“And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock – his church, purchased with his blood – over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.” – Acts 20:28 (NLT)
10 Steps to Finishing Strong
Today’s blog post comes to us from Todd Gaddis for Baptist Press. After some 27 years as a senior pastor, at age 58, I have taken on what I hope will be my fourth and final church. By the grace of God, I’ve made it this far and with His help I plan to finish strong. Based on experience, accumulated … Read More
Sunday Scripture: Communicating with Others
“Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers.” – 1 Timothy 5:1 (NLT)
China: World’s Largest Christian Population by 2030
Today’s guest post comes to us from Veronica Neffinger for ChristianHeadlines.com. Second-Century church father Tertullian is quoted as saying, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,” which seems being proved true in China. According to a report from The Christian Post, China is on track to have the largest Christian population in the world by 2030, … Read More
Sunday Scripture: Protected by the Shepherd
“My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me.” – John 10:27-28 (NLT)
Richard Sibbes on a Living a Life of Faith
“This is a life of faith, for God will try the truth of our faith, so that the world may see that God has such servants as will depend upon His bare word.” – Richard Sibbes, 17th-century Anglican theologian
Preaching Best Practice: The Message Run-Through (Part 2 of 2)
Last week, I wrote that one of my mantras is “Never preach a message once.” And no, preaching a message in multiple services doesn’t count! As promised, here are the remaining five best practices for your message run-through: 5. Gather an interested audience. Pull together your worship pastor and the other teaching pastors on your staff to sit in on … Read More
Common Experiences of Pastoral Calling
Today’s guest post comes to us from Barna.com. Being called to ministry, as Terry Linhart explains, is “a journey of confirmation with others, with circumstances and with opportunities.” For The State of Pastors report, produced in partnership with Pepperdine University, Barna examined individual perceptions of a sense of calling—and, for the most part, pastors remain very assured in their chosen … Read More
Sunday Scripture: The Pastor’s Role
“And I will give you leaders after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.” – Jeremiah 3:15 (NLT)
Preaching Best Practice: The Message Run-Through (Part 1 of 2)
One of my mantras has become, “Never preach a message once.” And preaching it in multiple services during the same weekend doesn’t count. Your first service is not your trial run. If you want to increase the effectiveness of your preaching, you absolutely must develop the habit of doing a weekly message run-through — that is, the habit of preaching … Read More