I cringe when I see friends post and share links to Matt Walsh’s blog. Not because I’ve never posted cringe-worthy stuff — I’ve done plenty, even recently. But I cringe because I think Matt Walsh’s writing is usually bad for the soul. And I’m concerned that he may not be having a good effect on […]
Author Archives: Luke Simmons
How Do People Really Grow Spiritually? (Lessons from Move)
Every pastor wonders how much difference he is making. I’m no different. I want to know to what degree my personal ministry, as well as our church’s ministry, is really helping people grow in their faith. I ask questions like: Are we truly making disciples or are we just keeping people active? Does activity/participation = growth? Which […]
Sermon Notes & Preparing to Preach
I’ve been teaching a Preaching Lab this summer, where a bunch of men and women are learning the basics of preaching and then preaching a practice sermon. This week one of the participants asked me a good question about the sermon prep process and sermon notes, and I thought I’d share my answer. Q: When you prepare […]
What I Learned From Teaching VBS
Last week our church hosted 150 kids from 5-10 years old for Vacation Bible School. This was our third year of VBS and I volunteered to teach. I was assigned to a group of 8 year-olds and it was a fun, tiring week. Here’s what I learned: 1. Leaders must bring energy. It’s not a secret that […]
Think-Pair-Share: How to Lead Engaging Discussions
Leaders must lead engaging discussions. Rallying people always involves conversations that elicit their feedback and encourage their participation. Whether you’re a pastor, a kids ministry teacher or a small group leader, you must lead engaging discussions. One of the most helpful tools for this is “think-pair-share.” First a story… About 11 years ago I was helping lead a college […]
4 Keys to Faithful Preaching
I recently met with our Pastoral Residents to discuss preaching. Faithful preaching is a crucial part of a healthy church, and we are trying to help these guys develop into faithful preachers. This raises the question, “What makes up faithful preaching?” I think there are at least four marks of faithful preaching and, conveniently, they begin with “P.” […]
Avoid Ministry Porn
For most pastors, it usually starts with the opening of a laptop. Sometimes it’s on a smartphone or tablet. Often, another pastor recommended it. With a few simple clicks, the video rolls or the sound begins. The faces and voices are familiar, but the settings change. The best sites have fresh content. New things never […]
5 Dangers of Success
Everyone wants success, but few consider the dangers that come with it. Wise leaders — especially those experiencing some measure of success — should be aware. This came to mind most recently on a vacation in Flagstaff when I was walking through a bookstore and came upon Wooden: A Coach’s Life by Seth Davis. The quote […]
What I Learned from a Weekend with Ex-Cons
This past weekend I spoke at a men’s retreat for Desert View Bible Church. There were about 140 men, mostly guys who attend the church. One of the men works with Alongside Ministries, a ministry that provides Christ-centered mentoring to the incarcerated community. He brought about 15 men who have been released from prison in the […]
Visionary Leadership Answers These 6 Questions
Visionary leadership is crucial in today’s world. Every leader has a vision. Some visions are clear, others are fuzzy. Some are well-developed, others are sloppy. Some are compelling, others are forgettable. How can a leader gauge the clarity and effectiveness of his or her vision? The most obvious way is to measure the people who eventually get […]
