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Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox

Pastor Rick has put together a flowing stream of content to nourish and enrich the lives and leadership of pastors everywhere and draw encouragement from one another.

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    Featured Article

    Timeless Ministry in an Ever-Changing World

    Change is inevitable. During the last few decades, the speed of change in the communities where we serve has grown …
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    Blog Categories

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    Celebrate Recovery

    Discipleship

    Evangelism

    Fellowship

    Leadership

    Ministry

    Preaching and Teaching

    Small Groups

    Worship

    Celebrate Recovery

    How God Builds Your Faith as He Fulfills Your Dream (Part 1)

    God wants to do great things through your ministry, and he wants to do it by developing your faith. Jesus …
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    You Are Not a Burden

    By Jeni Baker, Global Co-Executive Director of CR As a recovering Co-Dependent and an Adult Child of Family Dysfunction, a …
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    Safety in Any Storm

    Recently, a storm was moving through the Pacific Northwest that knocked out our power in the middle of the night. …
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    Amanda Brandon’s Testimony

    Hi, I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with grief and control. My name is Amanda.  My …
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    Table Time Devotional

    As I thought about the holidays, the first thing that immediately came to my mind was relationships. Relationships with people …

    Sabrena’s Testimony

    I’m a grateful believer in recovery for codependency and food and body image issues, and I struggle with the symptoms …

    Healthy Roots

    Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like …

    Dig, Dig, Dig or Wash, Rinse, and Repeat

    Last week I was talking with one of my family. They were struggling with an issue. They had made a …

    Discipleship

    Are You Focused on the Immediate or the Eternal?

    As a pastor, you deal with many immediate needs every day—from counseling issues to leadership concerns to preparing your regular …

    Three Ways to Grow While You Wait

    God wants to do something incredible through your ministry. No one can take that away. Your critics can’t. Neither can …

    6 Ways Leaders Need to Show Discipline

    Great leaders have at least one common denominator: personal discipline.  Take the Apostle Paul as an example. He had tremendous …

    The Fallacy of One-Size-Fits-All Discipleship

    You can mass produce many things—cars, furniture, plastic bottles, etc.—but you can’t mass produce disciples. One-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work when …

    Discouraged? Remember These Three Truths

    Good news for discouraged pastors Discouragement is universal. Everyone gets it from time to time, even those of us in …

    You Matter to God

    One of our deepest needs is to feel secure. We want to be valued—to know that our lives matter. Many …

    Strength in Leadership: How Gentleness Changes Everything

    Of all the statements Jesus made in the Gospels, one that is among the most difficult for people today to …

    8 Ways to Motivate Your Team (Part 2)

    Motivation is an indispensable part of leadership. As I mentioned in Part 1 of this article, Nehemiah gives us a …

    Evangelism

    Embracing Creative Outreach in Your Ministry

    In 1992, Saddleback Church became one of the first churches on the internet. Back in those days, the internet was …

    Why Speaking the Language of Your Community Matters

    What your church says matters. So does how you say it. The church’s number one job is to share the …

    The Chemistry of Church Growth

    Ever wondered what your high school chemistry class has to do with the struggles your church is experiencing in growth? …

    Nine Reasons Easter—and Other Big Days—Can Drive Church Growth

    When I look back at the early growth of Saddleback, three days stick out: Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day. We …

    Reach More People by Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

    I grew up in small churches where we prayed long and sang hymns. When Saddleback began, that was the kind …

    What I’ve Learned About the Power of Music

    I can tell you who your church is reaching right now without ever visiting your church. I just need to …

    5 Principles for Building an Evangelistic Culture in Your Church

    We all want God to use our churches to reach people for Christ. I don’t believe there is anything more …

    Follow Up With New Visitors After Easter

    Many people come through the front doors of our churches during Easter—and many people get saved. But, as you already …

    Fellowship

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    Learn From Failure

    Every pastor makes mistakes; every pastor has defeats. Mistakes are a part of life. Sadly, so is sin. Not even …

    Seven Biblical Steps to Resolving Conflict

    Every church leader needs to learn how to diffuse conflict. It’s one of the most important ministry skills you can …

    Follow Up With New Visitors After Easter

    Many people come through the front doors of our churches during Easter—and many people get saved. But, as you already …

    How to Find Joy in Your Relationships

    Relationships are at the heart of every ministry. Whether those relationships are with your family, your congregation, or your community, …

    Why You Should Launch Mental Health Groups at Your Church

    If you are reading this article then most likely you have a passion, burden or possibly a curiosity about mental …

    Four Habits for Building Healthy Relationships

    You can’t have an effective ministry without strong relationships. Your ministry is only as successful as your relationships. Relationships are …

    Spiritual Growth Campaigns Are a Small Group Factory

    Spiritual growth isn’t a solo affair. We grow in community. You can read the Bible on your own. You can …

    Why Your Members Need Connection Right Now

    Pastors are the most powerful change agents in the world. Only one thing on earth will last forever—the body of …

    Leadership

    Nehemiah’s Project Management Blueprint

    As a pastor, you need to be able to put together projects efficiently and effectively. Whether you are starting a …

    Building a Culture of Prayer

    If God has given you a vision for what he wants to do through your church, prayer has to be …

    Handling Criticism without Losing Your Cool

    Do you want to know how to avoid criticism?  Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. It’s really that easy.  …

    8 Reasons Every Pastor Should Laugh More

    Too many pastors take themselves too seriously and don’t take God seriously enough. I believe we need to reverse that.  …

    7 Ways Ministry Couples Can Nurture Their Own Marriages

    Your greatest insurance for moral integrity in your ministry is a happy home life. If you’re married, you need to …

    4 Things to Do at Your Breaking Point

    Stress is part of ministry. If you don’t have any stress in your ministry, you’re probably not being very effective. …

    Why Your Schedule Needs a Buffer

    I’m guessing many of you have no white space in your appointment book. Instead, it’s absolutely crammed with appointments, reminders and tasks. You’ve …

    You Can’t Beat Temptation on Your Own

    Pastor, none of us can overcome temptation alone. We need other people to come alongside us and help.  You may …

    Ministry

    Why Jesus Says Not to Worry

    Pastor, you need a shepherd.  Yes, God has called you to shepherd others. The very term of pastor literally means …

    Healthy Church Conference Goes to Côte D’Ivoire

    For the past eight years, Purpose Driven has partnered with the West African country of Côte D’Ivoire to help train …

    Three Attitudes of a Lifetime Learner

    Remember the day you graduated from college or seminary? If you’re like most people, you probably thought, “I have completed …

    The Antidote to An Overworked Pastor: Delegation

    I learned the hard way what happens when a pastor tries to do it all. When I first started Saddleback, …

    Keep Going!

    Have you ever felt like giving up on your ministry? It’s a rhetorical question. All of us have considered giving …

    The Three Characteristics Every Church Planter Needs

    When Kay and I headed to Southern California in the last days of 1979 to start Saddleback Church, we had …

    Sabrena’s Testimony

    I’m a grateful believer in recovery for codependency and food and body image issues, and I struggle with the symptoms …

    Healthy Roots

    Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like …

    Preaching and Teaching

    7 Reasons People Leave Your Church

    One way Satan will try to discourage your ministry is by convincing you that if people are leaving your church, …
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    Becoming a Do-Something Preacher (Part 2)

    This is a continuation of last week’s article that can be found here: https://blog.pastors.com/articles/how-to-become-a-…-preacher-part-1/ As a preacher, it’s never enough …
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    How to Become a Do-Something Preacher (Part 1)

    Jesus was a do-something preacher. He didn’t want people to just listen to what he said. He wanted them to …

    Sabrena’s Testimony

    I’m a grateful believer in recovery for codependency and food and body image issues, and I struggle with the symptoms …

    Taking Control of Your Thoughts

    Our mind is a powerful tool God gives us for ministry. But our thoughts can also hinder what God wants …

    4 Steps to Becoming a Bridge-Building Preacher

    If you drive onto the Saddleback Church campus from the back, you’ll have to pass over a bridge. It’s $6 …

    God’s Remedy for Emotional Exhaustion

    “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life . . . The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the …

    Four Ways to Keep Your Emotional Tank Filled

    Due to the unique circumstances of the past two years, many pastors have faced or are facing burnout. If that’s …

    Small Groups

    How Small Groups Can PARTNER for the Gospel

    Your church’s small groups have incredible potential to be evangelistic hubs in your community. Evangelism, like the other four purposes …

    Follow Up With New Visitors After Easter

    Many people come through the front doors of our churches during Easter—and many people get saved. But, as you already …

    Spiritual Growth Campaigns Are a Small Group Factory

    Spiritual growth isn’t a solo affair. We grow in community. You can read the Bible on your own. You can …

    Why Your Members Need Connection Right Now

    Pastors are the most powerful change agents in the world. Only one thing on earth will last forever—the body of …

    Five Small Group Values That Encourage Spiritual Growth

    Pastor, do you want your congregation to grow? I’m not talking about numerical growth. Do you want your members to …

    Why Are Small Groups So Important?

    Every one of us needs a support system. A brain surgeon wouldn’t operate without first hooking their patient up to …

    Ask These 9 Questions Before Starting Online Small Groups

    The most frequently asked question I get from pastors is always about online small groups, and it’s a question that …

    3 Keys to Effective Team Meetings

    As leaders, whether we like it or not, “doing church” requires regular meetings with our team. Meetings are important for …

    Worship

    Building a Culture of Prayer

    If God has given you a vision for what he wants to do through your church, prayer has to be …

    How God Develops Your Faith (Part 2)

    Faith is an inseparable part of your ministry. You can’t please God without it  (Hebrews 11:6). But how do you …

    How God Builds Your Faith as He Fulfills Your Dream (Part 1)

    God wants to do great things through your ministry, and he wants to do it by developing your faith. Jesus …

    God Blesses a Praying Church

      For your church to remain vibrant and fruitful, you need the blessing of God. When God blesses a church, …

    Three Ways to Respond to Good Friday

    This Friday, we’ll remember the most expensive gift anyone has ever given us: God’s grace.  It’s free to us, but …

    What I’ve Learned About the Power of Music

    I can tell you who your church is reaching right now without ever visiting your church. I just need to …

    Four Conditions for God’s Healing and Restoration

    Pastor, I don’t know what you’re dealing with right now, but I suspect you may need some sort of healing. …

    Surrender Every Day to God

    “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. …

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