Learning How to Pray
Read Matthew 9:18-30 one of the great prayer promises of the Bible is Matthew 7:7 — “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” See how this promise is illustrated in our verses for the day. The ruler of the synagogue came asking.
Taking Others with You in Leadership
Written by: Bill Elliff Leadership is hard. There is an art to helping people accomplish the next important thing. And it’s possible to think you’re leading and look behind you and no one is there! One man said that if you’re leading and no one is following you’re just taking a walk! So how do
Pastoring
It amazes me the misconceptions some have concerning ministry. One student walked into my office at Roswell Street and said, “It must be nice to get paid to study the Bible.” Since then, he has entered the ministry. He has now discovered that ministry is a multi-faceted, high and holy calling that demands everything a
The Other Brother
Read Luke 15:25-32 The fact that there were two brothers in that family is not incidental; it is basic to the meaning of the parable. The younger brother, of course, represents the publicans and sinners who were willing to repent and follow Christ, while the elder brother is an illustration of the Pharisees who criticized
The World Is Waiting for One Spiritual Rebel
Written by: Bill Elliff Can I read the newspaper for you today, but use a slightly different historical context? The people of the nation had sinned against the Lord (2 Kings 18, the Israelites). Everything God told them not to do, they did. Even when God sent prophets to warn and counsel them they did
Taking Calculated Risks
Tom Elliff tells the inspiring story of playing a round of golf at the distinguished Augusta National where they play the Masters Tournament. Having come to “amen corner,” Tom was now standing on the tee box of the most famous hole in golf; the dog-leg left, par five, number thirteen. The beauty of the azaleas
Reflections on ReFRESH
We have just returned from a trip that covered nearly 1,900 miles on the bus—plus airplanes, multiple hotels, and a lot of eating out! We’ve finished our winter/spring ReFRESH® Conferences in Branson and Pigeon Forge. There were nearly 1,200 pastors, wives, and lay leaders who attended these two meetings. God was all over the meetings
When All Else Fails, Read the Instructions
Read Acts 27:1-20 It was late Christmas Eve, and I was trying to put together my son’s toy garage. The situation was becoming more and more frustrating. My wife smiled and said, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” It was a word fitly spoken. The fate of that toy garage was nothing compared to
The Leader God Can Trust
Written by: Bill Elliff It’s a simple sentence, but amazingly telling. It was the reason that David was the greatest king Israel ever knew and that God could entrust such responsibility into his hands. And it’s the necessary essential of all great leaders. And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over
What They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary
Recently, one of our staff passed along a blog written by Dr. James Emery White. As I read it, I thought back to times in my own life. I also reflected on what needs to happen if this next generation is to be effective and efficient in ministry. Dr. White addresses the traps we can
A God of the Valleys
Read 1 Kings 20:22-30 The Syrians, of course, were superstitious people who could not believe in an almighty God, Ruler of heaven and earth. Their gods were limited to hills or valleys, and they thought the God of Israel was as their gods. How wrong they were! The Christian life is like Canaan of old:
The Loud Volume of Quiet Faithfulness
Written by: Bill Elliff I have always said to my kids that a lack of integrity always manifests itself. If a man’s character is dishonest, cutting corners, cheating, lying, etc. it will always come out. All you need do is read the papers and you will see the daily evidence of this maxim. But the