Toil and Trouble

“Double, double, toil and trouble” is a line from Shakespeare that dare not reflect a leader’s perspective. During this week between our celebration of Christmas and the beginning of a new year, Christian leaders know that “The Kingdom of God is not in trouble.” The following thoughts from Pastor Jim Lankheet* put our understanding of the past, present, and future into perspective.

“Not much has changed in 2000 years. It was a troubled world into which Jesus was born, and it still is. Back then King Herod tried to have all the boy babies two years old and younger killed because he was threatened by this new king Jesus.

“Today the trouble looks like cyber-attacks on movie companies and threats among nations as a result, or the threats from ISIS or economic recession or Ebola. It still is a troubled world and only the varieties of trouble have changed. It has been 2000 years and peace to a troubled world still rings true and still is needed.

“This Christmas, find comfort and peace in the good news that God is with us in Jesus Christ. In this troubled world take heart by these words from a prayer by James Bryan Smith: ‘I am a person in whom Christ dwells and delights. I am living in the strong and unshakable kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not in trouble.’”

Church Leadership Center serves churches and other ministry groups to prepare leaders for new levels of ministry responsibility for meeting the needs of the Kingdom. We do this by means of
workshops,
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courses,
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Elder and Deacon training,
establishing leadership networks,
assisting with church planning, and
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CLC also provides
assessment interviews and reports;
personalized training plans,
classes, and
certification so that participants are able to increase their effectiveness in all areas of church life. Click here for more information from our web site and to read previous blogs.

*Rev. Jim Lankheet is Lead Pastor of Beechwood Church (Holland, MI). He is a Church Leadership Center mentor and friend. Under his leadership, Beechwood Church has planted Hispanic, Nepalese, and other specifically focused congregations.