Pastoral Depression by Pastor Ben Courson

Ben Courson, founder of Hope Generation, talks about pastoral depression and how we deal with it in leadership positions. Ben speaks from his own experience as someone who suffered for a decade with chronic depression. In the Bible we see that Job, Elijah, Jonah, and David all suffered from depression. It is not uncommon. And it is not a sign of weakness. With compassion and wisdom, Ben explains how depression can be viewed biblically and what good can come from it. It’s a message of—what else?—hope.

“The greatest Bible characters were often depressed.” -Ben Courson

“Depression is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes it is a sign of strength.” -Ben Courson

“The One who invented the phrase broken heart knows how to heal your broken heart.” -Ben Courson

“What the enemy intends for evil, God intends for good. He can take your greatest disadvantages and turn them into advantages.” -Ben Courson

“Give everything but up.” -Ben Courson

How to Serve When You’re Struggling by Pastor John Panico

How to Serve When You’re Struggling by Pastor John Panico

Pastor John Panico, Delray Beach, FL, talks about how to serve when you’re struggling. Struggles come in every area of life—financial, physical, emotional, relational, work—you name it. There is nothing in life you can expect to be completely exempt from struggle. But God has promised to  carry us through these times of difficulty. Pastor John gives five key points to help you persevere in trials. You will be encouraged. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

QUOTES:

“Remember your relationship with the person of God. We have to stay at His feet.” -John Panico

“Respond to the struggle with the promises of God.” -John Panico

“The enemy never attacks you generally; he always attacks you specifically.” -John Panico

“Rely on the power of God.” -John Panico

‘So many things we start in the Spirit, but we try to finish in the flesh.” -John Panico

“Rely on the people of God. You are not the lone ranger.” -John Panico

“Remember to rest in the presence of God.” -John Panico

Let's Study by Pastor Daniel Williams

Pastor Daniel talks about the importance of studying God’s word, following the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:1, who…received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. The practice of studying God’s word is essential in growing as a disciple of Jesus. Daniel shares a Bible study tool from Greg Laurie’s book, Start to Follow. It is the 3 Rs: Read: What does God’s word say?; Reflect: What does this teach me about God?;  Respond: What will I do with what I just learned? Teaching people to read the Bible is no small matter in a culture where the vast majority of people do not read a book after finishing high school or college. It needs to be taken seriously. If you don’t like to read, ask God to change your heart. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18. A practical message and a great encouragement!

QUOTES

“We are to be in God’s word, under God’s authority, men and women of the word.” -Daniel Williams

“People who want to know God need to learn how to study the Bible, to build their faith.” -Daniel Williams

‘We can go to God’s word and know who He is, and know God’s heart.” -Daniel Williams

“The discipline of reading has been lost, but it’s important for us as Christians to know that it’s part of our faith. It’s part of our education to learn what God has said.” -Daniel Williams

“The Bible is a supernatural book.” -Daniel Williams

“God’s word is the final authority.” -Daniel Williams

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

Telling Stories by Pastor Rodney Wilkinson

Pastor Rodney Wilkinson, Gospel Fellowship Church, Boynton Beach, FL talks about telling gospel stories. As Christians, we have the greatest story in human history, and we need to be able to tell it effectively. Stories have always been a vital part of life. Jesus was a master storyteller. He did this all day, every day. What does it take to tell a story? It takes courage. You have to be prepared and you have to be bold. It takes compassion. You have to care about the people you’re talking to. It takes connections. Your story has to make connections with real people in a real world. Jesus used stories to prepare people for the gospel. This is a great perspective of the how and the why of storytelling. And why we need to listen to the narrative of our culture in order to respond in thoughtful and effective ways. 

QUOTES: 

“God is constantly giving us opportunities to tell the gospel story.” -Rodney Wilkinson

“It takes courage to be able to tell what God has done in your life.” -Rodney Wilkinson

“I’m telling this story so I can see lives changed and impacted because of the gospel.” -Rodney Wilkinson

“We have to be able to share this gospel in a way that shows up, not as some antiquated story, but in real time, every day, right where our people are.” -Rodney Wilkinson

Partnering with Other Churches

Pastor Daniel talks about partnering with other churches and what that has looked like recently with Redemption Church, where he pastors in Delray Beach, Florida. With intention and purpose for advancing God’s kingdom, developing relationships among the community of churches where we serve has produced cooperation and fruitful ministry. This results in a greater impact than we could ever have alone. He shares six principles which will help you as reach out and partner with others.

QUOTES: 

“It’s going to take not just one church or ministry team, but a lot of teams and churches to reach our city.” -Daniel Williams

“We have this group text of about 8 to 10 pastors in our area…that text one another every Sunday morning and give encouraging words—I’m praying for you…Here’s a verse for today…Be encouraged—and it feels like we’re doing ministry together.” -Daniel Williams

“Have a posture of humility. It’s not about me. It’s about God and His kingdom. You may be established in your community, but you still have to have a humble spirit.” -Daniel Williams

“We have to make time to invest in relationships. This is not easy. It’s going to take some time and some scheduling.” -Daniel Williams

“As ministry leaders, we need to embrace wisdom through other people and make the time to learn. You can do this, because the benefits will be tremendous in your life as you build relationships.” -Daniel Williams

Loving The City by Pastor Casey Cleveland

Casey Cleveland, Lead Pastor at Avenue Church, Delray Beach, FL, talks about what it means to love your city, and how they do that at Avenue Church. (But first, he shares the story of how he and Pastor Daniel met and the impact that had on him and his church. God is at work!) One of the tools Avenue Church has used in loving their city has to do with math, where “a hundred is greater than a million.” Jesus operated His ministry this way, pouring Himself into the 12 disciples. Delray Beach, like every city, has its own unique diversity, and Avenue Church has been trying to love people where they are and to create a family within that group. Using Paul Tripp’s 4-Circle paradigm of Love, Know, Speak, Do, Casey explains the approach they have used in connecting with their community. ‘Keep giving them Jesus.” This is 18 minutes of godly wisdom and it’s pure gold.

QUOTES: 

“This has been our guiding principle…as Jesus was sent, so He now sends us.” -Casey Cleveland

“How did Jesus love the world? The first thing He did was enter the world…We try to leave our own world and enter the world of the city.” -Casey Cleveland

“Our first move here in the city has to be an outward move.” -Casey Cleveland

“We want to lovingly apply the gospel to their area of need as we speak the truth to them.” -Casey Cleveland

“We commit to the process of change which is often slow and super messy.” -Casey Cleveland

The Priority Of The Gospel by Pastor Kevin Saxton

Kevin Saxton, Middle School Pastor, Family Church Downtown, West Palm Beach, FL talks about how we can know what is the most important thing in life. A bivocational pastor, Kevin is also a firefighter. And he and his wife Tracy have seven children. There are many important things needing his attention. What does the Bible have to say about what is the most important thing? Where should we put our energy and focus? In 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Paul describes what is of “first importance”—the gospel. “Our lives have to be rooted and founded on the gospel as a matter of first importance.” It is why we do everything we do.

QUOTES:

“I went back to the scripture to try and figure it out—what are the most important things I am supposed to be doing?” -Kevin Saxton

“The most important thing is the gospel.” -Kevin Saxton

“The gospel is something very particular, the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him from the dead.” -Kevin Saxton

“The gospel changes everything. Nothing stays the same.” -Kevin Saxton

Leading With Clarity by Pastor Bill Mitchell

Pastor Bill Mitchell, Boca Raton Community Church, shares about leading with clarity. This talk is from BocaLead, a monthly business luncheon hosted at their church and taught by Pastor Bill. Using a ladder as a model, Bill shares the six rungs that are essential in leading with clarity: 1)Identity; 2)Direction; 3)Operations; 4)People; 5)Engagement; 6)Influence. The two side-rails represent your personal life and your corporate life. This is a process that Bill and his wife personally go through together every 5 years or so to reassess where they are and where they want to be heading. (Complete notes from this event are available at bocalead.com/clarity.)

QUOTES: 

“Clarity is the ability to clearly lead people on an agreed upon journey.”

“This whole thing is called alignment. We’re going to align our thinking to clarity today.”

“Alignment: These six areas will bring stability to you and your organization as you seek to lead in the direction you have set."

“As you look to the future you have to understand your identity, and it’s not easy. Don’t get stuck in your past identity.”

“Where are you heading? What are your values? How can you use those things to inspire and motivate others?”

“If you are a person of discipline, you are a person who works out what you do.”

Developing Leaders by Dan Grittner

Dan Grittner, Lifespring Church, Royal Palm Beach, FL (a brand new church plant scheduled for launch September 2019) talks about his own experience under the godly leadership of his youth pastor and how it changed his life. It takes time and effort. Watch for the potential in those around you, that you can build with and invest in them. The life changing difference is that you care about them, about their heart. This is a powerful exhortation from the heart of a pastor.

QUOTES:

“You’ve got to spend time with your leaders.” -Dan Grittner

“It’s not about giving someone a task and them doing it. It’s about building a family.” -Dan Grittner

“Who is it in your life right now that you know that you could build more time with?” -Dan Grittner

“He is a creative God and He lives inside of you. He wants to give you a creative way of making disciples.” -Dan Grittner

“You’ve got to be after their heart.’ -Dan Grittner

What the Church is Meant to Be by Pastor Glenn Shaffer

Pastor Glenn Shaffer, Destiny Life Church, Claremore, OK talks about the Church as it is described in the New Testament and how seeing the body of Christ with fresh eyes can help us. What does it mean (Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ) to equip the saints for the work of ministry? What is a proper understanding of the role of each member of the body in relation to the leaders? Positional mentality, performance mentality, and personalities are three areas Glenn talks about in this context, as hindering the church’s work of ministry. You’ll want to hear this.

QUOTES:

“There’s something about the New Testament understanding of what the church really is, that transforms you.” -Glenn Shaffer

“Sometimes we don’t realize how valuable Christ’s gifts are in the church and how much we need one another.” -Glenn Shaffer

“Something that is really burning on my heart is that we would emphasize placement in the body, as the scripture does, and not position…Placement is where Christ has set us; position is where man has set us.” -Glenn Shaffer

“We don’t go to church. We are The Church, going.” -Glenn Shaffer

The Problem with Comparison by Bryan Saylor

Bryan Saylor, Young Adults Pastor at Calvary Chapel, Melbourne, FL, talks about the problem of comparison, what happens when you begin to evaluate what God is doing in your ministry by comparing it to what God is doing in someone else’s ministry. This can be a result of insecurity or of pride. Someone else’s ministry looks better, so you feel bad. Or someone else’s ministry looks less than, so you are filled with pride. Either is dangerous because it distracts us from what God has called us to do in ministry. Bryan shares three important questions God asks us, questions that will help us identify the root of comparison and eliminate it from our lives. “When it comes to comparison, my prayer is that we would preach the gospel to ourselves and remind ourselves of the glorious riches that we actually have in Christ.”

QUOTES: 

“Comparison is one of the greatest things that can derail us or distract us from the mission God has given us.” -Bryan Saylor

“Comparison can be insecurity, but it can also be pride. Either way you look at it, it is dangerous.” Bryan Saylor

“These questions are gut punchers—they are difficult to hear. But as we wrestle with them, we discover the true heart of God and the fact that God wants us to move closer into trusting Him.” Bryan Saylor

The Blessings of Unity by Pastor Daniel Williams

Pastor Daniel talks about the blessings of unity among God’s people. David wrote of this blessing in Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1) Verses two and three of this psalm describe God’s blessing on those who practice unity. We may come from many different backgrounds and tribes like David and the 12 tribes of Israel, but God wants us to walk together in unity as one people—the body of Christ, the Church. Unity is extremely precious and valuable. Seeing the power of God work through the unity of His people is a great witness to the world of who God is. It brings glory to Him. Daniel shares some ways that local churches in Delray Beach. FL are working together in unity. How can we practice this unity that pleases God today?

QUOTES: 

“If you walk in unity with other brothers and sisters in Christ, you’re going to walk in strength.” -Daniel Williams

“Walking in unity helps us walk in God’s ways.” -Daniel Williams 

“When you walk in good works and you’re doing this together, it makes a powerful statement. People see that strength and they glorify God the Father.” -Daniel Williams

“Unity brings life and nutrition to your soul.” -Daniel Williams

“Unity does not mean uniformity. We can have our own unique heritage, but we are one in Christ.” -Daniel Williams

“Be eager to maintain unity in the body of Christ. Let us learn from one another. Let us grow and develop and serve the Lord with other believers.” -Daniel Williams