Here are some helpful posts on preaching:
How to Preach Like D.A. Carson Without Sounding Like Him – Pastoralized
Don’t Pack Too Much in Your Sermons – Erik Raymond (Gospel Coalition)
The Top Mistakes I Make in Preaching – Julian Freeman
Tag: Ministry
Ministry Monday
Prayer is supposed to be a big part of our role as pastors (see Acts 6:4). So here are some good posts related to prayer:
9 Reasons Why Church Leaders Struggle With Prayer – Thom Rainer
13 Thoughts about Pastoral Prayers – pastors.com
Some Practical Help for Leading a Prayer Meeting – Erik Raymond
Pastors, Ask for Prayer – Kevin DeYoung
Ministry Monday
Here are some helpful posts on preaching:
6 Bullet Points on Preaching – Tim Challies
The Apostle Paul had a lot to say about preaching, but I think the majority of it can be grouped under six main headings or ideas. You could, of course, extract specific teaching points from each one, but I think there’s value in looking at them in a broad sense. Here is what Paul says about the preaching of God’s Word…
3 Questions To Ask of Your Sermon – Trevin Wax
The more I’ve thought about these questions, the more I am convinced that pastors ought to ask these questions of every sermon they preach. Teachers ought to ask these questions of every lesson they prepare. The questions are a helpful guide to keeping Christ as the focus of our ministry.
Preaching That Cuts to the Heart – Tim Keller (via Gospel Coalition)
Put another way, you should preach the truth, not just your opinion; you should preach the good news, not just good advice; and you should preach to make the truth real to the heart, not just clear to the mind.
Ministry Monday
Here are some challenging posts that I’ve been saving by Paul Tripp. Though written for pastors, they would be helpful for anyone. I’ve included excerpts; follow each link for the whole post.
Lost the Awe
I am convinced that many of us live and do ministry day after day without any awe whatsoever. We live days, maybe even weeks, without wonder and amazement even in gospel ministry. What should stun us doesn’t stun us any more. What should leave us in silent, amazed worship has become so familiar it barely gets our attention in clutter of all the other things in ministry that command our attention. We walk through our daily ministries without an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We don’t notice the glory displayed all around us that points us to the one glory that is truly glorious: the glory of God.
If You Think You’ve Arrived
If you think you have arrived, you prepare material from above for people who sadly still need what you no longer need. Are you desperately hungry for the truths that you regularly prepare to expound to others?
If You Still Think You’ve Arrived
Communion with Christ is fueled by humility. Communion with Christ is fueled by sadness and celebration. Communion with Christ is propelled by an accurate sense of who you are, what you need, and a celebration of the One who gives it. Awareness of sin and the promise of salvation daily drives you to Christ, not to rush through a passage in his Word and say a quick prayer, but to sit at his feet and grieve your sin and give praise for the grace that meets you in it. Assessments of arrival crush personal worship.
No Pastor Is Greater Than His Master
As you consider these diagnostic questions, remember the grace that frees you to look at yourself and your ministry with humility and honesty.
- Where in your ministry is there evidence of self-glory?
- Where are you more dominant than you should be?
- Where do you fail to listen when you should?
- Where do you attempt to control things that you do not need to control?
- Where do you find it hard to delegate ministry to others?
- Where are you tempted to speak more than you should?
- Where do you fail to recognize and esteem the gifts of others?
- Where are you unwilling to examine your weaknesses and to admit you failures?
- Where are you tempted to think of yourself as more essential than you actually are?
- Where do you care too much about people’s respect, esteem, and appreciation?
- Where to you find it easier to confront than to receive confrontation?
- Where are you less than thankful for the ministry partners whom God has connected you to?
- Where are you too confident of your own strength and wisdom?
Conference Considerations
Last week I attended the RHMA Small Town Pastors’ Conference in Illinois with my wife. Here are a few take-home points:
- I am useless on my own, but God can use me.
- I need to seriously pray for situations instead of rashly attacking problems in my own strength.
- I must minister out of love, not anger. Regular forgiveness is essential.
- I must trust God in times of opposition.
Successful Ministry
Here is the third video I watched this afternoon from the Desiring God 2013 Pastor’s Conference. This one is from Kent Hughes on redefining the successful ministry. I had the opportunity to hear him speak on this topic at a RHMA conference a few years back, and the content is still very important for pastors to wrestle with. You might also consider his book on the same topic.
Disciple-Making Church
Here is the second video I watched this afternoon also from Mark Dever on the marks of a disciple-making church. You might also check out his related book, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.
Disciple-Making Pastor
Watched three videos from the Desiring God 2013 Pastor’s Conference this afternoon. All of these are well worth watching if you are a pastor. Here is the first one where Mark Dever gives us four aspects of the ministry of a disciple-making pastor:
Ministry Moments
Here are some good posts for pastors:
It’s A Strange Thing Being A Pastor – Julian Freeman
Ultimately we labour and long for results that we can never achieve. Being a pastor is a lifelong journey to a place of utter dependence. This is strange work, being a pastor. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
7 Ways I Want To Improve As A Pastor – Ron Edmondson
Pray more fervently – I believe in prayer. I want to be a person of prayer.
People Want A Pastor – Interview by Colllin Hansen
What are the costs of bigger and better church programs for every stage of life? What is the pastor’s role in relation to the members?
3 Reflections on Leading Your Family Well – Dustin Neeley
At our house, we call them “Monday Funday.” It is the day we play outside, eat Chinese food at a mall, and don’t talk about the church. Our church knows about “Monday Funday” because I mention it in sermons, tweet about it, schedule around it, and unless someone is bleeding out in their kitchen, I do my best not to violate it.
Don’t Lose Heart
A few weeks ago I mentioned a pastor’s conference I attended. The sessions are now available on audio here.
The two sessions by Jim Grier would be great for any Christian who wants to think. In the first session he gives a helpful overview of God’s presence throughout the Bible. In the second, he paints the picture of God’s presence as we gather to worship from Hebrews 12:18-29. You may never approach worship the same! Highly recommended!
And if you are a weary pastor, there are some great messages of encouragement for you by Joel Beeke from Hebrews 12:1-3 and Steven Lawson from II Corinthians 4. Beeke also shares some lessons on perseverance from the lives of John Calvin and John Bunyan.
Brian J. Mikul 