Category: help

Ryan’s Essential List of Bible Study Resources for Ministers + Ministry Essentials Podcast with Joe Campetella

Ryan A. French

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with my good friend, Pastor Joe Campetella, to record Ministry Essentials. This was a collaborative episode between Apostolic Voice and Christian Life Broadcast, which is Rev. Campetella’s must-listen-to program. Basically, I asked a lot of questions, and Rev. J.C., in typical fashion, gave profoundly anointed and insightful answers. I hope you will consider listening if you haven’t already. We intentionally tried to keep the topics relevant for all levels of ministry. I’ve received so much great feedback about this episode. Many have asked for a deeper dive into my study recommendations: essential resources, methods, and practices. In this article, I will share the most universally relevant information possible for ministers, preachers, and teachers.

A Few Caveats

Because I know there will be experience and knowledge gaps in this readership, some information might seem trivial. Some may be more intensive than necessary for your study needs. We all slip into study habits, rhythms, and comfort zones that could likely be improved or tweaked to a certain degree. I’ve certainly not reached the pinnacle of perfection—not even close. I’m constantly looking for resources and tips to rightly divide the Word. If you’re like me, you operate within the boundaries of time restrictions caused by hectic schedules and too many responsibilities to count. So, anything that helps you study more efficiently and effectively is a great blessing. I sincerely hope something mentioned here will help do just that.

Bible Software Program (You Need One)

I love books—actual books that you can hold, touch, and write in. There’s nothing like holding a good book in your hands. The musty smell of a well-worn leatherback book is as comforting as the wafting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. However, you need a good Bible software program unless you have unlimited space and hundreds of free hours to scour voluminous libraries. I realize there are many great free online Bible study resources these days. And for the average erudite saint, those resources are probably more than sufficient. I use www.BibleGateway.com and www.BibleHub.com all the time. Also, www.tsk-online.com (The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge) is bookmarked on my Google Chrome search engine. I use it quite a bit when I’m in a hurry. Many people like www.BlueLetterBible.org, www.e-sword.net, and www.bibleanalyzer.com. Undoubtedly, you could have a thriving study life using those free resources. However, because they are free, they come with limitations.

Without being too nerdy, I’ll just say that free resources and the like cannot be fully customized and streamlined. More importantly, you should have a more robust Bible software program because programs like Olive Tree Bible Software, Accordance Bible Software, and Logos are richer in quality resources. For example, the free programs offer a limited number of commentaries, dictionaries, and encyclopedias. They’re usually substandard. You might find one or two decent commentaries in their library. In my experience, most of them offer nothing in the way of systematic theology resources. Neither do they provide access to the wealth of excellent study Bible notes that can be highly beneficial for efficient study habits.

To be sure, quantity doesn’t necessarily mean quality. Both free and paid software programs boast about their massive libraries. In truth, culling your study resources down to the most helpful and relevant items saves time, money, energy, and brainpower. Not to mention hard drive space. Perhaps you’ve spent countless hours reading unhelpful, trite, blathering, liberal, or pseudo-intellectual commentaries that wasted your time and left you feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and frustrated. Every resource, free and paid, can lead you down that rabbit hole if you aren’t careful. However, paid Bible software programs provide access to customizable libraries and resources that, when used correctly, eliminate many of the unsatisfying problems listed above.

As mentioned, the three major paid Bible software programs are Olive Tree, Accordance, and Logos. I suspect they’re all excellent. Because I use Accordance, I can only speak authoritatively about that program (I am not being paid by Accordance or anyone else). However, the three programs seem to be very similar. Most of the differences are technical or aesthetic. Whatever program you choose (if you haven’t already), I suggest starting with the cheapest package and purchasing relevant resources as needed. Even the cheapest options will give you extraneous resources you will never use or need. For example, I think Pilgrim’s Progress is a splendid book, but I don’t want it cluttering my hard drive or clogging up my Bible software program. I’ve deleted things like that from my Accordance library.

Further down, I’ll list what I consider indispensable commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, language helps, study Bible notes and theology works. Of course, you could own all of them in book form. Yet, the convenience of hovering over a Scripture verse or passage and having instant access to your entire study library’s corresponding commentary saves immeasurable amounts of time. You can scan dozens of digital resources in the time it would take to flip through one set of commentary indexes by hand. Word searches, verse searches, lexicons, and cross-references are instantly available at the click of a mouse. Those powerful, customizable resources are worth the financial investment in the long run.

Last, regarding Accordance, the complete theological works of Dr. David Bernard and Dr. David Norris are available for digital download. I sincerely hope that more oneness Apostolic resources will enter the Accordance library. If you are familiar with an online resource or Bible software program I have not mentioned, please list it in the comments below.

List of Indispensable Non-Digital Biblical Studies Books

Some resources are easier to use appropriately in actual, non-digital book format. And while I have most of these in digital form, they are easier to navigate and comprehend in book form. To my knowledge, several books listed below are unavailable in digital format. They’re arranged in no particular order of importance.

  • Radmacher, Earl D., et al. Compact Bible Commentary. Nelson Reference & Electronic, 2004.
  • Ensey, J. R. New Cyclopedic Theological Dictionary (Definitions and Commentary on Hundreds of Religious Terms; an Essential Christian Resource and Study Companion). Advance Ministries, 1999.
  • Habershon, Ada R. Study of the Types. Kregel Publications, 1957.
  • Robertson, A. T., and John Albert Broadus. A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ: Based on the Broadus Harmony in the Revised Version. Harper & Bros, 1950.
  • Hill, Andrew E. Baker’s Handbook of Bible Lists. Baker Books, 2006.
  • Gleason, Arthur. New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Zondervan, 2011.
  • Wilson, Walter L. A Dictionary of Bible Types. Baker Books, 1999.
  • Habershon, Ada R. Hidden Pictures in the Old Testament (How the New Testament Is Concealed in the Old Testament). Kregel Publications, 1916.
  • Willmington, Harold L. The Complete Book of Bible Lists. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996.
  • Publishing, Rose. Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines: Full-Color Bible Charts, Illustrations of the Tabernacle, Temple, High Priest, Then and Now Bible Maps, Biblical and Historical Time Lines. 10th Anniversary Expanded Edition, Rose Publications, 2005.
  • Rose Book of Bible Charts. Volume 2. Rose Publishing, 2008.
  • Rose Book of Bible Charts. Volume 3. Rose Publishing, 2014.
  • Hindson, Ed, and Thomas Ice. Charting the Bible Chronologically. Harvest House Publishers, 2017.
  • Hadden, Timothy C. Exodus. Book Crafters, 2017.
  • French, Talmadge L. Our God Is One (The Story of the Oneness Pentecostals). Voice & Vision Publications, 1999.
  • Norris, David S. I Am (a Oneness Pentecostal Theology). Word Aflame Press, 2009.
  • Waldron, Steven. Commentary on Genesis Volume 1. Book Crafters, 2021.
  • Waldron, Steven. Commentary on Genesis Volume 2. Book Crafters, 2021.
  • Waldron, Steven. Commentary on Genesis Volume 3. Book Crafters, 2021.
  • Victor Harold Matthews. Manners and Customs in the Bible (an Illustrated Guide to Daily Life in Bible Times). 3rd Edition, Hendrickson Publishers, 2006.
  • Lamsa, George M. Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels. Harper Collins, 2013.
  • Treece, M. D. Acts I (The Literal Word). Treasure House, 1998.
  • Treece, M. D. Acts II (The Literal Word). Treasure House, 1998.
  • Treece, M. D. Hebrews (The Literal Word). Treasure House, 2001.
  • Treece, M. D. I Corinthians (The Literal Word). Treasure House, 1998.
  • Treece, M. D. Revelation (The Literal Word). Treasure House, 1997.
  • Nave, Orville J. Nave’s Topical Bible. Hendrickson Publications, 2002.
  • Steele, Rick. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible (Key Insights into God’s Word: New King James Version). AMG Publishers, 2015.

List of Indispensable Digital Biblical Studies Books & Volumes

As I mentioned before, you could get these resources in book form. However, it would be far more expensive, take up considerable space, and be very difficult to navigate through them efficiently. If you are just beginning to build your resource library, please don’t be discouraged by the length of this list or the associated cost. It’s taken twenty years for me to build my library. Be selective. You may not want or need everything mentioned here. Building a solid resource library takes time. Enjoy the process.

Study Bible Notes

  • Walton, John H., and Craig S. Keener. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Zondervan, 2016.
  • Dennis, Lane T., and Wayne Grudem. The ESV Study Bible. Crossway Bibles, 2008.
  • Blum, Edwin A., and Jeremy Royal Howard. HCSB Study Bible: Holman Christian Standard Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2010.
  • Systematic Theology Study Bible. Crossway, 2017.
  • Harrelson, Walter J. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Abingdon Press, 2003.
  • Cabal, Ted. The Apologetics Study Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.
  • NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. Edited by Carson, D. A., Zondervan, 2015.
  • Stamps, Donald, and J. Wesley Adams. Fire Bible Notes. Life Publishers International, 2009.
  • Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. The Ryrie Study Bible. Moody Press, 1995.
  • Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.
  • Berlin, Adele, and Marc Zvi Brettler. The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition. Oxford University Press, 2014.
  • The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Second Edition. Oxford University Press, 2017.
  • Harrison, Sean A. The NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.

Bible Dictionaries

  • Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill Academic Publishers & Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999.
  • The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Eerdmans, 1915.
  • Easton, M. G., Easton’s Bible Dictionary. Thomas Nelson, 1897.
  • Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.
  • New Bible Dictionary. University and Colleges Christian Fellowship, 1996.
  • Mounce, William D., Mounce’s Expository Dictionary (Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words). Zondervan, 2006.
  • Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans, 2000.

Hebrew & Greek Lexicons

  • Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996.
  • Renn’s Expository Dictionary of Bible Words. Hendrickson Publishers, 2005.
  • VanGemeren, William., New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis. Paternoster Press, 1997.
  • Strong’s Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament. Public Domain.
  • Kohlenberger, John R., and Mounce, William, Kohlenberger/Mounce Concise Hebrew-Aramaic Dictionary of the Old Testament. Oak Tree, 2012.
  • Baker, Warren, and Eugene E. Carpenter. The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament. AMG Publishers, 2003.
  • VanGemeren, William., New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology & Exegesis. Paternoster Press, 1997.
  • Strong’s Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the New Testament. Public Domain.
  • Beale, G. K., et al. An Interpretive Lexicon of New Testament Greek (Analysis of Prepositions, Adverbs, Particles, Relative Pronouns, and Conjunctions). Zondervan, 2014.
  • Kittel, Gerhard, et al. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume. Eerdmans, 1985.
  • Thayer, Joseph. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Coded with the Numbering System from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Public Domain, 2017.
  • Mounce, William D. The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament. Zondervan, 1993.
  • Baker, Warren, and Eugene E. Carpenter. The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament. AMG Publishers, 2003.

Bible Commentaries

  • Garland, David E. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Revised 13-Volume Complete Set). Zondervan, 2012.
  • Bruce, F.F., Acts Bible Study Commentary, Oak Tree, 2017
  • Barnes, Albert. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Kregel Publications, 1990.
  • Arrington, French L., and Roger Stronstad. Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary. Zondervan, 2003.
  • Guthrie, Donald, et al. The New Bible Commentary. Eerdmans, 1991.
  • Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (An Exposition of the Scriptures). Victor Books, 1983.
  • Comfort, Philip W. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
  • Walton, John H., et al. The IVP Bible Background Commentary Old Testament (Second Edition). Intervarsity Press, 2000.
  • Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament. Intervarsity Press, 1993.
  • Kregel Exegetical Old Testament (Complete 7 Volumes). Kregel Publications, 2000.
  • Horton, Stanley M. Horton on Acts. Legion Press, 2012.
  • Anders, Max. Holman Bible Commentary (Old Testament and New Testament). Holman Publications, 2000.
  • Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (JFB). Public Domain, 1871.
  • Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Revised 18 Volumes). Baker Publishing Group, 2003.
  • Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament and New Testament (20 Volumes). Zondervan 2021.
  • Word Biblical Commentary (61 Volume Set). Zondervan Academic, 2015.

Systematic Theology Volumes

  • Strong, A.H., Strong’s Systematic Theology. Public Domain, 2020.
  • Chafer, Lewis S., Chafer’s Systematic Theology. Kregel Publications, 2003.
  • Horton, Stanley M., Bible Doctrines (A Pentecostal Perspective). Gospel Publishing House, 1994.
  • Horton, Stanley M., What the Bible Says About the Holy Spirit (Revised Edition). Gospel Publishing House, 2005.
  • Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. Bits & Bytes, 2008.
  • Thiselton, Anthony C., Systematic Theology. Eerdmans, 2017.
  • Hodge, Charles, Systematic Theology. Oak Tree, 2023.
  • Horton, Stanley M., Systematic Theology. Gospel Publishing House, 2007.
  • Bernard, David, The Oneness of God. Word Aflame Press, 2006.
  • Bernard, David, Practical Holiness. Word Aflame Press, 2006.
  • Bernard, David, In Search of Holiness. Word Aflame Press, 2006.
  • Bernard, David, The New Birth. Word Aflame Press, 2006.
  • Wilson, Nathaniel J., Apostolic Pentecostal Theology. Insignia Books, 2016.
  • Geisler, Norman L., Systematic Theology (3 Volumes). Bethany House Publishers, 2011.

Spit Out the Bones

There’s an old expression that says, “Eat the meat and spit out the bones.” Sadly, most biblical resources aren’t written from an Apostolic perspective. Therefore, keeping the good and spitting out the bad is vital. I hope you’ve found something helpful in this article. If I’ve overlooked something you consider a crucial resource, please mention it in the comments below. I always enjoy a good study recommendation. As always, I pray the Lord blesses your efforts for His Kingdom.

Related posts:

  1. Should Christians Drink Alcohol?
  2. The Extraordinary Significance of the Royal Priesthood of Believers
  3. It Filled the House – The Journey from Tabernacle to Temple to Earthen Vessels with Samuel Vaughn (Article + Podcast)
  4. Radically Apostolic! with Charles G. Robinette (Article + Podcast)
  5. What About Hell? – Everything You Need to Know (Article + Podcast)
  6. The Beginning of the World (Creation vs. Evolution, Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Darkness, Oneness vs. Trinitarianism) with Steven Waldron
  7. Prayer, Revival & Spiritual Warfare with Joe Campetella (Article + Podcast)
  8. Should Christians Get Tattoos?

7 Things That Make Us Weary In Well Doing (Article + Podcast)

Ryan A. French5 Comments

Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9 to not be weary in well-doing; I know, I know, easier said than done. I’ve identified seven culprits that can cause us to be weary of doing good, even in good times. Next week, I will follow up with a list of 9 Signs That You Might Be Weary In Well Doing. Indeed, these lists could be much longer, but they are a good starting point. So, here are seven things that make us weary in well-doing.

1. Discouragement 

I think it’s interesting that Elijah found himself in his darkest moment of depression immediately after witnessing fire fall from heaven (1 Kings 19:4).

2. Murmuring 

Time and time again, Moses had to deal with a murmuring congregation that would not trust God’s plan. It took a toll on Moses (Numbers 14:27). Be careful about spending too much time with murmurers and complainers because, eventually, it will impact your spirit.

3. Giants (Obstacles)

The entire Israelite army was reduced to hiding in fear because of one Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Scary obstacles still paralyze people today and will keep us from living victoriously if we aren’t careful.

4. Hypocrites 

We all know them! And they wear us out if we get too focused on them. They often come and go as if they are genuine, and just the weight of knowing who and what they really are causes frustration in the sincere Christian’s life. Don’t allow hypocrites to distract you from the genuine.

5. Slow Moving Miracles

When Jesus healed the ten lepers, he told them to go and show themselves to the priest, but their miracle was not yet apparent (Luke 17:11-19). As they walked in obedience, it became clear that a miracle had occurred in their bodies. Sometimes, miracles are slow-moving, and we must walk in obedience for a season without real proof of God’s power. This can be discouraging, but if we keep walking, we will see the miracle come to pass.

6. Strange Miracles

Jesus was often unorthodox in his methodology. It must have seemed strange when he spit in the mud and rubbed it on a blind man’s face (John 9:6). I mean, who wants to walk around city walls for seven days straight? But God sometimes does things in ways that seem odd to us. How many people have missed what God has for them because they faltered at His instructions?

7. Reoccurring Enemies & Familiar Battles 

The Philistines alone are mentioned 217 times in the Bible. Even after David killed Goliath and routed the Philistines, he had to fight them many times after that. Enemies and battles that seem to resurface repeatedly will wear us down over time. That temptation that you keep beating down only to face it again will cause discouragement. But remember, if God delivered you then, He can deliver you now.

Related posts:

  1. 9 Signs You Might Be Weary In Well Doing
  2. Radically Apostolic! with Charles G. Robinette (Article + Podcast)
  3. Oneness Theology, Church History & Where the Church Is Right Now – Podcast Transcript with Dr. Talmadge French
  4. Takeaways from Church Planting (A Walk of Faith) – Podcast Episode 7
  5. It Filled the House – The Journey from Tabernacle to Temple to Earthen Vessels with Samuel Vaughn (Article + Podcast)
  6. Buried Alive (The Gospel According to the Bible) – Article + Podcast
  7. The Extraordinary Significance of the Royal Priesthood of Believers
  8. Prayer, Revival & Spiritual Warfare with Joe Campetella (Article + Podcast)

Controlling Our Emotional Beast with Ed Snyder (Article + Podcast)

Ryan A. French

Apostolic Voice, Episode 54

I recently had the opportunity to speak with pastor (Solid Rock Church of Irving, TX), podcaster (True North Podcast), and author Ed Snyder about his recent book publication called Control the Beast (A Guide to Managing Your Emotions) on the Apostolic Voice Podcast. It was a memorable episode, and I hope you’ll have the opportunity to listen to it (the episode is linked below). Control the Beast (A Guide to Managing Your Emotions) is linked below as well. It’s worth a lot more than $10, and I highly recommend adding it to your reading list. Below is a summary of my conversation with Pastor Snyder and the book.

A Guide to Managing Your Emotions

The book’s premise is that we all have an emotional beast lurking in the dark recesses of our hearts. It manifests itself as anger, but it builds to rage if left unchecked. In worst-case scenarios, that anger can become blind rage wreaking destruction on everything in its wake. We all have different fuse lengths before anger explodes outwardly. Or we might say that we all have different tolerance levels before simmering emotions manifest as anger. Regardless, whether you have a short fuse or a long fuse, anger in all its ugly appearances is a beast that needs managing. I happen to have a very long fuse, but it’s not a pretty sight when the beast ignites.

Where Does the Beast Come From?

There’s a long-standing debate about whether we’re products of our surroundings or genetics. What shapes our personality the most, our environment or engrained DNA? We’ll never settle that debate here. However, the most plausible answer seems to be that each individual is uniquely shaped by a blend of the two. The key for each of us is to identify what shaped our emotional beast. We don’t have control over the atmosphere of our childhood or our ongoing extended family conditions. At least, we have minimal control, especially when we’re young and dependent.

So many things happen to us in life that shape personalities. And we’re born with certain propensities and proclivities too. So, before we can confront and control the beast in our basement, we’ll need to take some time figuring out where and why it started growing in the first place. That process is painful because it requires revisiting dark, hurtful places that we’ve tucked away deep in our subconscious minds. So, we’ve got to figure out when the beast was born? Did we feed it, or did our environment feed it or both? How big is that beast in the basement? Just because it rarely comes out doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. Sadly, we usually keep our beast tightly leashed in public and only loose it on the people we love the most. Maybe you’re one of those people whose beast follows you everywhere and attacks everyone around you, including strangers. Regardless, its origins must be identified to get that beast under control.

Before we can confront and control the beast in our basement, we’ll need to take some time figuring out where and why it started growing in the first place. That process is painful because it requires revisiting dark, hurtful places.

Sadly, we usually keep our beast tightly leashed in public and only loose it on the people we love the most.

Anger is a Secondary Emotion

Anger is often called a secondary emotion because we tend to resort to anger in order to protect ourselves from or cover up other vulnerable feelings. A primary feeling is what is felt immediately before we feel anger. We almost always feel something else first before we get angry. We might first feel afraid, attacked, offended, disrespected, forced, trapped, or pressured. If any of these feelings are intense enough, we think of the emotion as anger. So much like an iceberg, all the primary emotions leading to anger sit just out of view in the water. Anger is just the tip of that iceberg. It gets the most attention because that’s what everyone can see, but the real problems are hidden beneath the surface. Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to identify those hidden trigger emotions. The same is true for sadness, anxiety, and fear. They are often secondary emotions with hidden emotions piled underneath them.

Anger is often called a secondary emotion because we tend to resort to anger in order to protect ourselves from or cover up other vulnerable feelings. A primary feeling is what is felt immediately before we feel anger.

We might first feel afraid, attacked, offended, disrespected, forced, trapped, or pressured. If any of these feelings are intense enough, we think of the emotion as anger.

Much like an iceberg, all the primary emotions leading to anger sit just out of view in the water. Anger is just the tip of that iceberg. It gets the most attention because that’s what everyone can see, but the real problems are hidden beneath the surface.

The 10/90 Rule

Charles Swindoll asserts that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to what happens to us. We can’t control the 10%, but we can take responsibility for the 90%. However, significant problems arise when we obsess over the 10% and ignore the 90%. In Control the Beast, Snyder gives an excellent illustration of how healthy emotions work using a car battery. A car battery needs a negative and a positive connection to work correctly. Fascinatingly, we need negative and positive emotions to function healthily. Too many positive emotions and a person might become conceited or prideful. Too many negative emotions and a person might become angry or depressed. Emotional wellbeing doesn’t require eliminating negative feelings altogether. That’s not possible. Maintaining a balanced connection between the two is the goal.

Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to what happens to us. We can’t control the 10%, but we can take responsibility for the 90%.

A car battery needs a negative and a positive connection to work correctly. Fascinatingly, we need negative and positive emotions to function healthily.

Too many positive emotions and a person might become conceited or prideful. Too many negative emotions and a person might become angry or depressed.

Emotional wellbeing doesn’t require eliminating negative feelings altogether. That’s not possible. Maintaining a balanced connection between the two is the goal.

Too Much Negativity

When we are angry, frustrated, sad, or depressed, it means something is wrong with our positive connection. The negative charge is dominating the positive charge disrupting our ability to function. It takes a conscious effort to reconnect ourselves to the positive. Overwhelming negative emotions blind us to the good around us. I’m reminded of when David and his army returned home only to find their families had been taken captive by the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:1-18). David and his men had no idea if their families were alive or dead. They didn’t know where they were or where they were going. David’s men were even thinking about stoning their leader in their grief. It didn’t look hopeful at all. David wept and stressed and all the rest. It was just a pure negative connection with no positives in view. But then David instinctively did something we all must learn to do. He encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6).

What does that mean exactly? It sounds mystically spiritual, but actually, it’s pretty simple. David forced his mind, specifically in prayer, to remember good things that God had done in the past. He was reconnecting to the positive charge so he could be in the right frame of mind to make decisions and move forward. Often, the key to gaining control of the emotional beast is to stop, pray, refresh, think, remember good things, and then react. If David had responded without encouraging himself in the Lord, things probably would have turned out differently. Instead, David recaptured everything the enemy took from him and more. Things may not always turn out for us as perfectly as they did in that example, but the proper emotional response always mitigates the damages.

Often, the key to gaining control of the emotional beast is to stop, pray, refresh, think, remember good things, and then react.

Starving the Beast

In chapter two of Control the Beast, Snyder highlights the importance of cleaning up our environment. We starve the beast by keeping all the things that feed it out of our personal space. As already mentioned, we can’t control our childhood environment. Also, we can’t control the setting the world creates when we walk outside our homes. But we can keep our house beast food free. Snyder lists common triggers that we should keep out of our immediate surroundings: Pornography, violent visual media, bad reading choices, foul language, and negative music. We could add tons of things to this list. We could also add lists of things we should bring into our daily environment to stay connected to positive emotions like prayer, fasting, Bible reading, worshipful music, preaching, good books, uplifting language, and godly media. Starve the bad and feed the good (I’ve written extensively about this in an article called 15 Ways to Win the Battle Within).

Accountability Breeds Responsibility

Once we’ve identified the beast and begun the process of starving it to death, it’s time to make ourselves accountable and responsible for our actions. Several times in Control the Beast, Snyder emphasizes the importance of remaining accountable to others. We’re often blinded to the severity of our emotional reactions, and it takes a willingness to listen to others before we can resolve beastly appearances. We should all be accountable to a pastor, ministry team, elders, and fellow believers on the spiritual side. We’ve got to be accountable to spouses, co-workers, non-toxic family members, children, and friends in our daily lives. As we receive constructive criticism and learn to recognize problems on our own, it’s vital to take responsibility for our emotional failings.

We’re often blinded to the severity of our emotional reactions, and it takes a willingness to listen to others before we can resolve beastly appearances.

As we receive constructive criticism and learn to recognize problems on our own, it’s vital to take responsibility for our emotional failings.

That’s incredibly hard for most of us because it’s natural to shift blame onto other people or circumstances. After all, we’re basically prewired with that tendency. But we can reprogram ourselves out of that bad habit over time if we work hard at it. Refuse to internalize the mindset that says, “This is just how I am, and there’s nothing I can do about it.” Not true. We can be made new, transformed, revitalized, and reprogrammed with the help of the Lord and others. But only if we take ownership of our outward reactions, outbursts, displays, and blowups.

Be Encouraged

I’ve barely scratched the surface of the content covered in the Podcast conversation, and that conversation is only a fraction of the contents of Control the Beast. The highlights are here, but many more valuable bits of help and resources are found in the Podcast and the book itself. If you’ve read this far into the article, you’re probably someone who needs to click on the links below to listen and buy. Don’t allow guilt, shame, or pride to keep you from pursuing the help you need. Seasons of life stir up emotions previously hidden carefully in the basement. For example, those moments you feel like you’re losing your mind or feel like you’ve suddenly become a different person than you used to be. You’re not crazy or changing; something unlocked the beast. Be encouraged. You’ll learn skills in those challenging seasons that will make the next season much easier to endure. You’re in the right place. Things are better than they seem right now. Mix some work with faith and God will come through for you.

Ep. 54 | Controlling Our Emotional Beast with Ed Snyder and Christmas French Family Edition of Gross-Good-Great – Apostolic Voice with Ryan French

Ed Snyder joins the program to discuss his new book Control the Beast (A Guide to Manage Your Emotions). Ed Snyder pastors Solid Rock Church in Irving, Texas, and hosts a program called TRUE NORTH PODCAST. Ryan talks with Pastor Snyder about identifying emotions, primary and secondary emotions, starving destructive emotions, the relationship between positive and negative emotions, taking ownership of emotions, our emotional environment, common anger triggers, and how to take control of our feelings daily. For notes and more information, visit http://www.ryanafrench.com. Then, stick around to the end for another French Family Christmas Edition of Gross-Good-Great. The family tastes and rates Smartfood's Cap'n Cring Mix Berry Popcorn and Hershey's Chocolate Mint Candy Canes.  — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/apostolicvoice/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/apostolicvoice/support
YouTubeApple PodcastsAnchorBreakerOvercastPocketCastsRadio PublicSpotifyiTunes

Related posts:

  1. Buried Alive (The Gospel According to the Bible) – Article + Podcast
  2. Oneness Theology, Church History & Where the Church Is Right Now – Podcast Transcript with Dr. Talmadge French
  3. 15 Ways to Win the Battle Within (Article + Podcast)
  4. 10 Symptoms of Insecure Leadership (Article + Podcast)
  5. Your Questions Answered (Article + Podcast)
  6. Prayer, Revival & Spiritual Warfare with Joe Campetella (Article + Podcast)
  7. Surviving Your Way Into Revival (Survive, Revive, Thrive, Repeat) – Article + Podcast
  8. Should Christians Dye Their Hair? (Article + Podcast)

15 Ways to Win the Battle Within (Article + Podcast)

Ryan A. French

I like statistics. But I know from the glazed looks people give me when I bring them up that most people aren’t like me. So, rather than bore you with the minutia of details, let’s just say folks are battling depression on an epic scale. Indeed, in general, temptation is an ever-present problem, and even Christians seem to be struggling with feelings of despair. Not to mention other emotional issues like fear, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, lust (including pornography), greed, envy, jealousy, and the list goes on. And those are just the natural issues that human beings face; demonic attacks are prevalent as well. Sadly, many people don’t even realize they’re entangled in a spiritual battle.

Each of the above problems begins in the mind. Every sin starts with a thought, and if that thought is not dealt with properly, it will produce a sinful action or reaction. The battle for peace is fought in the mind. The battle for joy is fought in the mind. The battle for purity is fought in the mind. Satan engages your mind first because what you think about the most is what you will eventually do. If you engage your mind with darkness, you will be drawn towards darkness. If you engage your mind with righteousness, you will be drawn towards righteousness (Philippians 4:8). That’s what Paul meant when he said, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2)”. Again, in Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul refers to the mind’s battle in relation to holiness and overcoming the old “sinful” way of life. The old mind produces old sins, but a renewed mind produces holiness. In verse 25, Paul illustrates the first fruit of that new mind is truthfulness with our neighbors. The state of our mind informs the status of our actions. In other words, garbage in, garbage out, and vice versa.

Every sin starts with a thought, and if that thought is not dealt with properly, it will produce a sinful action or reaction.

If you engage your mind with darkness, you will be drawn towards darkness. If you engage your mind with righteousness, you will be drawn towards righteousness (Philippians 4:8).

My personality is very susceptible to depression. That’s not easy to say because many Christians are so used to emotionally faking it that they think they’re making it. They’re kicking the emotional can down the road until the inevitable day of reckoning. Hands down, the number one question posed to me when counseling: How can I win the battle that’s raging in my mind (or some variation of that)? The answer is not a simple one. Most people want a silver bullet that makes all the struggles go away immediately. To be sure, there are powerful offensive weapons, but none of them are lasting without a strong defensive shield. You can rebuke the Devil, but he’ll just come back around if you leave your defenses vulnerable.

Below is a list of fifteen things that will truly guard our minds. Each item listed is a powerful defensive shield for your mind. If you’re looking for a shorter Twitter-friendly list, just know, there are no shortcuts to safety.

1. Get some rest (Psalm 4:8).

Have you ever been so tired you didn’t care about anything anymore? Exhaustion has a way of draining us physically and emotionally. There are times it can’t be avoided, but there are also times when we simply haven’t made rest a priority.

2. Help somebody (Hebrews 13:16).

We should help others because it’s the right thing to do. But there are benefits attached to helping others. It takes our minds off ourselves and our problems. Helping others forces us out of selfish habits and self-destructive thoughts. It’s incredible how quickly our attitude can change when we empty ourselves out in the service of others.

3. Only listen to Christian music.

Fill your mind with godly music that is uplifting. Yep, and the more it talks about Jesus, the better. Listen to it a lot. Nothing has more ability to impact your mind and mood than music. Everything about music is designed to lower your guard and capture your attention. When you fill your mind with sinful lyrics, you’ve opened yourself up to spiritual attack. You’d be hard-pressed to find a popular secular song that doesn’t glorify either casual sex, cursing, violence, drinking, drugs, cheating, lying, greed, lust, godlessness, hopelessness, despair, or divorce. That list could be a lot longer, but you get the idea. By listening to that kind of music, you are handing your mind over to the enemy. If it walks like the world and talks like the world, it probably is the world. Oh, and if you’re in the world, your prayers lose their power: The prayers of a righteous man avail much (James 5:16).

Everything about music is designed to lower your guard and capture your attention. When you fill your mind with sinful lyrics, you’ve opened yourself up to spiritual attack.

By the way, everything listed above applies to all your entertainment choices—everything from books, magazines, movies, television, the internet, games, and more. Surely, you can’t be entertained by filth and wonder why you long for filth. Surely, you can’t watch horror and wonder why you battle anxiety. Surely, you can’t watch (and laugh at) immorality and wonder why you’re full of lust. Clean it up, throw stuff out, make a covenant with your eyes and ears. Take Philippians 4:8 seriously, and you’ll be surprised how quickly your mind will be renewed. Everything else on this list of defenses will be weakened if you regularly subject your eyes and ears to worldly entertainment.

4. Spend time daily reading the Bible.

If you need direction, search the Scriptures. If you need encouragement, search the Scriptures. You need the Word daily. Why would you leave your most significant resource untouched? The word is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105), which means it protects us from painfully stumbling and falling. But it’s also a sword (Ephesians 6:17), meaning it is our greatest offensive weapon against the enemy. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, his strongest offense and defense was the Word (Luke 4:1-13). If you know what is written in the Word, you will learn how to respond to temptation confidentially.

5. Pray, really pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Sincerely, pray, and ask God for strength. Pray until the Holy Ghost falls. Pray when you don’t feel like praying. That’s usually when you need to pray the most. Pray for the Lord’s will (Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:9-13). Pray your way through the Psalms. It’s good to get alone with God in a private place, but some of my best prayer meetings happened in my car driving down the road. That’s what it means to pray without ceasing, being ready to pray at a moment’s notice.

Don’t just pray when you need something. Pray because you want to be close to God. Put some praise in your prayers. Talk to God about your hopes and dreams, doubts and fears, pains and triumphs, and all the in-between stuff too. We’ve all known people who only called when they needed something. Don’t be that way with God. Be that person who maintains the relationship in the good times and the bad.

Don’t just pray when you need something. Pray because you want to be close to God. Put some praise in your prayers.

6. Remain obedient to the Bible in your personal life (even when no one is looking).

Disobedience invites the demonic (1 Samuel 13:14). Even worse, disobedience stirs God’s wrath (Ephesians 5:6). Disobedient Christians are miserable because they are fighting demons and suffering the Lord’s anger at the same time. Disobedience produces guilt, condemnation, pain, and spiritual resistance. The pain that we suffer while in disobedience is intended to draw us back to repentance. Much like the prodigal son who needed a pig pen before realizing he needed to go back home. If you’re living in disobedience, things will get progressively worse until you repent and make things right with God.

The pain that we suffer while in disobedience is intended to draw us back to repentance. Much like the prodigal son who needed a pig pen before realizing he needed to go back home.

7. Spend time talking with godly, Holy Ghost filled people who will encourage you, not discourage you (Proverbs 13:20-25).

Choose your inner circle wisely. Those closest to you will impact your attitude and your mind the most. Your most intimate friendships should not be with unwise or ungodly people. Be kind to everyone, but your deep friendships should be with Holy Ghost-filled encouragers who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth even when it hurts.

Your most intimate friendships should not be with unwise or ungodly people. Be kind to everyone, but your deep friendships should be with Holy Ghost filled encouragers who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth even when it hurts.

8. Avoid people, places, and things that will trigger a spiritual attack, temptation, or depression (when possible).

Eve would have been far less likely to eat the fruit if she hadn’t been near the fruit. The serpent didn’t show up until she showed up where she shouldn’t have been. Don’t set yourself up for failure by hanging around people and places that pull your mind in dangerous directions. Some things aren’t sinful by themselves, but they have emotional connections in your mind that trigger unhealthy thoughts. Avoid those things. For example, I have a friend who was addicted to heroin before he received the Holy Ghost. Every time he shot up, he would listen to instrumental jazz music and wait for the drugs to take over. Whenever he hears jazz music, all kinds of negative emotions come crashing down on him. If possible, he avoids jazz. That’s called wisdom.

Eve would have been far less likely to eat the fruit if she hadn’t been near the fruit. Don’t set yourself up for failure by hanging around people and places that pull your mind in dangerous directions.

Some things aren’t sinful by themselves, but they have emotional connections in your mind that trigger unhealthy thoughts. Avoid those things.

9. Get to church as soon as possible and grab the altar until God touches you (Psalm 84:3, Psalm 92:13).

There’s a reason we are instructed not to forsake the gathering together of godly people (Hebrews 10:25). It’s a blessing for our benefit (Mark 2:27). Even the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is written in the plural, not the singular: Give us this day our daily bread. We thrive as a community of believers. We were not made to walk alone. Faith feeds faith. Worship breeds worship. Joy is contagious. When we are weak, we need fellow believers’ strengths, and when we are strong weak believers need our encouragement.

We were not made to walk alone. Faith feeds faith. Worship breeds worship. Joy is contagious. When we are weak, we need fellow believers’ strengths, and when we are strong weak believers need our encouragement.

There is safety in numbers. The Bible refers to Satan as a lion looking for a person to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Lions are known for stalking enormous prey. They follow a herd and wait for one member of the pack to lag behind or become separated from the others. That’s when the lion pounces. A herd can defend itself from the lion’s attack, but a single animal becomes an easy victim. Years of ministry have taught me that many people avoid church when struggling to win the battle for their minds. That’s the worst thing a person can do in that situation. If you have to take a boat, train, plane, or walk in the rain: do what you have to do to get to church.

10. Worship the Lord all the time, even when you’re alone (Psalm 34:1).

This one might sound silly at first, but you should spontaneously worship the Lord throughout your day. If you love and appreciate the Lord, you won’t wait until Sunday to tell Him.

11. Add fasting to your prayers.

In Matthew 17:14-21, a father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus for deliverance. The King James Version refers to the son as a “lunatic,” inferring that the possession and oppression were so strong it had destroyed the boy’s mind. The father had already taken his son to the disciples, but they could not cast the demon out. Of course, Jesus cast the devil out immediately, leaving the disciples wondering why they had been powerless. In verse 19, Jesus rebukes them for their unbelief (lack of faith), and in verse 21, He reveals the reason for their unbelief; lack of prayer combined with fasting. This demon was so strong that it required prayer and fasting to overpower it.

There are situations, attacks, oppressions, and spirits that require prayer and fasting to overcome. Fasting brings our mind and body into subjection. It cultivates spiritual awareness and sensitivity. Our mind is sharpened, and our spirit is quickened when we fast. And yet, this is the most underutilized tool in most people’s spiritual belt.

There are situations, attacks, oppressions, and spirits that require prayer and fasting to overcome. Fasting brings our mind and body into subjection. It cultivates spiritual awareness and sensitivity.

12. Keep a prayer journal.

For me, this has been one of the most helpful things I have ever done. I write thoughts, prayer requests, questions, goals, hopes, dreams, study findings, and testimonies. The Bible speaks of overcoming by the word of testimony (Revelation 12:11). We humans have a terrible habit of fixating on what we need God to do and forgetting what he has already done. This forgetfulness leads to anxiety. Remembering what God has done builds faith.

We humans have a terrible habit of fixating on what we need God to do and forgetting what he has already done. This forgetfulness leads to anxiety. Remembering what God has done builds faith.

13. Study a specific subject in the Bible.

Studying the Bible is different than just daily Bible reading. Find a subject that you don’t fully understand dig deeply until you understand it inside and out. Knowledge is power in the Spirit (Proverbs 24:5). Satan operates best in confusion.

Find a subject that you don’t fully understand dig deeply until you understand it inside and out. Knowledge is power in the Spirit (Proverbs 24:5). Satan operates best in confusion.

14. Stay busy.

Boredom is the Devil’s playground (1 Timothy 5:13). Too much free time will create a vacuum that trouble quickly fills.

Too much free time will create a vacuum that trouble quickly fills.

15. Listen to a lot of good anointed Apostolic preaching.

I highly recommend downloading the Holy Ghost Radio app and the Revival Radio app. They’re free, and they’re fantastic. You can catch my church Podcast here or on iTunes here. Of course, I’ve got to plug the Apostolic Voice podcast, but there are many great podcasts these days: My brother Nathan hosts a weekly podcast called Noteworthy, and it’s incredibly encouraging. Also, check out The Restorationist by Adam Shaw, Kingdom Speak by Pastor Daniel McKillop, and Simplify by LJ Harry.

Final Thought

The Devil attacks people’s minds immediately after powerful spiritual events. It was right after Jesus’ baptism that He was carried into the wilderness and tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11). There are countless other biblical examples, but you can be prepared and respond appropriately if you know this to be the case.

The Devil attacks people’s minds immediately after powerful spiritual events. It was right after Jesus’ baptism that He was carried into the wilderness and tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11).

AVP Ep. 8 | How to Win the Battle Within (Guarding Your Mind)

Related posts:

  1. Buried Alive (The Gospel According to the Bible) – Article + Podcast
  2. COVID Carnality (The Cause & Cure)
  3. The Death of Reverence
  4. Connection vs. Carnality – In Student Ministry
  5. You Can’t Be A Church Leader If…
  6. 8 Preacher Traps – That Can Develop Over Time
  7. Politically Incorrect Prophets (Speaking Truth In an Age of Timidity)
  8. Surviving Your Way Into Revival (Survive, Revive, Thrive, Repeat) – Article + Podcast

7 Ways To Help Your Youth Group Backslide

Ryan A. French6 Comments

This is a followup guest entry to an article entitled Do You Believe Your Youth Group Will Stay In The Church? by my brother Nathan French.To get to know Nathan better check out his bio here or his Facebook page here. Nathan is our Youth Pastor at Apostolic Tabernacle and he is passionate about seeing AiMYouth live for God with abandon. Also, here’s a link to an article that I wrote a while back entitled 5 Key Subjects That We Must Address (If We Want To Retain Young Adults In Our Churches).

First of all, let me say that “backsliding” is a very real thing. It is impossible to “backslide” if you were never standing where God wanted you to stand in the first place. The youth of our generation have grown up in a different world then our elders grew up in. There are new temptations of convenience. The devil has cleverly placed temptations in front of our youth and made sin easily accessible for them. Violence, profanity, pornography….it’s all just a click away now. You haven’t given them computer access? Satan says, “No problem, their cell phones will do.” Satan has provided our students lots of help to lead them on the way to backsliding. As the Church, it is our responsibility to counteract these attempts of the enemy, and stand against the fiery darts of the wicked. I believe our young people can live for God in the last days! I also believe that they can resist the temptations of this world if the Church will be the lighthouse that they need it to be in order to see their way on an ocean of easily accessible sins.

The problem is not what’s coming from the world; our youth understand that the world is a dark place. What they cannot understand is how darkness gets into the Church. Backsliding begins in our youth groups when they see the darkness in the Church, because they no longer know where to draw the lines of right and wrong.  They begin to ask themselves questions like, “If darkness is in the Church, how are we any different than the world?” Please don’t misunderstand me; I don’t believe any of our churches want to see their kids backslide. Most often, we don’t even realize how we’re “helping” the process along. Here are seven ways church people might be obliviously “helping” youth backslide.

  1. Talk bad about ministry. This is a great way to help your youth backslide. If you want to help them on the road to backsliding, keep on having those negative conversations at lunch on Sunday. “Why does Pastor always….?” Anyways, you get the point.
  1. Never get involved. This is a great way to help your youth backslide. After all, you’re way too busy to help with the church right now. If we keep teaching our youth that God is the last priority, that will definitely help them make the decision to put God last in their life.
  1. Never worship. Worship draws people closer to God, so if you want to help your youth group backslide… teach them how to not worship. Hosea 11: 7- And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
  1. Constantly miss church. This is a great way to help your youth backslide. By simply not taking them to church, you have helped the devil immensely. The presence of God will begin to break strongholds in their life, so if you want to help them backslide, definitely do not take them to church three times a week. Psalm 122:1- I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
  1. Speak in anger and not love. Correcting your youth in anger rather than love is a great way to help them backslide. After all, God is love. If you don’t want God to be a big part of their life, don’t do anything in love.
  1. Seclude yourself. Your youth group is a community of great friends that believe in the same thing. So, by secluding yourself and your family, you have already helped the devil. I mean, who wants to be around their friends of like faith anyways? Oh wait… your youth do!
  1. Use God’s Name in vain. There is power in the name of Jesus. When you abuse it by using it as a joke, the devil is so happy. There is nothing more powerful than the name of Jesus. If you teach your young people that His Name is just a joke, you will definitely help them backslide. Act 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We are THE CHURCH! Let’s be a light in a dark world and do whatever it takes to keep the darkness out of the Church.

Related posts:

  1. Do You Believe Your Youth Group Will Stay In The Church?
  2. Church Growth (Practical and Spiritual Insights) – Part 1
  3. Connection vs. Carnality – In Student Ministry
  4. 5 Mistakes Every Worship Leader Makes
  5. An Echo Experience
  6. 14 Ways You Can Support Your Pastor
  7. Church Growth (Practical and Spiritual Insights) – Part 2
  8. What Does the Bible Say About Worship (6 Biblical Descriptions)

5 Tips for Introverted Leaders

Ryan A. French10 Comments

Pastors and leaders come in all shapes, sizes, and personality types. I definitely fall into the introverted category (here’s a great article for inward pastors entitled 7 Ways to Thrive As an Introverted Pastor by Ron Edmondson). I was a shy kid and I kept pretty quiet in college too. I am one of those strange people who actually likes to read and study. But budding leaders are usually pushed out of their comfort zones into a more outgoing demeanor. For the most part, this is a positive progression but at times, it can be taxing on the spirit of an introvert.  Here are five tips that have helped me overcome the weaknesses and maximize the strengths of my introverted leadership style.

1. Resist the Pressure to be Something That You’re Not

There’s a lot of pressure on pastors and leaders of all kinds to be dynamic. However, it’s important to remember that outgoing, highly extroverted leaders are not necessarily dynamic by virtue of their personality alone. In fact, those personality types come with their own set of struggles and weaknesses. Early on in ministry, I found myself trying to imitate leaders whose personalities were miles apart from mine. Before long I was miserable and felt like a complete failure. Did I need to mature and address a few character flaws? Yes. Did my entire personality need to be discarded before God could use me? Certainly not. In the Bible, you will find various leaders who had very different temperaments and yet they were all mightily used of God. And yes, many of them were introverts.

2. Resist the Temptation to Retreat Within When Under Pressure

I would be lying if I told you that I had this little piece of advice down pat. I don’t. It’s normal for us introverts to pull away and become very inward when we are hurting, stressed, attacked, or feeling pressured. Grandma always said, “Isolation is the Devil’s playground.” She was right.

3. Surround Yourself With People Who Know, Value & Understand You

Because it’s my default setting to retreat inwardly at unhealthy moments I strive to surround myself with people who understand my personality and respond accordingly. Cultivate relationships with friends and family that sustain you. Keep people close who will lovingly remind you to set the book down and leave the office from time to time. People who truly love and care about you will walk the healthy line between respecting your temperament and helping you adjust the flaws.

4. Know Your Personality Limitations

I purposely didn’t call them weaknesses because not all limitations are weaknesses. Every leader should have a good measure of self-awareness. If understanding the personalities of others is important; understanding what makes you tick is paramount. For introverts, we can’t maintain the steady social schedules that our highly extroverted friends can. Find a balance that is healthy for you and learn your limits. Just as importantly, learn when to break out of your personality and be what is needed for the moment. For example, there are times when even the quietest individual must speak up, speak out, and speak long.

5. Know Your Personality Strengths 

We introverts do have strengths that we should use and we should use them often. Because our minds never quite seem to shut down we can be very thoughtful and considerate. We have a greater capacity for compassion than most, and we make good listeners when needed. We’re less likely to say something foolish in the heat of the moment. Our love for study and meditation makes the fundamental spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible reading a natural part of our daily routines. We speak with conviction and sincerity. When we are loud, forceful, energetic, or angry it gets people’s attention because it is never contrived or overblown.

Related posts:

  1. 14 Pastoral Leadership Styles & Personalities – Part 1
  2. 10 Symptoms of Insecure Leadership (Article + Podcast)
  3. 14 Pastoral Leadership Styles & Personalities – Part 2
  4. Relationslips (Part 1) with Taylor French – Article + Podcast
  5. Support Your Local Pastor’s Wife
  6. 14 Ways You Can Support Your Pastor
  7. My Opinionated Opinion About Opinions
  8. Consistency – 16 Keys To Outstanding Leadership (Article + Podcast)

Robin Williams, Suicide & Hope

Ryan A. French1 Comment

I have really hesitated to weigh in on the sad passing of actor Robin Williams, because I do not want to appear insensitive.  But I am concerned that the national media and the Hollywood machine is contributing to a pervasive societal problem that goes largely unreported: suicide.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention nearly 40,000 people commit suicide in the US each year making suicide the 10th leading cause of death for Americans.  Roughly speaking, someone commits suicide in the US every 14 minutes.

o-DEPRESSION-facebookSo here’s my concern; the media seems to be carefully glossing over the tragedy of the suicide.  For the most part I understand why, suicide is depressing and difficult to talk about.  No one wants to appear disrespectful or insensitive (I include myself in this number), but by rushing past the sadness in order to celebrate the past we might be unintentionally promoting suicide.

Consider the fact that Robin Williams has been largely out of the limelight for many years now, however, after this tragedy we are seeing 24-hour coverage, celebrations, and honorariums of his career.  On the surface this seems like a nice thing to do, but are we inadvertently sending a signal to the overlooked teen that suicide will be a sweet release and 15 minutes of much-desired fame?  Could we be accidentally signaling to the overworked, depressed, businessman who is struggling with a waning career and a broken family life that self-harm just might be a valid solution?

Before you call me crazy, remember that studies have already shown that copy-cat suicides are a genuine phenomenon.  Suicide contagion is real and it is dangerous.  There is a thriving subculture that promotes suicide as an honorable and worthy way to gently leave this harsh world. Therefore, we must be extremely careful how we discuss the suicide of Robin Williams or anyone else for that matter.

And what about the thousands of individuals who take their own lives in utter obscurity?  Isn’t it time for our culture to wake up and realize that we desperately need the peace that only God can give?  What about the false images of happiness that Hollywood promotes every single day?  What about the endless quest for fame and fortune that proves to be unfulfilling time and time again?  How many have been led to believe that godlessness, promiscuity, and substance abuse are valid pathways to happiness only to find themselves standing on the edge of a deadly precipice?  What happens when the beautiful who worship beauty lose their beauty?  What happens when the rich man who worships riches loses his wealth?  What happens when the superstar loses his stardom?  There has to be more to life for lasting happiness to be achieved.

There are thousands contemplating suicide right at this very moment.  They desperately need someone to tell them that suicide is not the answer.  They are hungry for someone to convince them that life is worth living.  They need something that transcends the darkness pressing in on them.  They need you to show them the light of Jesus.  They need you to demonstrate the joy of abundant life.  They need hope!

Related posts:

  1. Should Christians Dye Their Hair? (Article + Podcast)
  2. A Pattern of Persecution (What Does Hollywood Have In Common With ISIS?)
  3. Connection vs. Carnality – In Student Ministry
  4. What Churches Can Learn From Chick-fil-A (Article + Podcast)
  5. 6 Dating Standards for Apostolic Singles – Article + Podcast
  6. Church Growth (Practical and Spiritual Insights) – Part 1
  7. The Death of Reverence
  8. If We Are What We Post (What Are We Saying)?