Some articles I encountered this week. They are here because I found them interesting, and/or very helpful. Enjoy!
Jim Elliff, always a good read, reminds us the depth of God’s love in this touching post on the CCW website.
On Covenantal Church Membership
Nathan Finn writes an informative and touching article blending church history and personal testimony on the beauty and meaning of Covenant Church Membership historically espoused by Baptists.
4 Resources for teaching church history to young children
Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY posted this helpful guide to recommended resources for children’s ministry. As a Pastor looking to expand the theological and historical depth of our children’s curricula, I really appreciated this post and look forward to browsing some, or all, of these resources.
A few months back I took a poll via the Twitterverse and Facebook asking whether or not my friends/followers supported the role of women deacons. I asked this question for two reasons: (1) I was working on a sermon on biblical church government, and (2) had recently overheard some pastors in my local Baptist association referring to the concept of deaconesses with no small amount of derision.
The responses I received were not wholly unexpected. Continue reading »
I am preparing to lead a Men’s book study of Greg Gilbert’s recently published What is the Gospel?
I am looking forward to leading this study and prepared a reading/discussion guide for our group. I hope it can be a help to others who are conducting similar groups. Feel free to download and print as many copies as you need.
Download the study guide here.
What is the Gospel - Reading/Discussion Guide (171)
Being a local church pastor is not for the faint of heart nor for those lacking perseverance. It is a position that requires great patience and endurance. The results of your ministry are not instantly seen. You don’t see the “fruit of your labors” for years, even decades. You have to settle in for the long haul, and you must have the conviction that the knowledge and application of the Word of God is God’s method of building His people.
This helpful, strengthening statement from Dr. John MacArthur really encourages me in my ministry:
Show me a church where there is strong Bible teaching over an enduring period of time, and I will show you a congregation that is studying the Word of God on their own, skilled in the science of interpretation that has been modeled for them by their pastor. But show me a church where the Word of God is not taught in the pulpit, and I’ll show you a place where biblical illiteracy, doctrinal confusion, and spiritual apathy at the personal level is rampant. The people will not rise to a level that is higher than their teacher. They will follow the example of their leaders. So, if we love God’s Word, our people will too. If we don’t, they won’t either.
It is my great desire, my great hope and my prayer that the fruit of my ministry will be people who love the Word of God. Make it so, Lord!
As part of my research for a sermon on Ruth 3, I wrote this brief excursus to help understand Boaz’ risky acceptance of Ruth. God was at work before Boaz was even born to prepare Boaz for the Moabitess who was to come, and through whom the line of David, and of Jesus, would come.
Continue reading »
I have always appreciated and benefitted from the work of Mark Dever and the entire 9Marks crew. They’ve produced another great eJournal on the office of Deacon. You can find it here…
Read it, and pass it on. You’ll be blessed!
I have prayed for, watched, read about, and dialogued about the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention. I, like many others, am excited to hear the final report in Orlando this summer. I acknowledge I am not well steeped in the intricacies of the Mission Boards. I do not quite understand the interrelationship of the NAMB and the State Conventions. I am not really sure where the State Conventions end and the Associations begin. But, what I do know is that the call to MAKE DISCIPLES is still applicable to me, and to my church. Consequently, I preached a message this past week entitled “The Only Church on Earth” from Matthew 28:16-20. Continue reading »
A healthy church understands the importance of, and practices, meaningful church membership. It is through active, meaningful membership in a local church that Christians live out the commands of Scripture. The preaching ministry of the elders is the primary means by which God saves and grows His people in the local church. Through the preaching and teaching ministry the church is equipped to serve and do ministry.
Recently I had a very mini-retreat in Duluth, GA. I was reading through the book of Hebrews in a Holiday Inn and was hit with a verse I had read many times before. Readers (both of you) are probably familiar with it as well, it says that by faith Moses “considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” – Hebrews 11:26 ESV
I was reading through today’s reading from a devotional help on family worship and was reminded once again of the brokenness of our present culture. I am talking about the injurious nature of discussion and comments about others, particularly about other Christians. Continue reading »
Dr. Al Mohler’s recent presentation at the President’s Forum at Southern Seminary was no doubt of interest to many who are interested in what will result from the Great Commission Task Force. I have also enjoyed watching some video of the recent luncheon held in Arkansas. It is good to see so much interest and so many questions being asked. Continue reading »
This is my email response to a recent article in the Christian Index concerning the Christmas in August special offering.
The Christian Index Article is located here: http://www.christianindex.org/5710.article Continue reading »
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I am a 40 year old Pastor. I became a follower of Jesus Christ, a disciple, a Christian, at the age of 28. My father is a wonderful man, but I was not raised in a spiritual home. My grandfather is a wonderful man, but my father was not raised in a spiritual home, either. What I mean by spiritual home is one where the father actively and intentionally leads in the spiritual growth of the family. I am learning how to do this at the same time I am learning how to be a Pastor. The two jobs are similar, and both are very important. But, my first ministry is to my family. Continue reading »
I have the great privilege to serve as Moderator of the Hephzibah Baptist Association in Georgia. I included the following in my report given to the Executive Committee on July 9, 2009. For more information go to http://hbakbamissions.org Continue reading »
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In my Bible reading plan I read Joshua 9 today. This chapter contains the interesting story of Joshua and the leaders of Israel being deceived by the Gibeonites in Canaan. The chapter begins with the awareness that the kings of 6 Canaanite nations were banding together to make war against Israel. However, a seventh nation, the Gibeonites, avoided the direct war approach and opted for a more deceptive approach. They would play the “poor pitiful me” hand and beg for a treaty. Continue reading »
The following is a statement of divorce and remarriage I was asked to submit to a church with which I was interviewing, when I was about to graduate seminary in 2006. Though I was not called by this church, I am thankful for their request. I am presenting it here with few changes for feedback. It is as it was in 2006. Print This Post Continue reading »
This was an excerpt of the manuscript from a sermon preached on May 17, 2009 at Sardis Baptist Church in Sardis, GA.
What does it mean that God regrets? (1 Samuel 15:11, 29, 35)
There exists in this text a question that needs to be asked and considered. What does it mean that God regrets or repents? We are told twice in this chapter that God regrets or repents. Then we are told that God does not. The issue is context. The word na?cham has quite a few meanings and its meaning is based on context. The word can mean “to suffer grief”, “to be moved to pity”, “to be sorry”, or “to change one’s mind”. So, first we have a word that has not just one meaning or sense, but that is flavored by the context. Continue reading »
Teaching Notes for Session Titled: The Preaching/Teaching ministry of the local church
MARK: A healthy church understands the preaching ministry not as an independent cluster of sermons, but as a body of work intended to transform the people of God.
The preaching ministry of the elders is the primary means by which God saves and grows His people in the local church. Continue reading »
I am currently participating in a book study group, going through John Stott’s “The Cross of Christ.” I have found this book nourishing my soul and bringing to my mind vivid images of the work of Christ on the Cross. In Chapter 7 Stott provides four images of salvation: propitiation, redemption, justification and reconciliation.
As the Easter season approaches, I have felt drawn to the Cross in a fresh way by focusing on each of these images. This study entails my research on the Redemption image. Continue reading »
I am developing a theology of Missions that I can communicate to my church. My goal is to begin this endeavor by helping them to see God’s vision for eternity, and how what takes place in our time must contribute to that end, or its vanity. So, this first study is intended to present the end-game, so to speak; that we may begin with the end in mind. Continue reading »
