February 2015

|Leadership
Guard against ministry idolatry by preaching the gospel to yourself.
Let the Gospel Defend Your Heart
Image: Flickr & Erick Hodge

There is a subtle, seductive disease of the heart that often disguises itself as a holy ambition for the glory of God.

What is this spiritual heart disease? It’s called finding your identity in ministry. Instead of worshiping Jesus, you worship the ministry Jesus ...

Continue Reading
|Leadership
When God asks us to do something beyond our abilities.
The Leadership Crucible
Image: Unsplash & Erick Hodge

Sometimes God, in his sovereign wisdom, will place us in a situation or allow circumstances to descend upon our lives that will batter and shatter us. We will find ourselves in an emotional storm that will wring our hearts. Often, we will be asked to do something for the ...

Continue Reading
|Discipleship
Remembering God’s love in the midst of deep trials.
How to Hold On When Everything Is Coming Apart
Image: Flickr

God hears the cries of his people.

God hurts when his people hurt.

God bottles every tear that his people have shed (see Ps. 56:8).

As we experience life, we will most likely know the feeling that “God is hiding his face” (see Ps. 30:7).

Perhaps it will ...

Continue Reading
|Discipleship
How a little healthy fear is a good thing for your faith life.
It’s Not ‘Pick Up Your Cross and Be Comfortable’
Image: Flickr

As Christians, many of us have fought hard to make our lives safe, predictable, and comfortable. We haven’t been afraid in a long time, and the presence and power of God hasn’t rested on us in a long time. When God calls you to do something, be afraid because ...

Continue Reading
|Church Planting
Vision and teamwork are essential.
Five Things Every Church Planter Needs
Image: Brandon Robinson

“America is one of the fastest-growing mission fields in the world.”

Let these sobering words sink deeply into your heart. Don’t read through it too fast; slow down and let it bother you. Nearly one-in-five American adults have no religious affiliation, according ...

Continue Reading
|Leadership
The world needs blessed leaders who care for and equip God’s flock.
A New Kind of Leader, Part 5
Image: Erick Hodge

This post is part of a series on the Beatitudes and leadership called “A New Kind of Leader.” You can read the earlier posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

For the past four posts, I have written about the need for a new kind of leader, a leader that is shaped ...

Continue Reading
Are we hungry and thirsty for the wrong things?
A New Kind of Leader, Part 4
Image: Erick Hodge

This post is part of a series on the Beatitudes and leadership called “A New Kind of Leader.” You can read the earlier posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

In Matthew 5:1–9, Jesus describes what humanity looks like at its best––what “kingdom-of-God” ...

Continue Reading
|Leadership
What does it mean to value people over production?
A New Kind of Leader, Part 3
Image: Erick Hodge

Last week I began a series on the Beatitudes and leadership called “A New Kind of Leader.” You can read the earlier posts here: Part 1, Part 2

What is leadership?

Leadership is not telling people what to do. Leadership, first and foremost, is about embodying what ...

Continue Reading
|Discipleship
When we love like Christ, we make the world a better place.
Did I Love You Well?
Image: Death to Stock

When we are at the end of our lives, we won’t ask “Was my house big enough?” or “Did I make enough money?” But most likely we will ask, “Did I love you well?” All of us are longing for real love, and God wants to teach us to love ...

Continue Reading
|Leadership
Are today’s pastors more like CEOs than shepherds?
A New Kind of Leader, Part 2
Image: Erick Hodge

Last week I began a series on the Beatitudes and leadership called “A New Kind of Leader.” You can read the earlier post here.

After attending and speaking on the church leader conference circuit since 2008, I have begun to wonder if we are trying to create CEOs ...

Continue Reading

Follow Derwin Gray

RSSRSS
TwitterTwitter
FacebookFacebook
InstagramInstagram

Videos

We all need inspiration and transformation. The Creative Arts Team at Transformation Church takes a short snippet from my sermon each week to provide inspiration that leads to transformation. If these weekly videos inspire you, share them!

More: Inspiration And Transformation
Limitless Life

Follow Christianity Today

RSSRSS
TwitterTwitter
FacebookFacebook

Free Newsletters

More newsletters