The ability to understand and identify with someone else’s struggles is a real gift. And perhaps the most extraordinary form of empathy comes when you can say, “I know what you are going through.”

As a Christian, diversifying your faith community is essential. While having a few close confidants matters, it’s equally important to welcome people of different ages, intellects, economic situations, genders, and life experiences into your circle.

You will be surprised by what other people have gone through and how they are able to offer you empathy as you walk through various seasons. You will also have the opportunity to share your compassion and sympathy with them.

Everyone eventually needs someone who will listen and provide comfort. God may have specifically placed certain people in your path, either to support you or for you to support them. Sometimes, the most comforting words you can offer are simply, “I understand your struggle and would love to help.”

Every small group experience in Church is unique and nearly impossible to replicate. What truly makes these gatherings special isn’t the curriculum but the people themselves – their diverse backgrounds, willingness to share, current life circumstances, and how conversations naturally unfold. Each meeting creates its own distinct dynamic, even with the same leader and materials.

The main thing that I want group leaders to know is to embrace this natural variation. Don’t feel pressured to cover every point in your guide or force discussions in predetermined directions. Instead, create space for authentic sharing and knowledge exchange while guiding with thoughtful, spiritually centered questions.

On the other hand, I want people who attend small groups to understand that each small group will differ significantly from their previous experiences. If you disliked a past group, don’t let that deter you; your next experience could be transformative. Likewise, if you had a fantastic previous group, approach new ones with open expectations rather than direct comparisons.

At our Church, we envision everyone participating in both weekly large gatherings and smaller groups throughout the week. While the latter often causes hesitation due to past negative experiences, I encourage you to try again. The next group you join might profoundly impact your life. You will never know what God might teach you through fellow believers unless you show up with an open heart and mind.

My temptation is to say, “I am proud of who I have become.”  I have become a mature Christian and have overcome all my shortcomings. Then, I might tell you about all the sins that are now in my past and explain how I no longer struggle with them.

That is simply not true.

I know that as a Pastor, I should have my spiritual life in perfect order and no longer struggle with sin. The fact is that I still have issues, make mistakes, and live outside of God’s will each day.

Am I a better person than I was a few years ago? Definitely yes. I try to walk closer to the Lord with every passing day. I am proud of who I am becoming. But I am not finished yet.

Just like you, even Christian leaders are a work in progress.

That is the best time to handle an issue.

People need to be educated on both positive and negative behaviors and have an adequate understanding of the consequences of their choices.

Guidelines need to be given on how to act when confronted with choices. What should people think? Where should they get advice? How do they process information correctly?

One sign that education is working is that few people are having issues because they were adequately prepared to make good choices.

Churches are not only places that help people rebuild their broken lives; they are also training centers for people to prevent them from becoming broken.  

It is Friday, and we will gather to worship in two days. I want you to know that we have been praying for you all week. One of my daily prayers is for worship on Sundays. I pray my sermon will speak to people and that the people who need to hear it will be in attendance.

Also, my first project every Sunday morning when I arrive at the Church building is to step into a back room and pray for every aspect of our morning as a Church. I pray for the worship leaders, greeters, teachers, children’s ministry, and the people who will attend that day.

Sometime during the morning, a couple of Church leaders and concerned people will also step into a room and pray for the worship. While these prayers are given as the Lord lays them on their hearts, they usually include all those serving and attending.

Finally, during the program each week, prayers will be offered for all those in attendance that day. After my sermon, I will ask God to speak to you through what you heard, and before you leave, I will ask him to bless you.

If you have something special on your mind, you are welcome to meet with a leader in person, share a request on our app, or email it to the office.

I want everyone to know that our Church has been praying for you and is continuing to pray for you. We will continue to pray as the week develops. Being with us on Sunday morning is not just about having another person to count. We want God to speak to you through us and us to speak to God for you. You matter to God and us.

Today, I received an envelope of material from AARP in the mail.

I am now solidly in my 50s, and I guess that means I am starting the last chapter of my life. While I hope there are still lots of pages to write, I do have to be realistic about the number of my days.

In Acts chapter 20, the Apostle Paul speaks with the elders of the Church in Ephesus. There, he tells them something that will be the theme for this next phase of my life.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)

When my story is over, I want people to say that during my final chapter, it was clear that I aimed to complete my work of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. I dream that my final pages will be the best ones I have written. I have more time, money, knowledge, and experience than ever before. It would be a shame to waste it all on selfish pursuits of sun and fun. I want to be a tool used by Jesus until the day I meet him face to face.

“Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” – Henry David Thoreau.

This weekend, I spent over three hours walking and looking for the antlers that deer shed in the spring. I didn’t find any, but I am okay with that. I really don’t need any more antlers at the moment, even though I still get a thrill every time I find one.

No, the reason I go walking is because I am an introvert. For me, that means that people exhaust me. I am not energized by spending time with others; instead, I feel empty and tired. One of the best ways for me to enliven my soul is to spend time alone outside.

My time outside was spent looking at nature, listening to the birds, catching a sermon online from one of my favorite preachers, and enjoying some soothing music. The time alone filled up my spirit, allowed me to think, and connected me with God through quiet prayers.

I spend a great deal of time walking and looking for antlers this time of year. People always ask me how many I find, and I smile and tell them the numbers. The truth is, I am not really after antlers.

Faith cannot be reduced to one simple line. The questions we face as believers often require complex, multifaceted responses.

Recently, a man visited my office seeking guidance about a tragedy near our Church. As I began explaining biblical teachings, I noticed his attention waning. I switched to using an analogy, but his interest continued to fade. I then returned to presenting the scriptural perspective on suffering.

When I finished, he responded with several religious one-liners about God and suffering. It became clear he was hunting for a simple, quotable response, something concise he could offer when people discussed the tragedy.

These faith slogans may be catchy and memorable, but they typically lack biblical integrity and theological depth. There are no easy answers, especially for life-shattering situations. Simple answers are like placing a bandage on a cancer patient – they might look reassuring, but they offer no real help during the actual struggle.

How many times do I need to repeat myself before the concept sticks?

This is a question I wrestle with as a Church leader. I often find myself repeating the same information over and over. Sometimes, it is the basics of the faith. Other times, it is the mission of the Church. Frequently, it is about upcoming events.

Recently, I heard a Church leader say, “Repeat yourself until you are tired of saying it, and that is when most people are just starting to catch on.”

I know there is truth to his statement because of the nature of people. Sometimes, when I say something while people are absent, other times, they are distracted. Occasionally, people hear it, but they immediately forget it for a number of reasons. Quite often, they only hear part of what I say and miss significant parts of my comments.

So, if you think you have heard me say something a thousand times, then great, my words are not for you. Instead, I am telling them to that person who didn’t hear them last time. Don’t think that I am forgetful or going senile. I am merely trying to get everyone to understand, and sometimes, it takes repeating myself a thousand times for it to stick.

No pastor knows everything. They do not have all the skills required to lead a Church. Understanding the Bible and grasping theological concepts is challenging enough; they also need insights into leadership, building maintenance, volunteer coordination, recruiting, fundraising, discipleship, outreach, event planning, organizational skills, and about a hundred other things. Every pastor is highly skilled in some areas but lacking in others.

The good news is that God gave us a Church community. No pastor, staff member, elder, deacon, ministry team leader, or volunteer is required to be good at everything. That is why we have each other. You make up for your pastor’s shortcomings, and they compensate for yours too.

The Church is the body of Christ on earth, and every part of it is vital. You may not feel like you contribute much, but as a Pastor, I want you to know that I need YOU to complete the work of Jesus on earth. We are all in this together.