I generally eat every day. Some days more than others; some less. Some meals are more memorable than others. Some are more pleasurable than others. But all serve a vital purpose in my life. I eat because food is necessary for life. In the same way, spiritual f... Read More »

It seems each Holiday season comes with a litany of new blockbuster films. Often these films involve fictional heroes facing monumental battles. The screens are filled with grand images, the soundtracks are loud, and the story moves briskly as the hero snatche... Read More »

Preaching is hard. Our responsibility to rightly divide the word of truth requires discipline and diligence (2 Tim 2:15). And, the magnitude of our task and ultimate accountability before the Lord is humbling and, in many ways, overwhelming (cf. Js 3:1). But t... Read More »

Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy. Mentorship is an established tradition within our faith. Proverbs 27:17 reads, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” It’s clear that we need each other. In 2 Timothy 2:2, an... Read More »

Mentoring is a prominent Christian/spiritual discipline.[1] This writer counts mentoring as one of eighteen spiritual disciplines – daily devotions, journaling, Scripture memorization, accountability/mentoring/guidance, character development, Bible intake, p... Read More »

Creativity in ministry is a gift from God and our gifts are never exhausted, but what can stifle creativity in ministry is when we as leaders are exhausted. Most pastors I know are hardworking, tireless men who visit people in hospitals, do funerals, counsel m... Read More »

When asked by the Pharisees which command in the Law is the greatest, our Lord Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:37). For the pastor, t... 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 »

For followers of Christ, especially those in leadership, character (who you are when no one is watching) and reputation (who others believe you to be) should match as closely as possible.  For this to be possible, the decision must be made to dedicate oneself... Read More »

Some preachers inevitably believe that the preaching ministry is primary and pastoral ministry flows from the preaching ministry of the pastor. However, this is simply not true. While preaching is certainly one of the roles of the pastor, preaching is not all ... Read More »