Ministry Moments

Here are some helpful posts on preaching:

The Greatest Preachers – Wayne Gruden (via Jared Wilson)
According to Grudem’s definition, we can all be great preachers! Indeed we must be.

Preaching Texts You Do Not Understand – Carl Trueman (via Reformation 21)
We’ve all been there. Here are some helpful thoughts.

Pastors, What You Preach Is Already Decided – Charles Spurgeon (via Desiring God)
We can’t make it up out of our own heads.

The Most Transformational Word – Paul Tripp (via Gospel Coalition)
We must preach grace to ourselves.

Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Ministry Moments

Here are some helpful posts for pastors related to prayer:

Tim Kerr has a series of posts on interceding for our congregations – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Michael McKinley suggest 8 ways to pray during our sermon preparation. I made a copy to use as I work on my own sermons.

Finally, Michael McKinley also gives six helpful ways to help people pray.

A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, and the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.
– John Owen

Ministry Moments

Today, I am starting a new weekly feature.  My plan is to feature some good posts on pastoral ministry each Monday.  It will be similar to Passion Points, except the posts included in Ministry Moments will be primarily for pastors.  I was playing around with a second blog for pastors, but I really don’t have time to write two blogs, so I’m just going to include a pastoral ministry category in this one.  I suspect most of the readers of this blog are not pastors, and if that is you, you can just slide past this one each week.  For the pastors, here are some good posts to consider:

On Constantly Taking Your Church’s Temperature – Jared Wilson
That voice in your head that keeps rehearsing the disappointments and flaws of your church is not from the Lord.

Christian Leader, Are You Forgetting Something – Sam Crabtree
God is not given the praise he deserves when we ignore or deny the work he is doing in people.

The Subtle Art of Sabotaging a Pastor – Jared Wilson
How the devil might (and often does) tempt a pastor….

Spiritual leadership is knowing where God wants people to be
and taking the initiative to use God’s methods to get them there
in reliance on God’s power.

– John Piper

Ministry Moments

Last week I mentioned that Friday posts would focus on church and ministry.  Today begins the first of a new monthly feature called Ministry Moments.  Essentially, these are recommended readings from around the web on the topic of ministry.  While, the focus is primarily on full-time ministry, I suspect many of the posts could be read profitably by anyone serving in the local church.

Worship
10 Questions To Ask of Sunday Worship – Trevin Wax

Prayer
An Impulse You Should Never Ignore – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Preaching
A Preacher’s Decalogue – Sinclair Ferguson
Killing Moralism – Joe Thorn

Personal Shepherding
How Do You Care For A 90 Year Old Man About To Become A Widower – Brian Croft
What Lessons Have I Learned From Shepherding a 106 Year Old Widow In My Church – Brian Croft

Pastor’s Life
Pastoral Ministry Is War – Paul Tripp
Ministry: Whose Kingdom – Paul Tripp
The Problem of Shifting Treasure – Paul Tripp
We’re Pastors and We’re Anxious – Paul Tripp
Give Thanks For Your Church – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Depression and the Ministry: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five – Gospel Coalition