Some months ago my friends at Leadership Network invited Larry Osborne, Greg Surratt, and myself to meet with young pastors of growing, larger churches over the course of a few days in one of LN’s numerous learning communities. It was a great time, and even though I was supposed to be a mentor pas...

Service Mark 9:33–35 records one of the more curious arguments in all of history—a debate between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Upon overhearing their arrogant conversation, Jesus responded in a most unpredictable manner. Rather than simply rebuking them, Jesus actually tol...

In the third chapter of Vintage Church we answer the question, "Who Is Supposed to Lead a Church?" In succinct fashion we deal with elders, deacons, church members, and women in ministry along with a few other practical issues. The following excerpt on church leadership is from Vintage Church page 6...

Continued from Vintage Saints: Young Guns, Part 1. Throughout church history God has chosen to use young people for significant kingdom work. The following are a few more examples that have greatly encouraged me, and I pray they do likewise for you. D.L. Moody D.L. Moody was one of the greatest evan...

Grace and I have personally benefited from the following books; they are easy to read and are among the best in their areas of instruction. We have recommended these books many times over the years and have purchased many copies for our friends. Bibles and Bible Study Children's Bible The Jesus Stor...

Mars Hill Church began in the fall of 1996, one week before I turned 26 years of age. At that time, nearly everyone in the church was young. Today, there is thankfully a growing range of ages, though I am admittedly starting to feel old. I often pray that Mars Hill will not simply be a church that g...

Fasting Fasting is the voluntary act of abstaining from something for the purpose of growing in self-discipline, which is the essence of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most common form of fasting is from food. This is because, as Paul says, for some people their stomach ...

Valentine’s Day is often loved by women and loathed by men, who drop their cash on flowers, jewelry, candy, and cards. Perhaps comic Jay Leno expressed the male dilemma about Valentine’s Day best in one of his monologues: “Today is Valentine's Day—or, as men like to call it, Extortion Day!â€...

On March 9–10, 2009, we will be gathering in Seattle for a boot camp with the Acts 29 Church Planting Network and the World Church Planting Summit. Anyone interested in being an Acts 29 church planter and/or Mars Hill campus pastor needs to join us. The Acts 29 Church Planting Network now has over...

Continued from Part 1. Work Work is laboring well as an act of worship that glorifies God. Subsequently, the father who goes to work, the mother who stays home to care for her young children like the woman in Proverbs 31, and the student who heads off to school are each called by God to labor in the...