It is a dangerous thing to measure ministry success by numbers or popularity, by healthy budgets or full pews. God’s ways are not ours. I know Godly and gifted men leading healthy and unified churches producing holy and devoted disciples whose churches over two decades of ministry never grew larger than about 140 people. I … More Measuring Success by Numbers
Friday is for Heart Songs There are treasures waiting for us. Every day they are waiting for us in the faith of those who have gone before us. In a more literate age, they poured their faith into cups made of words and handed them to the world, words made of steel, words formed with … More “He Will Hold You Fast”
Sunday Afternoon Musings The first and only time I met Mark Dever was almost 20 years ago when he visited Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I had read his short book 9 Marks of a Healthy Church and found that my heart resonated with his perspective. When I heard he was coming to Trinity and that … More How Does an UnHealthy Church become Healthy?
Weekend Links Away on a retreat with the elders of Trinity Church, so I am posting this before breakfast this morning. The rain is falling. The snow is melting. And in 34 days, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Then Easter comes. How can anyone not like the Spring. It’s coming. Enjoy the weekend … More No-Fuss-Parenting; Bad Youth Ministry; Raising Up Men; George Muller; Preachers Undermining the Word and much more
Weekend Links I don’t know where I first read it. I don’t even know if I remember the quote right. But it went something like this: “A friend is someone who knows the song of your life and can sing the melody line for you when you have forgotten it.” My hope for you in … More Top Church Trends; New York Times and Calvinism; 255 Obama Lies; Apps, Teens and Parents; and much more
Weekend Links Be informed. Enjoy. Act on what you learn. Biblical Engagement with Culture, Politics and Neighbors The Banality of Abortion Arguments (Chilling, absolutely chilling, and evil. Video included. Please watch and read this link. Abortion must end.) Our Assassin-in-Chief and the Silence of the Media (Provocative post.) The Obama Kill-List (Be a Liberal, Be … More Mark Dever on Church Polity; Obama Kill List; Dr. Ben Carson; Lesbian Conversion; Andree Seu Peterson;
Four books on evangelism recommended by Matt Chandler, Mark Dever and Darin Patrick. Coleman’s book is a classic and Mark Dever’s book is very good. Mack Stiles book is both funny and instructive, a good combination. All of these are short and helpful. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever The Heart of Evangelism by Jerram … More What and Who to Read if You Want to Learn How to Share the Gospel More Clearly
Tuesday is for Preaching Why should a pastor preach expositionally? The content below is not mine. It is from 9Marks ministry. There is wisdom and challenge here for the young church planter to chew on. A pastor should preach expositionally because God works through God’s word. God speaking is God acting.* God created by his Word (Gen. 1:3; Ps. 33:6), and he recreates … More Is Expositional Preaching the Best Way to Unpack the Word of God?
Tuesday is for Preaching “The great English preacher C.H. Spurgeon recounted one of the more unusual experiences of his highly unusual life. he was headed to Haverhill in Suffolk and, due to rail delays, was running late for a preaching engagement. I’ll let him pick up the story here: “So it happened that I reached … More Spurgeon’s Grandfather and the Gospel: A Snapshot in Time
Weekend Links (August 6, 2011) This weeks collection of links, and always remember–just because I put it here doesn’t mean I endorse everything they say. But everything they say is something worth reading and praying over. Growing as a Leader Stop Focusing on What’s Wrong (Leadership Freak) The Intoxication of Pride (Thom Rainer) Mark Dever … More “I was Never Called to be a Missionary. I Volunteered.”
ChosenRebel's Blog 