Should We Preach with a Wider Audience in Mind?
Aim to help the people of whom God has sovereignly placed in your care and it will likely be fitting nourishment for a wider audience.
Newton genuinely loved his people. And they knew that he loved them. He wouldn’t use the pulpit to clobber them, to share their secrets, or anything of the sort. But he was often among the people and heard their hearts. This would inform his preaching. When he picked a text he likely had a conversation in... Continue Reading
Mary Slessor – An Unconventional Missionary
She is mostly remembered for her rescue and care of twin babies who, in the local culture, were left to die. Her first commitment, however, was always firmly to the gospel.
She took seriously the Foreign Mission secretary’s advice that she spend as much time as possible with the local women in order to learn their language, Efik. But she was surprised to see that none of the women had yet joined the church. “Something more must be done for the women here if we are to... Continue Reading
The Amazing Story of Frank Barker and Campus Outreach
Campus Outreach was famous for its evangelism, founded by a church famous for its evangelism, planted by a man famous for his evangelism.
In its 40 years, Campus Outreach has seen 55,000 students at evangelistic events. Staff and volunteers have discipled 15,000 students over weekly Bible studies and worship times—1,447 of them have gone on to serve in ministry or missions. Over the last 12 months alone, 712 students have professed their faith in Christ. More than 20 years... Continue Reading
Has It Really Been Ten Years Since We Were Dodging Bullets on the Church Steps?
A brief review of the Lord’s faithful leading of a church plant over the last ten years.
We have come a long way over the last decade—since that shooting incident on the old church steps on a December evening. A lot has changed. A lot has happened. A lot has stayed the same. And what has particularly remained the same is God’s covenant faithfulness to us individually and as a group of... Continue Reading
The Preacher Who Died With Heaven On his Lips
A retrospective: PCA pastor Jack Arnold died 17 years ago in the pulpit while preaching, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Jack Arnold, 69, was preaching in Orlando, Fla., [January 9, 2005] on his life verse: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He quoted John Wesley and pointed upward: “As long as God has work for me to do, I am immortal, but if my work is done, I’m outa... Continue Reading
‘I Was A Mess’: Lesbian Professor Turned Christ-Follower Shares What Changed Her Heart
A former lesbian feminist sheds light on her journey into Christianity and how it impacted her identity and life to become a true Christ-follower.
“I realized that part of why I didn’t understand how to be a godly woman was because I didn’t understand how to be a woman, which was hilarious because I’m a professor of women’s studies at the time. I was a mess, and I committed my life to Christ because I believed He was true... Continue Reading
A Newcomers Guide to PCA Overtures 23 and 37
Even if you feel the proposed overtures are less than perfect, that is not a reason to vote against them.
Third, this is a persistent issue. There have been efforts to address this issue such as the recently affirmed human sexuality report. We do have our helpful standards in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Some contend this is adequate and no more needs to be said, especially the proposed amendments. But help me if I... Continue Reading
Radegund of Thuringia – Giving Refuge to Women in Violent Times
Radegund life was so devoted to prayer, study, and works of charity that Clothar complained that he had married a nun.
While renouncing the title of abbess, Radegund exercised a strong influence on the running of the abbey, starting with its initial conception as a refuge for women in violent times. “I asked myself,” she later explained, “with all the ardor of which I am capable, how I could best forward the cause of other women,... Continue Reading
Frank Barker, Founding Pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Called Home to Glory
The Rev. Frank Barker, who founded Briarwood Presbyterian Church in a storefront in 1960 and led it to become one of Birmingham’s first megachurches, has died.
Barked died about 4:10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, his daughter, Peggy Barker Townes, confirmed to AL.com. He was 89 and would have turned 90 next month. “He was faithful to the last breath,” Townes said. “We have been as blessed as we can be.” The Rev. Frank Barker, who founded Briarwood Presbyterian Church... Continue Reading
A Single Woman’s Response to Greg Johnson
Why would a Christian, and a pastor at that, take a controversial issue between believers of a specific denomination, out to the world; a world that generally mocks Christianity and Christians?
Christians ever identified themselves by inner desires? Don’t we all experience a multitude of desires we deal with besides sexual ones? As a single female Christian, it never occurred to me to identify myself related to any sexual desires. I am not alone. Among Christians, there are life-long single men and women, widowed men and... Continue Reading
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