Exodus 18:13-23: Lessons in Ministry from Jethro and Moses Sermon Manuscript
INTRODUCTION My wife and I used to enjoy watching HGTV. We love to watch the decorating and design shows and how they can totally makeover an old home into a new one. One show we have enjoyed is the show Flip or Flop. The show is all about a couple who had a business flipping […]
Cautions for Ministry to Foster/Adoptive Families
Introduction Recently I wrote an article reflecting on orphan care and some of the realities of families that minister to children who have been orphaned in one way or another; you can find that article here. Following up on that idea, I would like to come back to this topic and share some practical tips […]
When Church Culture Cancels You
Introduction Our current time period is a very difficult one in which to pastor a church. Pastoral tenures are becoming shorter and shorter, with the average tenure being somewhere around eighteen months. Churches are shrinking, experiencing a lack of workers, and some are closing due to empty pews. Conflict abounds both within the congregation and […]
Thoughts on Gratitude
Introduction I have been pondering the concept of gratitude. At certain times, gratitude seems easy. At other times, one must fight for gratitude. Particular circumstances or situations in life are conducive to gratitude, while others make it more difficult. On my morning walk today I was reflecting on the account in Acts 16 of Paul […]
Reflections On Orphan Care
Introduction Last Sunday our church celebrated “Orphan Sunday.” Every year, our church sets aside time to pray for and remember those who have been orphaned or separated from their parents, and those who have lived out James 1:27 by ministering to them. I am thankful for this emphasis as a foster care and adoptive dad. […]
A Plea for Preachers to Teach–Part 3
Introduction I have pushed off writing for several weeks now but would like to finish a series of three articles I began weeks ago. I have been writing about the idea of using sermons as teaching opportunities. In my first article, I highlighted ways preachers can teach by giving tangible next steps for listeners to […]
A Plea for Preachers to Teach—Part 2
Introduction I have been writing about the idea of teaching. I opened the discussion by emphasizing how many preachers, in their zeal to declare the word of the Lord, fail at teaching their congregations how to apply the text. They struggle to teach their listeners practical and tangible next steps based on the exposition of […]
A Plea for Preachers to Teach–Part 1
Introduction I do not mean that pastors need to be the sole teachers of the church who teach on Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and lead the Friday Bible study; few men can sustain such a pace! What I am referring to is the tendency to think of preaching as taking place in one […]
Looking Back At Ministry
Introduction I have been pondering this article: Five Reasons Some Pastors Regret Quitting Their Churches. I have been thinking if I should share or what to say if I did. I think there are some important points here regarding pastors who look back and question whether they made the right decision to leave a church. […]
