term vision
I’m always stunned by the mess kids can make. Give them 30 minutes alone in a …
Understanding the economic divide in the Church
I had no understanding, prior to my life in ministry, that socioeconomic class is a powerful …
Kingdom focused church planting
Have you ever missed something in conversation? You know, times when you’ve assumed something a person …
The danger in entertaining lies
It would be convenient if Satan would show up as a talking snake. Then, we could …
When it’s better to be weak than strong
The following is a journal entry I wrote in May on Mother’s Day: Today was Mother’s …
How to battle discontent and despair
I have known the antagonism of discouragement. In early adulthood I was a newcomer to marriage …
Brotherhood: God’s prayer for relationships
My phone usually pings around 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. The most recent one read: “Praying for …
The emotions in a time of transition
Ron Edmonson’s website is rich with leadership and ministerial wisdom. This recent post on moving caught my eye as he …