October 2014

|ChurchLeadership
Three strategies to avoid a spiritual implosion.
How to Not Screw Up Your Life
Image: Flickr

Dear Christian,

I’m concerned about you. I’m concerned about me.

It seems that just about every month I hear stories of church leaders and other Christians who disqualify themselves for leadership because of:

• An emotional affair with a staff member

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|Leadership
How do you get over the hurt when people leave your church?
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Image: Erick Hodge

A couple of years ago, we were going through an amazing season of growth at Transformation Church. We witnessed awesome baptisms, record attendance, and most importantly, many people committing their lives to Jesus. God’s gracious hand was blessing us beyond measure. ...

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|Gospel of Grace
God knows the best position for you to play in life.
When You Feel Sidelined by God
Image: Flickr

Some years ago, when my son Jeremiah was seven, I coached his flag football team. One of his teammates was an adorable little guy named Max. Max is never going to be mistaken for the next “Mean Joe Green.”

Max is the kind of young man who, if an ambulance went ...

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|Leadership
What picture of the future has God tattooed on your heart?
Seeing the Unseen
Image: Unsplash

As a leader, what picture of the future has God tattooed on your heart concerning the organization you lead?

This soul-tattoo is called vision.

When you have a vision from God, there is an internal pull that you can’t measure. But you know it’s real.

It ...

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|Church
That's what I'd like to help us think about in this blog.
What the Church Should Look Like
Image: Erick Hodge
Welcome to “Just Marinating”!

The concept of this name comes from John 15:5, “abide in Christ.” In this context, to marinate means to think about, to meditate on, to dwell on. In this blog, I want to help us think about and meditate on the amazing ...

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|Leadership
Three Practices to Grow as a Leader.
Instead of Building Your Platform, Build Your Character
Image: Erick Hodge

If you’re a pastor or leader, words like “platform” and “influence” are important.

But if we aren’t careful, in our desire to build our platform and influence, the end result will be building our EGO.

As leadership gurus Ken Blanchard ...

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|Leadership
Simple steps we can take to guard our hearts.
Pastor, Five Signs We're in Danger
Image: Mike Blake/REUTERS

I’ve learned a great spiritual lesson from the series, “Lord of the Rings,” that I pray will guide and protect me, my wife and children, and the people I lead at Transformation Church.

In this epic story, Sméagol kills a friend for a special ring ...

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|Discipleship
Simply gathering Biblical facts won’t change the world.
Do We Have Discipleship Wrong?
Image: DeathToStock

In the American educational system, from first grade all the way up through high school, we’re taught to memorize INFORMATION, and then take a test. If we pass the intellectual test, then we move on to the next grade.

We’ve transferred this learning pattern ...

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|Church
Does our preaching and teaching cause people to focus more on themselves than on Jesus?
Christ-less Christianity
Image: Flickr

I have a great concern for the Bride of Christ, Jesus’ Beloved Church.

My concern is not for brick and mortar, but the people for whom Jesus shed His precious, sin-removing, guilt-removing, shame-removing, life-giving blood.

I’m concerned that much of the ...

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|Evangelism
An invitation to a friend may save a life.
I was Going to Commit Suicide, but…
Image: Unsplash

I received a letter some time ago that I have to share with you. You see, when I received this letter, I was tired and discouraged. We’d been out of room at Transformation Church at our broadcast location for years, even with five services. I wasn’t sure we’d ...

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|Church Planting
Preparing for the adventure of a lifetime.
Seven Things Every Church Planter Must Know
Image: Erick Hodge

Dear Church Planter,

I’m so excited for you! You’re about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime!

Before you set sail, here are seven things you must know:

1. Be more passionate about developing a theological vision of why the church plant you serve exists ...

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|Gospel of Grace
Have we commercialized the Gospel, reducing its effectiveness?
Don't Declaw the Lion
Image: Trashhand

Before hip-hop music became mega profitable as a musical genre, it had a prophetic edge that informed the world of the injustices that were happening in urban communities around the world.

I remember the first time I heard the group Public Enemy. I thought, “Do they ...

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