Contrary to those who argue Scripture normalizes violence by including narratives of war, pillaging, and sexual assault, it’s more likely such passages are included to compel God’s people to confront the uncomfortable realities of sin and brokenness in our world.   During my past six years serving as a college pastor, some of my most... Continue Reading

We can be actively pro-life towards the children who are born. Today there are more than 400,000 children nationwide in the foster care system. A foster child is someone who is taken out of his or her birth home due to an environment or relationship that is unsafe for the child.   Nestled in the... Continue Reading

Jesus identified himself as the true temple of God because he is the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity (Jn. 2:19). When you went to the temple in Jerusalem, you went to God’s footstool. If you looked at Jesus, you actually saw God—head, hands, and feet!  In the Incarnation, the second Person of the Trinity—the Word—took... Continue Reading

What happens here is that church members migrate from one congregation to another, enjoying for a season the preaching and music here, sometimes coming back to their go-to congregation when they’re in the mood for something more familiar, or heading over to a third church for a mission trip. The result is sporadic attendance at... Continue Reading

A great number of ministry leaders still quote passages such as Ephesians 5:22, First Peter 3:1-6, and Titus 2:3-5 as they remind women to submit, to pray for their husbands, to have quiet spirits, and be obedient. These practices may work well within healthy relationships. But submission to an abuser gives him license to abuse further.... Continue Reading

In such an age as ours, why should we bother planting churches that are committed to the ordinary ministry of Word and sacrament? Such an endeavor seems backwards and counterintuitive. Yet this is precisely what the Head of the church has called us to do. Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave us our marching... Continue Reading

Boundaries are the greatest gift we give ourselves in ministry. They lessen the complicated yes’s and no’s. They keep things from getting cloudy. They help everyone around us know better what they can expect. Conversely, the leader who doesn’t set boundaries is the leader who needs not expect longevity—or at the very least, longevity without... Continue Reading

To be sure, the preacher’s reputation, credentials, self-presentation, and speaking style may add credibility to the man and the message. However, true authority is much deeper—and much more lasting—than these superficialities. Simply put, a sermon’s authority is derived from Holy Scripture’s authority. The more Scripture is presented, rightly interpreted, and brought to bear on the... Continue Reading

Thankfully, he listened, he prayed, and then he told her he’d leave it in her court if she needed anything else. Yes, this pastor did enter in, he did listen, and he did make himself available for a ten-minute conversation after church.  But then he left her on her own.   Just heard it again.... Continue Reading

My experience is that students who have tried DE for pastoral ministry find residential education to provide a much richer educational experience. As I have been arguing for a number of years, there is a right way and a wrong way to educate pastors. Until parishioners are prepared to see physicians or surgeons who earned their medical degrees... Continue Reading