Minister's Toolbox

234 - From Prison To Pulpit- A Life Transformed

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 09:07:00 -0400

Gary DeRosa faced hard time after deciding to rob a local bank shortly after he was married. After six years in prison, he met a drug dealer who invited him into the world of crime. Hear his inspiring story about how Christ captured his heart and took him from Prison to a pulpit sharing his faith with the world.

EP 233: Why Some Fear The Upcoming Revival

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 16:24:00 -0400

For many years, pastors and their congregations have cried out for God to send revival, but do we know what we are asking for? Revivals of the past brought massive upheaval in the church, often condemned by the very leaders who prayed it would occur! Are we ready for a genuine revival in our day? Is it possible, that it is already underway? Let's talk about that in today's video.

EP 232: Is Deception Undermining Your Ministry?

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:33:02 -0400

Technology has dramatically increased our access to information and teaching. It has also afforded many Christian celebrities to influence hundreds of thousands via YouTube and other platforms. Have people in your church endangered their faith by listening to the "prophets" of social media? During this podcast, I want to identify one source leading people toward a destructive belief system at odds with scripture. Don't miss it!

EP 231: Should Pastors Take A Job In The Marketplace

Wed, 25 May 2022 05:35:23 -0400

Have you ever been ashamed to ask for a raise at your church? Do you find ministry discouraging because you cannot pay your bills and work part-time to meet expenses? Join me as I interview Jon Sanders and Les Hughes from Entrepastors. They share an utterly refreshing approach to how pastors can engage the culture without compromising their calling.

Connect with Entrepastors.

See my recent book recommendations.

EP 230: Is Your Preaching Missing The Target?

Wed, 18 May 2022 02:13:02 -0400

Bible Schools, seminaries, and denominational meetings spend enormous amounts of time helping future ministers preach well. The focus is doctrine, presentation, and effectiveness, but something basic is often missing. Ministers spend on average eight hours preparing sermons, but many fail to make an impact. Have we been missing the target by failing to recognize something obvious to our hearers? Join me today for an insightful podcast.

EP 229: Are You A Human Being Or A Human Doing?

Tue, 10 May 2022 20:49:03 -0400

Most of us have preached or used this phrase in our ministry, but have we ever turned the spotlight toward our vocation? Tragically, most pastors evaluate themselves based solely on performance, using comparison with others as the chief standard. As a result, most pastors live emotionally depleted lives, running from pillar to post to prove their self-worth. Today, we take a step back to ask a few simple questions to ensure the health of our souls.

Have You Been To The Cross Lately?

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 19:32:59 -0400

The cross is a message pastors preach in thousands of churches throughout the world each week, but what does the cross mean in real-time? Paul said that he lived a crucified life and, through that experience, preached the gospel. What does it mean to live a crucified life, and how does that impact a pastor's life and ministry?

EP 227: Is That A Light At The End Of The Tunnel Or An Oncoming Train?

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 09:49:08 -0400

Pastors face problems, challenges, and trials of their faith each day. It is frustrating when many do not get resolved and pile one on top of another. Have you ever reached the breaking point and, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, learned that it is yet another trial heading your way? Welcome to the club! Today, I share a biblical yet straightforward strategy for turning trials into triumphs, and the secret is hidden in plain sight. Join me! Connect with me at @ministerstoolbox@gmail.com.

Check out R.T. Kendall's Book.

EP 226: Are You Casting Your Pearls Before Swine?

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 05:00:03 -0400

Whether you realize it or not, you have accumulated pearls throughout your time as a gospel minister. These pearls have value, but are you sharing them with people who don't appreciate them? Jesus' warning is particularly appropriate for those in ministry who give so much of our time, only to be devalued by those who should know better. I speak today about your pearls and how to avoid pigs!

View the video series on the prophetic.

Check out my books on Amazon.

EP 225: Why Pastors Are Some Of The Most Unforgiving People On The Planet

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:04:17 -0400

Unforgiveness is challenging - especially when people hurt or slander our reputations. Pastors are no different when it comes to releasing those who have hurt them. Today, I share a universal problem that nearly every pastor faces in day-to-day ministry with respect to forgiveness. I hope you can join us!

During the podcast, I share a free resource for any leader who wants to explore the biblical gift of prophecy. Many seem to misunderstand how this gift is designed to benefit the church, and some misuse it all together.

EP 224: Has Worship Lost Its Meaning In Today's Church?

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 14:52:40 -0400

Some might rightly ask, Has worship lost its meaning In Today's Church? Churches worldwide compete to display the "best" worship sound, lights, band, or voices. Is that worship from God's perspective? Some churches declare they have "contemporary" worship. What is that, and is the statement true. The sad reality is that our worship, in many cases, is just another form or ritual we endure before listening to a sermon. Is that what God meant in John 4:24 when Jesus said the Father is seeking worshippers? Probably not. What does New Testament worship look like, and has the church fallen away from what God defines as the worship He enjoys? Join me today for an inciteful examination not of our style but of our methods in worshipping the One, True, God.

During today's podcast, I mentioned, Bob Sorge. You can access his books on Amazon.

EP 223: Does Your Life Or Ministry Need Realignment?

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 08:56:07 -0500

If you're driving your car and notice the steering wheel pulling in one direction or another, it should alert you to a problem with your wheels. In all probability, your tires are out of alignment, and if you don't get this fixed, they will wear out faster and more unevenly over time. The same principle applies to many things in life and particularly ministry. Due to the recent pandemic and seemingly endless crises in the news, many leaders have unknowingly fallen out of alignment with God's vision, direction, or purpose in their vocation. Today, I speak about getting back to some basics of what ministry is truly all about.

During the podcast, I mentioned my latest book, Foundations that you can view on Amazon.

EP 222: What Happens When Your Ministry Dreams Become Nightmares?

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 01:33:47 -0500

When choosing to follow Christ into church ministry, the vast majority of us embrace the call with high expectations. We have dreams of reaching many people, and building a large, effective church. Along the way, life happens. In many cases, our dreams turn into nightmares. What is God doing and where did our dreams go? Join me for this important podcast!

EP 221: You Better Not Change Your Church If You Know What Is Good For You!

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:32:42 -0500

Changing the way you interact with the public is crucial to reaching emerging generations. Unfortunately, most churches are stuck in old ways, using old methods that are no longer effective. How can a leader guide a church through change with the least amount of conflict? Join me for today's podcast.

EP 220: What Has God Anointed You To Accomplish?

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 09:14:54 -0500

The word anointed means different things to different people. What is the biblical basis for anointing and how does it apply to the church today? Do you know what God has anointed you to accomplish? Is this how you spend the majority of your time? Some important questions to consider on today's podcast.

EP 219: A Unique Problem-Solving Device You've Probably Never Heard About

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 12:27:10 -0500

Ministry is about problem-solving. People come to us with all kinds of difficulties, and we are called to help them get a resolution. What about our problems and challenges. Today, I share a unique problem-solving method you've probably never heard about that can change your life in the future (and it comes from an unexpected source).

EP 218: The Secret Ingredients For Selecting Church Leaders

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 21:42:51 -0500

In this second part of a two-part series, I expand on last week's discussion about the qualifications for church leadership. Paul taught Timothy to look for people who manage their own houses well. What does that mean? What are the ingredients necessary to manage one's house well because this determines how they will manage God's house?

During the podcast, I mentioned the progress made with our Wells For Zimbabwe Project. Enjoy this brief video showing the sheer joy of people receiving fresh water.

https://youtu.be/LOLf6x27JW0

EP 217: Developing New Leaders In Your Church

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 08:18:00 -0500

If we fail to raise the next generation of leaders in our churches, the work we do now will have little or no impact. How do we discover and then train new leaders to pick up the mantle for the next generation? Join me as we follow Paul's directions for selecting new leadership.

EP 126: One Small Change That Will Transform Your Life And Ministry

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:35:25 -0500

Would you be willing to make one small change to transform your life and ministry? Today, just by making a simple decision, the trajectory of your life can change. By making this adjustment, God will do amazing things in your family, your life, and your ministry. Join me now!

EP 215: What Is The Purpose Behind Your God-Given Authority?

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 19:32:17 -0500

Have you wondered, "What is the purpose behind your God-given authority? Anyone truly called to ministry is granted authority to advance His Kingdom on earth. How does someone receive this authority? What is it used for? When can authority become dangerous? How should authority be used in the church? During today's podcast, I discuss the origin and use of legitimate spiritual authority.

Do you need help discerning proper spiritual authority? Check out this link.

EP 214: The Greatest Threat Against Pastors In 2022

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 19:49:57 -0500

Pastors can think of many things that threaten to derail their ministry: financial woes, sexual temptation, carnal board members, and several others. Today, I speak about a threat that most pastors are unaware of, yet if left unattended, is potentially lethal to effective ministry in 2022 and beyond. Join me for this noteworthy podcast!

In today's podcast, I offer a free download. Get it here.

EP 213: A Simple (& Free) Tool To Help You Develop New Leaders

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:54:05 -0400

Wouldn't you appreciate a simple, free tool that could help you identify and train new leaders for your church? You're in luck! During today's podcast, I will share a simple tool that requires little or no training on your part but can yield amazing benefits to your ministry.

Buy Me A Coffee!

Leave a Fresh Review On iTunes

EP 212: How To Bring The Presence Of God To Your Church

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:42:06 -0400

One of the most basic tasks of any minister is to preach in such a way that people experience the Presence of Almighty God. Some think that a scholarly presentation of scripture will accomplish this, yet people leave disappointed. How can we bring the Presence of God into our church that leaves people wanting more?

Did you want to help contribute to making this podcast possible? Click here to buy me a coffee.

EP 211: How Pastors Can Change The Culture

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:38:23 -0400

On today's podcast, I interview Greg Holder, lead pastor of The Crossings. Greg is an author and speaker with a passion for the local church and how God designed us to thrive. His leadership and influence have taken him around the globe, helping communities, churches, pastors, and leaders work towards spiritual, relational, and organizational health. Today, we discuss how pastors can change the culture of their church and city.

Get Greg's New Book, Genesis One.

Connect With Greg.

Would you like to help support this podcast? Buy me a coffee!

EP 210: How To Reach Prodigals

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 16:04:51 -0400

Lathan Craft knows something about reaching prodigals. Growing up, his mother worked as an exotic dancer. Then tragedy struck when both his parents died before he was seven years old. At his mother's funeral, the pastor told the audience she was a Christian (which he knew not to be true). This pushed him away from the church, but God intervened in his life. Lathan developed a heart and skill to reach those forgotten or neglected by the church. Don't miss this fantastic testimony!

During today's podcast, I offered a free download Lathan wrote called, Three Reasons People Are Actually Leaving Your Church. This brief ebook will give you insights on how to reach prodigals.

EP 209: One Simple Change That Will Revolutionize Your Ministry

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:02:18 -0400

Leaders lead. We all know that. But do we understand the difference between leading and managing? Most of us think they are the same. Your church needs management to be sure but needs a leader even more. Today's podcast shares a simple change in how you do ministry that will revolutionize how you see yourself and your calling. Join me!

During the podcast today, I mentioned the work of Dean Radtke at MinistryInstitute.org. I encourage you to interact with his materials.

Another resource I did not mention during the podcast is Seth Godin speaking about the differences between leadership and management. Though not ostensibly Christian, you will find his word pungent in separating one from the other.

I also mentioned a brief video you can watch about our work in Zimbabwe. We are partnering with Foundationsforfarming.org to train residents on how to utilize the water from their new wells. Watch the brief video here.

Connect with me about any of my books that might help you in ministry at caseysabella.com.

EP 208: Will The Church Come Out Of The Closet?

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 14:40:34 -0400

The Church has largely remained silent over the past decade whenever the acronym LGTBQ is mentioned. Some denominations have adjusted their theology to accept and welcome homosexual and transgender communities into their leadership ranks. Others declare their love for the LGTBQ community to avoid a media backlash. In this second part of a two-part interview, Matthew Karchner shares his journey as a committed member of the gay community for many years, telling why he left. Listen as he shares insights on how to reach those practicing the LGTBQ lifestyle and share the truth of the gospel of Christ. Don't miss it!

Although not an official endorsement, these two are ex-gay ministry resources:

https://settingcaptivesfree.com/
https://harvestusa.org/

I am also willing to help in terms of talking through issues, praying with, and giving advice. My parents are great for sharing lessons learned with parents of those who struggle. - Matthew

Here is our testimony video series:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFqVfr5Dl7kBYd7K2_EMiMSIn_-virRZX

Here is how to contact us:
castawayministries.org/contact

EP 207: Straight - An Ex-Gay Prodigal Story

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 03:00:00 -0400

The Church has largely remained silent over the past decade whenever the acronym LGTBQ is mentioned. Some denominations have adjusted their theology to not only accept but welcome the homosexual and transgender communities into their leadership. Others strain to declare their love for these communities while avoiding any hint of rejecting people for fear of media backlash. You don't want to miss this two-part interview! Matthew Karchner shares his journey as a committed member of the gay community for many years, why he left, and his view on reaching the homosexual and transgender communities with the truth of the gospel of Christ.

I mentioned my recent trip to Zimbabwe. Here is a summary of our work there.

To connect with Matthew.

EP 206: The Subtle Strategy Aimed At Destroying The Next Generation

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:04:57 -0400

The Church largely ignores the subtle strategy destroying young people today. While we prepare sermons to inspire, Satan is busy infecting the next generation with misinformation designed to damn their souls. How can we combat this demonic strategy in our churches? Today, I interview Dennis Ritchie from Oasis Church in Cheshire, CT, who shares insights from the Book of Daniel.

Connect With Dennis Ritchie

Like my Facebook page to follow us in Zimbabwe

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel to watch Videos From Zimbabwe.

EP 205: From Seal Team Commander To Full Time Evangelist

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 02:39:17 -0400

Commander Michael H. Imhof, U.S. Navy (ret.), and former Navy SEAL, was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and raised in Blasdell, New York. He attended the State University College of New York at Buffalo, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in Coronado, California, Commander Imhof was assigned to SEAL Team TWO, subsequent Naval Special Warfare commands, and other duty assignments. He was commissioned in 1973.

Commander Imhof, possessing a Naval Special Warfare designator, has served throughout the world in numerous positions. Assignments include Platoon Commander, Training Officer, Operations Officer, Staff Officer, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer. A graduate of the U.S. Army Special Forces Officer Qualification Course, he earned a Master’s Degree in Administration from George Washington University. He served as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. His awards include Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars in place of second and third awards; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star second award; United Nations Medal; and other service awards.

He has lived in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Panama, South Korea, Liberia, Sudan, Somalia, Sinai, and Afghanistan, besides serving in numerous other countries. On 17 December 1981, he was hijacked in Southern Lebanon while on duty with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. He believes his later escape was truly a blessing of God. Commander Imhof, a military officer of strong Christian convictions, is ready and willing to share his faith with all. He is convinced that the Bible is the authoritative and uncompromised Word of God and gives thanks for the wonderful blessings of God in his life.

Connect with Mike.

Watch Clips About Zimbabwe.

Watch The Prophecy Series.

EP 204: Why You May Not Be Getting The Respect You Deserve

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 02:16:49 -0400

The majority of pastors suffer from low self-esteem. They wonder if their labors are making any real impact on the congregations they serve. Some of this may be due to allowing people to usurp or even ignore their directives or decisions. It is impossible to lead a church without owning the respect due to every servant of God. If you've lost that, let me help you get it back.

During the podcast, I mentioned some resources to help your ministry.

Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith.

Wells For Zimbabwe. Use this link to contribute.

Recovery Center Of Greater Waterbury

EP 203: How A Local Church Helped One Man Beat Suicide

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 06:35:56 -0400

Have you ever felt lost in your life, with no hope, no options, no direction, and fear so suffocating you couldn't breathe and wanted to die because it would be easier? Sadly, 40% of Americans are dealing with at least one mental health or drug-related problem which was only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Suicide is a global public health crisis, causing around 800,000 deaths annually along with many more attempts.*

Men demonstrate higher suicide rates than women at all times and across regions and ethnic and socioeconomic groups. And young adults, especially young men, are handling the pandemic the hardest. With almost 75% struggling, what is even more alarming is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 1 in 4 said men had thought about killing themselves in the past 30 days.

Thomas Russo, Jr. has been in their shoes and has risen above multiple challenges to find the solution to finding success in life. Through his book, There Are No Politics In Heaven, motivational speaking, and new upcoming coaching program, Vortex of Excellence™ (available September 2021), Thomas teaches strategies to pull individuals from the darkest depths of their brokenness to find happiness and improve their lives. He is living proof that change is indeed possible.

Connect with Tom.

Buy There Are No Politics In Heaven.

Watch on YouTube.

EP 202: You're Not Ashamed Of The Gospel ... Or Are You?

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 19:26:49 -0400

When I say the word "gospel," most people think of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. While true, is that the whole gospel? Are there elements of Christ's teachings we shy away from declaring for fear of how people will respond? Are we unknowingly ashamed of the gospel of Christ?

During today's podcast, I invited you to connect with me on YouTube. Would you take a moment to subscribe to my new series, Prophetic or Pathetic?

EP 201: How To Develop New Leaders In Your Church

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:26:50 -0400

Today's Interview is with Jeff Orr. Jeff is an expert in leadership, holding two master's degrees in Business and Leadership (MBA, MSL) from Grand Canyon University. He speaks to thousands in the private sector as well as on University campuses about leadership, building a thriving corporate culture, and the critical importance for developing the next generation of leaders. Jeff coaches executives, business owners, and individuals with the tools and skills to lead more effectively, build high-performing teams, and experience true success in their careers and personal lives. His client list includes Google, GE, NBC, Chase, Verizon Wireless, Paypal, Merrill Lynch, Edward Jones, and many others. Jeff’s passion for helping leaders grow comes through in his engaging and energizing keynotes using humor and story as a catalyst for professional and personal growth. His most recent TEDx keynote, Millennial Leadership: The Key to Your Organization’s Success, has challenged thousands of leaders nationwide to rethink how to engage and develop Millennial leaders in their organizations. His latest book, Inside the Mind of a Millennial Leader, engages Gen-X and Boomer leaders to focus on building into the generation of leaders.

Connect with Jeff

Get a copy of his newest book.

Watch my newest series, Prophetic or Pathetic on YouTube.

EP 200: How To Break The Cycle Of Shame In Ministry

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:15:02 -0400

Can you believe it? This is my 200th podcast. Wow. Where did the time go?

During today's podcast, I interview Dr. Bill Senyard. Bill is Dr. Bill Senyard is an experienced pastor, discipler, church revitalization specialist, lecturer, and conference speaker with 25 years as a local church pastor. He is the author of twelve books and two online experiential paths to help people who struggle with identity, relationships, shame, addiction, loneliness, and forgiveness.

Connect With Bill @https://gospel-app.com/paths/the-dance

Use promo code Toolbox for a special 50% discount.

Don't forget to watch the interview on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE!

EP 199: Do You Walk By Faith Or Maintenance?

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:04:17 -0400

Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith, it is impossible to please God. When we look at our schedules and all the tasks needing attention and completion, how much of what we do is "by faith?" If we are honest, MOST of our labors speak more of maintenance than accomplishing things in partnership with God. A challenging and encouraging discussion awaits on today's podcast.

During the podcast, I shared about my friend in Zimbabwe who needs a heart operation.

I also shared about my latest book you can order through Amazon. If you would like to order in bulk at a substantially reduced rate, email me at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com.

EP 198: What Are The Signs Of A Healthy Church

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:36:33 -0400

In this final part of my two-part interview with Dr. Joe Martin of RealMenConnect.com, we discuss how to discern the difference between a church with problems or a problem church. How does an abuse victim break free from the toxic behaviors that continue to plague them long after leaving such an environment? Join us for an important discussion!

Check Out My Book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith.

EP 197: How To Help Wounded People Who Come To Your Church

Mon, 24 May 2021 21:39:01 -0400

People arrive in our churches with a myriad of problems and challenges. One of the worst challenges is wounds from spiritual abuse - the misuse of authority from other church leaders. Today, we turn the tables and interview...ME! Dr. Joe Martin interviews me from his national podcast. Join us for part one!

More About Spiritual Abuse book.

Can you offer me an honest review? It will only take a second. Review on iTunes.

Listen to Dr. Martin's Podcast

EP 196: What Do You Do When Life Falls Apart?

Tue, 11 May 2021 06:30:07 -0400

Gerard Long is a professor of life and death, having experienced a blessed life, followed by the darkest valley of suffering after the suicide of his beloved youngest son, the near break up of his marriage, and the unbelievable death of his beautiful daughter. As if this wasn’t enough pain, in the same eight-year period, his beloved sister and brother also died, as did a nephew! Rising from the ashes, he faced financial ruin after the betrayal of a ‘friend’ and exceptional medical bills following his cardiac arrest and his beautiful wife’s bladder cancer! Gerard has walked with God through his unbelievable journey and, in Living Hope, he shares the treasures he discovered in the darkness.

Watch Gerald and Jeannie's Video.

Connect with Awakening To God Ministries.

Read Gerald's newest book, Living Hope.

EP 195: One Thing Remains. A Powerful Testimony of Transformation.

Tue, 04 May 2021 08:40:34 -0400

What if you woke up in a hospital bed not knowing why you're there? What if you also had no memory of the church you pastored for several years or of any of your church members? David Carroll was told he had amnesia and that his memories might never return. Join us today for an incredible interview with David and Shannon Carroll as they share their journey and how God transformed their lives.

How to get a copy of One Thing Remains.

Connect with David & Shannon.

Learn more about my new book, Foundations.

EP 194: One Reason People Are Not Returning To Church After COVID

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 03:00:00 -0400

Barna reported that up to 50% of certain age populations never intend to return to church once all restrictions are lifted after COVID 19. Why? Many excuses are listed, but none seem to address the underlying issue: Christian foundations. Many leaders have unwittingly taught their people that pulpit ministry is the central reason to gather. Now that the internet has made it possible to watch from the comfort of their homes, tens of thousands of Christians see no reason to go to church! During today's podcast, I discuss a resource to help change your church into a discipling center rather than an online alternative to meeting in person.

To purchase your copy of Foundations, go to www.caseysabella.com

EP 193: From Chaos To Recovery. Interview With Chris Faett

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:37:29 -0400

On Today's Podcast, I interview Chris Faett who shares his journey from chaos to recovery. This inspiring testimony will encourage you in your work of reaching people who need Christ. Chris and I are working together to build the Recovery Center of Greater Waterbury, a program for substance abusers and an outreach to the homeless community.

Connect with the Recovery Center

Connect with Recovery Center on Facebook

Connect to Minister's Toolbox online.

EP 192: From The Archives: Why Jello Is Not A Good Way To Die.

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:50:14 -0400

During this podcast, I shared a personal story from our family that impacts how I do ministry each and every day. What has God called you to do for His Kingdom? One day, we will stand before Him to give an account of how we spent the resources entrusted to us. Are you on track for giving a good report on that day? This podcast from last year was one of our most listened to podcasts and I know it will encourage you to fulfill your ministry.

I invite you to

Subscribe To My YouTube Channels

Podcast - Every podcast in 2021 is also recorded live on YouTube. Subscribe to get notified as soon as it is posted.

Books - This is my author page where you can also hear weekly sermons from the church I pastor.

EP 191: From Rags To Riches To Ruined To Redemption (Part Two)

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:06:02 -0400

Dr. Joe Martin is an award-winning international speaker, author, educator, and certified “man builder." His life’s story can be summarized in one simple sentence: “He went from rags to riches to ruined to redemption.” Join me for the second half for this powerful testimony to God's goodness in the midst of deep pain. Learn how to reach men for Christ in your community.

Investigate the many resources available on his website: Real Men Connect.

Watch on YouTube.

EP 190: From Rags To Riches To Ruined To Redemption (Part One)

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 05:10:29 -0400

Dr. Joe Martin is an award-winning international speaker, author, educator, and certified “man builder." His life’s story can be summarized in one simple sentence: “He went from rags to riches to ruined to redemption.” Join me for this powerful testimony to God's goodness in the midst of deep pain.

Learn more about his ministry to men @Realmenconnect.com

EP 189: How Not To Throw The Baby Out With The Bath Water (Part Three)

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 05:47:29 -0400

When most of us hear the word, "prophet" we think of Old Testament figures like Isaiah or Jeremiah. Anyone considering themselves a prophet today is typically viewed as people with behavioral or mental problems. Paul taught that Christ gave this gift to His Church to equip people to do ministry work. Further, he commented that God's ultimate plans for His people will not come to fruition unless prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers, and evangelists work together as a team. Most pastors want nothing to do with prophets or prophetic ministry due largely to the misuse of this God-initiated ministry. Is that a valid excuse for rejecting the life-changing resource? Today, I complete a three-part series on prophecy, the prophetic, and prophets. Join me!

EP 188: How Not To Throw The Baby Out With The Bath Water (Part Two)

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 18:41:09 -0400

In this second of a three-part series, we delve more deeply into this mysterious yet biblical gift of prophecy. What is the "life" gift of prophecy, and how does it differ from a gift of the Holy Spirit? How can we know if a person possesses the life gift of prophecy? Why is misunderstanding this gift potentially dangerous to a local church? Some important questions I answer during today's show.

Be sure to check out my new author page at caseysabella.com.

EP 187: How Not To Throw The Baby Out With The Bath Water (Part One)

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 17:33:58 -0500

The hot topic in the church these days is prophecy. Some believe it only belongs to the first century. Others use it as a mechanism to make a name for themselves or create a following. Today's podcast is the first of three, speaking about prophecy's biblical gift and proper use. There are three levels of prophecy in the New Testament. Today, we will briefly discuss the first. Join us!

Check out my new author's website: www.caseysabella.com

EP 186: How To Attract More Young People To Your Church

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:31:28 -0500

Many churches throughout the western world are dying of old age. The average age of many congregations is fifty and above. How can we reverse the trend? Does it mean filling our churches with new lighting and special music? No, says Ryan Sweat, student ministry pastor from Jackson Beach, Florida. Listen as he shares four ways older churches can attract more young people. (Not as hard as you think!)

Get the free download.

EP 185: Are You Investing Into One Of Your Most Valuable Assets?

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 07:34:24 -0500

You and I carry around a treasure (II Corinthians 4:7). Is this treasure confined to a weekly sermon alone? I have shared about publishing in episode 53. Today, we delve a little deeper into the importance of writing. Here are some free resources that will enable you to publish and market books. Few vocations are more suited for publishing than those who work in ministry.

Get Your Free Download!

Get my latest book!

Check out my new website!

EP 184: Have You Made A "Feet-First" Commitment To God Yet?

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 13:45:00 -0500

"Feet-First" is a term younger people may not be familiar with. Typically, if someone has been injured or died in a tragedy or as the result of a crime, they are carried out of the building feet-first. Feet-First also means nothing will dissuade you from accomplishing the ministry God has entrusted to you. Have you ever been or ever experienced a moment in life when God asked you to do something impossible? Join me today for a challenging podcast.

Download my new book, Foundations.

EP 183: Is The Pandemic Destroying Your Church?

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:42:34 -0500

Barna reports that half of Millennials (aged 24-40) do not plan to return to church as normal when the pandemic is lifted. After countless sermons, the research indicates many believers have no concept of what a New Testament church is or what it means. What can be done to stem the tide?

Here is the Barna Report

Email me at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com for information about my new book, Foundations.

EP 182: Should The Church Be A Non-Prophet Organization?

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 06:53:52 -0500

In the past few months, a host of "Prophetic" minister's predicted the outcome of the American election. They were wrong. However, few apologized or acknowledged their error. Instead, they pivoted to a soon coming revival and many in the Christian world said nothing. Why? A few thoughts on the legitimacy of prophecy and its effect on both the Church and the world.

I referenced a YouTube video by a young man with a similar heart for integrity within the Body of Christ. https://youtu.be/T4ldKZbkJ1E

Leave an honest review of the podcast, here.

EP 181: How To Reach The Marketplace For Christ

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 05:59:05 -0500

Today's interview is with Krish Dhanam who shares his testimony of how God led him from India to be mentored by Zig Ziglar. Listen as we discuss how pastors miss the opportunity for evangelism by not equipping their business leaders how to share their faith.

Krish's ministry has spoken at events for the U.S. Army, Christian Dior, Toshiba, Hitachi, Apollo Hospitals, EDS, Texas Instruments, Pepsico, and Energizer Batteries. Uniquely gifted in corporate evangelism, churches throughout the world have engaged Krish to share marketplace ministry to their congregations through his engaging style of preaching, reaching, and teaching the world about the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Connect With Krish.

Leave an honest review on iTunes.

EP 180: How To Outsmart The Devil In Your Computer

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 06:34:25 -0500

We seldom associate our computers with Satanic activity (unless we're speaking with tech support!), but technology currently spies on us 24/7. Are there ways to reduce our digital footprint in a quest to reach people with the gospel of Christ? What are the consequences if we don't? An important discussion on today's podcast.

During the podcast, I offer a free guide to alternative social media companies to avoid censoring and increase privacy.

EP 179: Are You Fighting For The Right Kingdom?

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In these challenging times for churches, you need to clarify which Kingdom matters. Many leaders invest most of their time into building what they think is God's Kingdom, only to discover too late, they spent their labors in the wrong place. A frank discussion about the mission for every church leader.

Would you consider writing an honest review for my new book, Foundations, in exchange for an audiobook version when published? I was hoping you could email me at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com for details.

EP 178: Scandal, Lies and Cover-ups.

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 06:20:06 -0500

Ravi Zacharias are leaders who have had tremendous impact on society and the church. Due to sexual indiscretions, their reputations have brought scandal to Christ's Church. Are they any different than the average, local pastor? No. All fell victim to something basic that we need to talk about on today's podcast. Join me for a heart-to-heart discussion.

During the podcast, I reference an article in Christianity Today.

I also mention my book dealing with Spiritual Abuse.

Don't go it alone in ministry! The cost will be everything you labored to achieve!

EP 177: Going Where No One Has Gone Before

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In this second of a two-part interview, I speak with Brad Brandon, pastor of First Bible Baptist Church in Plainville, CT. Hear how his life changed after a visit to the ICU and how God led him to reach thousands in a far away land among a people antagonistic toward the gospel. It will blow your mind to hear how God transformed an entire region when Brad learned to obey the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.

Connect with Brad's Ministry Outreach.

To receive my manuscript and offer an honest review of my upcoming book, Foundations, email your request to ministerstoolbox@gmail.com.

EP 176: From Fundamentalism To Freedom

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 02:44:50 -0500

In this first of a two-part interview, I speak with Brad Brandon, pastor of First Bible Baptist Church in Plainville, CT who experienced an extraordinary miracle which changed his life. Listen to how God led him to participate in a miracle that eventually lead thousands to Christ in a most unlikely place.

Learn more about Brad.

To read the manuscript of Foundations and offer an honest review, email me at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com.

EP 175: Isn't It Time You Got Back On Mission?

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 18:01:57 -0500

Many pastors have allowed the current pandemic to limit or even destroy their mission. Today I interview Dr. Walter Sims whose enthusiasm and encouragement will help you get back to your calling. Listen as he shares his inspiring testimony, or watch on YouTube.

Connect with Dr. Sims

Join me on Facebook.

EP 174: How NOT To Become A Best-Writing Author

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 17:54:36 -0500

Nearly every pastor has compiled enough material over the course of their ministry to write one or several books. During this pandemic, pastors are limited by who they can visit, where they can go and even if they can meet as a church. Why not take this extended "time off" to write a book? It is not as difficult or expensive as you once believed. Let me show you how.

Get the Free Download

EP 173 - Something You Offer That Cannot Be Found Anywhere Else

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 12:32:29 -0500

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that Christ is the one thing we offer you cannot find anywhere else, but that is not what I want to speak with you about today. Your church offers more than you think. Oftentimes, we forget the unique privileges every Christian can access by being properly related to God. What can we learn from C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien that will help the church reach the lost?

During the podcast, I asked if you would like to be one of the first people to review my upcoming book, Foundations? If so, email me at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com.

I will send you the manuscript, and after you write an honest review on Amazon, I will send you a copy of the book when it is published.

EP 172: How To Deal With Wolves In Your Midst

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 14:37:48 -0500

Paul warned the Ephesian elders about vicious wolves who would not spare the flock of God. Like it or not, part of a pastor's job is to identify and deal with spiritual wolves that threaten the welfare of people in our congregations. How do you spot them? What is an effective way to deal with them. Tune in to an important session.

EP 171: Has Your Love For Ministry "Waxed" Cold?

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

COVID, elections, rioting, churches closing, masks...where does it all end? Jesus warned his followers that in the last days, the hearts of many would "wax" cold. That doesn't sound good. Many church leaders struggle to keep their passion from slipping into depression and despair as they consider the state of our world right now. How can you avoid becoming someone whose heart for ministry dies a passionless death. Allow me a few moments to share a personal experience that will encourage you.

EP 170: Taking The Church To The Streets

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In this second of a two-part interview, David B. Smith shares with us about his ministry to the "least of these." From his personal experience as an addict for more than a dozen years, David found freedom in Christ.

David and his wife connect with people in need and partners with pastors and churches to share the gospel in practical ways. This is a great opportunity for pastors to train members in real-time needs-based evangelism while working with a para-church ministry.

Taking the church outside the walls of our churches is the only logical way to reach and then equip church members to do the work of ministry.

Contact David.

EP 169: From Church To Cocaine And Back Again

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

David B. Smith shares his testimony of a preachers kid who grew up angry at God and left home at 15 years old. After more than a decade of crime, drugs and homelessness, God brought him back to Himself through the kindness of a child. This first part of a two-part series will inspire your faith.

More About David's Ministry.

EP 168: How To Deal With The Occult In Our Midst

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 13:08:45 -0400

Church leaders often don't realize how the occult has or is influencing members of their churches. Today, a frank discussion about the influence of the occult on peoples' lives along with some ideas about how to counter the deception in our communities.

During today's podcast, I referenced the Wells For Zimbabwe project.

EP 167: Why Pastors Struggle To Find Friends

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 16:42:20 -0400

Pastors are some of the loneliest creatures on our planet. Most of us were trained or told that we cannot be friends with people we serve. Is this true? If so, precisely where can we find friends? How is a church affected when their pastor is friendless? Are we hindering the cause of Christ by living isolated lives?

During today's podcast, I offered a free download.

Keep in mind, that I am now publishing podcasts on YouTube.

EP 166: How To Stop Losing Money To The IRS

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Every year pastors lose money by paying extra taxes they are not required to pay. Why do they do this? Ignorance of the benefits afforded to ministers. Many know about the housing allowance benefits, but don't take advantage of them properly. As a result, they are donating more of their income to the government. Unless you are intending to be a benevolent contributor, you shouldn't miss today's brief discussion on how to pay your fair share and no more!

During the podcast, I mentioned a few resources to consider as you investigate what to do in your individual situation.

Guidelines From The IRS

Additional Resource

EP 165: How To Fulfill Your Vision Despite Present Circumstances

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 07:17:40 -0400

Today I interview Jan Nel, a long-time friend and missionary from Thailand. He shares how his ministry changed when COVID hit. How can we continue building relationships across the world and fulfill God's mission for our churches despite the current crisis? The harvest is still ready and those who adapt will reap it for the Kingdom.

Watch the Interview on YouTube.

Link to Jan Nel

Participate in a Zoom Meeting.

Listen to our recent Men's meeting via Skype with Jan.

First interview with Jan, sharing his testimony.

Link To Jan Nel on YouTube.

EP 164: How To Avoid Losing Your Right Eye. (Not As Easy As You Imagine.)

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 21:03:07 -0400

Has the Church lost it's way? Is it possible that we have gradually abandoned our mission to accommodate the whims of government and/or cultural mores? When you consider the absence of key elements in our preaching, we are forced to conclude that the answer is regrettably, yes. Today, I share some things on my heart that gravely concern me. Join me for a frank discussion or risk losing your right eye.

If you'd like to watch the podcast as I record it live, check me out on YouTube.

During the podcast, I referenced, Streams of Consciousness. These are some home-made videos I recorded at the beginning for the pandemic recording thoughts from my "alleged" mind. One of these videos was banned from YouTube, so will remain forever hidden!

I also referenced the most recent CDC information - even though it seems to always be changing!

Here is one pastor's solution to the restrictions of the pandemic.

EP 163: How To Invest Wisely For Your Future

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0400

One of the top reasons ministers leave their vocation is financial problems. Issues such as salary and housing are discussed in Episode 11. Today, I want to speak with you about your financial future. At one time, I worked bi-vocationally in the financial planning field. Allow my experiences to help you plan for a better future.

Learn more about why pastors need to be paid properly and resources for salary issues here. During today's podcast, our major focus is on how to plan for the future.

During the podcast, I mentioned Nick Murray who shares ten tips for investing.

EP 162: Confessions Of A Bootstrap Church Planter

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 05:00:30 -0400

On Today's Podcast, I interview Steve Hinton, author of the book, Confessions, Finding Hope Through One Pastor's Doubt. Steve shares his journey as a pioneer church planter and how betrayal nearly shipwrecked his dream to plant a new congregation. I know you will be encouraged!

Today is also my first attempt to produce interview podcasts live as they occur. You can watch Steve and me on YouTube.

Steve's book, Confessions is available on Amazon and also as an audiobook. You can learn more about Steve @www.kingdomology.com and SteveHintonAuthor on Facebook or Twitter.

EP 161: The Language Of Racism

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:15:25 -0400

America has been in upheaval since the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer May 25, 2020. Since then, Black Lives Matter has come to the forefront of the news and political discourse. What is the church's role in addressing and diffusing racism? Today's podcast will probably not be what you expect as I discuss some of the aspects of our common language that exacerbates the problem.

During the show, I referenced an article by the Conservative Clergy Of Color (CCC). You can read it here.

EP 160: How To Convince Men To Live For Christ

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Women outnumber men in church attendance nearly two to one. Why is that? Is there a secret ingredient that motivates men to consider the gospel? How can church leaders not only attract men to join but develop them into tomorrow's leaders? Today's interview with Kevin Harris, President of Radical Mentoring will help you with ideas and resources sure to help change the course of your ministry!

Kevin is the President of Radical Mentoring, a small group mentoring process that helps pastors engage men and build a core group of leaders. He is passionate about assisting church leaders that desire to incorporate small group mentoring into
their disciple-making strategy.

Learn more about Radical Mentoring and the free resources for churches @radicalmentoring.com

EP 159: How To Hear God More Clearly

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 05:00:00 -0400

Has God ever drawn near to you at a time when it seemed like He was far away? God uses the sufferings we go through to share himself with us when we listen. This second part of an interview with Ed Tuttle is rich in content. Two powerful testimonies that will inspire and amaze you. Don't miss it!

During the interview, I mentioned two books: 1) How To Be Ordinary & 2) Leading With A Limp

We also discussed, Eric Metaxas, who has become a major influence throughout the world for Christ.

Would you like to contact Ed? Eklektos is his graphic design business. If you or your ministry needs design work, you may contact him by clicking the link.

EP 158: How You Can Learn To Be Ordinary

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0400

When we hear the word ordinary ascribed to a church or person, it usually comes across as a put down of some sort. God looks at ordinary differently. On today's podcast, I interview Ed Tuttle who shares with us an out-of-print book called, How To Be Ordinary. This book played a massive role in helping him become all God intended him to be. Don't miss this incredible podcast!

During the podcast, we spoke about the book, How To Be Ordinary by Arthur Burt. Click the link to receive your free .pdf copy.

Ed is a talented graphic artist. Connect with him at eklektos.com

EP 156: How To Know When It Is Time To Quit The Ministry

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 15:21:10 -0400

Thousands of ministers quit the ministry every single year; some for legitimate reasons and others due to various pressures. Is God leading you to quit the ministry and do something else with your time? An important question and discussion that may change your life.

During the podcast, I asked you to please leave us an honest review on iTunes. Leave a review on iTunes here. For PC or Android users, subscribe to Google Play.

Thank you!

Check out my recent books.

EP 155: How To Prepare For What Comes Next

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 06:18:29 -0400

Censorship is not something I thought I would ever talk about in public or from the pulpit. Times change. Today, I underline the seriousness of our time and what we must do to prepare our churches for an uncertain future.

View the video that got censored from all the media platforms.

During today's program, I reference Stream of Consciousness, which started me thinking about censorship.

If you would like to enjoy a few hymns along with me, just click here.

EP 154: Why Eating Jello Is A Terrible Way To Die

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 15:52:26 -0400

I'm quite sure you have never considered this question before, but by the end of this episode, it will make perfect sense. In this midst of the current pandemic and social upheaval, how should pastors lead their churches without succumbing to the fear and trauma around us?

During today's podcast, I referenced my grandfather, James McGovern. Here are some clippings from his brief career in the New York Yankees.

Here is more information on COVID 19: CDC, Statistics

Visit my new YouTube Channel.

EP 153: 5 Tips For Re-opening Your Church

Tue, 05 May 2020 19:26:08 -0400

People out of work? Churches shut down by government decree? Did the communists take over? No. We chose to close fearing the effects of COVID 19. In a few weeks, it is time to re-open. Here are 5 tips to get your church open again including three special downloads.

Get my hilarious video, How to Make Videos No One Will Ever Watch.

Get Your Free Re-open Download Here

Assembly of God Guidelines to Re-open

EP 152: 5 Rules and 4 Tips To Improve Your Online Ministry

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 18:44:13 -0400

The current crisis forced churches everywhere to think differently about how they do ministry. Some leaders were ready while others scrambled to up with a plan. During today's podcast, I share five rules YOU MUST implement immediately to improve your online ministry. Too many leaders use Facebook Live incorrectly. The changes listed in this podcast are simple and easy to implement.

Included in the podcast is a free download that will help you become a pro online in just a few minutes. It also contains resources you can use to enhance your effectiveness.

EP 151: How To Protect Your Joy From A Virus

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 09:00:50 -0400

The current coronavirus crisis has changed how we do church. In many cases, this pandemic threatens to take our joy away, as churches are prevented from meeting. Today, let's talk about real joy and how to protect ourselves from people and circumstances that steal it.

During the podcast, I mentioned two ways to keep in touch during the pandemic. My personal Facebook page is where I will be checking in each day. The title is Stream of Consciousness and will feature any variety of topics, depending on what interests me at the moment.

The second Facebook page will be primarily focused on ministry and is designed for pastors and church leaders. The topics will be ministry centered and be more sporadic in frequency. Just like the page, and you will be notified when I am broadcasting.

EP 150: Would You Rather Be Famous In Heaven Or On Earth?

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:35:52 -0500

The need for affirmation from peers and the public is much stronger than any of us realize. That drive can easily derail God's will and purpose for our lives and ministry. During today's podcast, I speak about our need for acceptance weighed against God's mandate for us to fulfill His will. Can you truthfully say that your motivations are Kingdom-driven? You might be surprised by what you learn!

Connect with the ministry resources I mentioned at the end of the podcast here.

EP 149: I Guarantee This Formula Will Work! (Sometimes...)

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 08:42:50 -0500

The Bible contains many formulas, each designed to advance His Kingdom. Many popular preachers and teachers guarantee results will materialize if anyone follows their teaching. Is that true? Why do some formulas work for some and not others?

Have you enjoyed this podcast? Consider taking a moment and offering an honest review on iTunes if you have not done so already. Just use this link and thanks!

EP 148: How To Talk Yourself Into (Or Out Of) Defeat

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 17:36:53 -0500

The scriptures place a strong emphasis on the words we speak and how they change both our present and future destiny. Leaders preach this, but do we apply it to ourselves? Ministers can talk themselves into defeat by practicing self-defeating behaviors. On today's podcast, I offer some easy solutions for changing your daily behavior to ensure success.

During today's podcast, I offered a free download to help you make important personal changes.

I also referenced a fantastic book called Natural Church Development that I highly recommend.

EP 147: Can You Pass The Foxhole Test?

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 15:02:20 -0500

Foxholes have saved many lives. They are not pretty or even comfortable but have kept many soldiers alive. Who is in your foxhole in the daily battles of life? Do you have a foxhole friend? Are you one? An important discussion on today's podcast.

If you would like to participate in the beta launch of my upcoming book, Foundations, email me at Casey@ministerstoolbox.com. Participants will receive a draft copy of the manuscript. I ask for your ideas and input before I finalize the book. When it is published, you will receive a free copy and audiobook version.

EP 146: Radio Interview

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 09:54:57 -0500

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Sarah Carabetta of Acts4 ministry hosted an interview I did to share about missions and the Wells for Zimbabwe Project. This is the truncated version. Enjoy!

Some may remember Sarah from podcast #10. Connect.

Learn more about Wells For Zimbabwe.

Give to build the next well system.

EP 145: Why Most Teaching About Tithing is Unbiblical and Dangerous

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 11:16:44 -0500

The vast majority of church leaders, who are bold enough to teach on tithing may actually be damaging the body of Christ more than helping. On today's podcast, I look at how tithing as a practice has gone completely off track and is in danger of becoming heretical. An important discussion. Join me!

Have you ever given Minister's Toolbox an honest review? Could you do it now? iTunes.

Share via Text or Email.

During the podcast, I mentioned my new book, Minister's Toolbox. It makes a great gift!

EP 144: Do You Have A 2020 Vision?

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 11:14:41 -0500

What is your vision for the coming year, personally and corporately? People (and funding) follows a clear vision. If your congregation is unclear about where they are going, is it any wonder they lack enthusiasm for the journey? A few practical tips on today's podcast.

During today's show, I referenced two other podcasts that deal with some of the practical aspects of mission and vision. You can listen here or here.

You also heard me mention my new book, Minister's Toolbox. This would make a great Christmas gift to yourself or a fellow church leader! If you purchase the Kindle version, read a chapter or two and then give me a review, send me a screen shot of the review and a photo of your purchase receipt and I will send you an audiobook version for free (value: $17). Just email me at casey@ministerstoolbox.com.

In addition, I referenced our ongoing well project in Zimbabwe. Here are three videos that tell the story of how the well project developed over three years.

EP 143: How To Make People Feel Stupid

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:06:15 -0500

It is hard for most of us to admit, but it is nice when we see those who have besmirched our reputation have to eat crow. There is a certain pleasure we get from making people feel stupid for saying and doing wrong things against us. Oddly enough, scripture encourages us to make certain people feel stupid! We'll look at that on today's podcast. Join us!

During the podcast, I mentioned a new book I am working on entitled, Foundations. I have been preaching each chapter at another church in our region. You can watch on YouTube.

I also referenced my latest book, Minister's Toolbox. If you are hunting for a book to give your pastor or if you'd like one yourself, grab a copy. If you purchase the Kindle version and give me a quick review on Amazon, email me the receipt @ministerstoolbox.com along with a screenshot of your review and I will send you a free audiobook version valued at $15.

EP 142: His Banner Over Me Is Black?

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:10:06 -0500

How does your sanctuary stack up with your plans to reach new people? While we oftentimes cannot do a great deal about the outside of a church building, what does the inside tell visitors about your mission and purpose?

During the podcast, I offered a free survey that you can download and pass out to parishioners or leaders to get their feedback. I encourage you strongly to get the download and use it to discover whether changes are needed in your worship space.

Did you get my new book yet! Makes a great Christmas gift for your favorite pastor - even you!! Click here for audiobook version.

EP 141: What To Do With Toxic Church Members

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:01:37 -0400

Whole churches can be ruined or even destroyed when leaders fail to deal properly with toxic people. On today's show I give practical guidance about how to keep your church healthy and growing by addressing people who gossip behind your back.

Today we talk about this very serious subject. After covering some basics, I realized there was much more to say, so created a special free download with additional scriptures and notes. Make sure to grab your copy! I included much more information in the download.

During the podcast, I mentioned a Facebook group called, Pastor To Pastor. Kathleen Lin created it a few years ago to be a forum where pastors across the nation and the world could experience a certain degree of community by sharing thoughts and ideas. 1500 pastors are part of this great network! Here is the link to get involved.

During the podcast, I also shared about how you can get a gift for your favorite pastor - even yourself! Click here.

Listen on:

EP 140: Are Small Churches Obsolete? Some Experts Think So.

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 06:00:00 -0400

As mega and multi-site churches increase, is the end near for churches with under a hundred members? Some missiologists think that small churches will disappear from the landscape in a few short years. Are they right? An important discussion on today's podcast.

During the podcast, I mentioned Francis Chan latest venture. I also reference the largest church in the world.

I also spoke about Minister's Toolbox, my newest book. Get one for yourself or a minister you respect.

EP 139: How Fruitcakes Can Derail Your Ministry

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 16:15:51 -0400

Fruitcakes are more than just obligatory gifts we give to acquaintances at Christmas. They can permanently derail our ministry. With apologies to fruitcake lovers, I am not speaking about a psychological disorder, but something far more insidious in today's podcast. Join me.

During the podcast, I mention the three videos I recently completed that tell the story of our Wells For Zimbabwe project. Enjoy.

I also mentioned my first and recently released book, Minister's Toolbox. Consider it for your library or as a gift to your favorite church leader.

Also, we are now sharing our podcasts in video form on YouTube.

EP 138: Are Church Leaders Relationally Challenged?

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 12:09:34 -0400

Pastors are in the people business. Because of their public ministry and preaching, most people naturally assume they are experts at personal relationships. Many have expertise in counseling families and conducting premarriage sessions. Ironically, however, most pastors have few if any friends. How is that possible?

During the podcast, I mentioned my book about Spiritual Abuse which includes a testimonial about my father.

I also referenced three new videos about the Wells For Zimbabwe project. Listen and watch this podcast on YouTube.

Finally, if you would help us with an honest review, you can do so here. Listen on this website or:

EP 137: How To Get The Resources You Need For Effective Ministry

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:09:34 -0400

Would you like a quick reference guide to get instant encouragement in your role as a spiritual leader? On today's podcast, I share several snippets from my new audiobook, Minister's Toolbox. Enjoy!

During the podcast, I shared how to acquire a free audiobook version of my new book. Just purchase the book (paperback or Kindle version), read a chapter or two and then give a brief, honest review here. Send the screenshot to casey@ministerstoolbox.com and I will send you a unique code that grants you access to the audiobook for free.

Listen Here Or On:

EP 136: How To Communicate Gooder

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 14:09:32 -0400

All relationships thrive or perish based on communication. How leaders communicate with their congregations affects how they will either take action or ignore the information. On today's podcast, I share some insights on how to help your congregation respond better to the programs and events designed to help them grow in faith and community.

Listen On:

Watch this podcast on Youtube.

I referenced Text In Church, a paid service that enables you to set up automatic texting and emails over a six-week period to church visitors. A very effective way to stay in touch automatically.

I mentioned a special video about the moment we hit water in Zimbabwe. Learn more about our well project and get involved.

Check out my newest books!

EP 135: What Can You Do With Wounded People Who Get Stuck In Their Faith?

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Wounded people come into our churches all the time. Many times we can help them but what if the wounds came from another church's abusive practices or behaviors? How can we help them if they won't trust us? Today, I offer a special treat: the audio version of chapter two in my book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith.

If you will purchase the book or download the Kindle version, give me a quick review on Amazon and then send me a receipt for your purchase and the screenshot of the review, I will send you a free copy of the audiobook version valued at $15.

Currently, I am in Zimbabwe at the time of this podcast. Follow me on Instagram at Zim_Wells.

EP 134: Is The Mission You Decided To Accept, Impossible?

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 11:14:41 -0400

Most churches have a mission statement, but can members easily recite it if asked? Probably not. More importantly, does your mission statement mean anything beyond a trite religious phrase that honestly has no impact? We talk about the importance of mission and why the absence of a clear one dooms your church to frustration.

During the podcast, I referenced a few opportunities.

First, you can get a free audiobook copy of my first book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith, by downloading the Kindle version or purchasing the paperback, giving me a quick, honest review on Amazon and sending me a screenshot of the receipt. I will then send you a code giving you the free copy of the audiobook.

The same offer applies to my new book, Minister's Toolbox: Helping Church Leaders Stay Strong In Their Callings. Email me the receipt ministerstoolbox@gmail.com

We are now broadcasting the shows via our YouTube channel.

Finally, you can stay in touch with our mission to build well systems in Zimbabwe by following me on Instagram @Zim_Wells or this link if you would like to contribute. Most of our contributions to date have been private, but the go fund me account has enabled us to raise funds from people in other parts of the world.

Transcript of Today's Podcast

Listen On:

EP 133: Is Your Congregation Going To Heaven? Perhaps Not.

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 11:07:42 -0400

This seems like an odd question, but how sure are you that members of your congregation are heaven bound? Before you answer quickly, on today's podcast we review some of the things Jesus said about His Kingdom that challenge the assertion of most American and Western Christians. Today's podcast will challenge you to go deeper in your preaching and ministry.

During the podcast, I invite you to get a free audiobook copy of my first book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith. Purchase the paperback or download the Kindle version, send me the receipt when you leave an honest review and I will send you a special code to give you the audiobook version free.

The same offer is extended for the Kindle version of my newest book, Minister's Toolbox. Download the Kindle version, send me the receipt after you leave a review and the audiobook version is yours!

Thank you for your encouragement and support!

EP 132: Is Your Ministry Approved By God?

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 16:10:24 -0400

Paul charges Timothy to study or labor intensely to gain God's approval for his ministry. Exactly how does one do this? We know we are born again by grace, but what does it mean to gain God's approval? Are there steps we can take that guarantee his approval? What are common things leaders currently do that do not have His approval? We chat about all this on today's podcast.

During the podcast, I share some of the books that have greatly impacted my ministry.

In addition, I offered a download that covers the 5 tips To Gain God's Approval.

Transcript of the Podcast

EP 131: Does Your Ministry Matter To Anyone?

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 15:43:06 -0400

For all the sacrifices leaders make, does any of it really matter? We invest hours into meetings of all types, counseling, sacerdotal ceremonies, mentoring...etc. and often see little progress. Is it time to jump ship and do something else with our time?

At the end of the podcast, I updated everyone about new pictures from our well project in Zimbabwe.

Transcript

Share this podcast on Twitter or Facebook.

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help tremendously, and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.

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EP 130: Three Simple Tips To Improve Your Mental Health

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 14:21:48 -0400

Among the top three challenges every minister faces is depression. There are several reasons for this. One is loneliness; another is attempting to carry the problems and burdens of others in distress. Whatever the cause, there are three quick adjustments you can make that will clear your mind and strengthen your mental health on today's podcast.

During the podcast, I spoke about Vivo, an adjustable desk that gives you the choice of standing or sitting while you work at your desk. Click here to watch a demonstration. Click here if you want to see more options to fit your need here.

Get The Transcript

EP 129: Not-So-Instant Replay: Dennis Ritchie

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 09:07:21 -0400

How does someone go from dabbling in drug abuse and various eastern philosophies to becoming the Sr. Pastor of a thriving church community? Listen to Dennis describe his journey. You can reach him @celebratethejourney.org

EP 128: Not-So-Instant Replay: Jan Nel

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 07:02:51 -0400

I interviewed Jan Nel in November of 2015. For those unfamiliar with his ministry, Jan has traveled the world for several decades equipping church leaders to meet the challenges of ministry. His insights have helped many thousands fulfill their destinies in Christ. Here is his testimony of how it all began.

EP 127: Not-So-Instant Replay: Jack Chamis

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 16:55:13 -0400

Jack shares an amazing testimony of his recovery after a horrific accident left him as a paraplegic with no hope of regaining the use of his body. God had other plans.

Currently, he is the pastor of Oasis of Life Christian Church in Rocky Hill, CT.

If you wish to investigate whether physical healing is relevant to ministry today, this free download examines several scriptures with questions and commentary for your consideration.

EP 126: Not-So-Instant Replay: Overcoming Depression

Wed, 29 May 2019 06:47:55 -0400

Last October, I shared an interview I did with Pastor Ken Gray who shares his journey through dealing with depression. Church leaders don't want to admit that they struggle with this issue - sometimes often. Ken's raw honesty will encourage and strengthen you in your quest to serve God's people.

EP 125: How To Deal With Fruits, Flakes and Nuts In Your Church

Tue, 21 May 2019 20:12:43 -0400

Fruits, Flakes, and Nuts are people who come to our churches with various problems and agendas. Each is unique and we need a strategy to address them once we identify their type. Unless we address them properly, they can damage our church's health and future.

Transcript of Today's Podcast

Listen On:

EP 124: Prophetic Ministry in the Church, Part Two

Tue, 14 May 2019 10:46:15 -0400

Are all prophecies valid? What should leaders do with people who claim to speak for God but interrupt or behave contrary to your standards? What are ways we can promote legitimate prophetic ministry without yielding to people who don't manifest the character of Christ? Today, we talk about prophetic protocols of leaders in the church. This is part two from a seminar conducted for 60 regional leaders.

Howard Renker is currently the Sr. Pastor (soon to retire) at Bethel Christian Church. Together with his staff, Bethel has been at the forefront of steering legitimate prophetic ministry toward the building up of the church for many years.

Listen On:

EP 123: Prophecy in the Local Church, Part One

Tue, 07 May 2019 09:09:31 -0400

The gift of prophecy has the potential to be an enormous blessing or terrible curse for the church depending on how it is managed. God gave this gift for edification, encouragement, and comfort. In practical terms, how does this unique gift function? What are the protocols? Why is it mentioned separately as both a gift and a ministry? During this first of two sessions, Casey shares insights into how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as a leader so that the church may receive the maximum benefit.

Listen On:

EP 122: The Gifts That Keep On Giving

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:43:16 -0400

What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit meant to accomplish? These misunderstood tools provide acceleration in our quest to reach people for Christ. Why do so many churches ignore or even attack these enhancements as a threat to the gospel? An important discussion on today's show.

At the conclusion of the podcast, I offer a free download.

Read the Transcript

EP 121: The Elephant in the Room - Speaking With Tongues, Part Two

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:33:38 -0400

In this third installment, I dig deeper into why speaking with tongues is much more important to the Church than we realize. Why do people treat their practitioners with such contempt? Why did God make it occupy such a central role in church history? Has it truly vanished as many attest? Scripture alone must become the final judge.

During the podcast, I offer a free download.

Read the Full Transcript

EP 120: The Elephant In The Room - Speaking With Tongues

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:56:23 -0400

Probably the most controversial subject the church has faced in modern times concerns gifts of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues has been maligned, misapplied, misunderstood and misused for decades. Ironically, it played a central role in world history. Today, we begin a two-part series examining this curious gift and whether it is applicable for today.

During the podcast, I offer a free download to help you prepare for Easter. You can also gain access to the transcript here.

Ep 119: The Elephant in the Room Needs Peanuts!

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 10:14:50 -0400

Elephants are often kind and gentle creatures we admire unless they are traipsing through our living rooms! Today's church has an elephant in its collective room that we talk about during today's podcast. Unless we acknowledge the elephant and address it, we will continue to suffer the consequences.

A special shout out to everyone who has contributed to Wells For Zimbabwe. We sent $2000 to complete the first well project and have received pledges of $3750 to start drilling in another rural area of that impoverished country. Thank you!!

EP 118: Should You Trust a Dead Man? I Would.

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:18:35 -0400

Jesus said something unusual about humans. He said we were all untrustworthy! Does Christ trust anyone today? Fortunately, the answer is yes, but they belong to a very small group. On today's podcast, I speak about consecration; what it means and how to bring people in your congregation to a place of total surrender.

During the podcast, I mentioned Wells for Zimbabwe, the ongoing project we created to help fellow believers there. Recent reports following the cyclone of last month, have made their situation particularly dire. Currently, we are $500 away from completing the first well project. Learn more here and thank you for praying!

EP 117: Is Your Church Butt Naked?

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 07:40:56 -0400

What does Noah's experience with his three sons have to do with pastoral ministry today? How can we influence the culture of our churches to become more inviting to the unchurched? The answers may not be as complex as you might think.

The church lady was a character Dana Carvey created in the 1980s which became famous for depicting how people see churches.

Please consider leaving an honest review of Minister's Toolbox to help us spread the word.

To learn more about me or get information about my recent book, click here.

EP 116: How To Get Your Head Into The Clouds

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 18:34:26 -0400

In both the Old and New Testaments, God reveals Himself through a cloud. As a leader, can you recognize God when He shows up? Are you able to follow the cloud and lead others to do so? What happens when leaders follow their own cloud?

Unless leaders know where and how God leads, they cannot direct their congregations towards God's best for their lives.

During today's podcast, I offered a free download, Following The Cloud Of The Holy Spirit.

I also gave a shout out to a local church that has partnered with us for Wells for Zimbabwe, an initiative to meet a desperate need in the impoverished country of Zimbabwe. All donations are tax deductible.

My new book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Identify and Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith is ideal for those in your church who have been hurt by a negative church experience. Help them get their passion back!

EP 115: Shouldn't You Write Your Own Book?

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 11:37:14 -0400

More than any other vocation, pastors are perfectly qualified to write books. So, why do most avoid the topic? Many still think it costs too much, but that is no longer true. You can publish a quality book without any cost via Amazon. Let me show you how.

During the podcast, I share a special download for those wanting to get started. You can download it here.

I also mentioned my own book to help victims of Spiritual Abuse. This is perfect for those in your church who have lost their passion and tend to sit in the back pews without ever volunteering.

EP 114: How To Manage Your Time Before It Manages You

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:42:21 -0500

Pastors always reply to inquiries from peers by saying, "I'm really busy." Sometimes we are, but are we busy fulfilling God's mandates for our lives or pursuing fruitless endeavors that only waste time? Today, one outstanding tool to help you get time under control.

During the podcast, I mention three resources. First, the Productivity Planner, which I highly recommend and use.

The second is episode 14 where I discuss another resource for managing your time.

The second, is my first book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Identify and Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith.

EP 113: Well, What Do You Know?

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:35:46 -0500

Someone once said, "Knowledge is Power." Is that true in ministry? How valuable is your study to both God and man? In today's episode, we discuss how knowledge advances or detracts from impacting your ministry.

During today's podcast, I share an update about Wells for Zimbabwe and upcoming news about two new books. The first is now available on audiobooks.

EP 112: Do You Suffer From Myopic Vision?

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 04:09:20 -0500

As a leader, can you see what God has placed right in front of you? If so, you are rare. Most pastors are so entangled with growing their church that they fail to recognize the resources God has given them. Some powerful advice that won't cost you a dime!

During the podcast, I offered a free download of quotables from Skye Jethani's book, Futureville. You can download this free resource above or buy the book here.

I also mentioned our ongoing project, Wells for Zimbabwe. You can learn more about his amazing initiative here.

EP 111: Epistolic Ministry

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 06:20:38 -0500

Most of us have never heard of epistolic ministry even though it is a central theme in Paul's letters. In today's church, have we lost sight of who God has called us to be as leaders? How can we recapture the true essence of our calling? On today's podcast, learn how to become an epistolic leader.

During the podcast, I also mentioned our progress building wells in Zimbabwe. If you would like to learn more about this vital project or consider helping us, go here.

EP 110: Why Discernment Is Something You Cannot Do Without

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 05:00:00 -0500

One key reason people do not follow many leaders is their lack of discernment. What is this important character trait? Can you learn it? What happens to ministries that fail to use discernment?

During the podcast, I invited you to give us an honest review on iTunes or subscribe (for Android or PC) @ Google Play. Would you take just a few seconds to do this as it really helps us get the word out?

I also mentioned that you can follow me on Quora, a new social media platform designed to help seekers answer important questions.

EP 109: Overcoming Depression in Ministry

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 03:41:35 -0400

Ken Gray, a long-time pastor, and friend share his journey through depression to victory. It is not the road you might expect. Thousands of ministers suffer in silence the same malady which affects millions. You will be inspired!

At the end of the podcast, I mentioned a 4-minute video sharing my recent trip to Zimbabwe and how you might become involved. You can view it here.

You can contact Ken @gkenneth@sbcglobal.net

EP 108: What Is Your Promised Land?

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 18:36:11 -0400

You have a vision for ministry anchored by the promises God has given to you. Peter told us that these and other promises enable us to become partakers of God's character and nature. How do the promises God gave you become a present reality?

EP 107: Just Who Do You Think You Are? (Part Two)

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 03:11:43 -0400

We continue our discussion about spiritual authority. How does it function through you in your church? What is legitimate authority and when should it be exercised?

During the podcast, I mentioned my books. I also shared an upcoming book to be used as a handbook for pastors. Let me know if you would like to receive an advanced copy.

At the end of the podcast, I also spoke about Wells For Zimbabwe. Click the link to learn more or contribute. Thank you for your support!

EP 106: Who Do You Think You Are? (Part One)

Tue, 15 May 2018 09:15:37 -0400

How much authority should pastors use to fulfill God's mandates for their ministry? What does genuine spiritual authority look like and why is it that few pastors understand it? If we are unsure whom God has called us to be, we will also be unclear about the authority He has called us to exercise. On today's show, the first in a two-part series: Who Do You Think You Are?

During the podcast, I mentioned my book, When a Good Church Goes Bad available in paperback, Kindle and narrated on Audiobooks.

EP 105: How To Attract New People To Your Church

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:33:39 -0400

Jesus gave a very specific strategy for attracting new people to our churches. During today's podcast, I share the secret in plain sight which will yield results if followed.

During the show, I shared a link for more information about an upcoming trip to Zimbabwe. You can access it here.

In addition, I mentioned our free download page where you can access all our free downloads.

EP 104: The Fatal Flaw In Denominationalism

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:56:08 -0400

One attribute guaranteed to destroy any church of any size operates in stealth mode. To the trained eye, it is most visible in denominations or associations of churches. Can you guess what it is? We discuss it during today's show.

A few of the links I mention:

My first book, When A Good Church Goes Bad.

My upcoming missions trip to Zimbabwe in August 2018.

EP 103: What Is Your Template For Ministry?

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 10:47:37 -0500

Templates are forms that help us be efficient with our time and presentation of the gospel. They can also become great hindrances to the activity of the Holy Spirit in our churches. How do we use templates in a way that glorify God and thus enhance our ministry?

During the podcast, I mentioned you can get an example of a useable sermon template here. I also mentioned that all previous downloads are available here.

EP 102: How To Find New Leaders In Your Church

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:46:27 -0500

Anyone can select new leaders. That is easy. However, choosing the right people for leadership is critical. Failure to put the right people on the bus according to Jim Collins (Good To Great) can and will destroy any organization or church. How do we select the right leaders to carry on the vision we set in place?

During the podcast, I share four key characteristics essential for choosing new leadership.

During the podcast, I reference:

Episode 75 addressing the issue of taxes for pastors and MileIQ, the free app that helps you keep track of your ministry miles without ever lifting your pen. Try it for free. If you like it, the professional version is just $60/year.

EP 101: Are You Building Christ's Kingdom Or Your Own?

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 13:35:05 -0500

Jesus told Peter that upon his confession of faith, He would build HIS Church. Without realizing it, most pastors are building their own kingdoms, not God's. How can I say that? During the podcast, I will share the unmistakable reason why this is unfortunately true with help to change.

During the podcast, I mention a free download that you can access here.

EP 100: How To Stop Teaching False Doctrine (Part Two)

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:57:26 -0500

We who lead will be judged to a higher standard than everyone else because of what and even how we teach. We looked at Calvinism last week. We turn our attention to Arminianism now.

Arminians hold forth the idea that man is not spiritually helpless, but has the free will to choose or reject God. While the lost sinner needs God’s grace to repent, man can choose using his free will. According to Arminianism, man can resist the Holy Spirit and reject the grace of God. Therefore, Arminianism holds that it is possible to lose one’s salvation.

The Bible is not a weapon against each other but a weapon against darkness. Darkness is not defined by adherence to Calvinism or Arminianism but by straying from the teaching of Christ and his word. We delve more deeply into the contrast between Calvinism and Arminianism during the podcast.

Read more about the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism

Want to take advantage of all our free downloads? Just go to ministerstoolbox.com/downloads

EP 99: How To Stop Teaching False Doctrine

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 08:36:38 -0500

Sound doctrine are two words that are foundational to the work of any pastor.

Many of us attended seminary, Bible School or some training system where we were eventually ordained. Other leaders attested to our call to ministry and in most cases validated that our doctrine was sound enough for us to teach others.

I am going to deal with two sacred cows, and it is likely you have not heard or will ever hear someone speak the way I intend.

Both philosophies, if fully embraced lead to doctrinal error. That is a pretty strong and heady statement, and I hope you will give me time to explain myself both this week and next. This week, we'll examine Calvinism.

I also mention a new feature on our website allowing you to access all the downloads we've offered during the first 98 episodes. You can access them for free here.

EP 98: How To Stay Encouraged Even When You're Not

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 10:17:40 -0500

Have you ever felt discouraged enough in ministry to want to quit? If you’ve never felt like that, I doubt you’ve been in ministry very long!

Ministry is challenging for several reasons.

Church members often fail to live up to your expectations. They don’t seem to care about lost souls or dedicating themselves to the work of ministry. They view the church as just another event to compete with their crowded schedule.

How do you encourage yourself in the Lord? I share some insights that will help you reignite your passion for ministry during the podcast.

I also referenced Episode 13 about friendship with Ramin Salehi. Episode 20 shares more insights about how to beat the blues.

I also mention quick tax advice for ministers here, and reference MileIQ, a free app to keep track of your miles with a pencil, calculator or notebook.

EP 97: Is Prophetic Ministry Valid for Today?

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 14:06:25 -0500

Prophetic ministry played a major role in my trip to Zimbabwe in November of 2017. I share my journey today to illustrate the value of present-day prophetic ministry. this.

Prophetic words caused my African mission to have a specific focus. I Did not travel there to bring American culture to the Zimbabweans or give them western ideas or advice. Instead, I was there to observe, hear God and do my best to deliver what I heard.

Paul commands to desire and pursue prophecy for one reason only: to bless and help other people.

The ministry of the prophetic here in the United States is often more pathetic than prophetic. That is because people pursue prophecy and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit to gain recognition. They want to be seen as super spiritual or in touch with God.

As a result, many share their personal feelings and ascribe these feelings to the Holy Spirit which confuses everyone. During the podcast, I talk about the practical application of prophecy in everyday life.

During the show, I invited people to get my free download. You can receive it here.

EP 96: Do You Believe In The Prophetic Or Pathetic?

Fri, 17 Nov 2017 07:00:00 -0500

When I say the word, prophetic, you may react in a variety of different ways depending on your theology or personal experience. For some, the word prophetic means someone who is emotionally unstable making outlandish statements that don’t square with scripture. On the other extreme, prophetic might mean a supercharged understanding of precisely what God is doing in your life.

Prophetic by definition simply means to speak forth. Isn’t that what you do in the pulpit? I certainly hope so. Seekers of God come to churches hoping that they will hear from God directly through your words. That seems to me the very definition of prophetic ministry.

Timothy was transformed through the proper use of prophecy. During the podcast, I contrast true and false prophecy in our day.

EP 95: Do You Have A Preacher's Voice That Is Different Than Your Own?

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 18:10:20 -0500

God intends to use your voice to impact the world.

Our calling demands we deliver words aimed at the conversion of our hearers. Those words should be prophetic. In other words, as we preach, people should not just hear our ideas but should be able to hear God speaking directly to them when we preach.

However, they never talk like that otherwise. It’s a preachers voice designed for a particular performance. Once the performance is over, the voice is gone. During today's podcast, I talk about different preachers voices we use and why so many fall into this trap.

EP 94: Are You Reproachable? What Does God Require Of Leaders?

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 07:55:33 -0400

When we elect leaders, we often look for certain things:

A charismatic personality
Excellent speaking skills
A solid education
An understanding of scripture
Someone who knows how to respond positively to authority.

All these characteristics have merit, but Paul instructs Timothy to look out in his congregation and find people who are above reproach.

If someone is not willing to face rejection for standing up for what is right, they do not belong in leadership. I delve more deeply into the things God requires of leaders who serve His Church in the podcast.

During the podcast, I mentioned MileIQ. You can learn more here.

Leave a review for iTunes here.

EP 93: Are You Reproachable? What Does That Even Mean?

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 07:20:55 -0400

Paul advises his protege Timothy to select leaders that are above reproach. What does that mean? Does today's church use improper standards to select its leaders?

We live in an age when people change partners like they change clothes. Psychologists are telling a naive public that as we evolve as a culture the normal way of life will be to have marriage partners for every phase of life.

In Hollywood, celebrities divorce regularly saying that they grew apart as a couple so got divorced but will remain friends.

The health of a leader’s marriage is fundamental to his or her ability to impact and influence the lives of other believers. I speak about the factors that determine whether we minister above reproach during the podcast.

During today's podcast, I asked if you will give us an honest review on iTunes or Google Play. Would you do that now?

EP 92: How Much Counseling Should You Do?

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 06:21:51 -0400

Many pastors put aside quite a few hours to counsel individuals and couples. How much counseling should you do? Some pastors do a lot; some very little. Is there a right balance?

Is this practice effective? In other words, does it produce life?

People come to us with addictions to alcohol, drugs and sometimes mental disorders. During today's podcast, I talk about dealing with different when and when not to counsel.

If you have a reasonably good sense of humor, you owe it to yourself to click the link. The comedian Bob Newhart did a bit years ago that is frankly hysterical.

Celebrate Recovery is a ministry founded by Rick Warren. Using similar tactics as Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery is essentially group therapy designed to uncover and address lifelong behavior dysfunctions.

EP 91: 3 Tips To Train Your Congregation To Tithe

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 19:17:03 -0400

One key reason pastors leave the ministry is lack of financial resources. Typically, that occurs because only a small percentage Christians commit to tithing.

Tithing is prickly subject in most churches.

Jesus spoke about money often; so did Paul. Why? Stewardship is a key component towards becoming a bona fide disciple. If people do not honor God with their income, they have never submitted to His Lordship. I speak more about tithing in the podcast.

I also mentioned my book, When a Good Church Goes Bad, which is available in three formats. The book comes with a free audio course for the serious student.

Finally, I mentioned MileIQ which is an excellent app for keeping track of your personal and ministry miles without all the hassle. You can learn more about it here.

EP 90: Ethical Standards To Live By (Part Two)

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 07:08:35 -0400

In this second seminar, I address the issue of ethics a leader must display to the public. Our character speaks much louder than our sermons, and how we conduct ourselves among our neighbors has a huge impact. The next issue is how we relate to fellow spiritual leaders. Truthfully, this is the Church's greatest scandal as pastors compete with each other like immature school children for attention and recognition. Is it any wonder that God does so little with us collectively in a region? How do we forge meaningful and lasting relationships with leaders we disagree with?

During the podcast, I mention my book, When A Good Church Goes Bad. You can access information about this and other books here.

Be sure to spread the word about this podcast on Facebook and Twitter! Thanks.

EP 89: Ethical Standards To Live By (Part One)

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:14:13 -0400

We open the Fall Season with a two-part series on ministerial ethics. How should leaders behave in their personal lives and what are the consequences if they don't? We eavesdrop on a seminar to emerging leaders to explore how Christ wants ministers to conduct themselves.

During the podcast, the speaker mentions the basic rules Billy Graham adhered to throughout his career. You can download this for free here.

The speaker is Howard Renker, Sr. Pastor of Bethel Christian Church in Bristol, CT. To contact him, go to their website @ http://www.bethelcc.org.

Pictures from our South African Trip in the summer of 2017 can be seen here.

EP 88: What I Learned In South Africa Could Change Your Ministry

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 07:56:11 -0400

My sons and I just returned from South Africa, experiencing many of the wonders that country brings. While there, God gave me some insight into John 3:3-5 that I believe may transform your thinking.

During the podcast, I made reference to MileIQ, the free app that automatically tracks your mileage whenever you drive. Each day or week, it shows you accurate maps revealing where you went and then gives you the simple option of swiping to the left for personal miles or to the right for ministry miles.

The app keeps accurate records of all your trips and provides reports to submit to your accountant at tax time. There is also a place where you can write notes detailing the purpose of each trip. The free app provides 40 trips each month. If you want more, the cost is just $60/year.

If you would like to see some of the pictures from our trip, visit www.caseysblog.com.

You can get the Transcript of today's podcast here.

EP 87: Why You Should Welcome Legitimate Apostolic Ministry Into Your Church

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 16:39:53 -0400

How can legitimate apostolic ministry help your local church? What do apostles do to assist? How can we develop future apostolic and prophetic leaders? Is there a clear way to discern true apostles from false ones?

Get the transcript here.

During the podcast, I shared about my trip to South Africa. If you would like to view the pictures, go to www.freshteaching.org.

EP 86: What Does Five-fold Ministry Mean To The Church?

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 11:03:39 -0400

Joseph is the lynchpin who changed the course of church history in Acts of the Apostles. Who was he and what did he do? This is the third installment of a four-part series on the role of apostles and prophets in the present day church. Why are they important?

According to Ephesians 4:11 the Church will NEVER reach maturity without the five-fold ministry in full operation. That should cause us to stop and consider what we are doing in the church today.

_____________________

If you'd like to view the pictures of my trip to South Africa, connect with www.freshteaching.org.

If you'd like a transcript of today's show, click here.

EP 85: If Present-Day Apostles Exist, How Do They Function?

Tue, 30 May 2017 10:36:23 -0400

Because centuries of traditions have ignored or rejected present-day apostles, where do we begin in our quest to recapture God’s intent towards His Church? The place to begin I believe is to understand the basic premise of Christian leadership.

Many pastors mistakenly add the title, apostle to their business cards hoping to gain more respect or attention.

Christ laid out a plan to bring his people to full maturity by sending forth 5 gifted ministries. I talk about this in detail during the podcast.

Get the free download here.

EP 84: Are Present Day Apostles False Teachers?

Mon, 22 May 2017 18:34:44 -0400

In the past ten years, there has been a dramatic increase in labels like apostle, prophet, bishop and even archbishop.

Apostolic ministry has been eliminated from our present church leadership worldview. We don’t talk about or include apostles or prophets in our structure, planning or teaching.

The pivotal scripture in the New Testament about apostolic ministry is Ephesians 4:11-13. During today's show, I break down the difference between true and false apostles.

Have you given us a review yet? Always appreciated!

EP 83: Should Women Serve As Pastors?

Tue, 09 May 2017 10:34:16 -0400

Is church leadership reserved for males only? What does scripture teach? Are you sure? This is probably the most crucial question you will face during your entire ministerial lifetime that will affect your congregation for years to come.

During the podcast I mentioned some resources for further reading. Click here or here.

I also mentioned the study guide, How To Discover Your Ministry for use in your church.

EP 82: How To Think INSIDE The Box

Tue, 02 May 2017 08:05:37 -0400

We are often guilty of seeing the world the way we want to see it rather than how it truly is. Innovation helps us interact with culture to better serve them if done with the right heart.

Ecclesiastes informs us that there is nothing new under the sun. Innovation can be communicated through just about any variety of means.

Innovators, who think outside the box, see how to utilize inventions and methods from other communities in ways to advance the Kingdom of God.

During the podcast, we offered a free download with a brief description of the gifts mentioned in I Corinthians 12:28-31, Romans 12:34-8 and Ephesians 4:11. You can get the download here.

EP 81: From Paraplegic To Sr. Pastor (Part Two)

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:02:12 -0400

Jack shares part two of his extraordinary journey from hospitalization to joining a church and eventually planting a church in Rocky Hill, CT. You can contact him about his book or their church here.

During the podcast I mentioned MileIQ. You can get the free app here.

EP 80: The Miraculous Healing of Jack Chamis (Part One)

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 06:00:00 -0400

Jack shares an amazing testimony of his recovery after a horrific accident left him as a paraplegic with no hope of regaining the use of his body. Currently, he is the pastor of Oasis of Life Christian Church in Rocky Hill, CT

During the podcast, I mentioned the book, How To Discover Your Ministry. This study guide is ideal for individuals or groups to explore what genuine ministry entails while driving them toward serving in the local church.

For additional resources, visit ministerstoolbox.com

EP 79: How To Plant A Church From Scratch

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 06:31:50 -0400

Starting a new congregation out of thin air takes a special kind of calling. To ensure that Christianity grows and flourishes, new churches must form.

The "normal" way churches form, is heavy sponsorship from a larger congregation via a satellite network. This method has proven effective, but what about the pioneer church planter? What about the person who feels called to start a church without any of the normal resources many have come to expect?

Shane and Maria Priebe share their story of planting Storehouse Columbia, a brand new congregation in Columbia, PA, along with many of the struggles it took to get there. More than anything, this true story should encourage you in your faith.

Contact Shane and Maria @ www.storehousechurch.com/columbia.

For more resources, visit us at ministerstoolbox.com or leave an honest review on iTunes here.

EP 78: How To Keep Your Integrity Even When No One Seems To Notice

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 08:17:27 -0400

Your character is the strongest sermon you’ll ever preach. Much more is caught than taught.

Choices confront us every day. We can do the right thing or the easy thing. As a pastor, one of your main jobs is to do everything in your power to grow the influence and size of your church. The integrity challenge is how you invite people to join.

A phrase pastors used years ago was sheep-rustling. A sheep rustler sneaks onto the farm of a neighbor and takes one or more sheep. The term came to mean pastors who actively invite people from other churches to come to their own to increase their numbers.

This egregious behavior is all too common among pastors and church leaders. During the podcast, I share about retaining our reputation as we reach out to the unchurched.

During today's show, I mentioned my recent book, When A Good Church Goes Bad that you also download on Kindle or as an audiobook.

Through Audible by Amazon, you can get the book for free by signing up a for a 30-day trial. If you decide not to stay with Audible, you can cancel within the trial period but keep When A Good Church Goes Bad for free.

I also mentioned my blog which you can check out here.

EP 77: What Does Your Burnt Offering Look Like?

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 07:39:06 -0400

The second offering used to ordain Levites was a burnt offering. This is not designed to pay for or address sin but a sacrifice required by God in order to become a minister.

Burnt offerings happened when every part of the animal was completely consumed by fire. They represented submitting to total loss as part of your worship toward God.

Similar to the Levites, you cannot just call yourself into ministry. I am sure that many of us have seen individuals who strongly believe they have a calling to full-time church work when in fact they are just infatuated with the idea of people listening to them speak.

One of the key parts of our calling is giving God a burnt offering before our ministry becomes acceptable to God. I explain what this means in biblical terms during today's podcast.

If you'd like to read more articles about leadership, check out my blog.

EP 76: How To Get Your Vision Back

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:58:59 -0500

We all know the verse, Without vision the people perish. That also applies to pastors and church leaders. How do you get your vision back when ministry has dealt you harsh blows?

To get further resources, visit www.ministerstoolbox.com.

To leave an honest rating or review, go here.

EP 75: Taxing Days For Church Leaders And What To Do About It

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 07:14:01 -0500

Pastors by far are under-compensated for the work they do compared to other professions. One of the top three reasons pastors quit the ministry is over money. Church boards try to save money by paying the pastor as little as possible. That is a key reason churches don’t grow.

Church boards should do all they can to bless their leaders financially and in every way possible for the work they do.

People often forget that pastoring is not only a calling but also a job. People in the church work to get income for their families and expect not only to be compensated properly, but also to have the opportunity for raises, bonuses, and vacations.

The better any church pays attention to blessing their leader financially, the more likely that pastor will want to stay and reciprocate the blessing.

During the show, I mentioned a free download with more detailed information here.

I also spoke about MileIQ which you can get more information here.

EP 74: How To Bring Your Teaching To The Next Level

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 17:25:31 -0500

Does it ever frustrate you when you see members of your congregation continually fall into the same problems? You’ve preached your heart out week after week with answers to solve their problem. Somehow, they never get free.

Benjamin Franklin once said: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

To bring our pulpit ministry to the next level, we need to define what God considers teaching. If I were to ask you what teaching is, most of you would immediately bring up an image of someone standing in front of a blackboard or whiteboard in today’s word, instructing students who sit at desks taking notes.

During today's podcast, I share simple tips on how to increase the impact of your teaching ministry.

During the podcast, I mentioned the study guide for individuals or groups, Who's Your Master?

Here is the link to my blog, Fresh Teaching.

EP 73: All The (Fake) News That's Fit To Print

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 05:44:49 -0500

People come to us with minds jam-packed with misinformation, wrong ideas, beliefs and opinions. How do we influence them to change their thinking towards following the ways of Christ?

During today's show, I talked about Sticky Church. You can investigate this book here.

This is a video of the television show I mentioned during the broadcast.

EP 72: What Flavor of Shibboleth Do You Prefer?

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 18:56:40 -0500

Do you encounter fellow believers who don't fit your preferences or opinions? Do you still offer them the right hand of fellowship or distance yourself?

Due to our denominational affiliations, theological background or political views, we can easily disassociate ourselves from other Christian leaders.

In one instance, they asked Jesus for permission to burn people up like human French fries because they did not like their attitudes! During the podcast, I share some personal stories highlighting how God changed my view of friendship.

During today's podcast, I invited you to read my testimonial in the first chapter of my book. You can read it free here by pressing, Synopsis.

EP 71: How to Help The Poor Without Losing Your Shirt

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 20:31:12 -0500

Our church receives one or two calls each week from someone in desperate need. So, how does your church discern between the poor and those trying to scam your ministry?

As a general rule, never be rushed into providing assistance to anyone.

During the podcast, I share practical resources your church can access to help those who are poor. I also share a personal story of how good intentions can go awry.

During the podcast, I offered a free guide to establish protocols for giving in your church. You can get it here.

EP 70: Does The Church You're Building Match God's Design?

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:58:00 -0500

During the podcast, I referenced two books: Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby.

Have you given us an honest review yet?

Click Here.

EP 69: Do Your Sermons Bring People Closer To Hell Or Heaven?

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 16:51:17 -0500

Can demons influence sermons? What are the doctrines of demons? Probably not what you imagined. Today we look at Paul's warnings to those who teach scripture.

On the podcast, I mentioned that you could get a copy of my recent book, When a Good Church Goes Bad that includes a free audio series and workbook.

EP 68: Understanding Our Authority Over The Demonic Realm

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 09:27:12 -0500

The vast majority of Christians are gravely misinformed about demons or the demonic realm. Jesus dealt with and taught extensively about dealing with demons as a regular part of Christian ministry. His followers continued this practice as a normal part of doing ministry in their generation.

Jesus was mocked because a normal part of his ministry involved casting demons out of people. The religious leaders of his day, similar to those of our day, tried to belittle him as a crude attention-seeker claiming that he was empowered by the devils he sought to cast out.

As ministers, we need to get a revelation about how all this impacts our current ministry. I talk about practical applications during the podcast.

During today's show, I talked about a study guide designed to help members of your church discover their ministry as it relates to supporting your church. You can get it here.

I mentioned last week's download that you can receive here.

I also mentioned additional recommended resources here.

EP 67: Should Ministers Cast Out Demons?

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 06:43:50 -0500

Ministers generally don’t talk about the demonic realm very much. Truth is, most prefer to ignore demons altogether because they are afraid their educated constituents or congregants will think they belong in the looney bin.

I think most present-day ministers take a passive approach to the whole subject of demonology. We think that if we just ignore demons, they will ignore us.

Paul tells us that we are not in a battle against other humans. In fact, if we get into a battle with other humans, we are out of our assigned realm. During the podcast, I share some practical thoughts on addressing demonic activity.

I mentioned a free download during the program. You can download it here.

I also mentioned MileIQ. You can find out more here.

You can get a copy of C.S. Lewis' book, Screwtape Letters here.

EP 66: The Ministry of Healing For Dummies

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:35:58 -0500

In Luke 9:2, Jesus sent the twelve out to evangelize telling them to preach the gospel and heal the sick. Lest you think this was strictly a calling given only to the apostles, Luke 10:9 tells us he sent out 72 other followers with the same mission and command.

There is a whole slew of books out about how to do things with the Dummy label. Writing for dummies; Car mechanics for dummies and so forth. The idea behind these best-selling books is to convince readers that with a little help, they too can start to write, fix their own cars…etc.

One of the challenges in ministry is that for the most part, we know more about scripture than anyone in our congregations.

It is always good to reexamine our beliefs in light of scripture. Romans 10:17 informs us that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Faith to be healed comes from connecting with what scripture teaches about healing. I give some practical guidance about the ministry of healing sick people in the podcast.

During the podcast, I invited you to download a free eBook entitled, Notes on Healing The Sick.

I also referenced two books by John Wimber: Power Evangelism and Power Healing.

EP 65: How To Do Effective Hospital Visitations And Have Fun!

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:54:52 -0500

Pastors are called to the bedsides of people who are sick as a regular part of their ministry. Hospitals are opportunities for genuine ministry and leaders should not take this ministry lightly.

There seems to be an absence of training for ministers about how to do hospital visitation. You are God’s representative to the person who is ill. While other professionals bring medical options, the family brings support and sympathy. You are the person tasked with bringing the Kingdom of God to bear on an individual situation.

Most people I know are uncomfortable around sick people. They don’t what to say or they start to act funny.

BONUS: I mention the free download you can get here.

BONUS: I also mention my book, When A Good Church Goes Bad. Read the first three chapters here by clicking, Synopsis.

Purchase the book here or listen on Audiobook through their free 30-day trial here. Then search for When A Good Church Goes Bad.

EP 64: How To Pray For The Sick Without Getting Sick Yourself!

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 18:08:53 -0500

I’ve got to tell you that of all pastoral responsibilities, expectations, and duties, praying for the sick was my least favorite thing to do as a young pastor.

Theologically, my beliefs about healing were all over the map. The New Testament, on the other hand, is pretty aggressive on the subject. Jesus and his followers throughout Acts of the Apostles prayed for the sick and experienced extraordinary results. When I look around today, there is little evidence of physical healing taking place in churches irrespective of denominational background.

[ctt_author author="1547" name="Casey Sabella" template="2" link="dRHt4" via="yes" nofollow="yes"]I realized that I did not have a clear, biblical view of praying for sick people. [/ctt_author]

Leaders cannot pray the prayer of faith unless they believe God wants to heal the patient. The pastor or minister often plays a vital role in healing. If all you do when you visit the sick in hospitals is make people comfortable to die, that is nice, but not what James had in mind. I go more into depth about this during the podcast.

BONUS: I mentioned at the start of the show a tip to help your church be more visible on Facebook. I created a free cheat sheet to help you who are technologically challenged. All the tools I mention to use are also completely free and you can get them here or on the show notes page for episode 64 at ministerstoolbox.com

EP 63: Do You Suffer From A Loser's Limp? Most Do Without Realizing It.

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 09:40:46 -0500

What is a loser’s limp? It is any excuse you use currently to avoid conflict.

Perhaps you need to have a discussion with your church board about your salary. Perhaps there is a deacon who is failing to fulfill their responsibilities. Maybe it is a member of your worship team who is engaging in questionable behavior.

Many times, We often hope that the problem will just solve itself. Essentially and perhaps unknowingly, we develop a loser’s limp. During the podcast, I share some clear steps to overcoming this crippling habit.

For more reading on this subject, click here.

EP 62: The #1 Thing Ministers Absolutely Must Do, But Don't.

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 16:26:38 -0500

What is something that just about every minister knows is absolutely essential but finds 100 ways not to do? That is the subject of today's show.

Pastors want to do it but don’t. Why is that?

90% of churches throughout the world average out at 85 members.

Some build a theology out of this phenomenon and actually teach that God wants small churches.

We pastors do church work really well. We preach and teach. Pastors administrate and make decisions, counsel, strategize and do a hundred other things.

Your church needs to develop new leaders, but most of the time it is not a lack of potential leaders but something else.

We offer a special download with additional content here.

EP 61: 3 Tips To Help You Develop A Pastor's Heart

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 08:03:01 -0500

Every church leader pastors or shepherds the people of God. We call church leaders ministers, “reverend,” “priest” and “bishop,” but the most common title of identification is pastor.

As you already know, the term pastor is used only once in the New Testament. We find it in Ephesians 4:11-16. Pastor is listed among 5 ministry gifts Jesus imparted to his church after the resurrection. They are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

What if you really struggle with loving people when they exhibit un-Christlike behaviors? During the podcast, I address this and several other issues along with 3 tips that will help you improve.

During the show I mention a book entitled, The Minister as Shepherd. The author wrote this book more than a hundred years ago containing insights about past

I also mentioned a link you can access to learn more about body language.

EP 60: How Can You Get Out Of God's Way?

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 21:57:26 -0400

People in your church swing a hammer, go to executive meetings or manage children during the bulk of their working hours. They create houses, fix problems or train children. What do you do?

Your assigned task is to communicate with God and then tell people what you’ve heard.

People actually get up on their day off, come to our facility, sing a few songs and then settle in to see what God said to you. On top of that, they donate money to ensure you will do it again week after week after week.

With that as a backdrop, you would think that every church in the world would be packed with people seeking God, wouldn’t you? Yet, by and large, the opposite is true. During the podcast I lay out 3 ways leaders may be hindering their churches.

Here is a download of the main points we touched on today with some additional content.

I mention MileIQ that helps you take accurate mileage effortlessly to save money at tax time.

EP 59: Four Easy Tweaks to Make Your Preaching Or Teaching Better

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:20:48 -0400

Here are 4 easy tweaks to help you create better teaching and preaching

EP 58: How Much Counseling Should You Do?

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 12:11:12 -0400

One of the titles given to Christ in Isaiah chapter nine is Wonderful Counselor. What sort of counsel do you give?

Does counseling work, and is it an effective use of your time? Whether it works or not depends largely on two factors. First, the ground rules for the session. Second, the willingness of the counselee to be accountable.

Some of Jesus’s counsel was very short and oftentimes abrupt. Telling a potential follower, “let the dead bury the dead” is pretty direct. During the podcast, we examine the strengths and weaknesses of modern day counseling and help you decided its importance to your individual ministry.

These are the links for Bob Newhart, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Celebrate Recovery.

We also are giving away a free download outlining guidelines for counseling here.

Don't forget to visit our transcripts link if you'd like a written copy.

EP 57: Why Accountability Can Be Good (or Bad) For Your Church

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 08:13:14 -0400

At first glance, it seems kind of absurd to think of accountability in a negative way, but there are pitfalls that can limit your effectiveness as a church leader.

Accountability is high on the priority list of Heaven. Jesus warned his followers that every word spoken on earth would be recorded and accountable on the Day of Judgment.

Sometimes, it becomes necessary for the good for the church to remove a pastor who refuses to answer questions over a period of time about things that matter to the church.

You as a leader are accountable first to God. I talk about biblical accountability and how false accountability nearly destroyed my ministry.

I put together a free download you can download it here.

EP 56: How Do You Measure Success In Ministry?

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 15:26:43 -0400

It is very easy to measure ministry success by the numbers. Membership increases by 20% each year, you are successful. If they decline, you are not. Biblically these measuring sticks are completely inaccurate.

According to John’s gospel, Jesus had a congregation of 5012 which everyone deemed successful. He preached one sermon and 5000 left.

Churches today that are business, as usual, will be out of business tomorrow.

Howard Johnsons became satisfied with its style, its menus its service and its identity. They kept on with business as usual until they went out of business. Many churches follow the same pattern.

During the podcast, I discuss the nuts and bolts of ministry success from God's point of view. I also offer a free download here.

EP 55: Will You Finish Well In Ministry?

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 10:22:41 -0400

I participate in a weekly meeting of pastors in our region called, Gatekeepers. Every week, we get together for a no agenda meeting incorporating sharing, prayer and mutual encouragement.

One of the pastors this past week spoke about a sermon he preached recently on the subject finishing well. It is difficult to find pastors or leaders who make it to sixty and are still filled with passion and drive to do ministry.

If you take an honest look around you, it is difficult to find older ministers who are finishing well. During the podcast, I share the basics of how to stay passionate about ministry. I put them into a downloadable PDF file that you can access here.

I also promised my free eBook on how pastors should use social media.

Al Elsdon is referenced during the podcast. You can hear an amazing testimony of his WWII experiences here.

We also offer a free download here.

EP 54: Would You Survive A Diet of Worms?

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 12:03:16 -0400

Diet is Latin for the general assembly of Worms, a city in Germany. In 1521, Martin Luther, (a Catholic priest and professor of moral theology at the University of Wittenberg) was called to give account. His bold and thoroughly unexpected stand against corruption in the church offended the hierarchy at the highest levels.

Few of us grapple with issues that will impact the future of the world. Still, we grapple with issues that threaten the purity, direction, and effectiveness of our own churches.

We can easily fall into the habit of trying to please people. To keep people happy, we compromise our standards a little at a time. During the podcast, I offer ideas on how to deal with disagreeable people.

On the show today, I mention a great link for you history buffs about what happened at the Diet of Worms. Listen here.

EP 53: How To Write Your Book Without Spending A Dime

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:32:55 -0400

You have more material than most professional authors. You spend multiple hours per week writing sermons to bless your congregations. Each sermon is potentially a chapter for one or more books.

You can write, design and publish a book in a matter of days with the simple tools of today’s technology. During today's podcast I share the simple steps you can take to publish it at little or no cost.

Thousands of new authors give up after receiving a boatload of rejection letters. With Amazon, those days are gone.

You can write your book in Microsoft Word and download it to Amazon. In moments, you will have a formatted book ready to publish.

In addition to a paperback and Kindle, you can also create an audiobook for free as well.

Since we are talking today about writing books, I would be remiss to not mention my first book entitled, When A Good Church Goes Bad. It contains both my testimony and help for anyone who has been hurt by their church experience. It is a great book for people in your church who have taken to the back row and refuse to get involved because of a negative church exp

On today's show, we spoke about many free resources you can use to publish your own book. Create Space is the first I mentioned, a division of Amazon.

For book covers, you should bookmark Canva to do free design work. To hire someone to do it for you, there is Fiverr and also 99 Designs.

For audiobooks, there is ACX. If you need to purchase a microphone, I recommend the ATR 2100 which can be plugged into your computer.

You can read the first three chapters of my new book here.

EP 52: Is It Time To Change Your Way Of Doing Church?

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:26:29 -0400

Change is at the heart of what we do as church leaders, but you remember I said this is a bit ironic. The irony is, that by and large, church leaders are typically people who don’t change at all!

What if you were an alien from another planet who visited your church. What would you see and experience? Would the report you give to your superiors reflect New Testament Christianity?

Principles must remain unchanged, but methods ARE changeable to intersect with the culture we want to reach. We can easily get stuck on doing things because they have always been done that way.

During the podcast, I look at some things to examine in your ministry that may need an update.

Getting stuck in traditions you prefer rather than traditions scripture teaches is the fastest way to get old as a minister and old as a church.

Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change. To be perfect is to change often.”

On today's show, I spoke about my book, When A Good Church Goes Bad. You can learn more about it here. If you prefer Kindle, go here. Go to our free downloads page here.

EP 51: Never Buy Inexpensive Toilet Paper

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 23:54:04 -0400

I am always amazed, particularly at national restaurant chains and how they operate. Millions are spent to get a franchise, build a building and open for business. Before you walk in the door, literally millions have been invested by seemingly astute businessmen.

What amazes me in many of these establishments is first: the employees. In many fast food places, you can see dirty floors. You can see into the kitchen and notice sweating workers with shirts unbuttoned handling food. All that money and you will never return because someone did not think it was important to clean the floor or train the staff to present themselves properly.

During the podcast, I contrast restaurants with local churches.

What happens when your guest uses the bathroom and finds a dirty floor and the most inexpensive toilet paper?

We spend sometimes hours crafting the best sermon, but if your guests or members either cannot hear you or the sound is distorted, what happens next?

I also share how you can order my new book When A Good Church Goes Bad by clicking here.

EP 50: The Most Important Ministry You Have Is Not What You Think

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 21:05:50 -0400

If I asked pastors what their most important ministry is, many would say family. A great answer, but wrong. Your most important ministry is to the Lord.

Now before you roll your eyes and think, “O brother, that is obvious,” listen to the podcast and allow me to explain myself. This is crucial to your present and future ministry.

David ministered to the Lord. That single dynamic caused scripture to identify him as a man after God’s own heart. Time and time again, we see him in battle, pulling away from the army and inquiring of God.

During the podcast, I mentioned that you could order my new book, When A Good Church Goes Bad on Kindle. Click here to order.

EP 49: Are You Enlightened Or Effective?

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 23:50:52 -0400

Have you noticed that reports of the miraculous are much more plentiful in third world countries than in the U.S. or Europe?

For our part, we pretty much dismiss most of it as ignorance, superstition and unimportant.

A philosophy governs society and permeates our educational system. It affects how we view ourselves and the world. To a large extent this philosophy deeply hinders gospel efforts by both churches and leaders. The worse thing is, the vast majority of us are not even aware of this.

It occurred several hundred years ago and now thoroughly dominates the lives of millions of people. The Enlightenment proposed that science and logic give people more knowledge and understanding scripture.

I discuss how this philosophy has hindered the effectiveness of our members during the podcast.

I mentioned that you can listen to the first chapter of my book, When A Good Church Goes Bad, but now that it is published, you can read the first three chapters here.

EP 48: Are You Stuck Chasing The Next Shiny New Thing?

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:34:42 -0400

Numerical growth is one gauge people use to determine the effectiveness of any ministry. It is a legitimate gauge, providing we are talking about actually reaching lost people.

Throughout the United States and other parts of the world, growth tends to be cosmetic. Only about 5% is due to new converts.

Without realizing it pastors can unwittingly become the ringmasters of a circus. Our time is spent trying to keep the crowd happy by the next trapeze or clown act, not realizing that much of the effort is fruitless. Pastors burn out and waste a lot of church resources trying to keep the excitement level up, but is that what Jesus honestly asked us to do with our ministries? Last time I checked, there was something there about making disciples, but I could be wrong.

There are dangers in striving to make our church the biggest, the best and the greatest. During the podcast, I share about how to keep things real.

We mentioned MileIQ on the show today. Here is the link if you would like to try the free app.

You can now read the first three chapters of my book When A Good Church Goes Bad for free here.

EP 47: Are You Engaged In Genuine Ministry Or Professional Nonsense?

Tue, 05 Jul 2016 04:46:04 -0400

Most pastors do a lot of things in ministry. By the end of the week or year, we look back and wonder if all the preaching, counseling, budgeting, seminars and meetings were actually productive.

Ephesians 4:11-16 states that there are five specific leadership callings in the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We talk about what this means in present-day terms during the podcast.

At the end of the day, the number one question we all must answer when we stand before Christ and give an account of our labors is: did we train the people God gave us to do the work of ministry?

If you want to see Christianity in action, sneak into a restaurant sometime and observe how Christians act. In general, Christians often are the most disagreeable and demanding patrons! Something is broken in how we train people for ministry.

I wrote a study guide designed for individuals or small groups. The guide will help people in your congregation discover and then function in their gifts under your supervision.

On today's show, I mentioned the soon to be released book, When A Good Church Goes Bad. Now that it is published in three separate formats (book, Kindle, and Audio book), I invite you to read the first three chapters for free here.

EP 46: Is Everyone Truly Welcome At Your Church? Probably Not!

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 15:35:55 -0400

How much of what we do or practice as a church is sending the opposite message of what we are trying to convey? Is our church saying, "All Are Welcome" outwardly, but in reality, saying, all are welcome if you become like us as soon as possible?

About 80% of people come to your church through personal invitation. Included in that statistic is checking you out on the web before they come.

During the podcast we attempt to look at your church through the eyes of guests.

Other than telling people to come again, have you thought through why people should? Is your church actively thinking about how to attract your guests to return again and again and again?

“You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there's a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire, you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it.”

During the podcast, I offered two chapters of my (now published) book, When A Good Church Goes Bad. You can read THREE chapters for free here.

EP 45: How Can We Help Victims Of Spiritual Abuse?

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:33:09 -0400

Christians tend to move around. They come to your church from another church across town because they are searching for something they haven’t found elsewhere.

When people come from other churches, we can be faced with several ethical dilemmas. For example, what about people who come to us as victims of spiritual abuse? What if it is a pastor we know?

During the podcast, we delve into solving these ethical questions and offer real solutions.

I can attest from personal experience that coming away from a spiritually abusive environment is not easy. Here is the reason: To become genuinely free of spiritual abuse, you must address what attracted you to it in the first place.

I republished a book about this experience I had more than 30 years ago and it is now available on Kindle, as a paperback and also on Audiobooks. It is entitled Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith. The book shares my journey as both a congregant and a leader over 15 years of my Christian life. If you would like to read 3 chapters of the book, click this link and click synopsis.

In addition, I mentioned a few other resources. The first is a book entitled, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse and Healing Spiritual Abuse.

EP 44: 3 Tips To Help You Become More Productive

Tue, 31 May 2016 05:25:08 -0400

Someone says, “How are you doing?” Our #1 answer is: “Busy.”

Busy is a great word because it means absolutely nothing. People who are not in ministry honestly don’t understand fully what it means to work for God. You decide on what activities will be productive towards reaching the goals heaven has set for your life, family, and ministry.

I have always worked in non-denominational settings, so for the most part; I am master of my own time. That can be great or disastrous if a person is not disciplined.

Perhaps it is time to pull that blue tooth out of your ear and get your life back. You are not a machine after all. God did not create you to be June bug, bouncing off the wall of one crisis after another.

During the podcast, I share the three tips to help you become more productive together with a free download.

Chinese proverb: “He that chases two rabbits catches neither."

I also mentioned a free To-Do list download that you can access here.

EP 43: How A Catholic Kid Became A Protestant Minister

Mon, 23 May 2016 11:13:36 -0400

How does a hate-filled young man, mixed up in Kung-fu Karate and eastern mysticism find a path to Christ? Today, I share my journey that eventually led to full time church ministry.

During the podcast, I mention a free offer. You can get a free audio of the first 3 chapter of my (now published) book, When A Good Church Goes Bad. Listen here or get the entire book free at audible.com

EP 42: How To Address Heresy Inside Your Church

Mon, 16 May 2016 11:18:23 -0400

In this second part of a two-part series, we address heresy INSIDE your church. How do you address people who intend to siphon people away from your church to build their own?

We offer a free download today, How To Address Heresy In Your Church.

I also mentioned MileIQ which is a great free tool to help you track the miles your drive to take advantage of legitimate tax breaks from the IRS. More information about MileIQ here.

EP 41: How Should Leaders Deal With Heresy Outside The Church?

Mon, 09 May 2016 11:10:48 -0400

Heresy inside and outside our churches is a serious responsibility all leaders must face at one time or another. How do we address it biblically?

I spoke of a national ministry that serves as an example of heretical teaching.

I also mention a website you can use to verify whether rumors are true before you pass them along on social media. It is called, Snopes.com.

I also invited you to submit a question for future podcasts on a new feature on our website at www.ministerstoolbox.com.

EP 40: What Happens When You Don't Show Up For Work?

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 14:03:05 -0400

Can church leaders "fake it till they make it?" For a while, but our ministries can never truly have impact unless they are authentic. We are called to deliver fresh bread to our audiences, not stale sermons. How do we do that week in and week out?

I will be doing a survey to our email list. Please sign up to get a free eBook on how to be more effective with social media.

EP 39: Do You Get The Appreciation You Deserve?

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 13:17:42 -0400

Church leaders often do their work unnoticed and under-appreciated.

How do you respond to people who fail to acknowledge the hard work you do month after month or year after year? Some insights on today's podcast.

I also talked about a new affiliate tool that can be helpful this coming year for your taxes. It is called MileIQ. Click on this link for more information.

EP 38: How To Become A More Judgmental Leader

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 12:09:53 -0400

What did Jesus mean when he said, Judge not, or you will be judged?

Does that mean we cannot judge under any circumstances? How can we do our jobs as leaders if we are not allowed to judge? Does this even make sense?

Today we mentioned the best seller, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

We also mentioned Audible books where you can get a 30-day free trial.

EP 37: How To Trim The Fat From Your Church Services

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:58:13 -0400

The majority of people in western countries believe in Jesus, but see no connection between belief and participation in a local church. Why?

Has the gospel lost its relevance or are our church services at fault?

During today's show, I recommended a book by Watchman Nee entitled, The Latent Power Of The Soul. Click here to read a chapter on Amazon.

EP 36: How To Pray In Public For Impact

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 08:17:41 -0400

We do a great deal of praying in public, but does it really impact anyone?

Is there a way to make a difference when we pray and ditch formal prayers that are quickly forgotten?

We offer a free download on today's show that give you the salient points from both this episode and last week. You can get it here.

EP 35: How Not To Pray

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 06:21:20 -0400

Ministers are often called on to pray at public gatherings. Do these prayers ever impact anyone?

How should ministers pray in public?

A book I recommend for personal prayer devotions is The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds. Very practical and inspirational.

EP 34: What Does The Voice Of God Sound Like?

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 07:50:03 -0400

As church leaders, we are called to know, understand and be led by God's voice, but what does He sound like? How can you tell if you are hearing Him or just your imagination?

Today, we chat about 3 sure ways to hear God speak.

I also mention a free download which sums up each point that you can get here.

EP 33: 5 Tips On How To Increase Your Listening Skills

Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:22:30 -0500

Listening both to God and people is an essential skill for anyone seeking to minister on behalf of Christ.

Today, I share five simple tips that you can do right now to become a better listener. Click here for a free download summarizing these tips.

Since this podcast, my book was published. If you would like to read the first three chapters for free, click here.

EP 32: How Do You Deal With Loose Cannons In Your Church?

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:39:40 -0500

A “loose cannon” is a person lacking insight. Their whose actions and/or speech jeopardizes the safety of people in their proximity or under their authority. In the body of Christ, we have powerful and gifted people who can do great good or great harm.

The only way that power and gifting have focus and ultimate effectiveness is when each cannon is under the authority and command of the captain. Cannons left to themselves always damage other Christians, and if left unchecked can bring down the whole ship.

One of our jobs as a minister is also to help people discover their spiritual gifts and then create avenues for them to use those gifts to help grow the church. The difficulty comes when a member wants to use their gift or gifts to find acceptance and affirmation instead of serving.

The Greek word for ministry is doulos: serving. Not yourself and your agenda; the body of Christ and His agenda.

As a pastor or leader, you’ve been entrusted with a vision of where God wants to lead your church. It doesn’t mean that you have all the answers. You don’t. It doesn’t mean that some in your congregation may have great, God-breathed ideas that can help; they do.

God sends people our way to disciple them.

I would have rather have ten people who know how to serve than 1000 loose cannons. I absolutely do not care how much talent, credentials, abilities or commendations they have. Are they willing to serve? Do they show up early and leave late? Are they coming to you and asking how to help.

If a person is a servant of God, the ministry is all about Him; it is all about his church. They don’t need or want a spotlight.

What do you do with loose cannons? I share three tips during the podcast and in the download here.

EP 31: 2 Sure Ways To Make Your Sermons Last Longer Than A Week

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 07:29:42 -0500

We spend many hours readying, praying and studying to preach sermons each week, but after a few hours they are often forgotten. People get busy doing other things and we have seven more days before another sermon is expected.

Are there effective ways to make our sermons last longer? On today's podcast, I mention two:

First - record your sermons and put them on your website. You can do this for free or at little cost by going to www.sermon.net. There, you can upload MP3 files and post them on your site and even on ITunes or Sticher.

Second - publish your sermons in book form. Here is a recent example.

Go to Kindle Publishing to get started!

EP 30: Are You Sure “Pastor” Is Your True Calling?

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 07:40:35 -0500

You're a leader in God's Church. What exactly does that mean?

In Ephesians 4: 11-12, Paul told us that Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to His Church. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people. By definition, a leader trains disciples with their gift.

If you cut me open, you would not find a pastor, functionally speaking. Teaching forms the foundation of my calling. I teach spiritual truth to whoever is willing to listen.

If you are around me for any length of time, you will gain understanding in ways you have not thought about before. I am not a fountain of knowledge. This does not occur because I am talented, brilliant or insightful. Christ installed a teaching gift for me to benefit other people.

Teaching is a gift, not an ability. God has given this gift to thousands to advance His kingdom purposes. My mission is to be sure that when I stand before God, I have used this gift the way Christ intended.

The way I equip people is to impart spiritual truth. Jesus gave four other gifts to fulfill his main objective which is to mature the church. Which one most closely matches your passion and mission in life? We discuss these at length during the podcast.

Most of the pastors I know are not gifted as pastors. They do pastoral work but in their hearts, God wired them differently.

Are you doing the ministry God asked you to do? In churches throughout the world, the paid position for a leader comes with the title, pastor. If God wired you differently, you will never be satisfied until you function in your gift properly.

Every leader loves the body of Christ and wants to serve God if they are truly called. You are not supposed to be the pastor, evangelist, teacher, apostle, or prophet of your church, any more than you are called to be the administrator, church bus driver or children’s church director.

Are you spending the majority of your time doing the things that you are gifted to do?

EP 29: Four Tools to Help You Streamline Your Ministry

Mon, 08 Feb 2016 15:54:12 -0500

Minister's Toolbox is all about tools to help you do ministry more effectively. Today, I share 4 that I highly recommend.

They are:

Evernote
Sermon Central
Sermon.net
Canva

Visit our Tools Page for links to these and other resources.

EP 28: Do You Get The Respect You Deserve As A Minister?

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 05:17:09 -0500

Rodney Dangerfield became famous for opening his act with the words, "I don't get no respect."

What about you? Do you get the respect you deserve? Are there things you are doing that signal to people you are not worthy of respect?

Without respect, people will not apply your preaching to their lives. How can you gain respect from people that belittle your ministry?

During the podcast, I offered a free download of the show notes. You can get them here.

EP 27: Is Church Ministry Making You Angry?

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 07:22:43 -0500

Anger is more of a problem for church leaders than we care to admit.

If we are not careful, it can ruin our current and future ministry. Today, we talk about ways to change anger to a more productive approach.

Download a free download of Tips to Overcome Anger For Ministers here.

EP 26: Is Your Ministry Worth The Weight?

Mon, 18 Jan 2016 05:52:53 -0500

Ministry is stressful. Nearly all church functions center around food.

Many church leaders struggle with their health. Today, we share some actionable steps towards living a more healthy life as a pastor.

Want the show notes? Download here.

During the podcast, we mentioned myfitnesspal which is free.

We also mentioned audiobooks by Amazon which is free for the first month. To try it out and receive a free book, click here.

EP 25: How Do You Set Goals And Stick To Them?

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 07:49:01 -0500

Happy New Year? Not if you haven't laid out plans for the year ahead.

We talk about goals today and I mention some useful affiliate links.

The first is The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane.

The second is The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen. Both are great resources in their own right. Be sure to check out our Tools page for additional resources.

EP 24: How To Incorporate the Jesus Method Into Your Sermons

Mon, 28 Dec 2015 07:11:33 -0500

Did Jesus use a repeatable method throughout his teaching ministry?

Can you incorporate the same method into your own sermons?

Yes, and yes!

Jesus used an amazing amount of questions to teach both his followers and his opponents. Click here to see how often.

EP 23: Why The World Doesn't Need Another Billy Graham

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:30:00 -0500

I have great respect for Billy Graham, but we don't need another one!

God does not call anyone to be a copy. What has He asked you to accomplish during your stay on planet earth?

I mention an inspiring video on YouTube about Billy Sunday. Watch it here.

Click here for the show notes that include links to other resources.

EP 22: How Do You Deal With Critical People?

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 05:49:26 -0500

We're in a position that tends to attract critics. The public feels comfortable making comments on our preaching, our churches our lifestyle and even the clothes we wear!

At the same time, we are called to reach these people for Christ.

How can we reach those ensnared by a negative outlook on life without allowing them to poison other members?

I offer a free download at the end of the podcast called, 4 Types of Criticizers and What To Do With Them. that you can download here.

EP 21: What Is Vision And How Do You Get One?

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 06:26:51 -0500

Vision is essential to effective leadership.

What exactly is it? How do you get one? Does it matter where it comes from?

During the show I mention the book, Good To Great by Jim Collins. You can read a chapter or get the book here.

You can also read the show notes from today's podcast by downloading them here.

EP 20: How Do Pastors Overcome The Blues?

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 07:21:57 -0500

Depression is a serious problem in America - a problem church leaders are called to address.

What happens when ministers experience the blues? How can you get "un-funked?"

On today's podcast, we offer a free download that you can get here.

Help us by share this podcast with other leaders by leaving an honest review on ITunes or sharing on social media using the buttons to your left.

EP 19: How Important Is It For Pastors To Observe A Sabbath?

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 07:24:54 -0500

Pastors need and deserve a regular time of rest and refreshment. Usually they don't get it.

How important is it for ministers to observe a Sabbath? What are the consequences to when we don't?

On today's podcast, we offer a free resource guide about how you can incorporate a Sabbath into your weekly schedule. You can download it here.

EP 18: Why Preacher's Kids Walk Away From The Church

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 07:50:48 -0500

Preacher's Kids are a unique group of people. By default, they experience all the pressures of your ministry even though they never became ordained.

Today we discuss 4 major reasons preachers kids walk away from the church. I then offer some practical steps in this free download.

EP 17: Interview With Jan Nel: Ministering in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 06:28:25 -0500

I sat down with Jan Nel, a close friend and apostolic leader.

Jan shares insights about how God shaped him for his ministry to many nations of the world.

You can learn more about Jan and the apostolic adventure here.

This is a short video on Jan and Sarah's recent ministry in Thailand

To follow him on Facebook, go to The Ministry of Jan Nel

EP 16: Why Aren't New People Coming To Your Church Anymore?

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 11:05:36 -0500

Church attendance is decreasing. Is this the media's fault or has the church relied upon outdated methods to attract new people?

What can we do as pastors or church leaders to reverse the trend?

On today's podcast, we are featuring two separate downloads. The first is called, Basic Web Information and will help you either get started with your church website or vastly improve it.

The second is Tips for Bloggers and features entry-level information about how pastors can get started blogging. This is the first in a series on blogging. If you want more, email me at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com. Click here for this download.

EP 15: How To Survive Betrayal

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 07:34:40 -0400

One of the greatest challenges a minister faces is betrayal. We invest hours, days, weeks and years into relationships with church members and other ministers only to get "stabbed in the back."

Truly betrayal never comes at the hands of an enemy, but a friend.

How can pastors not only survive, but thrive from acts of betrayal - particularly when they impact our families so severely?

EP 14: How To Invest Your Time Wisely

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 06:49:23 -0400

As church leaders, precisely how do we use our time effectively to accomplish the work Christ has called us to do? Depending on your circumstance, it is easy to waste time under the guise of "busy"-ness.

Today we share some practical insights from scripture to help pastors use their time wisely.

During today's podcast, we offer a free download to help you organize your time more effectively. Click here to get it.

EP 13: Recipe For Failure: Going It Alone.

Mon, 12 Oct 2015 06:47:32 -0400

One of the major reasons that church leaders change vocations is loneliness. As pastors, we are trained to preach and teach effectively, but not to create alliances with fellow ministers.

Today we speak with Ramin Salehi who has worked with the Luis Palau organization to create strategic relationships with pastors to have regional impact. We also share Steps To Creating A Minister's Fellowship.

EP 12: Sex and the Minister

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 06:46:09 -0400

Every day ministers are confronted with sexual temptation in the form of advertising, the Internet and the broken lives of those we serve.

How can church leaders make sure they don't fall into sexual traps? Pastors are easy targets for affairs because their "job" is to understand and offer help. Without clear boundaries, sex and spell the end to a promising career.

Here are a few resources to help you avoid the pitfalls of sexual temptation in ministry.

EP 11: Compensation For Ministers

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 08:05:14 -0400

Money is the one topic that pastors avoid talking about but is more often than not, the elephant in the room. How should pastors and church leaders be compensated for what they do? What are the benefits offered to ministers under current tax regulations? How can pastors take advantage of these provisions?

I have a free download called, Financial Resources For Pastors.

EP 10: How Parachurch Ministries Can Help Your Church Flourish

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 06:57:01 -0400

Do parachurch ministries help or hurt the work of the local church?

Today we speak with Sarah Carabetta, Director of ACTS4 on how parachurch organizations can form strategic partnerships to broaden the impact of your local congregation.

You can get more information about ACTS4 here.

Here is the free download, 5 Tips To Help Choose A Parachurch Partner

Transcript of Today's Podcast

A para church ministry by definition is an outreach that shares Christ via a specific service or benefit. They are distinct from churches, in that there is not typically a pastor, weekly services or an identifiable congregation.

Parachurch ministries can be small, medium or large. A Christian radio station for example is a parachurch ministry. Other examples include a Christ-centered Drug rehabilitation program, a Christian school, a soup kitchen, conferences on family or a particular focus, even Bible school or seminary are para church organizations. …the list is quite extensive.

Not a week goes by when I do not get contacted by a para church organization either inviting my presence at an event, or more boldly, inviting me to give an offering towards whatever need they are fulfilling. Pastors are inundated with requests for these type of needs and after a while, they don’t even get opened.

Their particular need may be great, but the average church already operates with limited resources.

Through the years, I have seen a lot of parachurch ministries come and go, so I’d like to share with you a few thoughts to help you make good choices for your church.

This may seem like I’m preaching to the choir, but para church ministries only have value to the exact degree that they assist local churches in fulfilling their mission. That may sound obvious, but I can tell you that often I encounter para church ministries that are all about self-perpetuation.

Recently, I was invited along with several other pastors to the unveiling of a new national para church ministry. I won’t mention names, but it is large and well-known. During the presentation, we were told that they had several pastors on staff to address those who contacted them and a variety of resources available for non-Christians.

During the question and answer, I asked how this ministry would assist local churches. The sound of crickets could be heard in the room. They explained that they did not come to talk about a partnership with the local church, but to just make us aware of what they were doing. I took exception and exited as soon as the presentation concluded.

Para church ministries only have value to the exact degree they assist local churches in fulfilling their mission. When a parachurch ministry is created to go around the local church, it is a failure.

That is a pretty outrageous thing to say, but I am happy to support that with scripture.

The church is the apple of God’s eye. Frankly, it does not matter how many mistakes she makes or even how dysfunctional she is, the local church has God’s full endorsement. When a para church ministry is formed to compete with or replace a local church, it never ends well.

I have witnessed national parachurch ministries that appeared successful for a few years and then disappeared. Ultimately they produce no lasting fruit. Why? The church is tasked with maturing the saints. That means the full interface of biblical leadership, gifts, teaching…etc., is required. A para-church ministry is not tasked or graced to accomplish that purpose.

On the other hand, para-church ministries can be a tremendous partner when everyone understands their respective roles.

For example, perhaps your congregation really has a heart to serve the poor, but

EP 09: 7 Reasons Pastors Should Never Start A Blog

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 06:56:30 -0400

Blogging is a free opportunity available to anyone to communicate the gospel. We take a tongue-in-cheek look at why pastors should avoid starting a blog and then offer practical reasons why they should.

To get started, you need your own website. I mentioned our affiliate link Bluehost, but there are others like godaddy.com and hostgator.com to name a few.

Once you have your own web address, this is the free download I offered: Step By Step Process For Starting Your Own Blog.

If you need some basic information about social media, here is my free eBook.

Transcript of Today's Podcast

Welcome to ministers toolbox. Specifically there are 7 reasons pastors should never even think about starting a blog. (Sarcasm included)

#1 - It is too difficult. I mean, you have to turn the computer on, open up your WordPress site and push the new post button. If that isn’t bad enough, then you actually have to write something. That is not easy for a pastor. I mean, in your line of work, when do you ever write?

Yeah, there are your sermons, but those are for Sunday mornings. Yeah, sermons are constructed like a blog, but it’s not like you could just take former sermons and turn them into blogs. That would take too much time. Besides, a lot of pastors are not comfortable pushing the submit button when they’re finished.

#2 - There are too many blogs already. Most don’t even know what the word blog means. It kind of sounds like someone dumped a mixture of mashed potatoes and pea soup on your plate right on top of your salad. blog! Who reads them anyway? You have better things to with your time, like visiting with Mrs. Smith who wants you to walk her cat when she goes on vacation.

#3 - People outside your church might read something you’ve read and decide to come Sunday morning. I mean, at your church you say you want new people, but truthfully, you really don’t.

Every time a new person comes to your church you have to learn their name and spend time trying to find out what they need and how you can help. It is much easier to have the same people come to church each week. They come; they tithe; they have coffee and then they leave. What could be better than that? No muss, no fuss.

Blogging could mess up your church big time. Before you know it, new people might start sharing new ideas and that can be just annoying. You already know who you are and how you like the church to operate, thank you very much.

#4 - You’re not very techy. Yeah, you understand that everyone under thirty has never lived in a world without the Inter web, but technology is not your thing. You’d much rather read a book about Spurgeon than learn about Tweeter or Facebook anyway. Besides, you got an email account a couple of years ago. If anyone wants to get ahold of you, you check it once a week.

#5 - Privacy. Blogging means that people might start coming up to you and talking to you about what you wrote. That can be very awkward, especially if you’ve never met them before. One reason you like pastoring is that other than Sunday, people pretty much leave you alone. Blogging might change all that.

#6 - Cost. Blogging is expensive. I mean getting a domain name and website has got to cost a fortune. The church budget is tight and wasting money on the Interweb is just foolish.

#7 - It could lead to other things. You start blogging and before you know it, you’re writing books.

EP 08: How To Ruin A Good Funeral

Mon, 07 Sep 2015 08:00:00 -0400

Funerals are one of the difficult responsibilities assigned to ministers that no one truthfully wants.

Unfortunately, funerals can be made worse when a church leader uses the occasion to showcase their preaching instead of honoring the person who has passed.

Today, we share some tips on doing wakes and funerals in ways that can help lead people to Christ. Here are my tips for conducting an excellent funeral

I also mentioned getting a free book from Audible.com

If you need a basic minister's manual, here is one that has a lot of wisdom and insights.

Transcript of Today's Podcast

One thing ministers are asked to perform that no one actually wants to do is funerals. Like weddings, funerals are one of those rare times in a person’s life when they most open to contact either a church or a minister.

Nowadays some people eliminate the church and ministers completely, especially if they are totally unreligious; but for the most part, pastors are usually called in to provide some sort of service at a funeral.

I grew up in family where everyone lived long. As a result, no one close to me actually died until I was in my mid 20’s. As a result, I never attended or was asked to officiate a funeral.

Since that time, I’ve been to dozens of funerals of all shapes and sizes. They are never fun, but they can be anointed by God to advance the Kingdom of God when a minister understands his or her function in the process.

Like many of you, I’ve been to the funerals of close friends and family members so I know first-hand know how it feels to lose someone you really care about. It feels like someone punched you in the stomach and you can’t get rid of the pain.

As a matter of fact, earlier this year, a fellow minister died and I felt that way for weeks. He was brilliant, funny, and talented servants of God I’ve ever known. Bob left an enormous hole in the community where he served. Many miss his absence greatly.

It is vitally important for you as a pastor or church leader to genuinely identify with the family that is grieving, even if you don’t know them very well. You may or may not know the deceased, but in all likelihood you remember how it feels. Always keep that in the forefront of your thoughts.

At the other end of the spectrum, my wife and I recently attended a funeral that was just terrible. It was already bad because we both missed the person who died, but what made it much worse was the way that minister conducted the ceremony!

In this particular case, he was an evangelical who was keen to preach a doctrinally sound sermon. He did this for nearly an hour. If you’re thinking to yourself, what’s wrong with that? I am about to tell you.

During the sermon, the name of the deceased was mentioned twice. We never heard much about her life, her family or key memories. Instead, we were treated to a seven point sermon that might have been preached on any Sunday.

The sermon did little to connect people with God. People sat bored and twitching in their seats. No doubt this young preacher thought he was having a tremendous impact, but I think the opposite was true.

If you have not done so already, I invite you to listen to an earlier podcast about weddings because weddings and funerals share some things in common for a minister. Both occasions bring new people into your church building, many of whom are atheist or agnostic. Both occasions present pastors and church leaders with a window of opportunity to share the gospel. How we do that is the focus of this podcast today.

Another time, Patti and I attended the funeral of a dear friend whose

EP 07: How To Get Your Doctrine Right, Even If You’re Wrong

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 06:30:00 -0400

One of the critical functions of a church leader is to teach "sound doctrine."

What is sound doctrine and is one view "sounder" than another? How does a leader discern what is true from what is error?

On today's show we talk about how a leader can discern true doctrine from false in a discussion that will definitely NOT be what you expect!

On Today's podcast, I mentioned our free eBook on Why Social Media is Vital To Sharing The Good News.

Transcript of Today's Show

As church leaders, we have been commissioned by Christ to equip our congregations to do the work of ministry according to Ephesians 4: 11-16. This word equip incorporates teaching, mentoring, training, supplying – whatever it takes to bring those in our care to a place of spiritual maturity and effectiveness.

A big part of that is feeding them sound doctrine. Jesus charged Peter to feed the sheep of God. (John 21:15-17) Peter called upon all leaders to feed the flock and be examples to the congregation in I Peter 5:1,2. Paul charged his protégé Timothy to give his attention to doctrine and teaching in I Timothy 4:12-17. He warned leaders wolves that would come into congregations bringing false doctrine that would lead many astray.

So this is serious stuff. As ministers, one of our critical functions to make certain that our teaching squares with Christ’s mission and purpose. In essence, we need to know we are feeding people what is biblically sound from both the pulpit and through the example we demonstrate.

So, what does sound doctrine look like?

If you look at the general landscape of Christianity throughout the world, you have the catholic church, eastern orthodox, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Brethren, Congregational, Amish, Mennonite, Baptist, southern Baptist, church of God, assembly of God, Pentecostal, charismatic, independent, non-denominational…and the list goes on.

All of these denominations typically divide up as either Calvinistic or Arminian. Calvinists tend to be cessationist and Arminians tend to favor charismatic behaviors, generally speaking. Which is correct doctrine?

Here’s the thing: You can have perfect doctrine and yet be wrong before God.

Much of what the Pharisees and scribes taught was biblically sound, yet Jesus reserved his most stinging rebukes - for them. He even went so far as to say in Matthew 23:2,3: The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you.

So, is it possible to get your doctrine right, but miss God altogether? And what does false doctrine actually look like? Is it merely the lack of biblical orthodoxy?

I mean, the scribes and the Pharisees appear to have gotten the good housekeeping seal of approval from Jesus on what they taught, but in the next sentence he warned his disciples to stay clear of them.

In Luke 12:1, Jesus told his followers: Notice what he said: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. In other words, in determining false doctrine, it is not merely dotting I’s and crossing t’s. You need to go deeper and look at the fruit of what is being taught.

The Pharisees and scribes produced disciples which is clear from Mark 2:18, but their disciples were legalistic and arrogant. Their doctrine produced followers who looked and acted like them. This legalistic arrogance would eventually crucify Christ. So, their doctrine wasn’t just wrong, it was straight-out evil.

I think we would all have to agree that any doctrine, any preaching, any expounding of scripture that leads to the denigration or devaluing of Jesus is false by its very nature. But there is more to identifying false doctrine than hunting d

EP 06: The Journey of a Church Planter

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 06:00:00 -0400

Dennis Ritchie, pastor of Oasis Church in Cheshire, CT shares his journey from a life out of control to church volunteer to worship leader to pastor.

Dennis' testimony is an encouragement to anyone who thinks that the events of their life are arbitrary. To contact Dennis or attend his church if you are in Connecticut, go to their website:celebratethejourney.org

EP 05: What Role Does Politics Play In Ministry Work?

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 06:00:00 -0400

Should church leaders align themselves with one political party over another? What happens to those who do?

When we put our trust in any candidate, party or ideology, we step away from God's calling and destiny upon our lives.

Ministers are called by God to be societal change agents. When peoples' hearts change, then their actions change.

Historically, revivals do not follow political actions. Good government follows revivals because the focus switches from self interest to honoring and serving God.

I mention receiving a free book from Audible.com. You can get that here.

I also invite you to give us an honest review at ITunes.

Transcript of Today's Show

Let’s do a little time travel. The year is 1984. Patti and I are at the beginning stages of planting a new church in a new city, holding services in the local elementary school.

Nationally, the hot-button issue is abortion. Randall Terry has catapulted into the news cycle on every TV screen as the head of Operation Rescue.

For those unfamiliar with this group, Terry enlisted thousands of volunteers to form human chains around abortion clinics. Their aim was to prevent pregnant women from entering by trying to convince them to keep the baby. In the process, they would hand out leaflets and argue with pro-choice demonstrators who also showed up.

Because this activity was against the law, those forming a human chain were arrested and typically spent a night in jail in city after city. Eventually, Randall Terry spent more time in court than praying around clinics.

So, why am I linking this event with today’s topic?

In the middle of a Sunday church service at the elementary school auditorium one morning, a woman in her mid-fifties interrupted my sermons with a question. Not being used to people asking questions in the middle of service, I reluctantly acknowledged her.

She stood up and said, “I just want to know one thing. Are you going to participate in Operation Rescue?”

As a young pastor, I was taken completely off guard. “Why do you ask?” I inquired.

“Well,” said she, “I am not going to attend any church that doesn’t get involved with Operation Rescue because those are the only Christians who really live their faith.”

After a brief pause I replied, “No.” She got up in a huff and left never to return.

Her message was clear. Unless I identified myself exclusively with a specific political organization, I was unfit for Christian ministry.

Here in the US at the time of this podcast, we are ramping up for elections. The media obsesses with one candidate or another. In various democratic countries, you face similar dynamics depending on their election process.

So, how does a pastor properly navigate political issues, candidates, or hot-button topics like abortion, gay marriage and social justice?

It is really critical how you settle this issue in your mind and heart because how you answer will absolutely determine the direction of your life and ministry.

I grew up in a large family with a father who loved to talk politics. Our dinner table nearly always involved some discussion about a candidate or controversial issue. It was not unlike my dad to see which way the wind was blowing among his kids so he could take the other viewpoint. I think he just liked the world of ideas in general.

As a young pastor, I became a political junkie. What do I mean by that? When we got within a year of any election, before the Internet btw, large chun

EP 04: The Joy of Serving A Church as a Bi-vocational Minister

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:39:03 -0400

Is Bi-Vocational ministry effective in today's church culture? Is it a viable way for pastors to support their families while doing church ministry?

Today, I share some of my experiences working in bi-vocational ministry and offer some constructive ways to navigate this challenge.

Here is the free download I offered on the show:

Transcript of Today's Show

Carpenter, mason, short-order cook, farm hand, teacher’s aide, insurance salesman, ADT home security salesman, Advertising representative, Registered Investment Advisor. What do all these have in common?

Me. These are all jobs that I have worked through the years doing bi-vocational ministry.

For the uninitiated, bi-vocational ministry (bi-vo for short) is conducting church ministry while working a second job at the same time.

You work the second job because either you are a pioneer church-planter with a dream, or your congregation has not reached a point where they can pay you adequately to meet your financial obligations.

I have been in both of these worlds. During my early years in ministry, I belonged to a ministry that was expanding and my primary job was to pioneer new outreach centers. I would go into a city, find a cheap rent, paint and decorate the environment and start weekly meetings and Bible studies.

That was really tough work, and I am among that small contingent of weirdos that really enjoyed every minute of it. I am a church planter at heart and the idea of creating a congregation out of thin air appeals to me. I think I’ve met about 2 other people in my lifetime that relate to that, but moving on.

The smarter route for church planting is what many others do which is build a team first, create a budget, develop a vision and marketing strategy and then plant. I didn’t say I was smart, I am just telling you what I did.

In any case, money and I didn’t get along in those early years. I’m not sure whether money and I have ever gotten very close, but I have always been passionate about doing ministry work, whatever the cost.

Working a job on the side in some ways made it easier to build a church because the main expense in small churches is salary and facilities. By working on the side, we could always keep our expenses low, which gave us a better chance to get the church up and running; at least that is the way I thought at the time.

If you’ve listened to my first show, you know that Patti and I raised 4 children over the course of our ministry lives. You also know that I am a New Englander. To other Americans, you have dubbed us the land of the frozen chosen; sometimes with good reason. If you are from another part of the world, this region of our country is known as fiercely independent and more often than not, non-Christian.

Getting a church started in these parts is made more difficult by the fact that the culture is not church oriented as it is in the South of our country. If you tell someone that you are bi-vocational and that your main passion is planting churches, the most enthusiastic response you’re likely to get is,

“Ohhhh….that’s nice.” (That is a not-so-subtle way of saying, “How can I get out of this conversation?”) So, as a bi-vo minister, society itself does not really understand your or why you do what you do.

OK, I need to be honest and share a true confession at this point. My topic today is completely misleading. It is supposed to be the joy of serving a church as a bi-vocational minister. I wanted to give you a backdrop of some of my own life so that I would have the credibility to say this:

Do everything in your power to avoid bi-vocational ministry. It is a trap. I will explain that in a moment.

You’ve heard me share the statistics that more than 1500 pastors leave the ministry every month in America

EP 03: How To Know If You Are Called Into Church Ministry

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 12:23:16 -0400

When someone says they were "called" into ministry, exactly what does that mean? Should we assume that God spoke to them audibly?

How can a person really tell if God is calling them to church ministry as a vocation? We look at the right and wrong reasons people choose church ministry as a profession.

Here is the free download, Ten Tips To Discover Whether God Has Called You To Church Ministry

Be sure to give us a review on ITunes! This helps us get the word out!

Transcript of Today's Show

“Calling” is a difficult concept because it is primarily subjective. I mean, I don’t know anyone who relates their story entering church ministry because they were awakened one night and God said, [Deep voice] “Get on your feet. You’re going to seminary.”

But seriously, how does someone discern whether God has called them into church ministry?

First, God is Sovereign. What does that have to do with calling? Actually, just about everything.

God calls individuals to serve in His Church. It is His Church, so he gets to select those who will carry out his plans and purposes. Sovereignty means that God doesn’t consult with humans first before calling someone to serve as a minister in his church.

Sovereignty also means that education, talent or personality is not relevant to God. He does not depend on strength or abilities to accomplish the tasks He wants done. That reality is both freeing and humbling at the same time.

Jesus bypassed the educated and eloquent scribes and Pharisees, choosing men who, for the most part ignored church. Peter and the other disciples knew more curse words than scripture verses. In fact, Matthew loved wealth and cheating people on their taxes far more than kneeling in prayer.

Please understand: I am not criticizing seminary or even natural talent per se, but I do want to introduce an important perspective: The apostles were totally unqualified to be ministers by today’s standards, yet they turned the world upside down.

Is there anyone who honestly feels that Peter would graduate any of our theological institutions today? Yet Peter used the keys Christ gave him to initiate the church age and later to open the church to non-Jews which was unprecedented.

Intelligence and natural abilities can be useful tools, but that is all. If God hasn’t called you, no amount of seminary education or speaking skill will suffice. Academic achievement is only useful as an instrument to advance God’s purposes. Nothing more.

Sovereignty means that God chooses whom he wants, when he wants for what he wants. A calling is really more about God than us.

Before we look into some principles for calling, let me take a few moments to discuss some sure signs a person either is not called or perhaps not ready for pastoral ministry.

Motivation plays a major role in ministry calling. Individuals desire to become pastors or church leaders for a variety of reasons and not all of them are inspirational.

First, sometimes individuals pursue ministry to gain affirmation or recognition. One perks of serving as a pastor or ministry leader is the thrill of publically sharing the Word of God. It is a privilege to potentially impact lives in a meaningful way. Honestly, there is nothing quite like preaching under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Sensing God’s Presence with you while you speak is pretty cool.

On occasion, folks will come up after I preach to compliment me about something I said in my sermon. That is always nice. However, if you crave that or need that affirmation, something is broken.

Second, some are drawn to the ministry because they want to be recogniz

EP 02: Why Pastors Need to Get Savvy About Social Media

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 12:22:07 -0400

Social Media is a must for any church leader hoping to connect with new people. The vast majority of people will never darken the door of any church until they have checked out a church website, listened to a sermon or two and investigated the church Facebook page.

Today, we talk about basics for leaders to get and stay connected on the web.

We also talk protocol. Many pastors ruin their presence on the Internet by not understanding these fundamental "rules."

Here is a free download mentioned, called the Social Media Roadmap

Bluehost is what I recommend to pastors and leaders who want to take the next step and own their own real estate on the web. Click here to get started.

Transcript of Today's Show

Do you ever get frustrated with the fact that your sermons require so much labor to produce, but often don’t have much life after they are done?

I mean, the typical leader will spend somewhere between 6 and 15 hours each week working on a sermon. Even if you don’t spend concentrated time at your desk, you are collecting thoughts and ideas and formulating what to say each Sunday, doing your best to be certain your message expresses what is on God’s heart.

That is a huge responsibility. When Jesus told Peter In John’s gospel, feed my sheep, he created billions of hours for church leaders throughout the centuries to prepare sermons. A responsible pastor is praying, thinking, meditating, researching, and reading all the time.

Even if your sermon hits the ball out of the park and everyone thanks you for helping them in some way, you go home for a nap and realize that the next sermon is due in seven days and it is time to start over.

Now I don’t know about you, but I write out my sermons on Microsoft Word in an outline form. Typically, I use a template to get started that triggers the things I need to include or pay attention to each Sunday. Once that sermons has been completed, I save it on my computer.

Over time, that is a lot of sermons and a lot of files. I look at all those sermons and the hours spent; the prayers to God for guidance, the investment of time in reading, studying and researching and realize that unless I re-preach them somehow, they are lost.

In many ways, preachers are like moms, who prepare great meals. After everyone enjoys the hours of preparation and care, the food is consumed and forgotten in just a few hours.

We experience many of the same dynamics. People hear what we preach, but pig out in front of a ball game or go shopping or do some other Sunday activity. If you ask most church members what the pastor preached come Sunday night, most have already forgotten.

Now we can talk about Jesus parable of the birds of the air coming and taking the seed out of the minds of hearers to prevent sermons from having lasting impact, but that sermon will probably get forgotten as well.

Some of you have taken steps to record your sermons and post them on your church website. That is one way to make sermons last longer. It is also extremely important because one of the main ways people choose churches is by examining your church website. Before they darken your door, they want to hear a sample of your preaching.

Make no mistake. The first thing they look at on your website, is the length of your sermons. If they see an hour each week, most people move on unless the subjects are so compelling that they want to push the play button.

Visitors to your site will listen to your voice, your humor and then judge whether you are a good fit for them. They will also respond or react to the sound quality. If it sounds like it was recorded in the church bathroom through a

EP 01: Why Weddings Are a Minister's Best Friend

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 12:20:30 -0400

Weddings are always a time of great joy and anticipation.

They can also provide an excellent opportunity for ministers to grow their churches.

Today, I share about a really bad wedding. We also share some tips for making any wedding memorable for the bride and groom.

Here is the free download, Wedding Resources For Ministers.

Transcript of Today's Show:

The two events most closely associated with ministers in our culture are weddings and funerals. These are two occasions when the need for a minister is universally accepted by nearly everyone regardless of their beliefs.

Weddings can be one of the most effective ways to grow your church as well. Does that sound odd? Well, before we talk about that, can I ask you a question?

Have you ever been to a bad wedding? What do I mean by a bad wedding? I’m talking about a wedding where the minister or clergy person was not a positive addition to the ceremony?

Let me unpack what I mean with a true story.

Several years back, one of my relatives decided to marry. The church building was rented and all the arrangements made. The facility was quite beautiful, out in the country and a reception was scheduled to follow on the enormous church grounds.

On the night before the wedding at the end of the rehearsal, the minister announced that there was to be no flash photography during the service. His conviction was that such flashes of light would distract from the sacredness of the ceremony.

Hearing this news for the first time, the photographer was mortified. He had not prepared for this possibility. To make matters more challenging, the front of the church where the ceremony would take place was poorly lit so using natural light would likely create dark, grainy pictures. Keep in mind that this was in the day before digital photography, so new specialized film needed to be purchased immediately.

Needless to say, this announcement created a high amount of tension for both the photographer and the bride, but the minister remained unaffected by their concerns.

With the rehearsal concluded, the minister said goodbye until the next day. Though invited, he did not attend the rehearsal dinner.

On the day of the wedding, guests arrived, some from several hundred miles away. Since many of my distant relatives hadn’t seen each other in a long time, there were many hugs and greetings followed by conversation in the sanctuary prior to the start of the ceremony. People were excited. The noise level was what you might expect during the few moments before any festive event.

Approximately ten minutes before the service, the minister appeared at the front of the church to remind the congregation that they were in the house of God and that it was improper for people to be talking to each other. Instead, he insisted they engage in quiet reflection more befitting a church. He then informed the congregation that no flash photography would be permitted.

All conversation abruptly ceased. Except for an occasional cough, the church was awkwardly silent.

After the ceremony got underway, the minister delivered a gospel message as part of the wedding ceremony, urging the congregation to give their lives to Christ. How many do you think were even the slightest bit interested? I’m guessing; none.

Finally the moment arrived for the groom to kiss the bride. The moment their lips touched, many in the congregation (including the photographer) took flash pictures totally ignoring the pastor’s wishes. Now it was his turn to be embarrassed.

After the ceremony ended, the happy couple went on to enjoy their reception and I am glad to report they remain happily married to this day. The pastor on the other hand spoke with very few people perhaps because no one really wanted

EP 00: Introduction and What to Expect

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 12:19:31 -0400

Welcome!

This is our very first podcast episode, where I share a little of our journey through several decades of pastoral ministry.

I also highlight some of the topics we will be discussing in upcoming episodes to encourage you in your vocation.

If you have the chance, I would appreciate you giving me an honest rating and review on ITunes by clicking here. It will help us get the word out to other church leaders to help them in their calling.

Thank you and enjoy the episodes!