Posts with the category “pastoral-ministry”

The finest test of the consecration of a minister of Christ is not in his public performances, but in what he does when the world is not looking. It is hard for a man to tell when he is preaching whether he is preaching for himself or for God. To open up glorious ideas, to clothe them with language which glows and speak them in tones which burn-all this is so delightful that it is not easy for the...  Read More

This is a short piece of creative writing that I started a few weeks ago. I’ve spent a lot of time in 1 Peter lately, getting ready for my next preaching series, so the format of the letter is similar to that of 1 Peter (I’ve included hyperlinks in bold to all of the biblical references). It’s something of a “tongue in cheek” letter to those dear friends who have left California (California’s Refu...  Read More

The questions which every pastor must meet are these three:   Read More

"Most people 'hurt by the church' were hurt by individuals in a local congregation."  Read More

In the fall of 1997 I began my first semester of college at The Master’s College (TMC).  Ironically enough, I knew next to nothing about TMC before I arrived there.  I had heard the name John MacArthur before, but knew next to nothing about him.  To be honest, the reason I chose to attend TMC was mainly because of the financial package they offered me and the fact that I had heard it was a good sc...  Read More

As I look back over the course of my life I am stunned by the sheer number of blessings that God has showered upon me.  As a child, the single greatest blessing was certainly being born into the family that I was born into and having the privilege of hearing the gospel from an early age.  As a teenager, I believe that one of the greatest blessings in my life was the church I was a part of and spec...  Read More

"I still remember standing in front of a crowd in the small city of Baviácora in Sonora Mexico and mumbling out the lines that I had rehearsed."  Read More

"I went up for an alter call without any idea why I went up there. Looking back, I feel that was how Christ started calling me to Him."  Read More

"I knew I had to respond and went forward to pray and receive Jesus Christ as my Savior."  Read More

"Now, 40 years after conversion, as a member of our body here at Cool Community Church, my relationship with Jesus is getting ever more exciting."  Read More

"Through reading and hearing the Bible taught, I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior."  Read More

From an early age I remember receiving Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Read More

"We keep opening more and more schools, so the need never goes away."  Read More

"Unity in the church begins at the top and it flows down throughout the body."  Read More

"Preach the gospel. Preach the hope of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for sinners."  Read More

"There is a close connection between what we fear and what we think we need."  Read More

I believe that the single most important distinction that a leader can make is between what he is “able to do” and what he “can do."  Read More

My education has given me the equivalent of a theological blow torch.  Read More

Take me, Lord, at whatever cost.   Read More

In brief, an evangelical is a person who believes the ‘three R’s’:  Read More

Why Men Hate Going to Church  Read More

Do not take to heart all the things that people say…” (Ecclesiastes 7:21)  Read More

"This is the worthiness – the best and only kind we can bring to God..."  Read More

In chapter 12 of the Institutes Calvin lays out three specific purposes for church discipline.  Read More

“We exist to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all things for the joy of all people.”   Read More

For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or in speech or in customs.  Read More

Here, then, is the sovereign power with which the pastors of the church…ought to be endowed. That is that they may dare boldly to do all things by God’s Word  Read More