Pastor Retreats
The Lodge is an ideal locale for pastors’ retreats, staff meetings, leadership events, and specialized group functions. Whether it be one of
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Latest Leadership Content
What Leads to Greater Freedom?
When is a train free to run? When it’s on the tracks or off the tracks? On the tracks it can move at incredible speed, with perfect freedom, doing exactly what it was created to do. Off the tracks, it’s unable to run as designed. We were designed, as C. S. Lewis said,...
Does God’s Word Make Progress In You?
“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father” (John 8:37-38 NASB). Jesus had a running...
Unceasing Praise
“From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3 NASB). A dear friend of mine, Stottler Starr, who was greatly used of God, recently died of cancer. The last year of his life was a time of great suffering, yet he seemed...
The Single, Greatest Thing You Can Do When Distressed
The story of Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, told in 1 Samuel 1, is fantastic. Hannah was barren, and it broke her heart. Other things complicated this, robbing her of joy. But there is one verse that changed everything: “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD...
The Irresistible Pull of a Praying Life
It happened while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1 NASB). One of the famous statements I’ve heard for years says, “Discipleship is more...
God Is Talking to You—Are You Listening?
It’s hard to believe. God has committed Himself to communicate with His creation. In one of the greatest psalms, David tells us two of the most profound ways in which this is done. Through Creation Notice the communication words in the first four verses of Psalm 19...
Our Praying Christ
If you are not convinced of the value of prayer and the need for unceasing prayer in your own life, look at Jesus. At every major juncture in His life, you will find the man, Jesus, praying. Apparently, Jesus felt He could not live properly without unceasing communion...
God’s Plan for Your Leadership
God has ordained an order in His kingdom, and that kingdom is to be mirrored in His creation. Part of His order is to call out leaders to lead others. God gives some the responsibility and authority to lead others. And these leaders are to lead. If they are placed in...
Jesus’ Early Morning Routine and Ours
There was a habit Jesus seemed to have during his life on earth. We see it in multiple places in Scripture, but very clearly in Mark 1:35 (NASB): In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was...
Am I a True Christian?
There are thousands, perhaps millions of people who believe they are Christians who will never enter heaven. This is not my evaluation but the clear teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. Christ spoke of those who “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous...
The Reverse Effects of Pride
“A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor” (Proverbs 29:23 NASB). What is the desire of a proud man? He only has one, really. He wants to be lifted up. He longs to be known and honored, recognized and revered. His arrogance makes him...
The Blessed Promise of Answered Prayer
In my trouble I cried to the LORD, and He answered me (Psalm 120:1 NASB). In this world there is one certainty for every man—he will have trouble. Jesus Himself stated this fact. “In the world you have tribulation,” He said (John 16:33). The psalmist made this...
Our Most Serious Failure
It is the most frustrating thing we ever experience. When our young children simply will not listen to us, we are unable to lead them. When they are teenagers and ignore our counsel, it opens the door for them to be led by many unhealthy voices and make disastrous...
Deflecting Praise
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth (Psalm 115:1 NASB). One of the things that determines the trajectory of a man’s life is how he handles praise. If he is a proud man, he will absorb it,...
The Watsons’ Story
Fatigue, burnout, and depression were just a few of the challenges Pastor Sean and Michelle were facing when they reached out to Life Action. In a desperate moment, God used a single phone call to begin restoring their lives and renewing their vision for local church...
Christ’s Constraining Love
The love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NASB). The word...
Who Is the Head of the Church?
The title of this article could also be: Who's in Charge, and What Difference Does That Make to Me? There are thousands of “drop the mic” statements in the Bible. These are definitive statements which, if dealt with properly, should be the end of the discussion. These...
I Lost It
I am a man who lost faith. Other authors in this issue of Revive are describing the life of faith, the bold steps of risky obedience Jesus calls us to take every day. But what if we really aren’t sure about all of this? That was me. After growing up in a vibrant...
First of All
As you start your week, there are some first things you must do. From checking your email to meeting with your staff about the week to setting out your weekly to-do list, you have a routine. But, there may be one thing missing. In fact, God seems to think it is the...
The Godliest Man on Earth
The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8 NASB). Job was identifiable. Only God could make this determination, but as He looked...