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This edition is sponsored by Gloo |
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I will never forget my first move after seminary. I was 33 years old. Kimberly and I had four kids, ages two to seven. We packed our belongings and made our way to a small college town just outside of Nashville. We didn’t know a soul, but we believed God had directed us there to launch a new church with a group of people we had yet to meet. |
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To some, making a move like that registers somewhere between generally unwise and sheer lunacy. I get it—I felt it! Church planting is a high-risk venture, marked statistically by almost as many losses as gains. I did a good bit of soul-searching before and after we made the move, fueled by the sobering possibility that my calling might look and feel like a "failure to thrive". Did I expect God to do what I wanted, or did I hope to be faithful regardless of what he allowed? |
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Shortly after our arrival in Middle Tennessee, I wrote in my journal: |
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"There is a fine line between anticipation and presumption. I suppose the latter is negative because its expectations are borne out of self-centered, self-righteous attitudes. Presumption seeks blessing without responsibility. Anticipation, on the other hand, humbly awaits blessing, unsure of its form, but certain about the benevolent character of the Provider." |
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| (Aug. 29, 2000) |
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Somewhere along the way, I began to understand that biblical faith is the mark of a secure future made on an uncertain present. Rather than attempting to create a predictable, controllable present (an impossibility), I made it my aim—very imperfectly, I might add—to show up with a "Here am I, send me" frame of mind to whatever circumstances were on the menu. |
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A life of faith meant endeavoring to steward what was right in front of me, in the power of the Holy Spirit, while leaving the results to God, knowing that the ultimate outcomes were in his good hands. |
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The more I am able to rest in a future that is ultimately secure, the more I am able to courageously engage a present that is anything but certain. I am truly free to move, plant, risk, fail, cultivate, and rejoice—especially when life and ministry don’t go my way. |
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I pray this newsletter finds you full of faith in the One who called you and is working in you that which is pleasing in his sight (Hebrews 13:21). If that seems out of reach at the moment, invite one or two other leaders to walk with you through the fog until it clears. As you peruse the featured content this week, let it remind you that you are not alone; you are part of a rich community of leaders who are working out this walk of faith just like you. |
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Executive Director of CT Pastors |
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You didn't get into ministry to manage disconnected systems and outdated technology. Gloo gives pastors and church leaders a values-aligned AI platform that modernizes your workflows and data, plus marketing and donor solutions that help your church expand its reach, grow awareness, and increase long-term giving. |
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Spend less time wrestling with tech and more time doing what you were called to do — helping your community flourish. Learn more at gloo.com. |
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| Jeffrey Arthurs |
James’s epistle uses rhetorical tools preachers can capitalize on today.
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| Drew Dyck |
Is it possible to build willpower like a muscle?
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| PAID CONTENT FOR GLOO |
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Somewhere in the Midwest, a pastor sits at his desk, dreaming of ways to better serve his people. From the congregation he pastors each week to the staff he shepherds…
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| Chip Sweney and Robert Kim |
It’s not just God who is for us. We’re meant to be supported by a band of saints across dividing lines.
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| LEE ECLOV |
If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, I wonder if his grace is its destination?
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| Gregory Hollifield |
Understanding and facilitating unforgettable encounters with God.
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| Dylan Musser |
In a rootless and self-focused world, the church can provide meaning to college students by inviting them into the story of God.
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PREACHING TODAY: Fresh sermon illustrations and updates on new sermons, preaching articles and much more! |
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Each weekly CT Pastors issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. |
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