The Worst Ministry Advice I Ever Received
“Son,” the pastor whispered to me as he put his hand on my shoulder, “You need to listen up to what I’m about to tell you, because it will be the key to your ministry success.” I leaned in, eager to hear this crucial insight. “Don’t become friends with anyone in your congregation.” This pastor […]
A Ministry of the Mundane
I’ll never forget the quiet of the church building on my first day as pastor. I had previously served on a large church staff with many action-packed weekly ministries. The building was a beehive of activity. But in my new role as pastor of a small church, it was a different experience, one my Bible-college […]
The Way Home: Brandon Smith on how the Old Testament applies today
How does the Old Testament fit in with the rest of the Bible? And how does this apply to me today? My friend Brandon D. Smith of B&H Publishing stops by to share some of his insight. Brandon is the author of They Spoke of Me: How Jesus Unlocks the Old Testament. He also serves at City […]
The Essential Art of Forgiveness in Ministry
I’ll never forget where I was when I nearly quit the ministry: sitting in my office at church, weeping. My wife was out of town with our children, ministering to a friend whose husband had just died from cancer. It was very early in my first pastorate. Being a senior pastor was new, different, and […]
The Way Home: Brian Dembowczyk on passing the gospel to the next generation
How can parents effectively communicate the truths of Scripture in a way that is lasting for their children? Brian Dembowczyk joins me to share some practical ways parents, teachers, and leaders can be intentional about passing on the gospel to the next generation. Brian is the managing editor of The Gospel Project at LifeWay. He […]
We Should Expect Non-Christians to Share Our Morals
A common reaction among evangelicals to the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage has been deflection from controversy. This laissez-faire approach has been most commonly expressed by closely connected beliefs about Christianity and morality: We should not expect non-Christians to think and live like Christians. So why all the fuss among Christians over the legalization […]
The Way Home: Alastair Roberts and Andrew Wilson on salvation and restoration
The events in the book of Exodus stand as a pivotal moment in the Old Testament. Alastair Roberts and Andrew Wilson join the podcast to discuss the recurring theme of the exodus, salvation, and restoration throughout Scripture. Alastair Roberts completed doctoral studies at the University of Durham. He participates in the Mere Fidelity podcast and […]
7 Times Your ‘Righteous’ Anger Probably Isn’t
When pastors get angry, things can get complicated. On the one hand, we know that anger is not always an indication of sin. After all, we say to ourselves, Jesus got angry. Paul also counseled the Ephesians on anger, saying, “In your anger do not sin” (Eph. 4:26): implying that anger is inevitable in human […]