While I never thought of myself as an author, writing has become a major part of my ministry over the last three decades. Almost all of my books have grown out of my counseling ministry. Earlier in my career, I discovered the five love languages and how they greatly impacted my own marriage. Of course, I wrote the book hoping that other couples would experience the transformed marriage that so many of my clients had experienced when they discovered and started speaking each other’s love language. I knew from experience how impactful the love language concept could be, but I never anticipated what would happen when the book was released in 1992.

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Adapted from Life Lessons and Love Languages: What I’ve Learned on My Unexpected Journey by Gary Chapman (©2021 Northfield Publishing). Used with permission. All rights to this material are reserved.

Ministry preparation is as old as the church itself. The apostle Paul had received formal Jewish instruction at the feet of Gamaliel before receiving personal instruction from Christ Himself. Bringing this concept full circle, Paul exhorted Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Additionally, in 2 Timothy, Paul encouraged Timothy to “entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The apostle’s exhortations ring through the ages, challenging every generation of gospel ministers to be maximally prepared for ministry service. And, by the way, Timothy knew Greek, was ministerially incubated in the apostolic age, and enjoyed Paul as his personal mentor. Think about that carefully. If Timothy needed to be intentional about ministry preparation, so do you!

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Excerpted from Succeeding at Seminary: 12 Keys to Getting the Most Out of Your Theological Education by Jason K. Allen (© 2021). Published by Moody Publishers. Used by permission.

DR. JASON ALLEN is the fifth and youngest president of Midwestern Baptist Seminary. He currently serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries, including his own website www.jasonkallen.com.

As pastors, we’re on the move! We’re movers and shakers of influence by nature. That’s how we became leaders. We have big dreams and dynamic plans. Yet, following Jesus requires that we rest.

After an intense season of ministry, Jesus offered this invitation to His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves, to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). His invitation still stands today. Rest and relaxing is to be a vital prat of our spiritual journey’s yet often pastors are reluctant. Why? Often their ego is involved. They get wrapped up in the lie that if they don’t keep moving, how will transformation happen? How will the church grow? As a result, they push harder and harder spinning their wheels in frantic activity. God’s desire for us is different. God’s heart is that Pastors will lead out of the overflow of a full heart that is well rested, relaxed and renewed daily by Him. Why? Here are just 3 reasons and there are likely many more!

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Steve and Becky Harling are veteran church ministry leaders, authors and speakers. Certified by the John Maxwell Team the Harling’s have served as Pastors both nationally and internationally.

I remember when I first heard the word “vulnerable” a couple of years ago. My wife, Julie, and I had been invited to be the CityServe National Directors for the Vulnerable Initiative, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure I knew who “the vulnerable” were. I soon learned that at CityServe, we consider the vulnerable to be special needs families, those with mental health issues, at-risk youth, pregnant mothers and the unborn. CityServe is committed to helping the local church reach the vulnerable in their communities.

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If you would like to get involved in reaching the vulnerable in your community with the good news of Jesus, please contact

Steve Kramer at [email protected]. (503-580-1544)

The coffee bean is a tiny thing that drives many people through the day. Maybe we don’t “need” it to survive, per se, but, for some, it plays a critical role in our ability to function effectively and apparently helps us live longer.

Prayer similarly has this effervescent power to move us forward through the circumstances we face and grant longevity. Unlike a caffeinated drink, though, it’s far more potent in terms of how it changes our abilities to react well to our world.

Prayer is vital because it requires humility to admit we don’t have anything under control. It reboots the system and realigns us with God’s will.

“The only way to fail in prayer is to not show up,” Tim Dilena, pastor and World Challenge board member, pointed out.

If we want to do well in our ministries and lives, we have to pray. If we want to continue to do well long into the future, we absolutely must pray.

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Rachel Chimits is a writer for World Challenge, a global ministry that aims to transform lives through the message and mission of Jesus Christ.

In response to the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan. The lawyer’s motivation in asking this question, the Bible tells us, was to evade moral responsibility, but Jesus patiently unpacked the question and the lawyer’s motivation, delivering one of His best remembered teachings in response. The question we are still asking today is: “Who is my neighbor?” Do Christians have a moral obligation to love those with whom we come in contact via the internet and VR? Is it possible to express Christian love to someone whom we know only through virtual reality and whom we have never met in person? In Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, we learn that it was not the one who was physically nearby but the one who showed love who proved to be a neighbor (Luke 10:36-37). Jesus’ concluding words to the lawyer and to use are: “You go, and do likewise.”

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Excerpted from Virtual Reality Church: Pitfalls and Possibilities (Or How to Think Biblically About Church in Your Pajamas, VR Baptisms, Jesus Avatars, and Whatever Else is Coming Next) (Moody Publishers, April 2021) by Darrell Bock & Jonathan Armstrong.

One evening, after decades of a Christianity driven by rules and performance, I came impulsively close to ending my life. Until that moment, my relationship with God had been primarily about Bible content and the discipline to obey. But that night, everything changed. Driving along a freeway in Detroit, I came face-to-face with my deep longing for intimacy with him—an overwhelming need to live surrounded by his love. There was no going back. Either God was more than distant holiness and a list of rules and commands clamoring for discipline . . . or I was done.

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J. Kevin Butcher was a lead pastor for 35 years—the last 16 in urban Detroit. He is founder and executive director of Rooted Ministries, which comes alongside isolated, wounded, and discouraged pastors and their families to help them experience the deep love of God through abiding in Jesus. Kevin is the author of Free: Rescued from Shame-Based Religion, Released Into the Life-giving Love of Jesus and Choose and Choose Again: The Brave Act of Returning to God's Love. He is a graduate of Taylor University and Dallas Theological Seminary and has written numerous articles and shared the message of the Father's love around the world. Kevin is married to his best friend, Carla, and has three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

It’s tax season again, and pastors across the U.S. are gathering the financial documents necessary to carry out their civic duty. With inherent complications of ministerial tax treatment, albeit with some benefits, how can ministers make sure their income tax filings are accurate and above reproach?

In more than 40 years of work with churches and non-profits, ECFA has observed five common tax mistakes made by pastors:

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About Michael Martin

Michael Martin is president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Founded in 1979, ECFA provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations and churches that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fundraising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, visit ECFA.church.

Truck drivers see it all the time. I’ve seen it a few times when we’ve needed to drive through the night.

It comes about the time you’ve opened the window on a frigid night. And you’ve turned to the most annoying radio station you can find. Because the night is getting long, and your eyelids are staying a little too long in the down position. To top it off, it seems like the dark has gotten darker as morning approaches.

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Taken from: Leadership Success in 10 Minutes a Day, Copyright © 2020 by Bob Phillips. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97408. www.harvesthousepublishers.com

When Curt was diagnosed with brain cancer, all of us were heartbroken. All except Curt, who stood tall and resolute. He told us God was in control. On the eve of the day the doctors would operate, our group of seven held a healing service in Curt’s home. I had never been part of something like this on such an intimate level, and from the outset I was tentative—not doubtful, just unsure. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that to you now, but I need to continue being transparent with you.

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Taken from: The Healing Power of God, Copyright © 2021 by Stan Jantz. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97408. www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Read the full article at https://pastorresources.com/curt/