Catalyst Articles

Somewhere along the way ministry had become a job. Another waypoint in my efforts to save the world. I spent more time talking about God than talking to Him. More time describing God’s presence than bathing in it.

As leaders it can be easy to become distracted and miss the plans and purposes God has for our lives because our focus is on unimportant, insignificant things (that just happen to be screaming the loudest for our attention!). 

These girls deserve to be the change makers they believe they can be. They deserve to live preciously dangerous lives, reminders that no force of hatred and ignorance must ever be allowed to prevail as long as the people of God are willing to fight against it. 

Imagine the difference for pastors to know that they can stand on stage and tell their congregations with confidence that going to church matters for your marriage.

I still remember the first time I was getting ready to share my story in a church setting.  Just as the congregation was getting ready to trickle in, a woman looked at me and said, “Are you sure you want to do this? People will never look at you the same again.”

Maybe your church has a pastor who has been teaching for years, or maybe you work for someone who is well-respected in your organization. Can you become a great leader, with your own distinctive style, while working for another great leader?

The more we tell ourselves to forget past secrets, the deeper the heart aches for realization. If we get really honest with ourselves we know that secret is still there, waiting, breathing and creeping up on us only at times to destroy and demolish us from the inside out.

In our minds, we become right simply because we’ve been wronged. Perpetuating this idea is what ruins friendships, ostracizes those we love, and leaves entire cartons of ice cream empty. Why? Because playing the blame game requires a voracious appetite for validation, one that is never quite satisfied.

What’s the difference between a leader we respect and one we’d actually follow?

It's simple really, leaders are learners, and sometimes to learn, risks must be taken. Leaders, regardless of position or skill set, should be willing to learn from what sharing responsibility can teach you.

The Old Testament is like that. It’s like viewing a painting from far off and making the judgment that the painting is hideous. The closer we get, we realize that it is actually a mirror. Ouch.

Each week during the #LentChallenge, we’ve sent YOUR questions to Dr. Craig Blomberg, New Testament scholar and professor at Denver Seminary. Dr. Blomberg is the author of many books including his most recent: Can We Still Believe the Bible? An Evangelical Engagement with Contemporary Questions.