Crazy Ideas and Pastoral Wisdom

Mike Leake 2 Comments

Church leaders will sometimes have people come to them with ideas for ministry.  Sometimes these make perfect sense and the pastor is left wondering, “why didn’t I think of that one”.  At the other times the idea is so off-the-wall that the pastor is left to scratch his head.  Yet, he also knows that sometimes these “crazy” ideas are really God-given burdens and that he needs to be careful not to squelch passion or more importantly squelch the work of the Spirit. 

So, how do you tell the difference between these crazy ideas that are just crazy ideas and crazy ideas that are actually God-given burdens?  Lee Eclov in his book Pastoral Graces offers a few questions that might help with sifting through the difference.

  • What made you think of that?
  • Have you thought through some of the challenges?
  • Have you talked about this idea with others?
  • Is there some reason you think this would be especially effective at our church now?
  • Are you invested in this ideas enough to write up a short proposal I could show to others?
  • Would you pray about this for a couple of weeks and see if God brings other people forward?

As Eclov says, “Good questions pump life into good ideas and let flimsy ideas quietly drift away”. 

What do you think of these questions? Would you add any others? 

A Healthy, Wealthy, and Prosperous Giveaway

Mike Leake 2 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed a book that is much needed in our present church climate.  Health, Wealth & Happiness by David Jones and Russell Woodbridge is a great book for explaining the biblical teachings on health, wealth, and prosperity.  It exposes the false claims of prosperity “gospel” teachers and replaces it with a solid biblical theology. 

The good folks at Kregel Publications have agreed to giveaway two copies of this book.  Enter the giveaway for your chance to win one of the two books.  Two winners will be drawn on Friday, August 31st.  And if I have internet access they will be announced on Saturday, September 1st.  (If there is no internet access at the marriage retreat I am helping to lead then it will have to wait until Monday the 3rd. 

Enter below (be patient, sometimes Punchtab is slow to load):

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Today in Blogworld 8.27.12

Mike Leake

I’m Tired of Hearing “The Gospel”

This from Thabiti Anyabwile, “As blasphemous as it sounds, “the gospel” is not the answer to every question.  It’s not enough.”  Read on…

Transforming Grace (FREE)

Shouldn’t it always be free?  Jerry Bridges’ classic work Transforming Grace is free for your e-reader TODAY ONLY, so be sure to swoop it up. 

Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp

Josh Harris shares a little about Paul Tripp’s new book on the unique challenges of pastoral ministry.  Read Harris’ article and check out Tripp’s new book that you can pre-order. 

“America is Going Downhill Fast”…and Other Stupid Statements

Interesting points here from Michael Patton.  So what do you think is “America going downhill fast”? 

As Tim Brister said, Jackie Hill brings the gospel thunder:

5 Books I’m Enjoying Right Now

Mike Leake

Every now and then I get an influx of really good books that I am reading.  Currently there are five that I’m reading through and enjoying about every second of it.

  1. The Hole in our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung.  A great book on the need for those with gospel passion to also have a passion for personal holiness.
  2. Pastoral Graces by Lee Eclov.  A very encouraging and yet convicting book on pastoring in grace and with grace. 
  3. How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson.  A book on suffering and evil.  Only a little into this one but it will help me with life and probably one I will consult frequently when writing my book on suffering.
  4. Community by Brad House.  This book hopes to give a lifeline to struggling small groups.
  5. Kingdom through Covenant by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum.  A via media between covenant theology and dispensationalism.  It’s lengthy.  And by the time I get to finish it I’ll probably be able to ask Jesus face to face about the relationship between the covenants.  But every page I read in the mean time is really interesting. 

Click on the links above if you want to purchase any of these books.

If you can only get one of the books above it’s hard for me to suggest which one.  I think the Gentry and Wellum is going to have ripple effects throughout evangelicalism—but I doubt it’s for everyone.  DeYoung’s book is really helpful for anyone that reads widely in the gospel-centered movement.  Pastoral graces is an easy and beneficial read for any pastor.  D.A. Carson is always good.  And so far I think the book on Community will help in thinking through small group ministries.  So…get ‘em all.