Several weeks ago now, John Crowder, pastor of First Baptist Church in West, TX, where the fertilizer plant exploded, wrote a moving and very useful column about ministry in the aftermath. He mentions a number of lessons he drew from the event, and several are useful for pastoral ministry. Here, in his words, is one that stuck [...]
Archive of posts tagged defining ministry
Pastors, Seek Souls not Fame
“they who are called to preach the gospel, to teach the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to lead them, cannot do their duty, unless they lay all ambition aside and seek not to please men, not to be seen, nor to be in reputation. They must account all this as vanity, and content [...]
Anthony Esolen on Masculinity and Pastoral Ministry
Anthony Esolen is a particularly gifted writer. If he wrote a phone book it would be interesting and quotable. His 2003 Touchstone essay “What Sports Illustrate: The Obvious Truth About Young Men & Religion†is an insightful discussion of culture, masculinity, sports and pastoral ministry. His introduction alone is full of valuable truths, but as [...]
Practical Ecclesiology from Conrad Mbewe
Conrad Mbewe, Foundations for the Flock: Truths About the Church for All the Saints (Granted Ministries Press, 2012), hb., 338 pp. Here is a valuable, recent book you may not have heard about. Conrad Mbewe, often called “the Spurgeon of Africa,†led the planting of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia about 25 years ago and [...]
Do You Desire the Office of Overseer?
In expounding Paul’s comment on people desiring the office of overseer (1 Timothy 3:1), Calvin deals extensively with sinful (arrogant) and proper desire for such a position. He notes the difficulty of the work and that in Paul’s day as in his own, “a man could not be a Minister of the word of God [...]
“The Saving of Souls,†Calvin on Pastoral Duty
“The Holy Ghost … called them also Bishops, that is to say, watchmen over the flock, to show that it is not an honor of idleness to be called to this state, and therefore that he must not be idle, but know that he is sent to go about the saving of souls, and therefore [...]
Pastors’ Conference in Edinburgh, Feb 25
February 25 I will have the privilege of participating in a conference for church leaders at Charlotte’s Chapel in Edinburgh, Scotland. “The Call: Leadership Conference†will have as its theme “The Leader as Shepherd†and will take place from 9:30am to 4:00pm. The cost is just £15 which includes lunch and over 10 books on [...]
Ordination sermon from 1 Thess 2:1-3:10
I was honored last week to preach the ordination sermon for Corey Cummings, a former student. I recently posted his prayer of dedication. The audio of the sermon has now been posted as well. I took up 1 Thessalonians 2:1-3:10 where Paul describes his ministry among the Thessalonians, using his practice as an example of [...]
Ordination, Prayer of Dedication
It was my privilege yesterday to preach at the ordination of Corey Cummings, a former student of mine. As part of the service, a prayer of dedication was given which Corey had written. Because I thought this prayer expressed well the sort of things a pastor ought to desire to have prayed for him, I [...]
The Work of the Pastor, William Still
B. J. Maxwell posted a wonderful section from William Still’s book, The Work of the Pastor. I have pasted only a portion below. I encourage you to go on to Maxwell’s site to read the rest. “God has caused you to become pastor to some souls here who are as valuable to Him as any [...]
