the church

Disillusioned with Jesus

September 27, 2018

Jesus has a word for you and me when we look at the slow progress of the gospel in the world, the seeming ineffectiveness of the church, or the lack of progress in our own spiritual growth. He says, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of me” (Matthew 11:6, NKJ).

Hospitality

A Kindness Repaid

May 22, 2018

In my last post I wrote of David's kindness to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan: the King's best friend's boy feasted at the palace table for the duration of his days. He

Brotherly Love

Will you remember to be kind?

May 12, 2018

From a human point of view it would have been understandable if David had felt that there were more pressing matters to attend to - he had to run a kingdom and propagate

ministry

Handling Sinners the Gospel Way - Part I

May 05, 2018

When Christians stray or lapse the response of fellow-believers may vary from merciless gossip to public humiliation. The press and the world will come down on them like a ton of bricks. False

Christian living

Deliverance is Near!

April 21, 2018

Introduction Have you woken up this morning in fear, alarmed or anxious? Have dire straits hemmed you in or do you wonder if you're safe? Are the pressures so enormous that you struggle

Noah

What would Jesus think of the Rainbow?

April 07, 2018

First, His eye would admire the radiant beauty and glory of the refracted spectral colors of light made by the Creator. Second, His face would redden with righteous indignation at seeing the way

Christian living

Is there more going on than you think?

March 24, 2018

Just a quick blog today to cheer up and encourage a few dear, tired brothers and friends. Perhaps you're approaching the Sabbath and wondering what's the point of worship, instruction or teaching. You've

Christian living

The Better Offer

March 16, 2018

I've been forced in recent days to reflect on the false theology that undergirds the act of taking up the better offer when we have made a prior commitment. I was always brought

Christian living

The Stings of Death: An Article Not Just for Old People

March 01, 2018

The Lord Jesus has taken away the sting of death through his resurrection. Believers know that for all who are in union with Jesus, their bodies will be united to Christ after death

ministry

Sanctifying a Slight Suffering

November 15, 2017

I'm in my easy chair, where I've spent most of the past five days with a run of vertigo, likely due to a bug. Because this dizziness is mostly what's on my mind,

Book of Esther

Big Doors Little Hinges

October 26, 2017

If you visit Heinz Chapel on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, you will pass through enormous, oak doors that are fifteen feet high and weigh 800 pounds each.  The amazing thing

love

The One Foundation of Ministry

July 19, 2017

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more... Philippians 1:8-9

Discipleship

The Blessings of Ministry

July 05, 2017

_For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

Church Administration

Church Administration: A Simple Formula

April 19, 2017

Put bluntly, through trial and error -- mostly error -- God has taught us a lot about practical administration in the church. Like many pastors, I've often believed this was beneath me or

Church

If Church Isn't Necessary, Let's Quit.

January 03, 2017

Here's a proposition for the new year. I propose that if church isn't necessary, we quit. I mean it. If it's not necessary let's cancel all of our services, board up the windows,

biography

Fair Anwoth by the Solway

December 16, 2016

I used to keep a copy of the _Letters of Samuel Rutherford _on my nightstand to read each evening before going to bed. The grand theme of his letter writing was the loveliness

Church

A Congregant's Guide to Preaching

November 29, 2016

As I was browsing my book shelves the other day I discovered that I have just over thirty books whose primary subject is the study of preaching. Aside, perhaps, from Charles Spurgeon, that

Church

Rural and Small Town Ministry

August 03, 2016

I hope you won't mind if I indulge for a moment in some shameless self-promotion. Recently, the denomination I belong to and the one most affiliated with Gentle Reformation, the Reformed Presbyterian Church

Celebrity Pastors

Spiritual Abuse: It's Not Just Celebrity Pastors

April 15, 2016

When I was in seminary there were two sins—all too common among pastors—that frightened me so much I nearly gave up my pursuit of the ministry. One of those was the

Bible

Bungling My Way Through Romans

April 08, 2016

As a young seminarian I was told: “You would be crazy to try and preach through the book of Romans without twenty years of pastoral experience.” I trust there is probably wisdom in

andy stanley

So Andy Stanley Thinks I'm Selfish

March 05, 2016

I am a pastor of a relatively small church. Well, if statistics are correct it would be more accurate to say our congregation is just under the median size of churches in the

Evangelism

Harvest Eyes

January 25, 2016

I grew up surrounded by the cornfields of Minnesota and now I live encompassed by the ones in Kansas. Truth be told, they're my favorite landscape. I know some people prefer the mountains

encouragement

For the success of others

January 20, 2016

If you've been following this blog, you know by now that one of our dearest friends and mentors, Dave Long, recently died. Like Barry, I've been trying to not only grieve but to

ministry

A Good Day to Die

November 04, 2015

A line from a book I recently read is sticking with me. It went something like this: Wherever there is spiritual life, someone has died. The point is powerful and important: in God's

ministry

Even Though It's Not A Game

October 21, 2015

Let's try out a phrase: "spectator Christians." The trend toward spectatorship is a culture-wide phenomenon seeping into the church. Sports used to be something we did; now it's something we watch.