As well as having been a preacher for over four decades, I also have been privileged to be a teacher of preachers, having served as an adjunct professor in two universities.
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When Gwen and I were seeking to discern what it was that God was calling us to in this season of our lives, these concepts were really helpful to us and eventually led us to launch Dave DeSelm Ministries. I think these truths are transferrable to all of us
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Vision is a key component of leadership. However, as author Ray Pritchard once said, “Good leaders have a vision; better leaders share a vision; the best leaders invite others to join them in spreading this vision.”
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For many years one of my December practices was to consider a theme verse for the upcoming year. More times than not it proved to be my “north star,” guiding me through the uncharted months ahead.
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I’ve been struck by a consistent theme in the lives of several pastors I’ve spoken to recently. That theme is disappointment.
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One of the great challenges for pastors is deciding how much of their personal lives to reveal – whether in private conversations or in sermon illustrations. It’s known as “appropriate self-disclosure” and it’s a big deal.
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inter Gwen and I were privileged to share some extended time with a group of pastors and wives. While we were one of my fellow pastors gave a devotional that I found to be insightful, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
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Someone who shaped my life in my early years of ministry was the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I read his books. I listened to his sermons.
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Most pastors I know are inveterate bibliophiles. They know that great books can provide information, inspiration, and illustrations.
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Ever since Thanksgiving, I’ve been pondering an intriguing Scripture verse. Psalm 126:3 reads, “The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.”
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I remember visiting many churches and seeing a wooden plaque in the foyer that was updated every week. It was titled “Attendance and Offering,” and it gave the stats from the previous week and one year ago, enabling people to compare.
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Some time back I came across a quote (sorry, but I don’t know where it originated) that really marked me. It read…If you never celebrate your wins, it will seem like you’re always losing.
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One of the most painful aspects of the post-pandemic church has been its numerical contraction. Attendance is down across the board. And with that, giving is down across the board.
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In his fine book, Canoeing the Mountains, Tod Bolsinger describes the outstanding leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they led their Corps of Discovery in search of a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean
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Nothing will slow down a growing church faster than a toxic staff member. What makes a person toxic? One definition is that it’s an individual who is unsupportive, negative, or even abusive.
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The best organizations have a clear sense of culture. The Apple way… the Chik-fil-a way…the Disney way. Having that stated culture sets the bar for expected behavior.
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As we emerge from the pandemic and all of its implications, many churches are looking to make strategic hires.
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One of the challenges of leadership is to know when an idea has buy-in from your team, be it a church staff, an elder board, or key team members.
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A few years back, Maria Konnikova wrote an article in the New York Times titled, “The Lost Art of the Unsent Angry Letter.” The idea is that if you’re upset at something or someone, you write a detailed, unedited response – and then you stick it in a drawer until you’ve cooled off.
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Nolan Bushnell, the father of electronic gaming, creator of the Atari video game system, and founder of Chuck E. Cheese once stated, “Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has had an idea.”
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