Pastors

Pastor, Don’t Quit

As Paul languishes in prison expecting to die, he sends one final letter to his protege with some instructions and some requests. He asks Timothy to come to him and to bring some things. He urges Timothy to guard the gift that has been entrusted to him and to serve as a good soldier of …

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The Daily Docket (5/6/14)

Supreme Court Declares Prayers at Council Meetings Constitutional— The Supreme Court has upheld the right of local officials to open town council meetings with prayer, ruling that this does not violate the Constitution even if the prayers routinely stress Christianity. 5 Signs Your Child May Not Be Saved— Only God knows our hearts. But Jesus …

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Above Reproach

Recent articles and issues in the news have caused me to revisit my commitment.  Paul is very clear in Titus 1:7 that an elder is to be above reproach. In other words, there is a standard above which elders must exist, live, and minister if they are to continue serving in the position of elder.  …

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Lessons I Am Learning

In the conclusion of his biography of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin entitled, The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, John Piper offers four lessons that we can learn from the lives of flawed saints who have gone on before us.  Below they are listed along with some Scripture passages to reflect on.  Pastors, as inadequate as you …

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Partners in the Gospel

“Leaders, pastors and elders are responsible to teach, to warn, to rebuke, and to encourage. They are foremen and organizers, guardians and mobilizers, teachers and models. They provide the conditions under which the rest of the gospel partners [church members] can also get on with vine work–with prayerfully speaking God’s truth to others.  However, at …

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Caring For Your Congregation

Among pastors in the neo-reformed movement (of which I would consider myself a part), there is an overwhelming desire to be committed wholly to the truths of God’s Word. I applaud all efforts to return the church to being the gospel-saturated community built on the Word that it was intended by Christ to be. However, …

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Be A Barnabas. Offer Hope

I wonder how many of us take the job of encouragement seriously?  Are you intentionally aiming to encourage the people around you on a regular basis?  Are you making solid attempts to encourage your pastor and your church? Encouraging pastors and churches is a high calling in my life.  I am fortunate that Malvern Hill, …

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Monday Musings

“Some pastors and preachers are lazy and no good. They do not pray; they do not read; they do not search the Scripture… The call is: watch, study, attend to reading. In truth you cannot read too much in Scriptures; and what you read you cannot read too carefully, and what you read carefully you …

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Book Review: The Book of Church Growth

I had to read Thom Rainer’s The Book of Church Growth as an assigned read for a project I’m working on right now.  To be honest, I was not motivated about it.  After devouring it in three days, however, I have to say that I was wrong.  This book is great.  Not only is it …

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