Broken Heroes: Jephthah

This is a copy of the introduction from the book "Three Pillars". It is designed to be a discussion opener for the church leadership retreat on September 13, 2025

Did you know that most visitors decide whether they’ll return to a church within the first 10 minutes of arriving? That’s right—before they hear the sermon, before they experience the worship, and even before they meet the pastor, they’ve already formed an opinion. Those first few moments are critical, and as a church, it’s our responsibility to make them count.

Whether you’re greeting someone at the door, helping a child feel safe in Sunday School, or welcoming guests in the parking lot, or serving as an usher, you are the hands and feet of Jesus in action. Together, we’re creating a welcoming environment where people can experience the life-giving message of Jesus Christ.Our goal is to provide a five-star welcome. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel loved, safe, and seen. And when we do that, we’re not just making people feel good—we’re opening the door for them to encounter God.

Building a team doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, I like to think of it as a simple formula: identify, enlist, train, commission, and encourage.

I am so excited to jump into our topic today because it’s something that impacts every single one of us who has the privilege of leading a team of volunteers. We're going to talk about something super important: how to empower your team to serve with passion and purpose without them running on empty. That's right, we are tackling the topic of volunteer burnout from a leader's perspective.

I am so excited to jump into our topic today because it’s something that impacts every single one of us who has the privilege of leading a team of volunteers. We're going to talk about something super important: how to empower your team to serve with passion and purpose without them running on empty. That's right, we are tackling the topic of volunteer burnout from a leader's perspective.

Have you ever wished for something, only to realize later it wasn’t what you truly needed? The stories of King Midas and Israel’s demand for a king remind us that what we want isn’t always what we need. But the good news is, God’s plans for us are always better than we could imagine.

Samson’s story is one of strength, failure, redemption, and ultimately, God’s purpose. But let me say this upfront: Samson’s greatest enemy wasn’t the Philistines. No, Samson’s greatest enemy was himself. And isn’t that true for so many of us? The problem isn’t that God lacks the power to do great things in our lives. The problem is that, all too often, we are our own worst enemy.

🌿 Are you exhausted from the hustle? In this podcast episode, we explore the life-changing wisdom of Sabbath rest and the unforced rhythms of grace. 🪓✨Discover how taking time to pause, reflect, and sharpen your axe can lead to a more fulfilling, productive, and spiritually grounded life.

God uses the broken, the flawed, and the unlikely to fulfill His purpose. From outcasts to cowards, He sees what we often cannot—our potential through His eyes. Will you trust His vision for your life?