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How to Avoid a Moral Failure in Ministry and Leadership

Life's Healing Choices

40 Days of Love

Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise

One of my gravest concerns about the witness of the church to our current culture is the threat to our evangelistic integrity caused by moral failures among ministry leaders. Every time a leader falls, we all suffer with that leader and his family and friends. And our collective witness to God's truth suffers as well. For Jesus' sake, for the Gospel's sake, for your sake and your family's sake, decide daily that you're going to live with integrity by God's grace. First Corinthians 10:13 in the Living Bible says, "The wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. God will show you how to escape." I find this verse incredibly reassuring. First, it says everybody faces temptation. It's man's oldest problem, since Adam and Eve. We've all had problems with temptation. I'm tempted, you're tempted. It's not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin to give in to temptation. And God will provide a way out, a way of escape. Here are six ways to take that escape, to avoid fatal attractions . . .

Make a commitment to keep God's standards.

Be willing to do in advance what the Bible says. Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word." The best place and the safest place to get your values is to consult the Creator and look at God's instruction manual, the Bible. It's stood the test of time. It's provided guidance for years and years. It won't lead you wrong. Make a commitment to whatever God says whether it's right or wrong in the eyes of other people. Until you settle that God's Word is the standard for your life you're going to fall for all kinds of temptations.

Maintain your marriage.

This is the greatest insurance for a happy home life. Rekindle that fire, that romance. Proverbs 5:18-19 says, "Rejoice in your wife. Let her charms and tender embrace satisfy you. Let her love alone fill you with delight." The grass is not greener on this side of the fence. The grass is greener where you water it. The problem is in most marriages there is no spontaneity. If there was more courting in marriages, there would be fewer marriages in court. The fact is while you're married you will be attracted to other people. God says redirect that towards your mate. Rejoice in your own mate. First Corinthians 7:5 teaches that sex is a spiritual responsibility. The Bible says you are not to deprive each other of it.

Manage your mind.

You need to understand how temptation works. James 1:14-15 says, "Temptation is the pull of our own evil thoughts and wishes. These thoughts lead to evil actions." The battle starts in the mind. Thoughts determine feelings and feelings determine actions and the key is to change your mental thoughts. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Adultery starts in the head before it gets to the bed. Lust is not physical attraction. That's just humanity. Lust is not desire. Lust is the desire to possess. You say, "Please take away all of these desires." Are you saying, "God, don't make me a woman/man?" Lust is the desire of "if I could I would"—I'd possess. It's what you do with those feelings. Manage your mind.

Monitor your media intake.

We are in a sex saturated society. We are bombarded by visual and verbal stimulation every moment of the day. In advertising, sex sells everything from bingo to batteries. Lust is big business. A lot of love songs are not love songs, they are lust songs. We've all heard the stats on Internet pornography, but it often begins with browsing things that only border on pornography. The Bible says that the eye is the gate to the soul. Matthew 6:22-23 says, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good then your whole being will be full of light." What you see is what you become. Every time you look at that screen in living, visual color at the movie, it goes off that screen and comes into the screen of your mind. It's in your subconscious. In Psalm 101:3 David said, "I will set no vile thing before my eyes." If you're serious about victory in this area you're going to have to give up about 80% of the movies and shows that are out there today. The Bible says what you allow in the gate of your mind goes into your soul.

Minimize the opportunities for temptation.

If you want to avoid a fatal attraction don't allow yourself in situations where it happens. Matthew 6:41 says, "Keep watch, and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Jesus said here keep watch and pray—two preventative techniques. Know the situations that tempt you, that get you off base. Are you aware of the things that trip you up? What do you do if you're caught off guard? You pray. Right there on the spot. You say, "God, help me get out of this situation." Choose the friends you have very carefully. First Corinthians 15:33 says, "Bad company corrupts good character." People who condone or encourage lust or make light of it are not your real friends. When you choose your close friends you'd better be certain that they're committed to faithfulness in their marriage or they better not be your best friends. Minimize the opportunity. It would be better to change jobs than to be unfaithful to your mate.

Magnify the consequences.

Ask yourself with every temptation, no matter where it is or what level it is, "Is this worth it?" Temptation is incredibly short‑sighted. There are enormous consequences to breaking God's laws. I have heard the hurtful cries and the damage that has been done, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and mentally. When we break God's laws, we don't break them—they break us. It always causes bitterness, guilt, disillusionment, strains in relationships, hurts, breaks fellowship with God, and brings judgement on our lives. It's just not worth it no matter what society says. Magnify the consequences. Also, magnify the consequences of running from the temptation and the benefits of doing so. James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under temptation, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the victor's crown, the life God has promised to those who love Him." The result of fleeing temptation is a crown in heaven. If you've already experienced moral failure or are in the middle of one right now, there is forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Ask for forgiveness, make amends, offer forgiveness to others, restore relationships, and run back to God. There is forgiveness and the conscience can be cleared and clean. And always be about the business of preventing it from happening again by living under God's truth and grace.

Editor's note: If you struggle with temptation in the area of sexuality or pornography, we encourage you to reach out to Celebrate Recovery to find a recovery ministry in your area.

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What’s the Difference Between Leading and Managing?

If you want to know the temperature of your church, put the thermometer in your own mouth. That’s what my old ministry professor used to say—and he was right. You can’t take your church any farther than you’ve gone yourself. That’s why leadership matters so much in ministry.You’ve probably heard it said: Everything rises or falls on leadership. That’s never more true than in your church. I’ve seen churches in great locations that struggle, and churches in terrible locations that thrive. The difference is leadership. And, thankfully, you don’t have to have a charismatic personality to be a great leader.What makes a leader effective? Not charisma, but vision.Leadership Starts with VisionWhether you lead a whole church or a specific ministry area, your primary job is to keep the vision clear. You need to be able to answer this question: Why are we here? If you don’t know, you can’t lead.When I served as senior pastor at Saddleback, my job was to keep us focused on the original New Testament purpose of the church. That got harder the larger our church became. When we were small, people came because they were spiritually hungry—not for programs. But as we grew and added ministries, we began attracting more transfers from other churches. And every one of those transfers came with baggage.Often the first thing out of their mouths was, “At our old church, we did it like this . . .”I had to learn to graciously and repeatedly say: “We’re not trying to copy another church’s vision. We’re pursuing this vision.”So we communicated that vision over and over—in our new members class, our church newsletter, and just about every way we could. The “why” behind what we did was always front and center.The Difference Between Leading and ManagingSo what’s the difference between leading and managing?It comes down to this: Management is about analysis, problem-solving, and planning. Leadership is about vision and values—and communicating both.Most churches are over-managed and under-led. That leads to what I call “paralysis of analysis.”It’s like, “Ready . . . aim . . . aim . . . aim . . .” but they never fire.Don’t get me wrong. Churches need management, too. Without it, you get the opposite problem: “Ready . . . fire!” with no aiming at all.You need both. But if you, as the leader, don’t clarify the vision and values, no one else will.Why Vision MattersProverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (KJV). Some people dream big dreams but never turn them into anything actionable. Vision is a pragmatic dream—a dream you can implement. It’s specific. Nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific.When I look back on Saddleback’s first service, I’m still amazed at what God has done. What began with just a small group of people and a simple vision grew into a global movement.That’s the power of a God-given vision.Pastor, Here’s What to Do NextAsk God to clarify your vision.Repeat it often to your church.Lead with vision. Manage with wisdom. Do both.But never let management crowd out your leadership. Because your people can’t follow where you haven’t led.

How to Adapt to Lead a Growing Church

Pastor, before your church can grow to the next level, you need to understand the stage you're in now. Different stages of church growth require different leadership skills. You won’t lead a church of 400 the same way you lead a church of 40.There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s by God’s design. But it does mean you need to be willing to grow and change if you want your church to do the same.Here’s a simple framework I’ve used for decades. It identifies three types of churches, each with unique structures and leadership needs:1. Single-Cell Churches (under 200 people)In a single-cell church, one group of people make up the entire church. There are only a few ministry groups, and relationships are close. Everyone knows everyone else. This stage often feels like a family.At this level, the pastor operates like an owner/operator. You do everything: printing bulletins, unlocking the church, sweeping floors, and preaching. You're the entrepreneur keeping everything going.Many pastors love this stage because it feels personal and manageable. But if your church is going to grow beyond this, something has to change.2. Multiple-Cell Churches (200-300 people)In this stage, the church includes multiple groups: small groups, Sunday school classes, men's and women's ministries, and more. It’s no longer possible for the pastor to do everything.The pastor’s role must shift to manager/supervisor. You begin building a team. You train and empower others. Instead of doing all the ministry yourself, your role is to lead others who do ministry.This is where many churches get stuck. The transition from operator to manager is difficult. You must learn to delegate and trust others with key responsibilities.Your worship services also need to improve. In a small church, people overlook imperfections because it's like family. But once your church hits 300, people are attending for different reasons. They may not have personal connections yet, so they’re evaluating the church based on the worship experience, teaching, and excellence.3. Multiple-Congregation Churches (400+ people)Larger churches function as a congregation of congregations. Ministries—like children’s, men’s, and women’s ministries—become self-contained congregations within the church, each with their own leaders and programs.At this level, the pastor must become an executive leader. This doesn’t mean controlling everything. In fact, you need to let go of many day-to-day decisions. The executive pastor and leadership team handle the details.Your primary roles become:Setting the visionPreaching and teachingMaking high-level decisionsAs the church grows, the pulpit becomes the most powerful tool to set direction. People follow the vision you cast from the stage.You Can’t Be Great at Every Stage—and That’s OkayIt’s rare to find a pastor who is naturally skilled at all three of these stages. Most leaders thrive in one. That’s why it’s so important to build a team that complements your gifts.Personally, I struggled in the manager stage. I was great doing it all myself or stepping back to lead at a high level—but not at managing. Saddleback got stuck for a time until I learned to surround myself with people who were strong supervisors and administrators.Wherever you are now, I want to encourage you: Stick to the vision God gave you. You might be hauling gear in and out of your garage every Sunday. I’ve been there too. Don’t give up. Trust God to grow you as he grows your church.How to Prepare for the Next StageIn a single-cell church, growth comes by adding new cells. Start more groups, more classes, even more services. Multiply your church’s connection points.In a multiple-cell church, improve the worship experience. Make it excellent and relevant. Recognize that people are no longer coming primarily because of friendships—they’re coming to see if your church is worth their time and trust.In a multiple-congregation church, focus on staff management. Delegate well. Develop leaders. Protect your time so you can lead with clarity and preach with power.As your church grows, your leadership must grow too.You don’t need to be everything. You just need to be willing to change. Let God shape you into the kind of leader your church needs at each stage.God has placed you in your church for a reason. Keep growing, and keep leading with vision and humility.

Jesus Is Praying for You, Pastor

“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 (NIV)Pastor, before you preach your first sermon this week, counsel that couple, or walk into yet another meeting, take a breath and remember this: Jesus is already praying for you.He knows everything you’re about to face. He’s not surprised by the weight of ministry. He knows the email waiting in your inbox, the hospital visit coming on Wednesday, the spiritual attack you can’t quite name yet—and he’s already interceding.That’s what it means to be omniscient. He knows the past, present, and future—all at once. And in his perfect knowledge, he’s lifting you up in prayer.The night before the cross, Jesus told Peter, “I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me” (Luke 22:32 NCV). Jesus knew Peter was about to blow it. He knew the shame and self-doubt that would follow. But he prayed for Peter in advance—and he prayed with a view toward restoration and future ministry.In the same way, Jesus has already prayed you through what’s ahead.You may feel like you're running on fumes today. Maybe your heart is heavy from burdens your people can’t see. But Jesus sees. Jesus knows. And Jesus is praying.The Son of God is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you (Romans 8:34). That truth alone can carry you through anything you’ll face this week.You’re not leading alone. You’re not preaching alone. You’re not suffering alone.Jesus is with you—and he’s praying for you.

The Lies Your People Believe—and How to Counter Them

Pastor, every week when you stand before your congregation, you’re not just preaching to believers—you’re preaching into a world filled with competing worldviews. People bring those views into your church every Sunday. They shape how your members see relationships, success, money, purpose, and even God.Worldview matters. It’s not just academic or philosophical. People live their lives based on their worldview—whether they realize it or not. If you want to see transformation in your people, you must help them change how they view the world. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (NIV).Here are six of the most common worldviews that are shaping the people in your pews—and how God’s Word responds to each one.1. The one with the most toys wins.This is materialism. It’s the belief that life is about acquiring more. More stuff. More money. More success.But Jesus said, "Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15 NIV). Real life isn’t about what you own—it’s about who owns you. The greatest things in life aren’t things.2. I’ve got to think of myself first.This is the worldview of individualism. It’s the mindset behind many cultural slogans: “Have it your way.” “Obey your thirst.” “You deserve it.”It’s a self-centered life that destroys marriages, divides churches, and corrodes communities.Jesus taught the opposite: "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it" (Matthew 16:25 NLT).True life comes from giving yourself away—to God and to others.3. Do what feels good.This is hedonism—the belief that the goal of life is to feel good, be comfortable, and have fun.But Scripture is clear. The Message paraphrase says: "Are you addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied" (Proverbs 21:17).Chasing pleasure doesn’t satisfy. It leaves people empty. God created us for more than comfort—he created us for a calling.4. Whatever works for you.This is pragmatism. In today’s world, the only “wrong” seems to be telling someone else they’re wrong. Truth becomes subjective. People say, “If it works for you, that’s fine.”But the Bible warns us: "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12 NIV).Truth isn’t whatever works. It’s what God says is right.5. God doesn’t exist.This is naturalism, or atheism. It claims that life is an accident, that there is no Creator and no ultimate purpose.But Paul writes: "Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God" (Romans 1:20 NLT).Creation points to a Creator. If there’s no God, life has no meaning. But God made you—and everyone you preach to—for a purpose.6. You are your own god.This is humanism—a worldview that says we are in control of our own destiny. It’s behind the belief that we’re the masters of our fate and the captains of our souls.But Romans 1:25 says, "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator" (NIV).Every human being is wired to worship. If we don’t worship God, we’ll worship something else—even ourselves.A Biblical WorldviewAll of these worldviews have consequences. And most people don’t even realize how deeply influenced they are by them.There’s only one worldview that leads to the life God has planned for you: a biblical worldview. The biblical worldview says: God created us for his purposes. We are not our own. We exist for his glory.Pastor, if you want to change people’s lives, help them change their worldview first. When their minds are renewed, their hearts will follow.

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