Author Archives: Tree of Life Church

  Bring Your Bible!  Then you can read what is being read from and ensure it is in your Bible.  It helps you learn and grow. Say “amen” and encourage your preacher – in appropriate moments! Participate in the worship, don’t spectate!  Lift your hands, clap and shout.  Dance! Arrive on time! Leave late.  HaveContinue reading “7 Ways to Enjoy Church More!”

One of the most powerful lessons in David’s history is when he was face to face with King Saul discussing David going to fight Goliath. Saul wants David to go fight in his armour, and David refuses saying: I cannot go with these, I haven’t tested them – 1 Sam. 17.38 This is a greatContinue reading “Leadership Lessons from David 04: Stick With What You Know!”

No matter what you do in life – if you are successful certain people will hate you. In fact, the more you lead people into life, into wisdom, the more your ministry and life sets captives free the more people will hate you and the more obvious their hate will be. David is starting toContinue reading “Leadership Lessons from David 03: Leave the Haters Alone”

Before David became King of the nation of Israel, he had a very remarkable CV. He was a shepherd, a musician for the king, a servant, an errand boy, the sandwich deliverer, and armour carrier. Notice – he was never a politician or soldier. God trained him to be king through exceptionally menial, boring jobs!Continue reading “Leadership Lessons from David 02: Boring is Building”

In my general blog for church life, I am currently doing a series on Samson, a man who is strong and weak. As I was flicking through the Old Testament looking at his life, I flicked to a passage on David which says “And he died in a good old age, full of days, richesContinue reading “Leadership Lessons from David 01: It Doesn’t Matter Where You Start!”

I love guest speakers. It’s a chance for me to rest and enjoy a faith-building message from another ministry, it’s a chance for our people to hear the gospel of the kingdom framed in a different way, it’s a chance for our people to hear a specialist with a specific message or gift, and finally,Continue reading “Dos and Don’ts When Inviting A Guest Speaker”

Amazing how many people think they can just run rough-shod over the wills of other people. Someone once said about our church that their first surprise was that I don’t use fear and guilt to control the church, but their second surprise was that I was impossible to control with fear and guilt. A lotContinue reading “You Are Not Smarter than Jesus 06: You Can’t Force People to Do What You Want”

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted – Matthew 23.12 One of the things that frightens me when I deal with some pastors is the high levels of selfish ambition and the remarkable self-promotion. When I meet a group of guys, I expect a bit ofContinue reading “You Are Not Smarter than Jesus 05: You Cannot Exalt Yourself”

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? – Matthew 7.16 Jesus was very clear – you know people according to their fruit. The business world gets this point – it hires people who have evidence that they can do the job that is at hand.Continue reading “You Are Not Smarter than Jesus 04: Know People By Their Fruit”

Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat. When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch. “Master,” Simon replied, “we have workedContinue reading “You Are Not Smarter Than Jesus 03: Stop Swimming in the Shallow End”