Archives for 2013

I’m a new pastor. I’ve got about $100 and not much of any library. I want hard copies—non of that e-reader stuff. When I was ordained last week a former professor bought me 5 books from your preaching list. Now I need to focus on building a few resources to help me with pastoral ministry. What do you suggest? Here is my answer: Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp for $12 The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter $8 9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever $11 The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler $15 Brothers We Are Not Professionals by John Piper $10 Instruments in the Redeemers … [Read more...] about How Would You Spend $100 on Pastoral Ministry Resources?

I hope this comes up. Here is the video about DR. … [Read more...] about Brian Williams and Harry Smith praise Baptist DR

This is the next installment of my previous post, For the Propagation of the Gospel. I had initially planned to give more than one item in this post, but my reasons for changing my plans will be obvious to you, I hope. Items 1 and 2 appeared in the prior post. I give you: The Southern Baptist Convention Helps People in Disasters As No One Else Does. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are in Oklahoma. They have been working in Granbury, TX, and in West, TX. When a disaster shows up, the yellow caps will not be far behind. How well do you know SBC Disaster Relief? SBC … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel, Part 2

What would you do? This weekend, some unnamed person in Zephyrhills, Florida, became an instant megamillionaire, winning $590 million (nearly 377 million one-time payout), in the Powerball lottery. What if this person was a member of your church? It would not be the first time that a church member won the lottery. What if this person came to you in a few weeks with a check  for $37.7 million (let's just make him a good Baptist tither for record)? What would you do? Would you take the check and get started with the plans for the new building project? Would you tell him to keep his … [Read more...] about So, Pastor, I Won the Lottery and I Want to Give

“We don’t have bulletins”, said the pastor quite proudly. “Why not?”, inquires a sheepish visitor. The pastor confidently answers, “We want to give the Spirit freedom to work and move in our worship services. We do not want to be shackled and confined by some order of service”. -- That is a real conversation I overheard in a church that I was visiting. At the time I was giving the pastor a thumbs up. I grew up in a Baptist church where the only time you shouted or raised your hands was if somebody elbowed you in the kidney when you nodded off during the pastors sermon. Therefore, … [Read more...] about One Mark of a Truly Spiritual Church

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. Preaching on the Ministry of the Spirit this Sunday for Pentecost and I picked up the massive and exhaustive God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul by Gordon D. Fee. He talks about a "Theology of the Spirit" and makes a great observation about how Paul did theology and how we are to similarly do theology each and every day in all circumstances. Sometimes, when we think about "theology" we think of learned academicians sitting in a dusty study pouring over obscure works and pontificating on things that do not really have relevance … [Read more...] about We Are All Doing Theology All The Time (by Alan Cross)

At its formation in 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention was consecrated to the cause of "the propagation of the gospel." The convention existed to enable local churches to expand their common reach in the tasks of calling sinners to repentance and organizing new congregations of disciples. "We can do more together than we can do separately" is not just a Southern Baptist slogan; it is the Southern Baptist raison d'être. Dare I suggest that the health and value of the Southern Baptist Convention must be calculated along these same lines? Dare I opine further that the Southern Baptist … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel

I've been in fulltime Christian ministry for over 30 years. I've had some good times. I've also had some moments when I stood there looking like a complete idiot. I've done some dumb things. I will bet that you have as well, if you are willing to admit it. So, tell us your story. What was your most embarrassing moment as a minister? Rules: 1) It has to be true. 2) It has to be embarrassing to you. Don't tell stories that will embarrass another. This is confession time, guys. 3) Try to maintain some small measure of good taste. I will start the ball rolling with two stories - … [Read more...] about Embarrassing Moments in Ministry

A link came across my Facebook page today to a scathing article written by one of the Reformed watchbloggers lambasting Mark Driscoll for a video he did at his "Resurgence" conference this year. So, I watched the 21 minute video. It was typical Driscoll - everything some love and others hate about him. He made a lot of sense and his tone was often cloying at the same time. I will put a link to the video below, so you can watch it if you wish. WARNING: I'm talking about Driscoll just to set up the post today. This is NOT about him and comments that are made about him - pro or con - will be put … [Read more...] about Tribalism and the SBC