Lessons from a Mentor’s Downfall #3 https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/0420-Lessons-from-a-Mentors-Downfall-3-512×288.png When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he…put his house in order and then hanged himself. ~ II Samuel 17:23 READING: II Samuel 17:1-23 Recently I was asked to help shape curriculum for a lay counseling ministry and became quite frustrated and upset because the...

Lessons from a Mentor’s Downfall #2 https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/0419-Lessons-from-a-Mentors-Downfall-2-512×288.png Ahithophel answered, “Lie with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace.” ~ II Samuel 16:21 READING: II Samuel 16:15-23 The God-given gift of wisdom can propel an astute and perceptive adviser into the heady inner circles of power and leadership. It feels incredibly...

Lessons from a Mentor’s Downfall #1 https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/0418-Lessons-from-a-Mentors-Downfall-1-512×288.png While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength… ~ II Samuel 15:12 READING: II Samuel 15:10-13 The little-known story of Ahithophel, King David’s highly regarded counselor, vividly illustrates three insidious...

The Gambler for Jesus https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/0417-The-Gambler-for-Jesus-512×288.png …for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. ~ Philippians 2:30 READING: Philippians 2:25-30 Paul was under house arrest in Rome, facing possible execution. When the church in Philippi heard the news, they wanted to help...

Who Are You Mentoring? https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/0416-Who-Are-You-Mentoring-512×288.png Paul left and took the followers with him to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. He spoke there every day for two years, until every Jew and Gentile in Asia had heard the Lord’s message. ~ Acts 19:9b-10 (CEV) READING: Acts 19:1-10 Paul had faithfully obeyed the Holy Spirit’s call at...

Divine Appointments https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/0415-Divine-Appointments-512×288.png Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. ~ Proverbs 19:21 READING: Acts 8:26-40 A Kenyan leader, Dr. Francis Kamau, asked me to speak to about 100 church planters, pastors and spouses who are involved in a School of Ministers. We didn’t discuss what...

God’s Plans are Good Plans https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/0413-Gods-Plans-are-Good-Plans-512×288.png “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) READING: Jeremiah 29:1-14 What promises from God’s word do you hang onto as a church planter? When the...

Mentoring the Broken https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/0412-Mentoring-the-Broken-512×288.png A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. ~ Matthew 12:20 READING: Isaiah 42:1-10 My childhood home life concealed ghastly dysfunction. It took years before I found the courage to challenge the #1 rule in my childhood...

Mentoring the Passing Parade https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/0411-Mentoring-the-Passing-Parade-512×288.png Freely you have received, freely give. ~ Matthew 10:8b READING: I Corinthians 3:1-9 I’ll never forget the comment that someone on the search committee made just before we moved out to California to plant our first church: “Pastoring a church in California is like preaching to a parade.” Boy, he...

Mentoring the F.A.T. https://dcpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/0411-Mentoring-the-F.A.T.-512×288.png Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. ~ Luke 16:10a READING: Luke 16:10-12 During college, I was mentored through our campus ministry program, with the goal in mind that I would mentor others. I was taught to look for people who were F.A.T. (Faithful, Available...