“Is it apologetic and hesitant rather than authoritative and declarative? Is it unnecessarily offensive? Is it sufficiently varied when compared with your other sermon introductions?”   Following up on yesterday’s post about teaching beginning preachers, here’s my second checklist for beginning (and not-so-beginning) preachers on introducing a sermon. 1. Is it too long/too short? (Too... Continue Reading

Having a well-trained theological mind does not necessarily mean a woman will go into vocational ministry. What about the women she could disciple, the friendships where she could bring informed biblical counsel, and the children (spiritual or physical) she will raise? What if she becomes a doctor who takes care of families, a lawyer who... Continue Reading

While various groups have distorted the Gospel throughout the history of the church, what’s unique today is the pervasiveness of social media. Vicari observes: “The backlash [against someone who proclaims biblical truth] is probably more harsh than it has been for generations, because it comes not only from your friends outside of the church, but... Continue Reading

How much of purity and peace would have been maintained in the church of Christ and will be maintained if elders are sensitive to the first steps of delinquency on the part of the people and bring the word of tender admonition and reproof to bear upon them before they reach the by-paths of open... Continue Reading

God calls his people to worship him together as one spiritual family. The record of the Old and New Testament demonstrates that families worship God together. There is no biblical precedent for removing children from worship and placing them in a room with a volunteer you don’t know in order for them to watch religious... Continue Reading

“If the church is not ensuring Jesus is explicitly and persistently the point, it is not fruitful. And conversely, if a church is ensuring Jesus is explicitly and persistently the point, it is being fruitful, since ongoing worship of Jesus is a fruit of the new birth.”   I follow the ongoing pastoral and missiological... Continue Reading

“There you have the basics of hospitality, of Christian ministry: Share the Gospel. Share yourself. Treat people with tender affection. Get these fundamentals right, and you are well on your way to showing hospitality to your church and community.”   “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” — Romans 12:13 “Show... Continue Reading

“Change can be hard for the church. If the new Lead Pastor was hired to be a change agent, was the church ready for the change? If a church has been without its Senior Leader, it may not initially respond well to someone being back in the role, especially someone different then what they were used to.”... Continue Reading

So we have the ancient hymns, the proven and tested songs of previous decades, and the new songs being written by the Church today. By focusing first on the biblical faithfulness of the lyrics, second on the congregational accessibility of the music, and third on the particular and pastoral usefulness in your own context, you... Continue Reading

There is nothing wrong with wanting one’s church to grow. A community of faith where the gospel is taught and discipleship pursued is essential for our development as children of God and co-laborers in his global renewal project. The desire for people to be drawn into that life is both noble and godly. That said,... Continue Reading