Council of Counselors: Redemptive Leadership / Preaching & Personality / Singleness / Parenting Teens / 3 Relational Keys

This is a weekly post that highlights resources from other counselors that I have found helpful. The counselors may be from the biblical counseling, Christian psychology, integration, or secular counseling traditions. By linking to a post, I am not giving it my full endorsement, I am merely indicating that I believe it made a unique contribution or raised an important subject for consideration.

Authority and Vulnerability: 2 Necessary Ingredients for Redemptive Leadership by Phil Monroe

What I liked about Sherwood’s part of the talk is that he describes a process he takes pastors through as they examine ministry failures. Which choice do they tend to make and why? Of the 129 he has taken through this process, 55% chose the path of power and control (exploitation), 29% chose to withdraw, and 16% chose to remain in ministry but disillusioned and wounded.

• If you to learn more about healthy vulnerability, consider my booklet on the beatitudes.

Preaching and Personality by Gary Millar

Some people are more interesting to listen to than others. I’m sorry, but it’s true, and it’s now out there. Some people make me sit on the edge of my seat, and others have the gift of encouraging me to slide back as far as I can go. So what makes the difference? What makes a talk engaging rather than sleep-inducing? Some people have written books about this, but even the very best of these leave something out. Yes, we can make sure that our language is arresting, and our structure clear, and our application rich and our biblical theology compelling—but there is another factor which is slightly harder to address. It’s the personality factor.

• Here is a collection of my resources on personality.

Pastoring Singles by 9Marks

20 articles on ministry and singleness from the journal of 9Marks.

10 Fun Things to Do with Your Teens by All Pro Dad

I love teenagers. For fifteen years I spent week after week creating nights of fun activities for teens. A few things I observed about teenagers is they love to laugh, play, experience adventure, and be heard. If you can create an experience that includes at least one of these you will be off and running. When you create an experience that includes all four you will make a bonding moment, and, potentially, a life-long memory.

• For one of my favorite books on parenting that does not get the attention I think it deserve, see the “What I’m Reading” section below.

Three Qualities that Improve Every Relationship by Ken Sande @ RW360

My best co-workers thrived because of three key character qualities. The disappointing ones struggled because they lacked the very same qualities. I’ve noticed an identical dynamic in friendships, marriages and ministries, all of which either thrived or withered to the degree that people cultivated humility, teachability and flexibility.

What I’m Reading

Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children by John Younts. The most important conversations you will have with your kids will be in the context of everyday life. In ‘Everyday Talk, ‘ author John Younts explains how to use ordinary conversations to talk to your kids about God and his world. You?ll be delighted by his clear, practical insight and biblical wisdom. Buy this book and read it. But don’t stop there?put it into practice. Your children will thank you!

Tweets of the Week

Meaningful Meme

On the Lighter Side

Because, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” Proverbs 17:22.