I get fired up when people who have not really read the Bible very much begin to read it. Because I know that God will speak to them through the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God. So when you read the Bible, you can be sure that God is speaking to you. God's … Continue reading If You Are New To Reading the Bible, Start Here:
Author: Derek Spain
The 3 Main Roles of Spiritual Leaders
Last Sunday evening, I had the privilege to meet with nine men from our church who are sensing a call into pastoral ministry. God is working in each of their lives. They are growing in their personal relationship with Jesus. They have a desire for people to come to faith in Christ. They are serving … Continue reading The 3 Main Roles of Spiritual Leaders
What’s Your Role?
I've been part of some great teams in my life: sports teams, volunteer groups, church staffs, churches, more. On great teams, the team members each know what their role is and they do a great job of fulfilling their role. For a church to function in the way that God intends, each person must know … Continue reading What’s Your Role?
Walk Like Jesus
Following Christ is more than just holding a set of beliefs. Following Christ is about how you live your life: where you go, what you say, the things you do. To "walk like Jesus" means to pattern your life after the example of Christ and to trust in Christ daily for guidance and strength to … Continue reading Walk Like Jesus
Seven Ways To Develop Your Leaders
As spiritual leaders, we have the opportunity to work with some incredible volunteers and staff members who dedicate their lives to following Christ and leading others to follow Christ. We have a God-given responsibility to develop them in such a way that they can develop others who will in turn develop others (2 Timothy 2:2). … Continue reading Seven Ways To Develop Your Leaders
Driving Tip #241
Driving tip #241: Move your vehicle over to the side of the road when you encounter a funeral procession Different cultures show respect to grieving families in different ways. One of the ways that we show respect to grieving families here in the USA is to move our vehicles over to the side of the road … Continue reading Driving Tip #241
Driving Tip #52
Driving Tip #52: Be ready when the light turns green How many times have you been behind another vehicle at a red light waiting for the light to turn green, and then when it turns green the vehicle ahead of you doesn't move at all? You quickly notice that the person ahead of you has … Continue reading Driving Tip #52
The Beauty of Cathedrals
What makes a cathedral beautiful? Some people measure beauty by the architecture, size, cleanliness, paintings, relics, sculptures, age, colors, and in many other ways. On our recent trip to Italy, I thought about this a lot. We saw some elaborately decorated cathedrals. We visited the Pantheon, St. Peter's-in-Chains Cathedral, the Duomo of Florence, the Cathedral of Pisa, St. Peter's … Continue reading The Beauty of Cathedrals
Legacy of a Warrior: The Sword of the Spirit
Recently I visited the Colosseum in Rome. This outdoor arena held 50,000 screaming spectators, and witnessed some of the most dramatic, traumatic and gruesome events in human history. Gladiators battled there. Criminals fought lions and other wild animals to the death. Christians were fed to the lions there. Life is a series of spiritual battles. We … Continue reading Legacy of a Warrior: The Sword of the Spirit
Mars Hill
In the first century AD, the apostle Paul stood in Athens on a rock formation known as Mars Hill (aka, the Areopagus). Just a few days ago, I stood in that very spot. It was a deeply moving experience. My wife and I, along with our friends Kip & Amanda, were on vacation in Greece. … Continue reading Mars Hill