Author Archives: Tree of Life Church

Jeremy Clarkson – leadership lessons we can learn 1. Your gift and talent is what brings you promotion and success. 2. A lack of restraint will cost you what your gifting will bring you. 3. A loyal group of people who perceive you as being loyal to them, and being their voice in life willContinue reading “Leadership Lessons We Can Learn From Jeremy Clarkson”

The next requirement for an elder, as given in 1 Tim. 3.3, is “not given to filthy lucre”.  Lucre is any money gained through religious manipulation.  To be honest, it’s a lot easier for a pastor to do this and fall for this than an elder, and I am sure you have heard horror storiesContinue reading “Pastors and Elders XIII: The Requirements for an Elder (part X)”

The next requirement for an elder in 1 Tim. 3.3 is “no striker”.  This is not really referring to physical fighting – though if someone is getting into actual fights I would recommend you stand them down as an elder. What it is referring to is the kind of person who is always spoiling forContinue reading “Pastors and Elders XII: The Requirements for an Elder (part IX)”

This blog is part of our leadership development, something that comes under the heading “Gates of the City”.  We have a leadership academy and an annual leadership conference. This post is just to invite you to our annual conference this March 19th-21st.  All are welcome – we will make a leader out of you! PleaseContinue reading “Gates of the City”

The first requirement for elders given in 1 Timothy 3.3 is that they are not given to wine.  Now those of you who follow this series will know that we have already found out in 1 Timothy 3.2 that elders should not be drunk and should be sober, so is Paul repeating himself? Well, it couldContinue reading “Pastors and Elders XI: The Requirements for an Elder (part VIII)”

When Paul asked people to pray for him he asked them to pray that he would have boldness to preach the gospel (Ephesians 6.19-20). That word “boldness” doesn’t mean yelling and screaming and sliding around – though there’s nothing wrong with a preacher doing that as long as you don’t mistake *that* for the anointingContinue reading “Be Bold!”

Whatever you are doing this Christmas, have an awesome time.  I am going to have a holiday from posting until the first week in January.  Remember, you don’t stop influencing people just because you are at a party with them.  Be sober minded and gracious whatever you are doing. Thanks for reading this blog, thanksContinue reading “Have an Awesome Christmas!”

No matter whether your Christmas service this year is a tradtional nativity, involves children, has modern carols, has old carols, has no carols, has candles, has mulled wine, has anything like that – do yourself a favour and present the gospel of Christ during that service and give an altar call for people to acceptContinue reading “Preach the Gospel!”

We are still looking at the requirements for an elder as listed in 1 Tim. 3 and we now come to the final word in 1 Tim. 3.2. This word is translated “able to teach” in the KJV, but is one word in the Greek, the word didaktikos, which means skilful at teaching. Now at first glanceContinue reading “Pastors and Elders X: The Requirements for an Elder (part VII)”

Hillsong used to have song called “I will never be the same again”.  The refrain was: There are higher heights, there are deeper seas Whatever you want to do Lord, do in me It was a beautiful song and although it’s not been one I’ve sung in a long time, I was thinking about itContinue reading “There are Higher Heights!”