Those of us who have pastored for a while can attest to the anguish of parents who have raised their children in church only to have them denounce their faith as adults. These are kids who had gone to Sunday… Read More ›
Shepherding
As you begin a new ministry
I am currently studying the gospel of Mark in preparation for preaching through the book and was unnerved as I worked through chapter 1. Mark chronicles the arrival of John the Baptist in 1:2-8 and then Jesus’ baptism as well as… Read More ›
Spurgeon on pastoral ministry
I am reading Iain Murray’s book, The Forgotten Spurgeon and found two quotes very telling about the nature of pastoral ministry. Spurgeon in today’s church would have been considered very successful. He had a large church and an extensive writing… Read More ›
John Owen on sin
It has been said that the Puritans were “physicians of the soul” and when you read them you quickly realize that they understood the frailties of human nature. Perhaps no Puritan writer is as well known as John Owen and… Read More ›
The shepherd’s greatest worry: wolves
A few pastor friends and I are working on a book dealing with the challenges of pastoring smaller churches. In preparation for one of the chapters that I am writing, I came across an interesting online article titled “Protection Dogs… Read More ›
Revival and Revivalism
I am re-reading Iain H. Murray’s book Revival and Revivalism: The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism 1750-1858. His book chronicles the work of God in America during the First and Second Great Awakening. Murray’s work exposes the erroneous view… Read More ›
Sweet thoughts regarding sheep
In an article I recently wrote, I came across this comment by Frederick W. Robertson regarding the relationship of shepherds and their sheep. It seems worth posting. Beneath the burning skies and the clear starry night of Palestine there grows up… Read More ›
Doctrinal infidelity? That’s a matter of interpretation!
Recently I had a discussion with a very good friend who serves on the pastoral staff of a church where the senior pastor has been charged with “doctrinal infidelity.” My friend is also in the crosshairs of this man. The charge… Read More ›
God Incarnate 