Kingdom and empire can both look successful from the outside. These seven searching questions help Christian leaders examine whose name, methods and mission are really shaping what they build.
Kingdom Leadership or Empire Building?
Tag: leadership
How God Promotes Leaders
Contrary to so much of the position-pushing that even goes on in denominations, cathedrals, networks and churches, Scripture shows repeatedly that leaders who carry lasting authority are usually people who genuinely want more of God Himself. Not ministry success. Not in it for influence. Not going for growth.
Just God.
BREAKTHROUGH Prayer: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything
Breakthrough rarely starts with strategy – it starts with prayer.
In Nehemiah, we see a leader move from comfort to calling through a simple but powerful pattern: Burden, Revelation, Examination, Agreement, Knock.
And the door will be opened…
Reimagining Church As Movement (with Rich Robinson)
Most churches aren’t designed to multiply.
They’re designed to manage what already exists.
That’s the problem.
Character and Competence
Everyone builds a platform for their life.
Charisma won’t hold you.
Charm won’t sustain you.
Crowd-pleasing will tear you apart.
Only character lasts.
“You will always lead out of who you are.”
Busyness Is the Silent Enemy of Spiritual Depth
Reflection is the only way experience turns into wisdom. Without reflection we simply repeat the same patterns – just faster, and as my friend Michael Orokpo says, “If you are going the wrong way, increased speed is no advantage!’
The Questions Leaders Must Ask In Each Decade Of Life
Leadership questions change across the decades. The challenges of your 20s are not the same as your 50s or 70s. Each stage of life brings a different question that shapes who we become and how we lead. Understanding them helps us build a life – not just a ministry.
Caleb Christians. Why Church Must Rethink Retirement
What if instead of asking:
“What will I do when I retire?”
We ask: “What hill country is God still calling me to take?”
That’s the question Caleb wanted to figure out at 85. It should challenge and shape our faith today.
You’re Not the Chief Shepherd: A Reminder for Pastors and Church Leaders
This is notes from some teaching and discussion I shared today with our staff team and yesterday with our Grow Group leaders. I started by saying I have been in ministry long enough to go through times when talking about being a Pastor and leading pastoral ways was regarded as somewhat passé. I fell for the leader as CEO strategist and yes the church can learn from business (and vice versa) but biblically, leadership in the church is to become under-shepherds of His flock. It’s never ownership – it is stewardship. We don’t lead people for ourselves; we care for people for Him. And the moment we forget that distinction, everything starts to unravel. God is the Chief Shepherd – We Are Under-Shepherds Scripture is unambiguous: there is one true Shepherd, and everyone else leads under His authority. Jesus identified Himself this way in John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd.” And He made it clear that shepherding involves laying down your life for others, not building your own kingdom. 1 Peter 5:2–4 reinforces this: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care… […]
The Generosity Report 2026: What Church Leaders Need to Know About Trust, Teaching and Joy
UK Pastors shy away too often, but teaching about Stewardship is vital – and the Generosity Report 2026 shows that it grows rather than diminishes your leadership (if it’s done the right way).
Yesterday I had the privilege of attending – and contributing on a panel at – the launch of the Generosity Report 2026 from Stewardship in London.