The ministry of the Word

As the early church began to grow exponentially, it quickly became essential to delineate roles and responsibilities in the church. So in Acts 6, deacons were selected to assist the elders so that the elders could carry out their primary responsibilities of “prayer and the ministry of the Word” (v. 4). Now it might seem […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles spotted recently: A lesson in truth-telling, and what makes Christians different: “Mike Daisey, Apple, and Our Culture’s Crisis in Truth-Telling.” “Temptation Is Not Sin,” writes Bill Mounce. He makes three points: 1. Temptation is not sin, 2. No one can make you sin, and 3. God is on your side. The question […]

Grab bag

Helpful resources for the growing Christian: Have you ever heard the statement, “I love him, but I don’t like him”? Me too. Too often. Rick Thomas demonstrates the idol behind the statement and how to address it in “Marriage problems.” How to handle public debate among Christians is a growing question and concern, though not […]

Desiring God Conference for Pastors

The audio for the 2012 Conference for Pastors, hosted by Bethlehem Baptist Church and Desiring God is now available. The theme this year was “God, Manhood, and Ministry.” I haven’t listened to any of the messages yet, but I have almost always received great encouragement from these messages. Download the messages at Desiring God.

Aging and pastoral succession

John Piper, Don Carson and Tim Keller talk about succession in their ministries. But underneath their discussion is also wisdom about how to address issues related to aging. This is a good video for pastors to watch — along with anyone who is getting older.

Grab bag

Found around the internet in the past week — C. J. Mahaney blogs about “The Pastor and Personal Criticism.” But it’s not just pastors who need to understand the role of criticism in their lives (to produce wisdom and maturity). We can all benefit from the criticism we receive: If we could mature in wisdom […]

The Powerful Life of the Praying Pastor

The audio, video, and notes from each plenary session of the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors, “The Powerful Life of the Praying Pastor” is now available at Desiring God’s Resource Library page. The conference may be designed for pastors, but the theme is prayer, something that would benefit every believer in Christ to do with greater […]

Grab bag

A few things spotted recently around the web: John Piper’s 8-month leave of absence ended at the end of December. Last Sunday he resumed preaching with the sermon, “Our Deepest Prayer: Hallowed Be Your Name.” He also wrote an article entitled, “Why I Am Full of Hope About Bethlehem’s Future,” and while it is written […]

Grab bag

Recently seen around the Internet that I found interesting: I might tweak some of his counsel at the end to be a little more Biblical, but I agree with his observation that “Busyness is the new spirituality.” Nine Marks produces an e-Journal every two months that is always helpful and thought-provoking. This month the theme […]

Football player retires to prepare for ministry

Yesterday I read an article from the Dallas Morning News about recently retired Dallas Cowboy football player Duke Preston. He left the gridiron to prepare for the pulpit, becoming a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. Some might wonder why he turned down such a large amount of money to play football (about $1 million for […]

A really good word about killing sin

This may be the best sermon I’ve heard in weeks or even months. In his final message at the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors, Sam Storms proposes that the best way to fight sin is to have a different affection. Instead of telling people seek God instead of pleasure, Storms says that we must seek our […]

Pastors, people, and joy

Yesterday, the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors concluded. The theme of the conference was “The Pastor, the People, and the Pursuit of Joy: The Apostolic Aim of Pastoral Ministry.” Ministry and joy. It’s not surprising that John Piper chose those topics or that he put them together in this conference. It is, however, likely that many […]

Grab bag

Some random posts and articles that I’ve accumulated recently from around the ‘net: Charles Spurgeon meditates on walking with like Christ (this classic book, Morning and Evening can be downloaded in its entirety for reading at your leisure). Luther posts the 95 theses (if you’ve never really understood what the theses were all about…) Tim […]

Today’s Quote – Scripture (Luther)

Martin Luther: It is a sin and shame not to know our own book or to understand the speech and words of our God; it is a still greater sin and loss that we do not study languages, especially in these days when God is offering and giving us men and books and every facility […]

Shepherds’ Conference Reflections

A few remaining thoughts after the Shepherds’ Conference — Good preaching. Good is not the correct adjective. How about — exhorting, precise, convicting, penetrating, stimulating, passionate, articulate, helpful, equipping, joyful, consistent, and of course, Biblical. What impacted me in fresh ways this year was the similarities and the distinctions. The preachers were all different — […]