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I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22b). A few weeks ago I was wrestling with 1 Corinthians 9, admiring how Paul could craft practical wisdom in concise ways. I was writing a sermon series on simplicity and trying to grasp the…

The mantra of missions is to "work yourself out of a job." Unfortunately, in the Church of the Nazarene, we have not always successfully followed our mantra or reached this goal. We have had Nazarene missionaries in some countries of the world for more than 100 years! However, when the Berlin…

Q: Can you explain what John Wesley meant when he referenced a "catholic spirit?" A: Before we can answer the question, we need to get a possible misunderstanding out of the way- it has nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church. The word "catholic" derives from a Greek word meaning "on the…

As a father of three daughters, I have developed some strong interrogation skills. My go-to line when boys come over to talk to my daughters is, "If you don't love Jesus, my girls will get bored with you." After I drop that knowledge on them, one of two things usually happens: The boy will agree…

Q: Any tips to help us with our marriage as we cope with stepchildren? It seems that our relationship takes continued hits as we work through their issues. A: You've raised one of the most challenging issues faced by remarried couples. Disagreements about how to raise and discipline the children…

Kerry Willis is pastor of Harrisonburg, Virginia, First Church of the Nazarene. He and his wife, Kim, have a son, Grayson, and daughter, Allison. The son of a North Carolina shrimp boat captain, Kerry has two brothers, Bill and Stephen. All Willis brothers are second-career pastors in the Church of…

Victor Peters was well into semi-retirement as a part-time staff member when I became pastor of Los Angeles First Church of the Nazarene nearly 30 years ago*. I was only 32 at the time and the rest of the staff members were about my age. The other young staffers and I set out to solve the tough…

Interviewing Willimon (WW) is Dean Nelson (DN) of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. DN: You've said that sermons should offend people. WW: We should be willing to say what the biblical text says-or what we think it says-and then be willing to get whatever reaction is appropriate to…

Often the most meaningful and teachable moments happen when we least expect them. Those times exist when we have taken the short cuts on the map—you know, the mental map that guides most men—and we gradually find ourselves overlooking the valleys of upstate New York when we should be driving into…

I wish somehow I could go back across the years and take back the insensitive things I said to grieving members of the congregations I pastored. It took the death of our son, Denny, and my subsequent descent into the pit of despair to even begin to understand the many ways grief can affect a person…