Four Ways Pride Destroys the Team

What can the frequency of “I” in a quarterly shareholder letter tell us about an organization’s future? LJ Rittenhouse is known for her ability to predict the future performance of a company by studying the leader’s quarterly letters to shareholders. By looking, even scientifically, at the candor of the leader, Rittenhouse hypothesizes about the culture […]

Bringing Great Leaders to Your Team

Every organization wants to have a high level team, a group made up of people who are the best at their respective jobs and passionate about the same ideals. But wanting that kind of team is one thing, and hiring it is entirely more challenging. Brad Lomenick, president of Catalyst and author of The Catalyst Leader, shares 10 […]

How Not to Loathe the Culture You Are Leading

One of the dangers of a growing organization or ministry is the temptation to quickly bring people on to the team to meet the demands of the growth. Of course, there is nothing wrong with desiring to scale the team. As the organization grows, wise leaders expand the leadership base. The temptation is to take […]

Volunteers and (not or) Discipleship

Each week church leaders feel the weight of responsibility for two important facets of their ministry roles. First, they desire to disciple people in the church, to develop people the Lord has called them to serve. Second, they have the responsibility of  “pulling off church” this week. The kid’s ministry, student program, weekend services, and […]

Savvy People, Not Savvy Policies

In Luke 16, Jesus tells a parable about a wicked and shrewd manager who in a savvy way ensures that people will welcome him into their homes when he is no longer employed. Jesus affirms his shrewdness, not his wickedness, to challenge believers to be more shrewd with eternal matters than the wicked are with […]

The Burden of Earning

As the movie Saving Private Ryan reaches its climax, some of us preachers sit on the edge of our seats looking for an epic illustration. The film seems to be leading to a great comparison of Christ’s sacrifice for us. Private Ryan (Matt Damon) has been pursued just as Christ pursues us and has been […]

7 traits of leaders who hire well

For a leader, there is not a greater responsibility or a more important task than choosing the people who will serve alongside you in fulfilling the mission of the organization or ministry. Great coaches are known for their masterful and careful recruiting, ensuring the potential player fits both the team’s strategy of play and the […]

Four Root Idols

Last week I was honored to spend a day with the team at Austin Stone Church. I preached there two years ago for their summer preaching series, but this time I was blessed to speak to the staff and then teach a systematic theology session at Austin Stone Institute. Each week 300 plus men and […]

Please, No More Travel Agents

There is a major difference between a travel agent and a tour guide. This difference is seen best in white-water rafting. There are plenty of rafting outfitters from which to choose along a white-water river trail. A travel agent will mail you brochures. A travel agent will suggest a few rafting outfitters and a river […]

Moving People Off the Team

Though the topic of this blog may be perceived by some as cold, I am posting this because leaders frequently ask me questions related to moving people off the team. Ministry leaders are responsible for the flock while also loving and caring for individual sheep. Tension arises when a ministry leader is confronted with a […]