It has been said that sermon preparation is an art. Just like a mechanic working on a car or a farmer working the fields or an electrician wiring a house or a builder driving nails; there is a specific skill that goes into the creating of a sermon. To begin, the sermon maker must be…
We live in a very negative world. Everywhere you go there are people and circumstances that are just waiting to ruin your day. At every turn there is someone that is not happy and no matter what you do they are never satisfied. Even when you try to stay positive and maintain a godly attitude…
There is often a misconception concerning secular vs. ministry employment. There are some who feel that ministry is not a ‘real job.’ In some ways that may be true, ministry is certainly not the same as secular employment. However, serving in fulltime ministry is most certainly viable and respectable. One major concern in Christendom…
I have served in full-time ministry all of my adult life and grew up in a pastor’s home. There are many things that I have experienced, witnessed, and learned over the years. One interesting thing that has always dumbfounded me is that most problems that a church faces very seldom originate from attacks outside the…
It is often said that we should not ‘reinvent the wheel.’ This statement coincides with another thought, ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ These statements certainly contain truth. There is no need to create something that has already been created. There is no need to change something that is working just fine. We are…
One of the most painful things in life is knowing that you have been betrayed. A parent suffers tremendous pain when a child rebels. A wife is scarred for life when her husband cheats on her. A man is hurt when his friends abandon him in time of need. Jesus suffered the ultimate betrayal on…
Over the years I have counselled with young men who felt the call to serve in ministry particularly as a pastor. My response has always been out of a heart of love and concern that those men follow whatever God calls them to do. In answering the question ‘do you want to be a pastor’.…
Johnny received Jesus as His Savior during Vacation Bible School. After his commitment to Christ there was a noticeable difference in His life. He became excited about reading his Bible and going to church. He even started memorizing Bible verses every week. However, as school started in the fall things began to change. He…
There are many things that are crucial for a pastor to do in order to have an effective ministry. One of those things is to make himself visible. Whether he likes it or not, the pastor is the face of the local church. Depending on how you look at it (rightfully or wrongfully), the local…
Generational differences and frustrations have been a part of life since the beginning of time. Every generation is different. Each generation develops their own culture and their own worldview. In the church, each generation sees things through the lenses of their specific cultural influences. For example, older generations may tend to be more…
Pastor Chris Noland 