We should not think of this in terms of having to know as much about the Bible and theology as the elder. Rather, evaluate their faithfulness to teach the truth that binds you together as a church. Historically this category of accountability has to do with ensuring the pastors are teaching consistent with the mutually... Continue Reading

The delegation of evangelical Christians was also invited to meet with King Abdullah II in Jordan. The group had lunch with the king, then headed to Mt. Nebo where they prayed for Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and Israel. “We couldn’t have designed it better but it really wasn’t our design. It was a gift from God.... Continue Reading

We quietly grieve funerals for persons who showed no evidence of Christian conversion. We have to lead in those situations, but the tears sometimes come in the quiet rooms of our lives. We wrestle with loneliness when we don’t know how to develop strong friendships. Frankly, I think this problem is more often our issue than... Continue Reading

“A quality coffee maker and some good coffee can provide these elements for morning devotions, daily study, and preparation in pastoral ministry. Also, pastors often lack the time for hobbies. Developing a passion for coffee is an excellent way to aid in pastoral ministry (caffeine for the pick-me-up) and provide a needed distraction as one... Continue Reading

“Even some exegetes who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior also posit a huge gulf between academy and church, thus refusing to love what Christ has loved. I do not understand how believing scholars can do their work for the academy and not for the church, unless they are motivated by the fear of... Continue Reading

Southern Baptists already have 65,000 trained volunteers; the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) disaster response is so massive it financially trails only the Red Cross and the Salvation Army—and has more trained disaster relief volunteers than either one. In September, President Trump acknowledged each of “the big three” for their Harvey response.   The Southern Baptist... Continue Reading

“We have many incredible leaders in our churches today. But, perhaps more often than we admit, some church leaders stop leading. I have spoken with hundreds, probably thousands, of them over the years. I hear common themes of why they put their leadership in neutral. Here are the five most common reasons.”   I am... Continue Reading

To the man who stands tall in false assurance, God’s word is the “hammer that breaks the rock in pieces” (Jer. 23:29). And to the man who stoops low, not even lifting his eyes up to heaven, burdened under the weight of doubt, God’s word is perfect, reviving the soul and rejoicing the heart (Psalm... Continue Reading

Some early Christian writers had used sacrificial language in a Eucharistic context, but without any sense of those presiding as priests in any but a metaphorical sense. The first author to apply priesthood language to Christian clergy was Clement of Rome, who probably wrote about 100 AD. He was less interested in the language of... Continue Reading

Millennials are the latest theologically orphaned generation. Why? Because their church leaders have effectively abandoned them—we’ve left them to figure out discipleship by themselves, to figure out church growth by themselves, to figure out the application of biblical Christianity in general by themselves.   For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not... Continue Reading