The Spiritual Discipline of Gratitude for the Church: 5 Ways

December 1, 2024 By Jeff McLain

As we reflect on the Thanksgiving season, we find ourselves thankful for many things – our families, homes, and vocations, to just name a few. Recently, I blogged about the role of gratitude in our work, worship, and the spaces where we live and play. Gratitude in every area and arena of life is important. This is also an appropriate time to express gratitude for the church. I am thankful for the church in all its diverse shapes, sizes, forms,... Read more

Gratitude in Play: 3 Practices From Ecclesiastes 3

November 26, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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Irish playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” This thought-provoking quote reminds us of the power of play—something we often neglect as adults. I know from my own experiences, that most of us don’t prioritize play in our lives, viewing it as the work and learning pattern of children. However, I believe that play is not just essential for children, but for all of... Read more

Gratitude for Where We Live: 3 Practices from Deuteronomy 8

November 21, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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Mary Davis once said, “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” I believe the more I have gratitude for where we live, the more beauty I will see in the place I live and the life I live within it. In a culture that feeds on discontent, I want to resist by cultivating intentional practices of gratitude. I want to see more of the beauty in my life, and the place I live, more than just the... Read more

Gratitude in Worship: Three Practices from Psalm 100

November 18, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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Last week, I blogged and examined the role of gratitude in the workplace through the lens of Daniel 6. Today, I turn to the role of gratitude in worship and we wrestle with how gratitude should be driving our acts of praise and worship. Psalm 100 will guide us as we explore three key practices for cultivating gratitude in worship and as worship. The intentional practice of thanksgiving in worship also becomes the foundation for our worship, helping us stay... Read more

Gratitude in the Workplace: Three Practices From Daniel 6

November 15, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of gratitude, especially when it comes to our work lives. Work can be an opportunity of tremendous purpose and growth for us individually. However, it can also be filled with frustration, stress, sabotage, and a lack of appreciation. When we don’t feel valued, our natural response can be to throw in the towel, look elsewhere, or give into insecurity as we feel that our worth is slipping away.... Read more

A Journey of Gratitude: Tri Robinson’s Call to Slow Down

November 9, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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In a world filled with noise, constant distraction, upward mobility, bad stewardship, and the relentless pursuit of more, it can be hard to hear the still, small whispers calling us to live with intention and simplicity. Recently, I read Tri Robinson’s A Journey of Gratitude which offers a refreshing antidote to this chaotic lifestyle. Robinson and A Journey of Gratitude are one of those small whispers calling us to live with intention and simplicity. In this memoir, Tri Robinson walks... Read more

The Transformative Practice of A Daily Prayer Rhythm

October 29, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy for prayer to become a routine, losing its profound power in what we may call its familiarity. I believe there is a transformative practice of maintaining a daily prayer rhythm. In this blog post, we will explore the uniqueness of prayer as we understand it and a suggested daily prayer rhythm that I am practicing with. Both Judaism and Christianity teach that personal prayer is a sacred gift, one that demands our intentionality and... Read more

Honoring Five Pastors Who Shaped My Life and Ministry

October 26, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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If you’ve been part of a church community in recent years, you might be familiar with October as Pastor Appreciation Month. Throughout October, we celebrate National Clergy Appreciation Day, with the second Sunday designated Clergy Appreciation Day. While not all churches observe this occasion, many take the opportunity to encourage and bless their pastors or pastoral leaders with thoughtful gestures, such as cards, gift cards, or even a little time away to recharge. In this blog post, I want to... Read more

Cultivating Faith and Leadership: A DMin Journey

October 7, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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In March 2024, I began my journey in the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Kairos University. Through my studies, I am focused on deepening my understanding of the Lord’s Prayer and learning to live it fully. My studies explore the theological and practical implications of using the Lord’s Prayer in discipleship, within communal contexts, and as a guide for those on a spiritual pilgrimage. Ultimately, I believe that this program will help me to encourage the local church, empower... Read more

Prayer: Lifeblood, Strong Wall, and Fortress of the Church

September 16, 2024 By Jeff McLain

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In the life of the local church church, prayer must be more than an individual practice or liturgical habit. For the church trying to lead a quiet and faithful witness (1 Thess. 4:11-12), Prayer becomes the lifeblood, strong wall, and fortress that sustains and protects the community. Prayer plays a crucial role in uniting and fortifying the church against challenges, and may even foster a resilient and thriving church community. Praying for our local church is scriptural. Toward the end... Read more