The Apostle Paul wrote, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8, ESV) Paul loved the Church in Philippi. He missed them while he was away, and he yearned to preach to them in person once again. ... Read More »

In January of 2018, my wife and I moved to a new city to embark on my first pastorate. We live in a parsonage that is about a mile away from the church. This is nice, given that we were straight out of seminary. But it also has its drawbacks, as many can attes... Read More »

Loss is real, and grief plagues everyone to some degree. The struggle of grief can present itself through the loss of a family member, a pet, or even a job. The overwhelming emotion of grief can hit at any time. Grief, known as the emotion experienced after lo... Read More »

“Is there no balm in Gilead?”   The nineteenth-century British luminary Joseph Parker said, “Preach to the suffering, and you will never lack a congregation. There is a broken heart in every pew.” We live in a broken and hurting world. There are f... Read More »

God wants his disciples to grow in their faith. It is the desire of God that those who come to know him as Savior also begin to follow him as Lord. The Lord wants us “growing into maturity” (Ephesians 4:13) and he is never satisfied for us to remain weak, ... Read More »

Preaching has many roles. Preaching can fulfill the purposes of teaching, evangelism, discipleship, or a multitude of other functions. However, the preacher has a responsibility in his preaching that is often overlooked. The preacher has a duty to shepherd his... Read More »

“What role does theology play in counseling?” This simple, yet thought-provoking question was asked by Dr. John Babler during a counseling PhD seminar last fall. Students, both in class and online, offered their perspectives with varying degrees of eloquen... Read More »

As the author of Hebrews draws his letter to a close, he charges his readers to obey and submit to their leaders, and the reason for his instruction is clear: “they keep watch over your souls” (Heb 13:17). But then, the author explains the manner in which ... Read More »

When God calls a man to serve as a pastor in a local church, there are countless tasks he needs to complete. The primary tasks can be divided into several main categories including feeding, leading, and protecting. There are many ways in which a pastor accompl... Read More »

In a culture that is increasingly privatized, individualized and scandalized, the need for preachers to care genuinely for those to whom they preach perhaps has never been so important. Whether he chooses to acknowledge it or not, the manner in which the preac... Read More »