Welcome to the BSCLN Resource Library
Content Types
AN EXEGESIS OF THE REVELATION
LEADING YOUR CHURCH TO BECOME A HOUSE OF PRAYER
STRENGTHENING YOUR ASSOCIATION
MAINTAINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AS A MINISTER
STRENGTHENING THE MINISTER’S FAMILY
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR TIME & STRESS
As evidenced in this book, Dr. Lloyd Elder has done extensive study, research, and writing in the areas of leadership, management, and ministry. His first pastorate was in Alaska, followed by 22 years pastoring churches in Texas. His high management skills led him to serve as Executive Vice-President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, and following that as President of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay) in Nashville, TN. For the past two decades, he served first as professor of Biblical Studies and Preaching at Belmont University in Nashville; then in 1995 he founded the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont where he continues to serve as SkillTrack® Leadership curriculum writer, speaker and leader of conferences and retreats-giving training, counseling, guidance and encouragement to ministers and congregations locally and in states throughout the U.S.
SHEPHERDING THE SHEEP IN SMALLER CHURCHES
GROWING DISCIPLES IN YOUR CONGREGATION
This article will explore several components involved in developing a plan for your church. These components will include determining where to begin, evaluating current reality and envisioning God’s desired future, defining a disciple and what disciple-making is, and developing steps to design a disciple-making plan.
STRIVING TO BE A PASTOR WHO PRAYS
Pastors and church staff, you need to understand that the writer of this book is just like you. No matter how many times I commit myself to being faithful in my prayer life, no matter how many times I pray, no matter how many times He has delivered me from “the dry and thirsty land,” I return to the desert. I don’t want to be withered, but my actions communicate a different message. No matter how many times God teaches me that at His feet, there is life, joy, understanding, peace, and Himself, I still constantly try to live my life and do ministry without Him. Pretty foolish, wouldn’t you agree?
UNIQUELY BIVOCATIONAL
Uniquely Bivocational explores the challenges and opportunities facing the bivocational pastor. Often misunderstood and undervalued, bivo pastors provide leadership for the majority of the churches across America. Learning to balance family, church and work is perhaps the most unique challenge facing these special servants of God. To help produce a healthy relationship between a bivo pastor and his church, this book explores realistic expectations from each perspective in detail. Practical tips are provided on how to become comfortable with the limitations of having a second vocation. Also presented are the advantages of serving a church as a bivocational minister. Bivocational pastor, as you go through this book, you will see that a key element in being an effective bivo pastor is to be yourself. You are the best you there will ever be! If you are where God put you, there is no move up! You must be all God made you to be right where you are. Lead the church you pastor to become the beacon of life and hope that Christ designed it to be. Ray Gilder has led Bivocational Ministries for the Tennessee Baptist Convention since 1995 and has been the National Coordinator for the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network since 2005. He has served as pastor of seven churches in Mississippi and Tennessee, most of those as a bivo pastor. His driving motivation has been to raise the level of awareness and appreciation of bivocational ministers who are faithfully serving all across the Kingdom of God. He and his wife, Diane, have three children: Shanon, Stephen and Galen, as well as five grandsons. Stephen has lived in Heaven since 1995.
Challenges of Pastoring Smaller Churches
THE FREEDOM OF BEING YOURSELF
The Freedom Of Being Yourself helps readers deal with the struggles of having a poor self- image. This is not an issue that has developed in modern times. Several key Bible leaders had to deal with the same problem. In an honest evaluation of his own struggles, the author shares his journey from a sense of being second class to accepting his identity through the eyes and words of our Creator. Every one of God's children are original creations. Our increasing understanding of human DNA makes that even more pronounced.This book explores the reasons why we spend our lives trying to please other people, the folly of trying to do it, and the key to true freedom. There is only one source of your true identity and that is your Creator.Your true identity can only be realized as you experience the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ. Your identity is closely related to who you are in Christ.In this book, you will discover what God can do with a marred vessel. Thank God! He does not throw us away! You will be given steps to take in becoming all God made you to be. Remember this: you are the best YOU there ever will be! Discover the freedom of being who God made you to be.
THE PASTOR’S WIFE AND THE OTHER WOMAN, BALANCING YOUR MARRIAGE WITH YOUR MINISTRY
With a nervous restlessness in her motions, the pastor’s wife folded her napkin and placed it on her plate for the waitress to take away. Turning her eyes to her husband, she waited for him to finish looking at the texts that had come in while they were eating. At least he had waited until the meal was done. When he placed the phone beside his plate, she leaned slightly forward and with a small catch in her voice said, “We need to talk.” “What’s up,” he replied.
“We need to talk about the OTHER WOMAN!”