Church Planting
On Naming Your Church Plant
“So, you’re planting a church,” my friend said. “Yes,” I replied. “We’re really excited.” And then he asked, […]
Blog
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- Neal Thornton
Tips for the Trial Sermon: Preaching in View of a Call
A few months back, our church called a student pastor to join our pastoral team. Like many churches, ours formed a search committee to seek after God’s man for this particular role. After months of diligent searching, they unanimously landed on a recent graduate from Southeastern Seminary. He came highly recommended by his past professors as well as pastors at his then-current place of ministry.
- Expository Preaching
Feeding Your Sheep with the Whole Counsel of God
I’ve been around long enough to know that last days will come. I still remember my wife and I walking out of the first home we’d known for over six years. We brought our first two children into that space. Other last days have come and gone since then. From the last day of a military deployment to the last keystroke of a Ph.D. program, all of us will face last days. We appeal to a sovereign God but do well to know that last days are coming.
- christmas
Preaching Christmas: Stay or Stray?
There seems to be more pressure at Christmas than in other seasons of the year. I’m not talking about finding a parking place at the mall or waiting in a long line at Starbucks. Rather, I’m referring to the pressure a preacher feels in the pulpit.
- Editor's Picks
Preaching a Suicide Funeral
Pastoral ministry is full of first-time experiences — from the first nursing home visit to one’s first baptism. Since I entered “full-time vocational ministry” over ten years ago, seldom does a month go by where I don’t learn something new or do something for the first time.
Anger
The Phantoms of Pastoral Ministry
I must confess: I am a pastor, and I have anger issues. No, not issues because of ministry or because of church members. Just issues — because I’m me. I want what I want when I want it. And if I don't get it, I tend to get mad. I’ve learned to hide it well, I think. But if you get close enough you’ll pick up on my anger. Yet God sees it all. I can’t hide from him. That even tempts me to anger. Goodness, I have issues. Can anyone relate?
E.M. Bounds
The Pastor’s Closet Life
Never before has it been more important for the preacher to be the same man in public as he is in private. A triplex of words come to mind that should mark every pastor’s ministry: integrity, consistency, and transparency. While God calls pastors to live above board in all respects (1 Tim 3:1-7), they understand that it doesn’t happen automatically. There is no autopilot feature on the steering wheel of the Christian life and ministry.
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