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Lessons from Jesus’ Prayer Life (Prayer, Part 3)
When Jesus enters the world, he brings with him a new age of kingdom prayer and calls us to enter it with him. Every aspect of the life and ministry of Jesus is deeply rooted in prayer–more than most realize. It isn't just a peripheral thing, it's the life-breath of how he serves the Father as the God-Man, and how he brings the kingdom to earth as the King of kings.
Prayer and the Kingdom of God (Prayer, Part 2)
Throughout the Scriptures we find a strong connection between prayer, the kingdom of God, and the mission of God. Never forget that the success of the gospel in church planting and renewal depends not only on God’s sovereignty and the faithful preaching of the gospel—but also on the faithful prayers of God’s people.
The Main Thing (Priorities, Part 6)
It's hard to lead, but it's much harder to love. When Jesus was asked what the main thing in life is, he replied, "Love the lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, "Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22)."
Product vs. Process Living (Priorities, Part 5)
It's very easy to be living for another day in the future, for the product or the accomplishment of your next major milestone. Author Isaac Rubin writes, "The joy and happiness from the process lasts much longer and can be much more satisfying over the duration of your life. But if you are totally goal oriented in a success oriented culture and if the product is the only goal, you will destroy much of the possibility for true joy and happiness in life."
Discover Wisdom Through Humility (Priorities, Part 4)
Church leaders must be on guard against the danger of only seeing themselves as servants and soldiers of God, but not children of God. In John 15, Jesus said, "You are my friends." That's richer than merely being a slave or a soldier. 1 John 3:1 says, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" And a Father's love for his child is even higher!
Working Towards Your Goals (Priorities, Part 3)
One of the reasons many dropout of the ministry is because they have never learned the simple distinction between goals and desires. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Manage Your Life and Not Just Your Time (Priorities, Part 2)
How many church leaders on their deathbed do you think wish that they had just spent more time at the church? At the root of our frantic propensity to overwork in the ministry, is usually the sin of pride, an exalted sense of our importance to the kingdom of God. The answer is not managing our time; it's managing our priorities.
Liberating Ministry from Success Syndrome (Priorities, Part 1)
In the trenches of all the hard work necessary in ministry, it's very easy for church leaders to become discouraged and depressed. It's especially easy to be seduced by the Success Syndrome Seductress! In this session, you'll learn how to balance your life and ministry priorities in the face of what can sometimes seem like impossible competing time-demands.
How Do I Forgive Someone Who Wronged Me? (Managing Conflict, Part 6)
Forgiveness is not merely a feeling. It is primarily a decision, an act of the will, that God calls you to make, often in spite of your feelings. Forgiveness is always costly, just like it cost God something great, in his Son, to forgive you. It will always cost you something great to forgive someone else. The person who has wronged you is in your debt until you decide to release that debt you've been holding on to. Forgiveness is a costly choice for you, but a choice that always pays the giver rich dividends.
How Do I Own Conflict as a “Chief Repenter”? (Managing Conflict, Part 5)
One of the most significant ways that church leaders can serve as examples to the flock is through their repentance. Only through the Gospel can we find the power to be criticized and then to humble ourselves and confess our sins to others no matter what their response might be to us.
How Do I Engage in Conflict with Wisdom? (Managing Conflict, Part 4)
We should always seek first to overlook the offenses of others. But sometimes it becomes necessary to talk with others about their failures.
How Do I Manage Conflict? (Managing Conflict, Part 3)
There is a big difference between constructive criticism and sinful antagonism. Some leaders become unnecessarily paranoid when others disagree with them.
Am I Called by God? (Calling, Part 1)
In this session our focus is on the nature of God’s calling as being two-fold: 1) A Primary Call to All Followers of Christ, and 2) A Secondary Call to Ordained Leaders in a church based ministry.
Old Reliable Triangle: How to Apply God's Word by John Frame
John Frame and Steve Childers draw from their more than 70 combined years as seminary professors to help you learn how to apply God’s Word to all areas of life.
Childers' First Church Plant Celebrates 40th Anniversary in OKC
Forty years ago, Steve Childers became the founding pastor of Heritage Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, serving there from 1977-1982.
Watch Childers and Team Training in Muslim West Africa
Watch this 3 minute video about Steve Childers training leaders in West Africa.
A Gentleman and a Scholar (Framing John Frame, Part 4)
“You are a gentleman and a scholar.” It’s a phrase used in the Catcher in the Rye. But it’s been used for centuries throughout the British Isles to describe a rare person worthy of being considered not only a scholar but also a gentleman. Not all scholars are gentlemen. Not all gentlemen are scholars. John Frame is both.
Day One: Worship and Preaching, Kara, Togo, West Africa
Watch this video of Steve Childers preaching in West Africa.
100 Books That Have Most Influenced The Thought Of Dr. John Frame
Drs. John Frame and Steve Childers compiled the top 100 books that have influenced the thought of Frame. This list is published in John Frame’s Selected Shorter Writings, Volume 1, by P&R Publishing.
Watch Pathway Learning Partner Share Risks in Muslim West Africa
Watch this powerful, 1-minute testimony from our Pathway Learning ministry partner who is willing to risk his life for the sake of reaching his people in West Africa.