One of my favourite songs is You Raise Me Up as sung by Josh Groban. Here are the lyrics. YOU RAISE ME UP Vs.1 When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary; When troubles come and my heart burdened be; Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come … Continue reading You Raise Me Up
For the first 30 years of his life, Jesus was boring. He was an unknown carpenter who wasn’t doing “big” things for God. He worked alongside his dad, using his hands to shape, shave and tack together pieces of wood. He quietly studied the scriptures, and grew in stature with God and men. He didn’t … Continue reading Jesus’ and the Routine of Daily Work Life
This week we've been talking about Your Work, God's Work. Did you know that the average person today has 5-7 complete career changes in their life time? That's an average of 10 different jobs with an average of 4.1 years at each workplace. I sure help the average, having worked as a builder's renovator, a … Continue reading Work Trivia + Some Unusual Jobs in Demand
Did you know that the average person spends about a third of their life working, a third of their life sleeping, and the other third with family or friends (when they are not working or sleeping … or on the internet!). That mean’s that over half of our waking hours are spent in the workplace. … Continue reading Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.1)
I like to start each day with some time alone ... with God. I read and reflect on the Scriptures (check out the CityLife Bible reading schedule for 2013) as a means of connecting with God. I also like to write my thoughts out in a journal. Sometimes I'll just record what has been happening … Continue reading 3 Great Questions to Start the Day
Another day begins. What's in store? What could God be up to? What would it look like if we did life together with Him? The apostle Paul once wrote … Col.3:17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the … Continue reading Doing Life With God
The third morning was about "leadership succession." I was asked to speak and here is a summary of what I shared. Out Story CityLife Church (originally called Waverley Christian Fellowship) is a multi-site church based in Melbourne, Australia. It began in 1967 with a small group of people led by its founding pastor, Richard Holland. … Continue reading Leadership Succession (Mark Conner)
The first morning of our gathering focused on "leadership wounds." Restoring Wounded Soldiers Pastor Abe Huber, who pastors a church of 60,000 people in Brazil, noted that the church is the only army that shoots its own wounded. How can we do better? 1. Don't forget the good that wounded or fallen soldiers have done. … Continue reading Leadership Wounds
Last week, I spent a few days in Dallas, USA with leaders of a number of significant churches from around the world (primarily the non-Western world). I love to be around leaders who have more capacity and experience than I do. It is a terrific opportunity to learn and grow. It stretches and challenges me. … Continue reading Learning from Leaders
The more involved you become in church leadership and ministry, the greater the temptation is to lead by your own gifts and abilities rather than out of intimacy with Jesus Christ. A daily relationship with Jesus is the key to freshness in ministry and an ability to impart life to people, rather than just run … Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders – #7 Pray
It is essential that ministry leaders keep growing and developing their God-given potential. 1 Tim 4:12-16. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. … Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders – #6 Grow
It is so easy to become busy managing what currently exists, that we fail to take time to improve what we’re doing let alone consider doing things differently or doing new things. As leaders, we must work on tomorrow not just keep up with today. This is what innovation is all about. We serve a … Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders – #5 Innovate
Much of your effectiveness as a leader will be directly related to your ability to build a team of people who are passionately committed to the ministry you lead. Team building is leadership the way God designed it (Mark 1:16-17. Eph.4:11-16). The “team building” process includes four important tasks: 1. Gather – recruit people to … Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders – #4 Build Your Team
In addition to leading your ministry, you must also manage it well (1 Tim.3:4-5, 12). “Leadership” can be defined as “doing right things” (effectiveness). “Management” is “doing things right” (efficiency). Both are important and necessary in ministry. Managing involves a number of tasks: 1. Leading - management involves ensuring that everyone knows the specific purpose … Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders – #3 Manage
Although there is to be one mission and one direction for each church, there are many expressions or ways that these are outworked. Like a highway with many lanes, a growing church provides opportunity for many different and unique ministries to thrive and flourish within the context of its overall purpose, as long as there … Continue reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders – #2 Lead
