Worshiping a Golden Calf on Sunday Morning is Deceptively Easy
The hottest “worship war” going is the one taking place daily in the sanctuary of our own hearts.
We worship the worship experience; we tithe with expectation of return from heaven’s slot machine; we dress to impress; and we serve and lead to compensate for the inadequacies in our hearts that only Christ can fill. Every weekend, hundreds of preachers extol a therapeutic gospel from the pages of the same Bible where the... Continue Reading
12 Ways To Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
How can pastors and churches be more responsible in protecting our children?
If you pay any attention to the news, you are well aware that sexual offenders show up in churches, predators hunting defenseless prey, who do unspeakably horrible things to our children. Much of what is done could be prevented, but many churches are ignorant about how to protect their children and about how to respond... Continue Reading
Amid Partisan Din, Sen. James Lankford Walks A Fine Line: Pastor and Politician
Despite Lankford’s increasing national prominence, the 49-year-old lawmaker says he remains more a pastor than a politician.
Lankford’s emphasis on kindness and civility has kept him from fully embracing Trump or the anger-fueled movement that propelled him into the White House. In October 2016, Lankford told a Tulsa Regional Chamber luncheon that he would “go to bed grieved” on Election Night, regardless of which presidential candidate won. OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) —... Continue Reading
The Damning Devastation of a Single Coddled Sin
Just a single sin left in your life is as dangerous as just a single rattlesnake left in your bed.
Christian, do not be ambivalent with your sin. Do not be complacent with sin in general and be doubly sure you are not ignoring a single treasured pet sin. There is great danger in any and every sin; there is great joy and freedom in every measure of holiness. We can never be ambivalent.... Continue Reading
The Antidote to Anemic Worship
A concern for true biblical worship was at the very heart of the Reformation.
In far too many churches, the Bible is nearly silent. The public reading of Scripture has been dropped from many services and the sermon has been sidelined, reduced to a brief devotional appended to the music. Many preachers accept this as a necessary concession to the age of entertainment. Some hope to put in a... Continue Reading
PCA Study Committee Report on the Role of Women in the Ministry of the Church: Recommendation #6
Assessing Recommendation 6 of the PCA Role of Women in the Church Report presented to the 45th General Assembly.
Third, it removes unnecessary controversy from the recommendation. The last clause in the original recommendation inexplicably includes a reference to deaconesses. This inclusion is inexplicable because it is not a recommendation, but a statement. The Assembly deleted this clause in order to remove any potential controversy that including such a statement might produce. The revised... Continue Reading
Just What Is Godly Sex? – Part 2
Sex, like all of life, is profoundly theological, while being gloriously earthy and physical.
Some Christians believe the world’s lie that maximum pleasure is the goal of sex. Scripture warns that in the last days people will be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4). God wants us to know him more fully in all of life, to worship him as our Creator and see... Continue Reading
11 Reasons Spurgeon Was Depressed
Spurgeon owned more than thirty books on mental health. He read about depression, wrote about depression, and suffered from depression.
Spurgeon’s depression didn’t hinder his ministry – in fact, it helped it. Spurgeon’s many faces might have frustrated the artist trying to paint his portrait, but they also gave the pastor a multi-faceted empathy for the problems facing his flock. That’s one reason Spurgeon was “the people’s preacher.” Spurgeon called his depression “a prophet in... Continue Reading
The Marrow Controversy: The Book
Fisher’s work is filled with practical advise and tidbits that are relevant your Christian living today and current debates on the nature and role of sanctification.
The Marrow of Modern Divinity is still worth reading today. It gives not only doctrine but great pastoral wisdom. Regardless of whether or not one reads the book, the issues remain current today. We must always guard the gospel against legalism and antinomianism. In resisting one, we must not fall into the error of the other. We... Continue Reading
9 Ways To Be Encouraged In Difficult Ministry Days
Some ways to be encouraged in ministry even those hard days.
Get outside the church, and tell somebody about Jesus. Few things redirect us from our troubles like helping others understand the grace of God. Even if nobody listens, your obedience to the Great Commission will bring some joy. Take a day off. In fact, take a few days off and do something you love to do. For... Continue Reading