How would you assess your spiritual health? Is it related to how busy you are for the Lord? How good your intentions are toward your wife? How much outward fruit is evident in your ministry? Although there are outward evidences of a rooted Christian, I don’t believe any of these are the best measuring sticks for spiritual growth.

In 10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, author Donald Whitney suggests convicting and probing questions to help you gauge where you are spiritually.

Every one of these ten questions gripped my heart: (more…)

One of the first books I received as a college student was Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon. This was the text for my Pastoral Theology class and has been one of my favorites throughout the years. Although I have probably read Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders more than any other book, Lectures to My Students would be at the top of the list of books to which I often refer.

One of the things I appreciate about Lectures to My Students is how clearly it reveals that many of the pressures and challenges of the pastorate have not changed over the last two hundred years. Much of Spurgeon’s advice to young preachers is as relevant today as the advice of anyone currently writing. There are a few areas here and there that Spurgeon addresses (mainly regarding health or issues with the schedule of ministry) that indicates the limited knowledge of the medical field at the time in which he ministered. But overall, this book has been helpful and a friend to me.

Spurgeon speaks about “the minister’s self watch” and the importance of remaining consistent in our walk with the Lord as we serve His people. (more…)

Do you think of yourself as a leader? Whether you are a parent, grandparent, pastor, coach, teacher, student, or friend, you exert influence on those around you. Leadership is not a position on a flowchart; leadership is influence.

One of the greatest threats to our usefulness for God is the lie that our lives don’t make a difference, that what we do has no eternal significance, that there is no reason to extend ourselves to invest in others.

But one person can make a difference! A couple of years ago, the Lord led me to write a small book entitled Leaders Who Make a Difference that examines the lives of three leaders in the pages of Scripture—Joshua, Nehemiah, and Joseph. Through their testimonies, we see how God used nine specific traits in their lives to make an incredible difference for Him.

For a limited time, Striving Together Publications has made Leaders Who Make a Difference free for both Kindle and iBooks. (more…)

Most of us never really unwrap the significance of the poignant Christmas season.

It’s been on my heart for several years to write a Christmas themed minibook with spiritual encouragement from the Christmas story, as well as a clear Gospel presentation that can be used as a witnessing tool. As we enter this season, I’m thankful to be able to introduce to you Christmas is a Gift: Unwrap the Significance of the Season. This new minibook is now available through Striving Together Publications, and I pray it will bless your life and help you share the Gospel with someone this Christmas.

The message of this book is simple: Christmas is a gift that we can continually unwrap all year long! Through Christmas, we are offered salvation. Through Christmas, we can know God’s peace and experience His joy. Through Christmas, we can have songs in the night and a promise of hope for the future. Through Christmas, we have Emmanuel—God with us—all year long. (more…)

I’m excited about the new resources from Striving Together Publications. It is a privilege to partner with pastors and churches around the world in making biblical and Christ-honoring resources for Christian growth available.

We’ve had several new resources released over the past few weeks, and I just wanted to take a moment to briefly highlight some of them. You can click on each title below for more information.

In Desert Places—This is my newest book, and it highlights the wonders God performs in unlikely places with unlikely people. Drawing from Bible accounts of what God did in desert places as well as the true stories of God’s miraculous work in lives in our desert here at Lancaster Baptist Church, this book encourages us to remember the greatness of God’s grace.

The Choice is Yours—I’m thankful Terrie has written this book for ladies, encouraging them to live with purpose and joy as they cultivate a walk with God. It will be encouraging and helpful for every Christian lady of any age and any level of Christian maturity. (And if my experience is an indicator, it’s a great read for pastors as well!) (more…)