Archive of entries posted by Ray
Death of Church
Walter Russell Mead has written a strong article on the decline of the mainline church. Though he is speaking to the mainline, he makes perceptive points that apply to any church. These are important points worth hearing. Here are some excerpts: At the deepest level, this involves the sustainability of the church itself…. Religion will …
The Value of Testimonies
At our church each person who wants to join the church shares their testimony with the church in our prayer meeting as part of the process. It is wonderful to hear about the work of God in another person’s life whether the account be long or simple. Yet, when I have commented on this here, …
Gill on the Pastorate
In John Gill’s exposition of Matt. 13:52, he gives a good description of the work of the pastor: “…of which indeed Christ is properly the householder and master, but Gospel ministers are deputies and stewards under him, and under him preside over the household, and have the government of it, provide food for it, and …
Communicating Familiar Truths Conference
On Thursday, April 29 Greg Thornbury & I will be speaking at the “Communicating Familiar Bible Stories in Unfamiliar Ways” conference at FBC Goodlettsville. The basic schedule is as follows: 8:30- Registration & coffee Session 1- “Staying Alive to the Living Word”, Ray Van Neste Session 2- “The Bible is Strange When You are a …
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The Church – Conduit of the Power of God
Hezekiah Harvey was a prominent Baptist preacher, teacher and author in the 19th century. His comments here on the importance of the church are strikingly relevant today. “The gospel becomes a permanent and aggressive power on earth only through the church, the divinely constituted organization, to which God has committed it, and through which it …
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Rescue the Perishing
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave (Fanny Crosby) “Christ had the good of souls in his eye. He came to seek and save that which was lost …. Follow Christ in this, O my soul, that thou mayst be a fisher of men. When thou …
Value of Studying Greek
From time to time here I comment on the value of Greek for ministry. Though many today seriously doubt the real, practical value of Greek study for day to day ministry, I want to encourage pastors to discover (remember, or maintain) this value. Here is an astute comment from a current Greek student: “Enriching our …
Faithful Not Flashy
Years ago, while in college I read a few entries from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. One entry really struck me and has stayed with me these last 20 years or so. In preparing to preach tonight for a student event, this came back to mind, and I was able to find it …
John Angell James on Keeping Watch
“The friends of evangelical doctrine, and the advocates of orthodoxy, have the following objects to keep ever in view in this age; they must take care of their Bibles, that they be not mutilated or curtailed by lawless criticism; they must take care of their theology, that it be not perverted by false philosophy; and …