Pastoral Ministry

Ministry Starter Kit

I was recently asked to provide a reading list for a young pastor. I should begin by saying that, even though I am an avid reader and lover of books, some important aspects of ministry will only be learned through experience. Also, as a lover of books, I want to remind everyone that nothing can …

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Sermon Planning Tools

It is the time of year when I finalize sermon planning for the upcoming year. If you are a pastor, I encourage you to do the same. There is great benefit to be found in laying out your sermons for the upcoming year, or at least the next three to six months. For instance, at …

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You Preached a Bad Sermon. Now What?

I preached a bad sermon. I don’t really know what went wrong. I put in the work, the prayer, the preparation. I had the notes. I was eager to preach. Everything seemed fine until the moment the words started falling out of my mouth. And, almost immediately, I knew it was not good. If you …

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We Are Failing Our Boys

We are failing our boys, and the consequences are deadly. There was another mass shooting at a school this week. These have become all too familiar. We know what to expect. A young man found or bought a gun and used it to commit a terrible atrocity. The rush to politicize these events is always …

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A New Paradigm For Pastors

Pastors are lonely. We hear that often, and I know from experience that it can be true. It isn’t only pastors. Our culture is isolated and alone. Recently Lifeway wrote that even among church goers, only about 2 in 5 took it upon themselves to check on other church members during the pandemic. 3 in …

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Preach The Difficult Sermon

Is A the most famous chord on the guitar? Probably not. I doubt there is a “most famous chord,” and yet, in the hands of one man in a particular setting, nothing can bring a crowd to life like an A chord. I’m learning the guitar, so when I play an A chord, it is …

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God Has Been Good

Somehow, it sneaks up on me every year. I can’t explain how it happens. Whenever my Bible reading turns to the book of Isaiah, each year I should be prepared. Yet, somehow, as I work through my Bible reading guide, I tend to focus only on the task at hand and not look ahead to …

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What Is Keeping You From Your Church?

The interruption to worship services brought about by COVID-19 was something that just couldn’t be predicted. But, regardless of our lack of prognostications, here we are. In some areas, churches are still limited in the number of attendees they can have at any one time. In some states it is nearly impossible for churches to …

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Stay The Course

Joey Batson is the head strength and conditioning coach at Clemson University. He is one of the highest paid S&C coaches in the country and is regarded one of the best in his profession. As a Gamecock fan, it pains me to heap praise upon anyone wearing orange, but Joey Batson has earned all the …

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Pandemic Pastoral Priorities: Wading Into Indoor Worship

I know that many churches are wrestling with the same questions we are at Malvern Hill. As a pandemic continues to rage, we have to make decisions about how we will move forward with corporate worship. At Malvern Hill, we have been blessed to be able to be outdoors for worship since Easter while maintaining …

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