Polemic Theology – How to Deal with Those Who Differ from Us
Dr. Roger R. Nicole, Visiting Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary Part 1: What Do I Owe to the Person Who Differs from Me? We are called upon by the Lord to contend earnestly for the faith. (Jude 3) That does not necessarily involve being contentious; but it involves avoiding compromise, standing forth for what we […]
Strike the Shepherd
Forced pastoral exits are costing the American church millions of dollars a year. The kingdom cost for these forced exits is far higher. Consider these sobering statistics[1]: 23 percent of all current pastors in the United States have been fired or forced to resign from past positions. The average pastoral tenure in a local church […]
Build a Peace Sower Team in Your Church!
Moses made a major mistake that many church leaders are still making today. He tried to single-handedly resolve all of the relational tensions and conflicts among the people God had placed under his care. When his father-in-law saw what Moses was doing, he admonished him with these insightful words: “What you are doing is not […]
Four Ways to Defeat Amygdala Hijacking
The apostle Peter’s denial of Christ is a classic example of a neurological/emotional failure that today is commonly referred to as “amygdala hijacking.” As Peter demonstrated all too painfully the night he betrayed Jesus (Luke 22:54-62), this process typically involves sudden, intense emotions that trigger an impulsive reaction that is soon regretted. Most of us […]
The Most Compelling Kind of Influence
In 1997, Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt won Academy Awards for Best Actor and Actress for their roles in the romantic comedy, As Good As it Gets.* Throughout the movie, Helen Hunt demonstrates one of the most powerful ways to influence others. Before I describe her simple strategy (which you can use in your family, […]
The Best Way to Rewrite History
Jerry’s wife had filed for divorce. She was willing to mediate the legal issues but made it clear she had no interest in reconciliation. Ted had a similar problem with his church. Months of unresolved tensions had overflowed in a contentious elders meeting, with a few of his elders urging him to leave. Both men faced […]
Reconciled by a Baby Moose
After two painfully intense mediation sessions, Dave and Don were still miles apart and more bitter than ever. Best friends since high school, Don had hired Dave to manage his construction crews. Working long hours together, they built a highly successful company. But then a series of management disagreements escalated into a heated argument that […]
Calling Our Nation to Prayer and Repentance
One of the greatest privileges I’ve enjoyed in recent years has been to work with Christian leaders who are seeking to live out their faith as they serve God and our nation in the U.S. Congress, at the Pentagon and in state legislatures across our land. One of the most remarkable national leaders I’ve met […]
Millennials in Relational and Mental Health Crisis
Two days ago, I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion with Dr. George Barna and several other distinguished experts as we focused on the foreboding relational and mental health challenges faced by 78 million American millennials. This discussion was triggered by a recent George Barna research report entitled “Millennials in America,” which […]
Please Help Us Help Others
Our ministry is dedicated to doing all we can to help alleviate the following tragedies and to strengthen relational skills in the church, but we need your help to do so. “Two law enforcement officers die by suicide for every officer who dies by gunfire.” This was the shocking statement that a police chaplain and […]