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 »
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!
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!
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.
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 taking my church through a new study on Sunday evenings. I am utilizing these three books in developing this study. So far, the first two messages have been well received. Many in attendance have remarked that these messages should be preached in the Sunday morning service. I agree. Last Sunday evening, I spoke on the importance of meaningful church membership and sought to answer the questions: Is church membership biblical? Why join a church? I also gave discussed what should be the minimum expectations of any member, old or new, in our church: Gathering, Giving, Praying and Serving. Continue reading »
