Here are some good posts for the small church pastor:
The Rural Church Potential – Kyle Borg
Where A Desperate Small Town Pastor Found Hope – Chad Ashby (TGC)
Remarkable for Being Unremarkable – Darryl Dash
Tag: Church
Current
Here are some helpful posts for the church on our response to the transgender issue:
What Should the Church Say to Bruce Jenner? – Russell Moore
How Should We Respond to Caitlyn Jenner? – Jon Bloom (DG)
If Rachel Dolezal Isn’t Black, How Is Caitlyn Jenner A Woman? – Sean Davis (Federalist)
Current
I was talking to some other pastors this week about same-sex marriage, and we noted the great confusion on the Biblical Christian teaching on this issue, especially in the views of our young people. So here are a few helpful posts to help us keep thinking through the issue:
Five Questions for Christians Who Believe the Bible Supports Gay Marriage – Kevin DeYoung
Should We Support Gay Marriage? NO – Wolfhart Pannenberg
The Solemnization of Matrimony – Kevin DeYoung
Ministry Collection
Here are some helpful posts on ministry:
20 Lessons in 20 Years of Pastoral Ministry – Brian Croft
Toolbox for Skillful Shepherding – Andrew Davis (via Andy Naselli)
13 Tips for Leading the Congregation in Prayer – Kevin DeYoung
Worship
We are to worship according to the truth of Scripture.
We worship God as He is revealed in the Bible,
not as we might want Him to be.
– Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Sunday Morning Prayer Guide
I wrote the following guide for a Sunday morning prayer time. The requests are all about asking God to prepare our hearts to worship Him. I wonder what might happen in our lives and churches, if we prayed prayers like this each Sunday morning. So here is a prayer guide for your consideration as you prepare to worship the Lord this Sunday, and maybe the Sundays beyond.
Pray through God’s Word
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
– Psalm 85:6-7
Pray for Myself
• A heart to worship the Lord for his great love and salvation
• God’s Word to convict, challenge, and comfort me this morning
• God’s help to encourage and build up others this morning
Pray for Our Church
• For people to come, and Holy Spirit to work mightily among us
• Growing joy and delight in the Lord, desire and thirst for God
• Deep hunger for the Word, and abundant grace to live it out
• Growing burden to pray – individually and corporately
• Reverent awe of our great and glorious God
• Gripped by the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection
• Personal revivals leading to church revival
• Practical love and care for one another
Wednesday: Pray for the World Church
Pray for the World Church:
- Churches to grow, world-wide church revivals
- Pastors – Biblical training and resources, Biblical faithfulness
- Church in Nepal, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, India, China, etc.
- Perseverance and strength for persecuted Christians
- God’s provision (food, homes, jobs) for Christians
- Christian refugees – especially from Syria and Iraq – and those ministering to them
- Bibles, Christian literature, radio, TV, and internet available to encourage, strengthen, and help grow in the Lord
- Growing freedom to worship the Lord
Tuesday: Pray for the American Church
Pray for the American Church:
- Personal revivals leading to church revivals around the 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
Monday: Pray For Your Church
Pray for your church:
- Growing joy and delight in the Lord, desire and thirst for God
- Deep hunger for the Word, and abundant grace to live it out
- Growing burden to pray – individually and corporately
- Reverent awe of our great and glorious God
- Gripped by the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection
- Personal revivals leading to church revival
- Practical love and care for one another
- Striving for unity and peace in our thoughts, words, & actions
Not Lone Rangers
God saves us as individuals – I cannot count on anyone else’s faith in order to be redeemed. However, the Lord redeems us to put us in community. This happens preeminently in the church, where God provides the fellowship that we need in order to grow and thrive. We cannot be lone rangers and expect that our faith will thrive. Are you seeking to build community in your church? Are you making time regularly to fellowship with the Lord’s servants?
– From the April 2015 issue of Tabletalk
