The prophetic ministry is one of the most beautiful yet delicate expressions of the Spirit’s work in the Church. Prophetic words can bring direction, encouragement, and a fresh awareness of God’s heart. At the same time, they require humility, patience, and discernment—from both those who speak and those who listen.

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21

Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians gives us a healthy framework: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.” In just a few lines, he captures the tension we must live in: openness without naivety, discernment without cynicism.

In that space, a simple question becomes powerful: “Is there more?”

“Is There More?” — A Question of Humility, Not Doubt

Learning to ask is there more is a vital practice in prophetic ministry. This question is not driven by insecurity; it is rooted in humility. It acknowledges that we “know in part and prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9) and that God often reveals His wisdom progressively rather than all at once.

Pausing internally and asking the Holy Spirit, Is there more? creates room for Him to:

• Clarify what has been shown,
• Add what is missing,
• Or gently redirect what we think we’re seeing.

Instead of rushing to speak everything we feel in the moment, we slow down and listen again. That pause is not hesitation—it is honor. It says, “Lord, I don’t assume I’ve seen the whole picture yet.”

Over time, this simple is there more posture trains us to depend on the Spirit rather than on our impressions or confidence.

Guarding Against Presumption and Quenching

This kind of humility also helps protect us from presumption. Without it, prophetic people can easily slip into speaking too quickly or too strongly, as if their first impression is the final word. Asking is there more keeps our hearts soft and our ears open, reminding us that we are servants of revelation, not the source of it.

At the same time, Paul warns, “Do not quench the Spirit.” To quench is to stifle or extinguish. When we become overly skeptical or dismissive of prophetic ministry, we risk shutting down the very voice God is using to comfort, strengthen, and correct His people.

So we live in a Spirit-led tension: we refuse to quench the Spirit, yet we also refuse to abandon discernment. The is there more posture actually supports both. It keeps us open to what God may still want to say, while slowing us down enough to recognize what truly is—and isn’t—from Him.

Testing Without Cynicism

Right alongside “Do not quench the Spirit,” Paul says, “Test them all; hold on to what is good.” Healthy prophetic culture doesn’t accept every word blindly, nor does it reject everything out of fear. Instead, it weighs and tests.

We ask questions like:

• Does this align with Scripture?
• Does this sound like the character of Jesus?
• Does this draw people toward God, holiness, and love?

In that testing process, the is there more question still helps. Sometimes testing reveals that more context or confirmation is needed. Sometimes it reveals that what we heard was only partly right and needs refining. Sometimes it reveals that the Spirit has already said enough—and what we must now do is respond, not keep asking for more.

Discernment is not suspicion; it is love for truth.

A Call to Prophetic Humility

Those who minister prophetically carry a serious responsibility. We speak in God’s name, so we must do so with deep reverence. We are messengers, not masters, of revelation.

Keeping the phrase is there more in our hearts and on our lips helps us stay small in the right way. It reminds us that:

• We depend on the Holy Spirit every step of the way.
• We are not finished listening just because we’ve started speaking.
• We are always learners, even as we lead.

In the end, navigating prophecy well requires balance—never quenching the Spirit, never bypassing discernment, and always ministering with humility. Asking is there more is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to maintain that balance. It keeps us listening longer, trusting deeper, and honoring the God whose voice we long to hear.

Excerpt (for your website)

Meta Description

The post Ministry Maxims: Is there more? appeared first on C2C Family.

Somewhere over the last several decades, large portions of the Evangelical and Charismatic world merged two powerful movements together that had an effect on how the church world thinks of worship.

The Charismatic movement helped restore expressive worship with Biblical manifestations such as joy, celebration, shouting, singing, clapping, contemporary musical instruments, new songs, and freedom in the Spirit.

At the same time, the church growth movement recognized that contemporary worship attracted crowds. Soon, worship gatherings increasingly became built around production quality of the worship experience, emotional momentum, and musical excellence designed to draw people into buildings for events.

Many of these things were genuinely needed restorations. But over time, like any good thing, they can become bad things if the focus/emphasis drifts towards the wrong things.  Dependence upon technological, musical experiences and atmospheres to worship God is an unhealthy drift.  Eventually, the corporate “worship experience” can become central.

Today, entire churches feel dependent upon:

• smoke machines,
• stage lighting,
• emotional musical builds,
• massive screens with beautiful background imagery,
• polished bands,
• and highly curated environments.

None of these things are inherently sinful. The danger comes when these things become necessary for people to feel close to God in order to worship Him.  This is not Biblical worship.

Biblical worship among God’s people is fundamentally about honoring God with the expressions He designed, reverencing God, and surrendering to God in every area of life. Yet, many of God’s people today struggle to worship unless:

• the music is excellent,
• the atmosphere feels right,
• emotions are stirred,
• or the environment is carefully cultivated.

The Early Church Impacted the World through their Worship and Allegiance to Jesus.

• Acts 17:6-7  And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brothers before the city judges, crying, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too,  (7)  whom Jason has received. And these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

Remember that early church made a worldwide impact without sound systems, digital excellence, giant screens, or celebrity worship teams.  They had something much more important, God Himself who “seeks those who worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24), and who “inhabits the praises of His people” (Psalms 22:3).

Breaking the Allure of Worshiptainment

I believe A.W. Tozer prophetically saw something years ago that is very descriptive of our days when he said:

I remember a conversation I had with a young man who grew up in a church we were involved with.  He was a very talented musician. He went through a season of time in which he embraced aspects of what I call the “Worshiptainment Industry” in which the idea of “ministry” means promoting and advancing the influence of your gifting, rather than what the Biblical understanding of the word means, “servanthood/helping” God’s family.

He ended up moving to New York and became a hired “worship musician” at a mega church.  He didn’t even belong to that church, and was drifting away from God, yet on Sundays was ushered into the green room, where he was provided food and drinks until the service started, and he and others went out to perform.  It was a celebrity status and he and the other members of the “worship team” enjoyed the limelight and financial compensation.  Thankfully, God dealt with him through personal circumstances and he returned to become a servant/fellow family member in God’s house who no longer “performes” but serves God and His people.  Check out the interview by clicking here. 

Getting Rid of Golden Calf of Worshiptainment

While Moses was on the mountain encountering God face to face (Biblical Worship), the people below grew impatient and demanded a form of worship that was familiar, visible, and entertaining. Rather than leading them into deeper sacrifice, trust and obedience, Aaron yielded to their pressure and fashioned a golden calf, an image rooted in the idolatrous culture they had known in Egypt (Exodus 32). What was intended to be worship quickly became a man-centered religious spectacle marked by self-indulgence, emotional excitement, and compromise.

The Church today must be careful not to repeat Aaron’s mistake by creating a modern golden calf of “worshiptainment,” designing gatherings around what people desire which moves them rather than what God desires.   When entertainment, performance, and consumer preferences become the focus, worship can drift from the holy presence of God to the gratification of man.

Just as Moses destroyed the golden calf and called God’s people back to covenant faithfulness, “worship leaders” and God’s people must be willing to tear down the idol of worshiptainment and return to worship that is centered on God’s presence, God’s glory, and wholehearted obedience to Him.

How, confront idols we have fashioned to satisfy human desires. The golden calf was not merely a false object; it represented the people’s attempt to worship on their own terms rather than God’s. Aaron gave them a form of worship that reflected the culture they had left behind instead of the God who had redeemed them.

Leaders must resist the pressure to give people what they want and instead shepherd them toward what God desires and has designed.  Gatherings must become less about satisfying consumers who “feel God” and more about making disciples who worship Him.  May we lead God’s people to value prayer and “the fruit of our lips giving thanks” as much as excellent music.

The answer is not to eliminate creativity, excellence, or joyful worship, but to ensure that these things serve God’s presence rather than replace it.

Like Moses grinding the calf to powder and calling Israel back to covenant loyalty, the Church must be willing to pursue God and His greatness, and praise and worship Him in light of who He is.  

Here is a great song written in the past about the heart of worship that would be good to get into your head and heart, click here. 

The post Rejecting Worshiptainment: Returning to the Heart of Biblical Worship Pt 2 appeared first on C2C Family.

The psalmist models this posture in Psalm 121: “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD.” That question and answer form the heart of Biblical Counseling: real help doesn’t come from digging deeper into our own resources or assigning blame to others. It comes from the Lord—the Maker of heaven and earth, the One who truly knows us and can actually transform us.

Biblical Counseling and the Limits of Looking Within

Modern culture loves to say that healing starts by “looking within.” While there is value in honest self-awareness, Biblical Counseling refuses to treat the human heart as the source of truth or power. Scripture reminds us that “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9).

If our starting point is our own heart, we will eventually run into confusion, distortion, and disappointment. Biblical Counseling shifts the gaze: instead of encouraging people to discover themselves as the ultimate answer, it invites them to depend on the One who designed them. Hope comes not from self-discovery, but from God-discovery.

Biblical Counseling and the Temptation to Blame

If looking inward can mislead us, so can looking outward for someone to blame. From the Garden of Eden onward, blame has been one of the oldest human reflexes. It shifts responsibility away from our own hearts and stalls true transformation.

Biblical Counseling doesn’t deny the reality of wounds, injustice, or harm done by others. However, it refuses to let blame become the main lens. Instead, it gently but firmly redirects us toward repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The gospel calls us to take ownership of our responses, even in painful situations, trusting that grace is poured out on the humble, not the proud.

In this way, Biblical Counseling doesn’t minimize suffering, but it refuses to let resentment rule the story. It points people toward freedom, not fixation.

Biblical Counseling and the Truth About the Flesh

Another temptation is to treat our flesh as something we can simply manage with better techniques. But Scripture is clear: the flesh is not meant to be polished; it is meant to be crucified.

Paul writes, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Attempts at mere behavior management may modify the surface but leave deeper spiritual realities untouched.

Biblical Counseling insists that real change flows through the Cross and the power of the Holy Spirit, not through self-discipline alone. It doesn’t ignore habits, patterns, and practical steps, but it roots all of them in the reality that only Jesus can break the power of sin and make a person truly new.

A Redemptive Framework: The Story Behind Biblical Counseling

At its core, Biblical Counseling operates from a redemptive story rather than a purely therapeutic one. It sees every issue through the lens of God’s larger narrative:

God created us in His image, designed for relationship with Him.
Sin entered the world and fractured that relationship, bringing brokenness into every part of life.
At the Cross, Christ paid the price for our sin, providing the only true way back to wholeness.
Through redemption, by faith in Jesus, we are forgiven, healed, and made new.
Life in the Spirit becomes an ongoing journey of sanctification as He empowers us to walk in victory and obedience.
Our ultimate hope is anchored in eternity, where God will restore all things fully and finally.

This is the framework that shapes Biblical Counseling. It continually points people back to the sufficiency of Scripture, the necessity of the Cross, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It does not stop at symptom relief; it presses into heart renewal.

Why Biblical Counseling Matters

When we counsel from this foundation, we are no longer leaning on humanistic advice or generic self-help. We are directing people to the God who restores, redeems, and renews.

Biblical Counseling doesn’t ignore emotions, experiences, or practical tools—but it refuses to treat them as the final answer. Instead, it acknowledges that hope does not come from within or from without; it comes from above.

In the end, the essence of Biblical Counseling is this: we lift our eyes to the Lord as our true source of help, and then we walk with others in that same direction—upward, toward the One who heals, saves, and sustains.

The post Ministry Maxims: Biblical Counseling? appeared first on C2C Family.

At a recent Sunday morning gathering of our church, something wonderful happened. Right as we were transitioning from corporate prayer into the service, all the electricity went out. Hallelujah!!!

To many modern churches, that would feel like a disaster. The worship team had already practiced for over an hour. Songs had been prepared. Sound checks had been completed. The entire service flow depended upon technology functioning properly.  Suddenly, everything changed.  No amplification, sound, or musical atmosphere.  ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS GOD AND HIS PEOPLE, YIKES!

The stress and awkwardness in the room was immediate because of what our contemporary church culture, both evangelical and charismatic, have been conditioned to expect and seemingly need to worship.  To break the tension, I jokingly stepped forward and said I had a “word of knowledge and wisdom.” Then I reminded everyone: 

“The Biblical church did not have electricity in their corporate gatherings for praise and worship.”

People laughed a little awkwardly, and we ended up having a wonderful time of corporate worship of God.  With my statement, I was also trying to get across something I think is important and often forgotten.

This is the essence of what Jesus said to the woman at the well when she inquired about what kind of worship was acceptable to God. Special lighting, smoke machines, elaborate music, and cutting edge technology are not mentioned.  This is the type of worship He seeks.

• John 4:23-24  “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  (24)  “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The History of Contemporary Praise/Worship Culture

Two parallel movements arose over the past six decades that merged into the river of modern-day evangelical and charismatic worship culture: the charismatic movement and the church growth movement.

The Charismatic movement saw a restoration of “in spirit” worship with plasmic expressions, including singing, clapping, shouting, new songs, contemporary musical styles and instruments, and Spirit-inspired encounters with God.  As charismatic expressions became popular and attracted people, the non-charismatic world saw the appeal and began offering “contemporary services.” This was done to attract people to gatherings, even some of their own, who were leaving for more charismatic services.

The church growth movement saw the appeal in drawing crowds and moved to implement it into their corporate gatherings.  Since then, “Praise/worship bands” and technology have become essential to attracting a crowd to a building for services.

Over the decades that followed, as music and technology advanced, a whole worship culture evolved.  Churches became dependent on cutting-edge music and technology, including smoke machines, light shows, and elaborate beautiful background screens displaying words to the songs.  This has not just come to be accepted, it has become the primary means of motivating worship and/or mediating encounters with God in corporate gatherings.

Avoiding the Downside by Getting Back to the Heart of Worship

I remember a research project and study by the University of Washington that spawned many books and articles in 2012 called “God Is Like a Drug: Explaining Interaction Ritual Chains in American Megachurches.”  The research examined many high-profile churches, such as Hillsong in NYC and elsewhere.  It was revealed that worship in contemporary environments  “provides the same biological ‘high’ and euphoria as that produced by sporting events and concerts.”   I remember a poignant testimony from someone who was drawn to a New York megachurch but was struggling to encounter God in his everyday life.

The First Revelation of Worship in the Bible

The Hebrew word for “Worship” in the OT is “shachah” means “to bow, humbly do reverence, to worship.”  It is similar to the NT Greek word “prskuneo” which means “to bow down before, do reverence, to kiss like a dog licking a master’s hand.”  The definition has little to do with much of contemporary worship culture across the body of Christ.

The Beginning of worship in the Bible: The first-place worship is mentioned in the Bible had little to do with much of our contemporary worship genra.  It was when Abraham went to offer Isaac, the promised son, as a sacrifice.

• Genesis 22:5-6  Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”  (6)  Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

Abraham probably felt little “tangible presence of God” when he climbed the mountain as he contemplated sacrificing his promised son for whom he waited so long.  Worship was about honoring and obeying God with sacrifice. I am sure his emotions were all over the map, but he obeyed out of worship and reverence for God.  This is the heart of worship.

Three Essentials that can Help us Recover the Heart of Biblical Worship. 

1. Re-center Worship on God Rather than Experience.

Remember the focus of worship is not creating an atmosphere, but encountering God.  The focus is God Himself.  We must continually ask, “Are we worshiping God, or are we facilitating the addiction to the feelings of worship?”  Praise and Worship is primarily about honoring God and surrender/sacrifice.  

2. Consider an Occasional Technology Fast in our Personal Worship and Corporate Gatherings.

God, and His presence isn’t dependent on amplification, lighting, visual effects, smoke machines, environmental imagery, and a polished musical production. Technology and “excellent” music should support worship, not define it.

The Biblical church shook the world because God Himself was present with them.  Continually ask yourself the question we faced at the beginning of the article. “If the electricity went out, could we still worship?  Would God’s people be drawn together for worship without it?”  We need to restore Biblical worship and not the contemporary worship industry/culture.   We never want a worship team that simply “performs” which the audience watches.   It may be good to take a season in which we fast technology in our corporate gatherings to get back the heart of worship.

3. Recover Worship as a Lifestyle not Just Performance in a Weekly Corporate Gathering.

Biblical worship is not confined to a Sunday music set. Consider how Romans 12:1-10 describes, “our spiritual service of worship.” It goes on to describe presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, which includes obedience, prayer, thankfulness, serving others, and daily surrender in our real everyday life.  Help God’s people to be motivated with praise, thankfulness, and worship in their real everyday life without music and technology to help motivate us. 

This aspect of praise and worship is at the heart of the NT exhortations about thanksgiving, praise and worship.

• Hebrews 13:15  Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
• Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• Colossians 4:2 Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.

The post Returning to the Heart of Biblical Worship appeared first on C2C Family.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
— Matthew 5:23–24

Spiritual maturity is not only about drawing closer to God; it’s also about learning how and when to engage with people in spiritual spaces. One of the most important lessons in ministry is recognizing that moments of conviction are primarily places for encounter and decision, not for extended counseling at the altar.

The Altar as a Sacred Space

In Matthew 5, Jesus shows us that the altar is a sacred place—a place of worship, repentance, and surrender. It is where hearts turn toward God in humility and devotion.

Yet even in that holy moment, Jesus says that if we remember unresolved conflict, we should pause our act of worship, seek reconciliation, and then return. This reveals the heart posture God desires: peace, purity, and restoration above performance.

The altar is the moment where conviction becomes commitment—where someone responds to God’s presence with repentance, surrender, or renewed devotion. These moments are deeply personal and sacred. They call for stillness, reverence, and space for the Holy Spirit to work without distraction or pressure.

Why Counseling at the Altar Has Limits

By contrast, counseling is a different kind of ministry. It requires time, conversation, safety, and mutual understanding. It is where people unpack what God is doing in their hearts, ask questions, and process their stories.

That kind of work rarely fits well into the urgency and emotion of an altar call. When we try to do full counseling at the altar, we risk interrupting the Spirit’s work, turning a moment of encounter into a moment of explanation. Instead of letting someone meet with God, we may unintentionally make the moment about our advice, our words, or our solutions.

This doesn’t mean we ignore pain or avoid people in need. It means we honor the moment for what it is. At the altar, the priority is God’s presence, not our problem-solving.

The Role of Leaders in Altar Moments

As spiritual leaders, we must learn to discern the moment. At the altar, our primary role is to:

• Pray with people
• Stand beside them
• And intercede on their behalf

—not to analyze, diagnose, or fix.

When someone clearly needs more than a brief prayer, that’s often a sign that the next step is after the service, not during it. We can gently say, “Let’s meet and talk more about this,” honoring both the sacredness of the altar and the dignity of the person.

When we resist the urge to do full counseling at the altar, we give room for two important things to happen:
first, the person encounters God without distraction; and second, we can later offer thoughtful, unhurried care in an appropriate setting.

Walking With People “Along the Way”

Ministry doesn’t end at the altar—it often begins there. The altar is where decisions are made; the journey afterward is where those decisions are walked out.

Living rooms, coffee shops, office spaces, and quiet conversations “along the way” are where discipleship and deeper counsel flourish. There, people can share more openly, ask hard questions, and receive practical guidance without the pressure or intensity of a public moment.

Wisdom in ministry means helping people encounter God fully at the altar and then walking with them patiently afterward. Both altar ministry and follow-up conversations matter, but they serve different purposes and need different environments.

Reverence and Relationship Together

When we protect the sanctity of altar moments, we cultivate a culture where people expect to meet God, not just hear from us. When we then offer counsel in the right spaces and times, we show that we care enough to walk with them beyond the moment.

In doing so, we hold together reverence and relationship—honoring God’s presence at the altar and honoring people’s stories in their proper place.

We don’t abandon counseling at the altar ideas altogether; we simply recognize that the altar is best used for encounter, while deeper counsel continues as we walk with people in the days that follow.

The post Ministry Maxims: Counseling at the Altar? appeared first on C2C Family.

Few things test a leader’s heart more deeply than watching someone you love wander toward destruction while resisting every attempt to help them. Shepherding is not simply about teaching truth when people gladly receive it; it is about remaining faithful when hearts grow hard, walls rise high, and your care is misunderstood. At times, leading people through rebellion, deception, or resistance can feel like Joshua standing before Jericho, facing something impossible to move through human strength alone.

Caring for God’s people when they wander down a wrong path is one of the most difficult assignments a leader will face. Scripture is clear about our responsibility: “If anyone among you wanders from the truth, someone should bring that person back” (James 5:19). Yet the reality is this, people don’t always want to come back. And sometimes, they resist and resent the very help they once asked for.

The call to shepherding leadership is not a part-time assignment. As Max Lucado observed in his book Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms.

• “No flock every grazed without a shepherd and no shepherd was ever off duty.  When the sheep wandered, the shepherd found them.  When they fell, he picked them up and carried them.  When they  were wounded, he healed them.  Sheep aren’t smart; they tend to stray into running creeks for water, then their wool grows heavy and they drown.  They need a shepherd to lead them to “still waters” (Ps 23:2).  They have no natural defenses – no claws or horns.  They need a shepherd with a rod and staff to protect them.  They have no sense of direction.  They need someone wise enough to lead them ‘in paths that are right.’  So do we.”

Facing the “Jericho Walls” in People

One of the hardest realities in leadership is this: some people seem determined to stay on a destructive path. You can see where it leads. You can warn them. You can plead with them. But they refuse to turn.

At times, helping people who are going astray feels like standing before the walls of Jericho, impossible, immovable, and beyond human ability. It is very important to remember in such cases that God still calls you.  You must continue to walk in obedience in such cases, like the story of Jericho, circling the situation, speaking when He says speak, remaining silent when He says be silent, but ultimately, only He can bring the walls down.  This is the difficult tension of true leadership.

• Leaders can guide, warn, and love, but only God can turn a heart.
• Leaders labor in obedience; God works in the unseen to bring transformation.

The leader’s responsibility is obedience to God and His word but it is important to remember, THE OUTCOME BELONGS TO GOD!!!

When Care Is Rejected

It becomes even more painful when those you’re trying to help begin to resist, or worse, turn against, and treat you as an enemy. Scripture warns us about such things: “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you” (Proverbs 9:8).

Good shepherds don’t withdraw simply because things get difficult. But they must also recognize that they cannot force transformation. Only God can change a heart.

So how do we walk through these “Jericho wall” situations with sheep who refuse guidance or counsel?

Take God’s Posture of Love, Gentelness, and Patience,  Not Your Own

The way we approach people can either soften hearts or harden walls.  God’s posture we are to take always entails His definition of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-8).  God’s type of love is not driven by self, suffers long without quitting, patient instead of reacting, serves without seeking attention, walks in humility instead of pride, refuses to be easily offended, chooses truth over compromise, and remains faithful without quitting even when tested, stretched, or misunderstood.

Jesus began His teaching on the Kingdom with poverty of spirit (Matthew 5:3). Peter warned against “lording it over” the flock (1 Peter 5). Harshness often reinforces resistance, while gentleness opens doors.  This is why Paul tells us.  “Restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1).

Trust That God Is Working Beneath the Surface in a Variety of Areas

You may not see immediate results, but that does not mean nothing is happening.  God is always “working things together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:26-28).  He is at work in both the shepherds and the sheep to give a will to move towards His purpose.

• Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

God is working in ways you cannot measure, working patience is us, softening hearts, stirring conviction, and arranging circumstances, and like the story of Joseph, is working in a variety of unforseen ways (some of which took 17 years for Joseph to see Genesis 45:5-8, 50:20). Your role as a leader is to remain faithful even when the evidence is not visible.

Refuse to Be Offended

When people reject your counsel, it’s easy to take it personally. But offense will quietly poison your heart and distort your response. Love “suffers long” (1 Corinthians 13:4).  A true shepherd does not say, “Fine, have it your way.” Instead, love compels us to remain engaged without becoming bitter.

Don’t withdraw. Don’t pout. Stay present with a heart anchored in God and His love.

Listen More Than You Speak

One of the most overlooked aspects of shepherding is listening.

• James 1:19 Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

People are far more open to correction when they feel understood. Listening does more than gather information, it communicates care. And often, the Holy Spirit will speak as you listen, giving insight that no argument could produce.  Your authority is not just in what you say, but in how you hear.

Pray Without Losing Heart

At the end of the day, prayer is not a last resort, it is the primary work.  Jesus taught us “to always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

Prayer does two critical things:

• It invites God’s power into the situation
• It guards your heart with His peace

“The peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  You carry the burden because you care, but you release the outcome because you trust Him.

The Bottom Line

Shepherding/leading people who resist correction is one of the clearest places where our dependence on God is tested. We are called to:

• Walk in obedience
• Lead with humility and gentleness
• Refuse offense
• Listen deeply
• Pray persistently

And then, we leave the results with Him. Because in the end, transformation does not come from pressure, persuasion, or even perfect counsel.  It comes from a heart that responds to God.

The post The Hardest Test of Caring Leadership: Loving People Through Resistance and Rebellion appeared first on C2C Family.

A Framework for Spiritual Resistance

James 4:7 gives us a clear framework for spiritual warfare:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Notice the order:

1. Submit to God.
2. Resist the devil.
3. He will flee.

Deliverance always begins with submission to God. When a person yields to the authority of Jesus, demonic influence loses its grip. The power to resist flows from a life aligned with His lordship.

In other words, discernment in counsel and deliverance starts by asking:
“Has this person truly submitted this area of their life to Jesus?”

When the Issue Is Demonic—and When It’s Not

However, not every struggle is demonic.

Some issues grow out of:

• Deeply ingrained habits,
• Broken thinking patterns,
• Or underdeveloped character.

You cannot “cast out”:

• Pride,
• Laziness,
• Bitterness,
• Irresponsibility.

These traits require:

• Repentance (turning from sin),
• Renewal of the mind (replacing lies with truth),
• And a willingness to grow in godly character.

That is the slow, steady work of discipleship and sanctification.

So, discernment in counsel and deliverance means asking:

• “Is this a spiritual attack that needs to be confronted?”
• Or, “Is this a character issue that needs to be discipled?”

The Damage of Confusing Deliverance and Discipleship

Confusing these categories can create real damage.

• Trying to counsel a demonic issue can lead to endless conversations with no breakthrough.
• Trying to cast out what is actually a matter of the heart leads to emotional exhaustion and disillusionment when “nothing changes.”

People begin to think:

• “Maybe God doesn’t care.”
• “Maybe deliverance doesn’t work.”
• Or “Maybe I’m just broken beyond help.”

In reality, the problem is not God’s power; it is a lack of discernment in counsel and deliverance. True spiritual wisdom recognizes what kind of battle is being fought.

Two Realms, One Goal: Freedom in Christ

Scripture holds both realities together.

Paul writes:

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…”
— Ephesians 6:12

Yet Proverbs reminds us:

“…in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
— Proverbs 11:14

Both are true, and both are needed.

There are times when:

• Spiritual warfare must be engaged — authority in Christ must confront the enemy directly.

And there are times when:

• Spiritual formation must be embraced — patience, accountability, and wise counsel shape the heart into Christlikeness.

Discernment in counsel and deliverance helps us choose the right approach at the right time, with the same ultimate goal: freedom and transformation in Christ.

Growing in Discernment

Discernment is not instant; it is cultivated.

It grows through:

• Consistent prayer,
• Ongoing study of Scripture,
• Partnership with the Holy Spirit,
• And willingness to learn over time.

It also grows through humility—recognizing our limits and seeking wise counsel when we’re unsure. Mature believers don’t rush to label everything as “demonic” or “just human.” They:

• Listen carefully,
• Test what they see and hear,
• And discern patiently.

Reflection Question:
When you see someone struggling, do you tend to assume it’s all spiritual attack—or all personal weakness? How might God be inviting you into deeper discernment?

One Spirit, Two Pathways: Breakthrough and Formation

Ultimately, the goal of both deliverance and discipleship is the same:

• Freedom in Christ,
• Transformation into His likeness.

One often breaks chains in a moment.
The other builds strength over a lifetime.

Both are the work of the Spirit. Both are expressions of God’s love.

As we grow in spiritual maturity, let’s pray for the wisdom to:

• Know when to resist the enemy,
• When to counsel and walk with someone,
• And when to simply rest in God’s power and timing.

For only when we discern rightly can we minister effectively—and lead others toward lasting freedom.

The post Ministry Maxims: Discernment in Counsel and Deliverance appeared first on C2C Family.

I was recently at a gathering of international leaders representing several nations, churches, and missional ventures.  One of the leaders, who has many ties to missional venturs, was giving a presentation on the body of Christ’s calling to bring God’s Kingdom influence into the world.  He said a poignant phrase that really caught the attention of this very international group (some even gasp out loud).

There phrase represents a subtle but powerful misconception that has crept into the church regarding our call to God’s mission.  It is a kind of missionary mystique that equates obedience to Jesus’ mission with getting on a plane or going to some distant place.

It sounds spiritual. It feels sacrificial. It even looks heroic.  But it can quietly distort what Jesus actually said.

Jesus did not command us to “travel around the world.” He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). That word go is not about tourism, but it’s about the trajectory of life. It is not primarily geographic; it is relational, missional, and incarnational. 

If we don’t keep this central, we can reduce missions to distance, or an unknown place, rather than everyday obedience in the lives we live. 

The Myth of “Over There”

Some have embraced the idea that “real missions” happen somewhere far away, another nation, another culture, another language. Meanwhile, everyday life becomes a “less than” state in which no real mission occurs,

Jesus dismantles that thinking when gathering His disciples after His resurrection and before He ascended to heaven in Acts 1:8:

• Acts 1:8 You will be My witnesses BOTH IN in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The word for “both in” is a primary particle of connection, not either or, but both in. Notice the order.

• Jerusalem – where you are
• Judea – your broader region
• Samaria – uncomfortable, cross-cultural spaces nearby
• Ends of the earth – distant places

This is not an either/or, it is a both/and reality happening simultaneously.

The Real Issue: Going vs. Living Sent

We have unintentionally created two categories of Christians:

• Those who “go” (real missionaries)
• Those who “stay” (not real missionaries who can only be supporters)

But in the New Testament, that division doesn’t exist.  Every follower of Jesus is sent!!!

Jesus said in John 20:21 “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  This means that all of us are sent.  The businessman, the everyday worker, the grandmother and grandfather, mother and father, son and daughter, and the student.  All of us are sent every day, everywhere, all the time.   Missions is not an event, it is an identity.

Travel Can Be Obedience, but It Is Not the Goal 

Let’s be clear: God absolutely calls some to go to distant places. The book of Acts is full of Spirit-led sending to other geographical locations. Paul, Barnabas, and others were commissioned and sent out (Acts 13).  But there is a correction we need to come into alignment with in God’s design.  Simply going to a distant place, or distant travel, can elevate traveling and unintentionally:

• Romanticize missions
• Bypass our local calling and responsibility
• Chase travel experiences instead of every day obedience

The Pattern of Jesus: Incarnational, Not Occasional or Distant

Look at the life of Jesus.  A geographical survey of the gospels reveals that He never traveled more than about 100 miles from the place of His birth.   Many mistaken missional ideas would think that Jesus wasn’t very missional, especially in light of how the gospel John revealed what He did.    

• John 1:14 (MSG) The Word (Jesus) became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.  We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,  Generous inside and out,  true from start to finish.

True mission looks less like a trip and more like a real (incarnational) life lived out and laid down among people.

Recovering a Biblical Vision of Missions

We don’t need less missions, we need a more Biblical definition.  We need the “both in” to the world around us causing us to:

• Living as a witness where God has placed you
• Crossing barriers (cultural, relational, social/”Samaria”)
• Making disciples, not just converts
• Building spiritual family, not just counting decisions
• Walking in both local and global obedience

The call is not just to “go to the ends of the earth” but also “go to the end of your block.”  It is not simply “the 10/40 window” but also 1040 West Avenue in the town/city you live in. Identifying with our missional calling is not just about “Who will go across the ocean” but “who will obey where they are, and wherever I send them?”

A Needed Tension

We must embrace and hold an important Biblical idea right now:   SOME MAY BE SPECIFICALLY SENT FAR, BUT ALL OF US ARE SPECIFICALLY SENT NOW!!!

If we lose the first part of this definition we will not have a heart for the ends of the earth, but if we lose the second, we become inconsistent and disobedient at home while dreaming of obedience abroad.

Important To Remember

I do quite a bit of traveling overseas, and it is important to remember some very important truths:

• “IT IS EASIER TO GET ON A PLANE FOR A WEEK THAN TO LOVE YOUR FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND COWORKERS FOR A LIFETIME. 
• IT IS EASIER TO PREACH TO STRANGERS THAN TO INTERACT AND DISCIPLE THE PEOPLE ALL AROUND YOU WHO ARE IN YOUR LIFE UP CLOSE AND RIGHT NOW.”

Instead of being taken up with endless romanticized ideas of missions, “Am I called to go somewhere else,”  How about the more sure questions in light of what Jesus said, “Am I living as one who is sent, right here, right now?”  Because the same Spirit who sends people to the nations also sends you across the street.

Unitl we recover this Biblical idea, we may travel the world…and still miss the mission!!!

The post You Can Travel the World… and Still Miss the Mission appeared first on C2C Family.

“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.”
— Psalm 119:11

.

Storing Up the Word: From Memorization to Meditation

The psalmist declares:

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

To “store up” God’s Word is more than memorization; it is meditation.

It means:

• Letting Scripture sink deep into our hearts,
• Allowing it to reshape how we think and feel,
• And returning to it until it becomes our reflex, our filter, and our first response.

When we internalize God’s Word, it naturally overflows into:

• Our conversations,
• Our prayers,
• And our everyday decisions.

Choosing Scripture over secular is not about pretending culture doesn’t exist; it’s about deciding which voice will carry the most weight in our inner life.

Scriptural Over Secular: Why It Matters What We Quote

Our culture celebrates clever lines, pop culture references, and movie moments. These can be entertaining and even useful as connection points. However, they cannot impart life.

• They may amuse, but they cannot transform.
• They may be memorable, but they cannot cleanse the heart.

Only the Word of God carries:

• Eternal truth,
• Moral clarity,
• And spiritual power.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is living and active. Every time we speak it, we release truth that cuts through confusion and brings light into darkness.

So when we choose Scripture over secular in our speech, we are choosing to speak life, not just noise.

Using Culture Without Being Shaped by It

This does not mean we should never draw from culture.

Jesus Himself used everyday images—seeds, fields, coins, meals, family dynamics—to illustrate divine truths. He spoke in language people understood.

However, His foundation was always the Word of God. Culture served the message; it never replaced it.

In the same way:

• Cultural references can help us connect.
• Stories, movies, and metaphors can help us illustrate.

But they should always serve Scripture, not overshadow it. The order matters: first the truth of God’s Word, then any cultural touchpoint that helps illuminate that truth.

Training Our Tongue: Practicing Scripture-Saturated Speech

Choosing Scripture over secular in our daily discourse requires discipline.

It looks like a steady rhythm of:

• Reading the Word,
• Remembering the Word,
• Rehearsing the Word.

Over time, what we speak reveals what we’ve stored. If our hearts are full of Scripture, our words will carry the fragrance of heaven.

Practically, this might mean:

• Replacing a favorite movie quote with a verse that speaks to the moment,
• Texting a Scripture instead of just a clever line,
• Letting a biblical promise be your first encouragement to someone in need.

Quoting the Bible instead of the latest film line is not about sounding religious—it’s about being rooted and fruitful. It’s about speaking words that carry life, not just laughter.

Reflection Question:
If someone listened to you for a week, would they hear more of the world’s words—or God’s Word?

A Tongue Shaped by the Word

In the end, Scriptural over secular is about saturation.

• Let Scripture fill your heart.
• Let Scripture guide your thoughts.
• Let Scripture flavor your speech.

Movies fade. Trends shift. Quotes are forgotten. But:

“The word of our God will stand forever.”
— Isaiah 40:8

So let’s discipline ourselves to know His Word, love His Word, and speak His Word—until it becomes the natural outflow of our hearts in a world desperate for something true.

The post Ministry Maxims: Scriptural over Secular appeared first on C2C Family.

Ministry is the sacred work of serving others with the truth, love, and grace of Jesus Christ. Personal stories can illustrate the gospel’s transforming power, but it is the Word of God that carries the authority to transform hearts. Our testimonies may inspire—yet the Bible teaches, corrects, and equips. That’s why the posture of the servant of God must be Bible First – Story Second.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Bible First, Story Second in Ministry

Paul’s words to Timothy capture this clearly:

“All Scripture is God-breathed…”

The Bible is not a collection of human reflections about God; it is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. Its truth transcends culture, emotion, and opinion.

So when we minister from Scripture, we speak with Heaven’s authority—not merely from our own insight, experience, or personality.

To put it another way, Bible First – Story Second means that:

• God’s Word is our foundation,
• God’s Word is our filter,
• And God’s Word is our framework.

Our emotions, experiences, and traditions may help us connect, but they must never replace what God has already spoken.

Letting Scripture Set the Agenda

To “minister from Scripture” is to allow the Bible to set the agenda.

That means:

• Letting the text shape our topics,
• Letting God’s words frame our counsel,
• And letting His truth define what we affirm and what we correct.

Through Scripture, we:

• Teach what is true,
• Correct what is false,
• Rebuke what is harmful,
• And train believers in righteousness.

The Word gives clarity and conviction. It shapes our words and guards our motives so that we remain faithful stewards of truth, not just compelling communicators.

When we start here—Bible First, Story Second—everything else falls into its proper place.

The Right Place for Our Stories

This does not mean our personal experiences are unimportant. Far from it.

God often uses our stories to:

• Bring His Word to life,
• Encourage weary hearts,
• And build bridges with those who are hurting or skeptical.

Testimonies are powerful because they show how Scripture has worked its way into real lives. They illustrate truth in motion.

However, they must never replace the authority of Scripture. Experience should serve the Word, not compete with it.

When we flip the order—Story first, Bible second—even our most moving narratives lose eternal weight. But when we keep Bible First, Story Second, our experiences gain purpose and credibility as living proof of what God has already said.

The Humility of Bible-First Ministry

A Scripture-first approach requires humility.

It means acknowledging that:

• What God has said carries more weight than what we have seen or felt,
• His perspective is higher than our opinions,
• And His truth remains steady when our emotions shift.

It also means resisting the urge to lead with our story when the Bible has already spoken with greater clarity.

Ultimately, it is not our cleverness, relatability, or personality that changes people—it is the power of truth anointed by the Spirit.

When we stand on the Word, the Spirit takes what God has spoken and presses it into hearts in ways our stories never could on their own.

Thoroughly Equipped by the Word

Paul says the servant of God who ministers from Scripture is:

“…thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

That equipping doesn’t come from:

• Charisma,
• Natural gifting,
• Or even decades of experience alone.

It comes from truth that never fades.

When we live Bible First, Story Second, our experiences become supporting witnesses to the main testimony of God’s Word. Our counseling, preaching, teaching, and everyday conversations are strengthened because they echo what God has already declared.

Reflection Question:
In your ministry or conversations, do you tend to lead with your story—or with Scripture?

Start With the Word, Then Let Your Life Testify

So as you teach, preach, counsel, disciple, or share your faith:

• Start with the Word.
• Let Scripture lay the foundation.
• Then let your story testify to its truth.

Your experience may open a heart—but only God’s Word can renew a mind and transform a soul.

In all things, may we remain disciplined in our devotion to the Scriptures—confident that His Word, not ours, will accomplish what He sends it to do. That is the heart of Bible First – Story Second.

The post Ministry Maxims: Bible First – Story Second appeared first on C2C Family.