Monday stank.

I was disappointed with the sermon I delivered on Sunday and I couldn't conceive of another one for next week. My email was full, last month's giving was down, and the fire marshal stopped by my office to deliver his own sermon about our inadequate exit signs. I entered the pastorate to do and equip others for ministry, I thought to myself. This wasn't what I signed up for.

I couldn't eliminate all these frustrations, but shortly after that rough Monday I started a practice that revitalized both my equipping and teaching ministry. Someone attending a home Bible study stopped to tell me how good it was. I went to Steve, the study leader, to encourage him. He was so excited about it that I said, rather impulsively, "Steve, what would you think about helping me teach through this series on Sunday mornings?"

"Sure," he said.

I panicked. I didn't know Steve well. I'd never heard him speak up front. The Andy Stanley study he taught had a ...