Links of the Week (7/25/15)

Each Saturday we point you to the best content we have encountered over the week on the internet.

Links of the WeekThe Fastest Path to Becoming an Ineffective Leader – by Carey Nieuwhof

I was talking to a leader this week who has come under fire from a group in his church who is opposed to the change he and his team are making.

I won’t go into the details, but it’s a change about 99% of you reading this post would advise he make. It’s actually not even that controversial. It’s common sense.

Avoid Crashing Your Sermon! Your Checklist for a Strong Sermon Closing – by Lane Sebring

How you begin your sermon is vital. It can mean the difference between your listeners checking out or deciding to pay close attention. The things you say at the beginning of a sermon are what your listeners subconsciously use to build a framework for your whole message. If your thoughts are murky and unclear, you’re laying an unstable foundation.

Why Is There So Much Pleasure in the World? – by Mark Alan Williams

If you notice a similarity between this article’s title and the title of so many articles, books and conversations, “Why is there so much suffering in the world,” then you are on track with my thinking.

Recently I heard about a pastor who decided to live a “year without God” and feed his doubts for that year. One of the biggest things bothering him was the question of suffering—why a good God would allow it.

But as he turned to skepticism and eventually atheism, an opposite and far bigger question arises—“Why is there so much pleasure in the world?”

Who Is the Most Influential Person in Your Life? – by Michael Kelley

Who is the most influential person in your life?

You are.

Sonic, Tails, and Discipleship – by Kendall Lyons

People who have been around me long enough know that I am a big Sonic the Hedgehog fan. When I as a kid, I played the games, I watched the cartoons, and I read the comics.

And throughout the series I always noticed a certain connection between Sonic and his friend partner in heroic deeds, Tails.