Every spiritual leader, including the pastor (actually, especially the pastor) needs personal and spiritual accountability.

I have gathered a team of godly men with whom I meet (sometimes on the phone, but often in person) on a regular basis for accountability.

These men know they have access into every area of my life—and they take the access. They ask me probing questions regarding my walk with the Lord, family time, reading, and my thought life. They don’t hesitate to point out imbalances they see developing in any area of my life.

These men pray for me as well—for my personal needs, for my family, for specific challenges and needs in my life and ministry.

It seems that every time I mention the need for a leader to develop an accountability team or to seek out mentors, someone will ask, “How do you select such men?” This is a great question, especially considering the vital role of accountability in a Christian’s life. (more…)

Part of the joy of ministry is that of enjoying it with fellow laborers in the work.

In the secular workplace, friendship with coworkers is often a corny topic. When your expected ambition at work is to support your family and perhaps also further your career, who cares if you enjoy time with your coworkers?

But the work of the ministry isn’t the same as the work of factory. Should not those of us who have a common bond in Christ also have a common strength in relationships?

Ephesians 4:3 says “yes!”

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.—Ephesians 4:3

If you desire unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace, you will have to take the first word of that verse as an action item. Friendship requires endeavoring. You must give it specific attention and invest your energy in it.

Healthy churches and healthy ministry teams have healthy relationships. How can we develop these friendships? (more…)

You can’t miss the urgency and passion with which Jesus carried out His ministry. Throughout His life on Earth, He was busy about the Father’s business.

As young as a twelve-year-old He said, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

Throughout Christ’s ministry, He spoke in musts, conveying the urgency He felt to do the will of the Father.

• “I must preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43).
• “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).
• “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. (Luke 9:22)
• And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14)

I wonder how often these priorities characterize our days? (more…)

I believe in checklists. Actually, I believe in lists, period. They help me keep focused on completing projects, and they keep me from forgetting important details.

In Philippians 2, we have a checklist of a different sort—qualities of a productive Christian servant. The first several verses of this chapter describe a servant leader as they reveal the mind of Christ and His humility.

But then Paul turns a corner and gives a series of personal admonishments. In these verses, we see five characteristics of a Christian servant: (more…)

The ministry schedule here at Lancaster Baptist seems to sometimes bring periods when multiple events happen in back to back succession. This is one of those seasons. Resurrection Sunday took place two days ago, and tomorrow begins the West Coast Baptist Youth Conference when we will welcome thousands of teenagers to our campus and do our best to minister to them.

When I look back over the last week leading to Easter, as well as to the Easter Sunday services, I am truly amazed to see what God continues to do here in the high desert of Northern Los Angeles County.

First, I am always humbled to see the heart of service from the members of this church. Throughout the week—and often late into the night—there were people cleaning, decorating, setting lights, preparing live stream, practicing music, and a variety of other activities in preparation for the Easter services.

Second, I was overwhelmed by the obvious working of the Holy Spirit on Sunday. In each service, I sat next to people who wept as they considered the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the Cross. God gave us the privilege of serving well over a thousand first-time guests, and scores of them accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Of the many events of Resurrection Sunday, there was one text I received that really summarized the ministry for me. It was from a young married man who was recently saved in our church and who we have recently been discipling. Here is his message (although I have removed his name for security reasons): (more…)