The Power of Planning in Preaching- - Dr. Thomas Bartlett, Rockbridge Class of 2008 - When it comes to preaching, planning, and laying out an annual or quarterly calendar of topics, scriptures, and series, I’ve seen two opposing views. On one end of the spectrum there are typically non-preachers and super-spiritual folk who think the [...]

Personal Discoveries for Impactful Preaching: The Five Focal Points - Dr. Thomas Bartlett, Rockbridge, ‘08 - Can you think back to the last, really great sermon you’ve heard? I’m sure the one you preached last week was amazing. But I’m talking about a message that captivated your mind, that caused you to think, and then [...]

The Hardest Thing About Preaching - by Lance Witt- I remember Chuck Swindoll once saying that the hardest thing about the Christian life is that it’s so “daily”.  For preaching, maybe we could modify his statement just a bit to say “the hardest thing about preaching is that it’s so weekly”.  It’s so true, isn’t [...]

I’m motivated by changed lives. I’m always asking myself, “Who is the next person God will radically change? Whose marriage will be transformed next? What is the next miracle God will do?” I don’t care what you call your preaching style, but I believe our preaching should lead to life change. I’ve developed my sermon-preparation [...]

Future Church: 8 Church Trends to Watch in 2023 - By Carey Nieuwhof - Dear Friends, Carey Nieuwhof has written an enlightening and compelling article on 8 Church Trends to Watch in 2023 that I want to pass along to you this week in our blog. I believe Carey’s insights, research, and perspective is helpful [...]

The Leadership Quality No One Talks About - By Lance Witt - The writer of Hebrews paints a beautiful portrait of a spiritual leader.  When describing how the Priest functions, the writer says He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. [...]

Sharing The Dream - By Kay Warren - I’ve noticed one common trait in couples who thrive in ministry over the long haul: the ability to see themselves as a team who shares a God-given dream. I believe this one factor can actually make or break the ministry God has called you to. Being a [...]

Who is the most difficult person you have ever had to lead? Did somebody’s face and name just pop into your mind? When I first thought of that question, the name that immediately popped into to my mind was Cecil.  He was a member of the first church I ever pastored.  He was a red-headed, [...]

Why Leaders Need to Be Readers by Rick Warren -- We need to balance both input and output in ministry to be healthy. You can’t constantly give unless you’re filling up your tank. You can do this through many tools—from reading books to listening to podcasts to participating in conferences. I heard someone once say, [...]

Do You Have the Heart of a Pastor? I want you to think of someone that you believe is a great leader.  Go ahead… think of someone that you respect as a leader.  Have you got their name in your mind?  Now, answer this question.  What qualities do they posses that make them a great [...]