Ministry Monday

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some good posts on preaching:

Why the Pastor Must Be Distracted With God – Drew Martin (via Trevin Wax)
In response to such a situation the faithful preacher must refuse to agree to the tacit assumption of modernity that the other concerns of life are more important than God. The pastor must be deeply formed in the classic disciplines of the Christian faith so that his life will not be disoriented. He must be correctly oriented if he would serve as a guide to a lost culture.  The pastor must be “distracted” with God.

A Watchman on the Walls – Kevin DeYoung
For the watchman on the walls must give a warning; he must speak of this judgment which is to come; he must herald the glorious salvation found in Christ alone; he must share the glad tidings of peace on earth and good will toward men; he must tell the hard news that we need a Savior, the unpopular news that there is only one Savior, and the unimaginably good news that there is one who actually saves.

The Preacher’s Cheat-Sheet – Tim Challies
Here are two lists that have been very helpful to me. I combine them into what I affectionately call my Preacher’s Cheat-Sheet.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Repentance Doesn’t Hem and Haw – Jared Wilson
So this is repentance. No excuses, no yes-buts, no waffling. Not hemming and hawing but an about-face and a cutting to the chase.

Lessons Learned in the School of Suffering – Darryl Dash
The Psalms and other writings became real to me in new ways. My prayer life was deepened even as my prayers contained fewer words. The consolation from knowing that Jesus was no stranger to suffering became even more precious.

My Wife Has Tattoos: Marriage and New Birth – Spencer Harmon (GC)
But everything changes when people meet Jesus. He takes rebellious teenage partiers and goody-two-shoes homeschoolers and puts them together in marriage to put something on display much bigger than their own handcrafted, perfectly planned love story.

The Proper Response to Easter – Jared Wilson
The proper response to Easter is not warm fuzzies, but awe.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church celebrating our great Savior and Shepherd!

Prayer Guide for the National Day of Prayer

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides2 Comments

Below is the prayer guide my church is using for the National Day of Prayer this Thursday.  May all of God’s people commit to cry out to God for our country!

Prayer Guide for National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 1, 2014

Please spend some focused time praying for our nation.
If you are able to, you might consider fasting as well.

Breakfast/Morning – American Leaders/Government
• President Obama and his Cabinet – wisdom, strength, protection
• Congress – wisdom, ability to work together, civility, protection
• Supreme Court/Courts – wisdom, follow truth, protection
• Domestic Policies – social/family, economic, education, health, etc.
• Foreign Policies – Russia/Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Israel, etc.
• Military – Protection/safety, leadership, training, wisdom
• State – Governor, Legislature, Judicial – wisdom

Lunch/Noon – American People/Culture
• Growing recognition of the hollowness of the idols of our age: money, material things, sex, homosexuality, technology, social media, fame, power, alcohol, drugs, entertainment, government
• Growing openness and response to the hope of the gospel
• Many people in our community to come to Christ
• Families – strong marriages, children, finances/work
• Economy – national/state growth, job growth, local businesses
• Education – federal/state policies, curriculum, teachers, safety, local schools, public schools, private schools, home-school freedom
• Entertainment/Media – Christian influence, positive impact

Supper/Evening – American Churches/Revival
• Personal revival leading to church revival leading to another great awakening in our country
• Growing commitment to worship, prayer, discipleship, fellowship
• Growing commitment to evangelism and missions
• Growing love for God, his people, and the lost
• Courageous fidelity to Biblical truth in a culture of compromise
• Wisdom for pastors and other church leaders
• Wisdom for leaders of Christian ministries, schools, missions
• Christians living with Biblical integrity in the workplace, school, neighborhood, and community

 

Ministry Monday

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some good posts for pastors:

In Praise of Long Pastorates – H. B. Charles, Jr.
To nurture a Christ-centered, biblically functioning congregation requires teaching and patience. A mushroom can grow in hours. But it takes longer to grow an oak tree. What are you trying to grow?

3 Big Opportunities that Busy Pastors Miss – Eric McKiddie
Nothing that grows organically grows fast. But if it is healthy, it grows strong. Don’t let your busyness shift your focus from “strong” to “fast.” Keep watering, and trust that your ministry is growing at the speed God intends.

Work at Your Prayers – D.A. Carson via Tim Challies
Many facets of Christian discipleship, not least prayer, are rather more effectively passed on by modeling than by formal teaching. Good praying is more easily caught than taught.

Passion Passages

On By BrianIn Uncategorized

The Lord’s Passion For Us

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him.

– Psalm 103:8, 11, 17 (ESV)

 

 

 

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 9

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

A Son is born and he will reign
With wisdom, power, and peace
He died to cleanse my guilty stain
From sin to bring release

Behold our King rose from the tomb
He’s broken death’s strong cord
His zeal and love dispel our gloom
Rejoice, hope in the Lord

– From a sermon on Isaiah 9:1-7
(To the tune of “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”)