Minister's Toolbox

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 excelle...

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 mentio...

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

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 ac...

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 c...

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 M...

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...

 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...

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 oth...