In terms of spiritual institutions formed by and composed of Christians, the New Testament only knows of the church, and, more specifically, the local church.
How Our Preparation Can Make Our Teaching Ineffective
In their helpful book Effective Bible Teaching, James C. Wilhoit and Leland Ryken remind us that ineffective teaching arises at one of two levels: (1) the planning and preparation level; (2) the presentation level. In this post I want to focus on the planning and preparation level. What happens in the planning stage that causes us … Continue reading How Our Preparation Can Make Our Teaching Ineffective
The Value of Your Salvation Testimony
By delivering His people from sin’s power and penalty, God has given every Christian a testimony—a story of sin and grace; justice and mercy; failure and redemption. Yet, a personal testimony of salvation in Christ is unique to all other stories we can tell. We might have warm-hearted stories of time spent with family or … Continue reading The Value of Your Salvation Testimony
Say Goodbye to Your Bucket List
I recently turned 37. I enjoyed a low-key celebration with my family and received a few nice gifts. It was good. But the day came and went, and life soon moved back into a normal routine. Next year, if the Lord wills, I will celebrate my 38th birthday, and hopefully in a similar way. Birthdays can serve as … Continue reading Say Goodbye to Your Bucket List
Self-Promotion, Pastoral Ministry, and Our Spiritual Condition
Last week I wrote an article on the issue of self-promotion. Today I want to apply a few reflections from last week's article specifically to pastoral ministry. Postcards and Self-Promotion Before I went to seminary I served for nearly five years as a youth pastor. I was fresh out of college with a Bible degree and a desire … Continue reading Self-Promotion, Pastoral Ministry, and Our Spiritual Condition
A Little Friendly Advice for College Graduates
This past Sunday Stanford University celebrated the graduating class of 2015. Over the past year I have had the privilege of working with a few of these students through our church's campus ministry. At our group meeting two weeks ago I took a moment to offer a little advice to our graduates. Here's what I said. (1) Find a … Continue reading A Little Friendly Advice for College Graduates
Personal Organization for the Sake of Fruitful Ministry
Some people may think it weird or merely the sign of an obsessive personality, but I get butterflies when I walk into an Office Depot. Even the thought of notebooks, filing cabinets, planners, and binders gets me excited. Oh for more sticky notes and file-folders with reinforced tabs! And, for those who think I am … Continue reading Personal Organization for the Sake of Fruitful Ministry
From the Study 