For decades, the institutional church operated on a transactional currency. Outreach meant running a quarterly food drive or handing out backpacks – acts done for people, often with subtle, unspoken expectations. Education meant sitting in a class, listening to...
Jesus as Culture Maker Most of us are accustomed to thinking of culture as a large, invisible structure of systems and policies that dictate how we interact. But when viewed through a deeper anthropological lens, culture is something far more personal: it is...
The Lens of the Leader: Why Your Hermeneutics Matter for Church Culture When you hear the word hermeneutics, your mind might instantly drift to dry seminary lectures, heavy textbooks, and the meticulous parsing of Greek verbs. However, Hermeneutics isn’t just an...
The Power of Contemplative Action Most leaders feel a heavy weight on their shoulders: the pressure to make things happen. Whether it’s growing a congregation, fixing a budget, or launching a new ministry, the burden of “doing” can quickly lead to burnout....
The Soul of the Cultural Architect: Why Your Interior Life is Your Primary Building Material We often think of church leadership in terms of strategy. We talk about vision casting, budget management, and programming. But as the saying goes, “Culture eats...
Lately, as I have led retreats and workshops with pastors and deacons across the country, I have conducted a straw poll asking, “How many of you have ever had a sabbatical?” I have been downright shocked by how many clergy have never had a sabbatical. It’s a very high...
