Benedict on church leaders

Posted on April 11, 2017 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

In his book Turning Points, Mark Noll quotes from St. Benedict’s instructions on selecting an abbot. As I read it, I thought that it is very applicable to church leaders in any generation so I thought I would share it here.

Inward vs. Outward Focus

Churches can have an inward focus (all about nurturing the members) and/or an outward focus (all about reaching those outside the church). It is my belief that in a healthy church, these two should both be present. I have been to churches that were so focused on body life that they became ingrown and unfriendly to outsiders. […]

Christian on Christian crime

So rather than revel in (and gossip about) the failures of others, it seems that we should be honest about our own. We then might have an opportunity to point to Jesus as the one who accepts us as we are.

On bread, fish and urban ministry

I thought of a little boy who was going to a church meeting carrying his lunch. It was about two thousand years ago when Jesus was teaching the crowds and the disciples came to Jesus suggesting that he disperse the crowd so that they don’t pass out from hunger. Jesus took that boy’s lunch of bread and fish and multiplied it so that everyone could eat.

Standing in the Light – Four Considerations for Defending the Faith

While Driving this morning, I had a chance to listen to an Apologetics 315 podcast featuring an interview with Peter Kreeft. If you have not subscribed to the Apologetics 315 podcasts, I strongly suggest that you do so if you have any interest in Christian apologetics. Brian Auten does an outstanding job of interviewing apologists […]

A warning to teachers

Teachers must have a healthy distrust of his own heart and an openness before God to allow correction in his own life. Teachers must allow the prophetic voice in their own lives before they can be that voice to others.

The LORD and the LORD alone is my shepherd

Human leaders will fail us, no matter how good their intentions. Psalm 23 reminds us that God alone is the shepherd that will care for us no matter what.