Pastoral Ministry
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Eugene Peterson penned a classic book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, many years ago. We live in a day where we can pull a small rectangle from our pocket and have near-limitless access to near-countless mediums for information––instantly. With t... Read More »
The Preacher and Personality
Apart from our own family relationships few relationships in life are as meaningful and as potentially productive as that of the pastor/preacher and the people. It does not take long for the pastor to realize that life is about relationships and personalities ... Read More »
10 Temptations of Every Teacher of the Word
Top ten lists. Every sport, every profession, every person has a “top ten.” Preachers are no different. From your ten favorite sermons, to your ten favorite resources, to your ten favorite preachers, you can find a “top ten” for just about anything. So... Read More »
Advice to Older Preachers
1. Don’t neglect your daily devotional time with the Lord. The preaching ministry is the easiest place in the world to grow cold spiritually! The reason is that we are always studying to see what God says to someone else! We must be in a vital and growing wi... Read More »
Advice to Younger Pastors
1. Understand your call. God does not call you to a certain task, but he calls you to Himself. It is out of your relationship to Him that He assigns you specific tasks. This underscores the importance of your daily time with the Lord. You have been filled with... Read More »
The Pastoral Context of Preaching
The expectations placed upon the pastor in the modern day can be overwhelming to anyone who occupies the office. Each day confronts every pastor with overwhelming obligations. These obligations are sometimes expected and often unexpected. In order to meet the ... Read More »
3 Ways to Establish Text-Driven Leadership
Sound biblical preaching is the foundation of Jesus’ church. Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach, Paul exhorts Timothy to preach, and God blesses the local church with the gifts of pastor-teachers. Needless to say, a church will rise and fall give... Read More »
Keeping Wolves Away
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 »
The Shepherd-Preacher: Comforting Those Who Are Grieving
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 »
The Shepherd-Preacher: Strengthening Weak Sheep
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 »