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One of my deepest recurring struggles as a pastor was getting my identity and vocation confused. My identity was ‘God’s child,’ but I related too much through my vocation as ...

Pastors are called to teach. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,” Jesus commanded his disciples before ascending to heaven, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt. 28:19-20) We bear the sacred call to do many things: care for souls, manage the church’s finances, maintain the building, complete denominational paperwork, and visit people in the hospital. While the importance of these tasks is undeniable, without teaching, the pastoral call is lost.

1. Scripture of the Month: 2 Timothy 4:2-5
2. Lead the Leaders: 5 simple ways to grow strong small group leaders in your church
3. Quick Tip: Keep groups connected on the go with audio devotions -- Like this one on Esther
4. Resource: Download this free resource from Pastor Chris Hodges on teaching kids how to pray
5. Micro Challenge: Ask your group, "where did you see God today?" -- Even if they're not in the same room

A Fun Way to Spark Meaningful Conversations

Discover how you can create engaging content by having fun and drive deeper thought and conversation.

Hello friends,

Welcome to the very first issue of our newsletter! I'm so glad you're here. At ChurchSource, we're not just book people, we're Church people! Many of us on this team have served in ministry ourselves—on church boards, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, and in my case, as a youth pastor. We know how hard it can be to find resources you can trust. We’re here to come alongside you with tools, ideas, and encouragement that actually help. You're not in this alone!

— Eric

Whether you’re on a church staff, leading a small group, mentoring students, or
running point on the parking team, I think you’ve felt it too—that unmistakable joy that
shows up when you’re in the middle of ministry done with heart.

Growing up in the church in the ’80s and ’90s, I do not recall hearing a single mention of pornography from the pulpit, in youth group, or at youth retreats. ...

Table Fellowship is the practice of welcoming children to the Lord’s table during corporate worship. "Knowing that children are not ready to affirm their faith in all the doctrines of the church or assume all the responsibilities of adult membership, LaGrave Ave CRC developed an intermediate step for children who are old enough to make a heartfelt declaration of faith in Christ as their Savior and to understand the symbolic meaning of the Supper". (Stan Mast, 2009)

On Valentine’s Day, Meg gave her husband Peter his favorite candy, tickets to an upcoming hockey game, and, later at night, she wrapped herself in a special outfitpurchased for just that occasion.  ...

Thankfully, God never becomes frustrated with us. He’s patient with our impatience and continues to be faithful even though we’re easily forgetful. The tragedy is how we miss out on an invitation to experience God’s soothing, loving presence when our prayers are more focused on our problems than praying to experience Him.

from How to Read the Bibleby David PlattChurch Toolkit - Free Download As we know, God’s Word is plentifully available in the West and within the church, yet too often the ...

Individualism isn’t new. The motivation for building the Tower of Babel, to “make a name for (them)selves” (Genesis 11), is timeless and universal to human experience. What’s new is that we’re living through a perfect storm of converging trends and circumstances that are pushing a post-Christian society past a tipping point.

The Problem of Life: Waking Up to the Wonder We’ve Forgotten Claim your church kit here! Elizabeth Barrett Browning once wrote:“Earth’s crammed with heaven,And every common bush afire with God;But ...

“What does it mean to be a disciple?” I was sitting in a circle of church and ministry leaders recently, during a sort of “discipleship summit.” The question on the ...

Daily Seeds is a proven discipleship resource that works in a variety of contexts, including small groups and Sunday schools. Assuming your group meets weekly, class members should read one chapter from the 1 John study every day for 6 days. The 7th day of the week you will meet with your group to share, pray, and encourage one another with insights or struggles that group members encountered during the week’s readings.

In Boy Jesus, Joan Taylor provides us with that. Not ponderings, but expertly researched
historical and contextual details that help us make informed guesses about what Jesus’ childhood was like, how he interacted with his family, and how his community helped him prepare for his ministry.

Here are four things Boy Jesus helps us do to know Jesus better: