Scripture Reading Challenge (#26)

Have you ever been on a roller coaster?  If not, you are about to experience an emotional one.  The book of Judges is a series of ups and downs for Israel.  We go down when Israel would rebel, and God would allow an oppressor to rise up against them.  Then, we go up when GodContinue reading “Scripture Reading Challenge (#26)”

Scripture Reading Challenge (#14)

God does not point out our sin to laugh at us or scorn.  Instead, he reveals our issues so that we can deal with them appropriately.  That is, to be cleansed and forgiven.  In the story of Genesis, the brothers need to make a second trip to Egypt.  They will face their sin one wayContinue reading “Scripture Reading Challenge (#14)”

Christian Planning

The default Christian mixture of planning minimizes the role of people and lifts up our dependence on the leading of God.  The problem is when those that are carnal find themselves in positions of leadership and espouse a spirituality that is a cover up for a laissez-faire attitude toward any type of preparation and planning.Continue reading “Christian Planning”

Preach the Word

In 2011, the deacon of the church I pastor, Jack Roberts, received his eternal reward. He was a praying man, and he loved to pray for his pastor. Many times throughout a sermon, you could hear him praying for souls to be saved, believers to be strengthened, and for the sermon Holy Spirit to continueContinue reading “Preach the Word”

Studying Scripture and the role of the Holy Spirit

Check out yesterday’s blog post on the preacher’s library. The questions, “What is the place of Scripture in interpretation” and “What about the leading of the Holy Spirit leading the pastor” arise when talking about using preaching resources. To put it simply, the preacher must hold the Holy Spirit as the great teacher of theContinue reading “Studying Scripture and the role of the Holy Spirit”

The Preacher’s Library

A common expression is that “leaders are readers.”  No outside reading satisfies the need for Scripture, but we must make an effort to read other valuable works.   The pastor does not escape this necessity.  Even the Apostle Paul had his own reading literature.  Second Timothy expresses Paul’s desire for it in a request, “The cloakContinue reading “The Preacher’s Library”

Nehemiah – God’s Change Agent (Ch. 3)

Projects are sometimes complicated and slow.  However, the organization of a group can prove to be a useful companion in accomplishing tasks.  Chapter three shares in a detailed log how the people were divided into groups (primarily by families) and the particular area that they rebuilt and repaired.  It is the first of four lists of namesContinue reading “Nehemiah – God’s Change Agent (Ch. 3)”

Nehemiah – God’s Change Agent (Mission & Vision)

One thing that I notice about leaders of organizations is that there is a significant amount of confusion between vision and mission.  Especially when it comes to the small church.  These guiding principles are essential for keeping the members aligned to God’s will for a congregation’s ministry and areas of focus.  The short way ofContinue reading “Nehemiah – God’s Change Agent (Mission & Vision)”

How to pray the week before camp 2017 and take action.

In the week before the Christian Baptist Camp Meeting, preparations are still being made, sermons are still developing, songs are being practiced, volunteers recruited, tasks assigned, numbers crunched, and reports written.  It is effortless to come into camp and think that everything picks up and continues from where we ended the previous year.  In reality,Continue reading “How to pray the week before camp 2017 and take action.”

Nehemiah – God’s Change Agent (Ch. 2)

By the time the second chapter opens, Nehemiah carried his burden for Jerusalem and his people very close to his heart for almost four months.  He had been able to keep straight faced until this period while at work.  We are told that before this time that Nehemiah, “had not been beforetime sad in his presence”Continue reading “Nehemiah – God’s Change Agent (Ch. 2)”