Author: jmarkfox

What if a church leader is guilty of persistent sin? He should be “rebuked in the presence of all.” The Bible is as clear on this point as the church is confused on it. Sin happens in every church, large or small. The question is not whether it happens, but how the church should respond … Continue reading The church ignores this at its peril

Nate and Tara Ariel left town last fall. They packed as much as the airlines allow, boarded a plane with their seven children, and moved to Bocachica. That’s an island off the coast of Cartagena, a beautiful port city in Colombia, South America. The Ariels don’t live in the beautiful port city; they live on … Continue reading The Ariels are discipling a nation

The greatest struggle of the average pastor in America is with discouragement and sometimes flat-out depression. The source of his discouragement may be the stress of the ministry and the absence of elders who are walking with him in it. Or the feeling that he is not equipped to take care of a flock. Or … Continue reading Does your pastor have the blues?

Who says the Bible does not help us deal with every issue of life? Those who deny this truth simply have not read the Bible themselves or have rejected the book, hoping this will somehow make them less accountable to it and its Author. The Bible speaks clearly on the question “Who is to care … Continue reading Who is to care for widows?

So, you want to be a leader? There’s no better leadership checkup than what Paul wrote to Timothy: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Leadership is not a function of age or ability, according to the … Continue reading You want to be a leader?

I had the privilege to meet in St. Louis last weekend with 17 men from around the country. We flew or drove there from places as far away as Gresham, Ore., Ovid, N.Y., and Lake Wales, Fla. We are fathers and grandfathers, pastors and conference speakers, lawyers and entrepreneurs, writers and researchers, life coaches and … Continue reading Eighteen men, three days, one goal