Recent Articles

As I drive the freeways of Southern California, I often find myself praying, “Lord, how can I get all these people to slow down long enough to hear the Good News? How can I get their attention?”It used not to be this hard. In the early part of the last century, the church was often the biggest building in town. The pastor was one of the most educated and visible leaders in the community. The church calendar was the social calendar. You automatically had everyone’s attention.That’s no longer true. A church can sit next to a freeway with 100,000 cars driving by daily and still be ignored. Pastors are caricatured on TV as con men, wimps, or worse. In an entertainment-driven culture, church programs face serious competition. So how can the church capture the attention of the unchurched? There’s only one way—by offering something people cannot get anywhere else. What is that something? It’s having their practical needs met in Jesus’ name.Ministry means meeting needs in Jesus’ nameMinistry is what happens as we meet needs in Jesus’ name. We took that seriously during my years as pastor of Saddleback. The first line of our vision statement said, “It is the dream of a place where the hurting, the hopeless, the discouraged, the depressed, the frustrated, and confused can find love, acceptance, guidance, and encouragement.”We wrote into the bylaws of Saddleback Church this sentence: “This church exists to benefit the residents of the Saddleback Valley by providing for their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs.” Our objective was to minister to the whole person. We didn’t limit our ministry to so-called “spiritual” needs. People can’t be compartmentalized; their needs spill over onto each other. And God cares about every part of a person’s life.“If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say, ‘I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.’ What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help?”  (James 2:15–16 CEV).Meeting human needs—whatever they are—is part of being a doer of the Word.Look beneath the hype: Growing churches meet real needsLook beyond the buzz of any growing church and you’ll find a common denominator: they’ve figured out how to meet the real needs of real people. A church will never grow beyond its capacity to meet needs. If your church is genuinely meeting needs, attendance will be the least of your concerns. You’ll be looking for more seats. People are dying to have their needs met—spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical.I can’t list the specific needs of the unchurched in your town. Every community is unique. That’s why I urge you to take a community survey. One church learned that the number-one felt need among its young families was help with potty training preschoolers. Rather than dismiss the need as “unspiritual,” they hosted a Parenting Preschoolers conference—and used it as an entry point for evangelism. When it comes to using felt needs as an open door for evangelism, the possibilities are limitless. At Saddleback we developed ministries to meet the needs around us. Empty Arms supported couples after miscarriage and stillbirth. Hope for the Separated helped people fighting for their marriage after a partner walked out. Celebrate Recovery has served thousands facing addictions and other hurts, habits, and hang-ups. God has used those ministries to draw people to himself.Every time your church meets someone’s need, a good rumor starts traveling through your community’s relational networks. When enough of those good rumors spread, you’ll connect with people no visitation program could ever reach.Keep your focus on people’s real needs—spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical—and meet them in Jesus’ name. As you do, the changed lives in your community will amplify the message you preach each weekend.

Ministry is hard work. It takes energy to preach, lead, care, and keep going week after week. In life, the why always determines the how long. If you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you won’t last. That’s why so many people feel discouraged today: They’ve lost their reason for running the race. Pastor, it’s vital to remember why you do what you do and who called you to it.When I served as the senior pastor at Saddleback, Mondays could feel like quitting time. When I hit those walls, I came back to two truths.1) Remember: Your mission comes from GodYou didn’t invent your life mission; God assigned it to you. If he called you to it, he’ll empower you for it. You don’t have to manufacture strength, wisdom, or endurance on your own. When you refuse your calling, you’re left with your own power. But when you accept your calling, you receive God’s power.“We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy” (2 Corinthians 4:1 GW).When discouragement creeps in, go back to your calling. Rehearse how God led you. Pray through your assignment. Ask the Lord to refill your tank for what he has asked you to do.2) Remember: Your reward is eternalRunning to win requires focus and self-denial. You can’t do everything. Some good things will need to be cut so you can pursue God’s best. Earthly rewards don’t last—trophies break, plaques get boxed, applause fades. But the reward God promises never disappears.“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing” (1 Corinthians 9:25–26 NLT).Given enough time, someone will throw out all your trophies. Don’t live for the applause of people. Live for what lasts—God’s approval and the joy of hearing, “Well done” (Matthew 25:21 NLT).The motivation that lastsInternal motivation (pride, people-pleasing, insecurity) won’t sustain you. External motivation (titles, headlines, likes) is temporary. What you need is eternal motivation—eyes fixed on the goal of heaven. If you live a hundred years, that’s a millimeter on the yardstick of eternity. Let that perspective shape your week.“We don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT).Keep your eyes on the reason you’re doing this—God called you and he is helping you. And remember the reward; you’ll enjoy it forever.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)As a pastor, you’ve dedicated your life to serving God’s people. Week after week, you prepare sermons, care for the hurting, and lead your church with faithfulness. But God reminds us that one of the most important things you can dedicate to him is your body. Your congregation doesn’t just receive your teaching—they receive you. The way you care for yourself directly impacts the way you’re able to care for them.So how do you honor God with your body? You take care of your body. That doesn’t mean chasing after perfection. It means making choices that keep you healthy enough to serve with strength and clarity. What does that look like?Rest matters. Ministry is draining, and exhaustion takes a toll. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.Food matters. In 1 Corinthians 6:13, Paul warns against sins of the body. Eating wisely isn’t about guilt—it’s about fueling yourself so you can lead with focus.Perspective matters. Some neglect their health, some resent their bodies, and others obsess over them. God calls us instead to respect and protect what he has made.The Living Bible paraphrase says, “You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed your laws” (Psalm 119:73). Caring for your body isn’t about vanity—it’s about stewardship. God created you, Christ redeemed you, and the Spirit dwells in you.Your congregation doesn’t just need your sermons; they need you. Honoring God with your body means you show up with the strength, clarity, and energy your people deserve. When you steward your health, you’re not only worshiping God—you’re also loving your church well. They’ll be blessed because you’re able to serve them with focus, presence, and joy.

“Those who believe him discover that God is a fountain of truth.” John 3:33 (TLB)Pastor, everybody is betting their life on something. An atheist is betting there is no God. The culture around us is betting that truth is fluid and self-made. But as followers of Jesus, we know he declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6 NIV).As a shepherd of God’s people, you don’t just hold to this truth for yourself—you proclaim it, defend it, and live it out for the community of faith entrusted to you. That isn’t easy. On Monday mornings especially, after pouring yourself out on Sunday, it can feel like truth is under relentless attack. But remember: God’s truth is a fountain that never runs dry.So what do you do with the truth you’ve discovered in Christ? Here are four reminders for your soul today:Believe it. Before you can preach it, you must personally stand firm in it. “You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News” (Colossians 1:23 NLT). When doubts creep in or fatigue sets in, anchor yourself again in God’s truth.Do it.Truth isn’t just something you teach—it’s something you practice. “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me” (John 14:21 NLT). Don’t rush past obedience in your own life while preparing others to obey. Start with the truth God is pressing into your own heart.Stand for it.Shepherding God’s people often means standing against cultural currents that dismiss or distort truth. “For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8 NLT). Even when it feels lonely, your stand strengthens others to do the same.Spread it. You’ve been entrusted with declaring the Good News—not just on Sunday mornings but wherever God opens doors. “Wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News” (Mark 16:15 GW). Your preaching, counseling, praying, and mentoring all extend the truth of Christ.Paul reminded Titus, “Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth and the fact that you are in dead earnest about it” (Titus 2:7 TLB). That includes your study, your leadership, and your personal life.There will always be parts of Scripture that stretch you, challenge you, and even make you uncomfortable. But it is still the truth. It is still your map. And as you cling to it, God will use you to guide others to the living water of Christ.