Prayer

8 Characteristics of Praying Churches

I’ve written this week about characteristics of evangelistic churches and equipping churches. Frankly, it’s easier to find these […]

Chuck Lawless

Saturating Our Preaching in Prayer

The pianist played the final notes of the offertory hymn which meant it was almost time for me […]

Philip Crouse Jr.

I Am Prayer!

What does it mean to have your identity defined by a practice? Crying out to God regarding the oppression of his enemies, the Psalmist said, “In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer” (Psalm 109:4, ESV; emphasis mine). The footnote in my Bible says the phrase means “I am prayer.”

Jim Shaddix

10 Changes to Strengthen Your Student Ministry

I spent 13 years of my life in student ministry, and I loved every one of them. As […]

Daniel Ritchie

Episode 97: Spirit-Empowered Exposition with Jim Shaddix

What is spirit-empowered exposition? What does spirit-empowered preaching look like? What role does prayer play in the preaching moment?Join Ronjour this week as he sits down with Dr. Jim Shaddix to talk about spirit-empowered exposition and preaching.

Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

Leading Your Church Through Change

If you have ever been whitewater rafting, you know how important the role of the guide is. The responsibility for getting the rafters through the rapids safely falls to the guide. A rafting guide must know the river well, aware of the shallow and dangerous sections that might stop the rafts or even cause them to flip.

Philip Crouse Jr.

Leading Your Congregation to Pray During Global Heartbreak and Hopelessness

The international news this week was bleak. We watched a desperate situation unfold in Afghanistan as men and women swarmed to the airport, clinging to departing planes. We heard stories of Afghanis who fear for their lives because of political or religious reasons. We saw video footage of flattened houses following the earthquake in Haiti.

Anna Daub

Episode 40: Pastors and Evangelism (with Chuck Lawless)

In this episode of Pastor Matters, Ronjour and Brandon discuss pastors and evangelism with Dr. Chuck Lawless (Dean of Doctoral Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary).

Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

Panel Discussion on Prayer

Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership Director Ronjour Locke leads a panel on prayer with Dr. Keith Whitfield (Provost at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary), John Onwuchekwa (Pastor at Cornerstone Church), and Larry Trotter (Pastor at North Wake Church).

Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

Episode 36: Pastors and Prayer

In this episode of Pastor Matters, Ronjour and Brandon discuss the prayer life of a pastor. Why is it so difficult to create consistent patterns of prayer? What does the Bible say about prayer? What role does prayer have in preaching and fulfilling the Great Commission? Join us this week as we answer these questions (and many more)!

Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

Pleading with God and Equipping the Saints Through a Pastoral Prayer

I grew up in what might be considered a typical Baptist church. While many in the Baptist church might consider liturgy something that “high church” types undertake, even free church models–like Baptist churches–have a liturgy despite the insistence that we will not be put in a box.

Ryan Hutchinson

How to Pray for Pastors During the Christmas Season

Christmas is my favorite time of year. But often, it’s also the busiest time of the year. Most pastors I know would say the same. Pastors often feel pressure to craft sermons on the incarnation that are new and fresh. Pastors are often asked to be part of every Christmas celebration within smaller groups in the church.

Jordon Willard

4 Ways to Pray for Your Pastor During Pastor Appreciation Month

Time has seemingly scrapped by since quarantine swept over all of us back in March. But even with the days slowly marching by, we have finally landed in October. This month we celebrate the Reformation and our kids get to run around our neighborhoods (hopefully) to chase after the spoils of Trick or Treating. October is also the month that many churches have set aside to encourage and uplift their pastoral staff through Pastor Appreciation month.

Daniel Ritchie

Book Review: Prayer (How Praying Together Shapes the Church), by John Onwuchekwa

In his book Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church, John Onwuchekwa addresses deficiencies of corporate prayer in an ecclesiastical context. In 2015 Onwuchekwa helped plant Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, Georgia where he currently serves as the lead pastor.

Andrew Lucius

How to Pray for Your Missionaries During the COVID-19 Crisis

When originally asked to write this article, COVID-19 was the talk of the town. Yet, in just a week’s time, a worldwide killer virus that has claimed nearly 400,000 lives, stymied the global economy, and persists in over 200 counties has taken a back seat in the headlines. Just weeks ago, our streets were eerily empty. Now they are eerily full with protests. America is on fire. As believers, we take seriously the commandment to love God and love neighbor. And therefore, we ask ourselves: What am I to do? How can I help?

Blake Bowman