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Why the Local Church Needs Good Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is a vital help for pastors to faithfully declare the glorious truth that Jesus is the main point of the whole Bible.
Articles on Church Ministry
651 results found
Should I Choose a Church for Its Pastor?
The centrality of the Word coming from the front, from the preacher, the one specially gifted by God and called to that ministry, is the most important thing you can look for in a church.
The Single Most Important Task of the Pastor
Preaching is central to the pastor’s ministry because that is primarily our calling.
12 Reasons Why Correcting with Gentleness Is One of the Hardest Parts of Pastoral Ministry
The idea of gentle instruction with repentance as a goal might seem straightforward, but it's incredibly difficult. This motivates pastors to pray and dig daily for wisdom.
Times When Pastoral Leadership Begins to Unravel
Some of the greatest challenges that pastors face right now are through subtle leadership issues. When we’re guarding our hearts and lives, what should we make sure we don’t drift into?
Reviving a Classical Vision of Pastoral Ministry
Coleman M. Ford, Shawn J. Wilhite
According to Scripture, the pastor first and foremost prays (Acts 6), shepherds his people (1 Pet. 5), lives a virtuous life in the Spirit, and upholds sound teaching in local settings.
An Elevator Pitch for Church Membership
The Bible presents a picture of the church as unlike any other organization or society of people in the world.
The Origin and End of Missions
A missions-centered church recognizes that its mission begins with the Great Commission. Such a church doesn’t simply pay lip service to Jesus’s command to make disciples of all nations.
Are You Worshiping God in Vain?
Worship is bowing, lifting hands, praying, singing, reciting, preaching, performing rites of eating, cleansing, ordaining, and so on. But the startling fact is that all these things can be done in vain.
Teens Need Something They Can’t Find Online
It is vitally important today for all of us to prioritize our local church even as the rest of the world moves more of life online. The body of Christ is essential to spiritual growth.
5 Steps in My Sermon Preparation Process
Over the years I’ve come to depend on a five-step process of sermon preparation. As I have heard other men whose peaching I admire describe their process, I’ve been encouraged by similarities to mine.
Dear Pastor . . . Don’t Undervalue the Sacraments
Many pastors and churches today grant the sacraments a low status in public worship, but the sacraments have played a vital role in nourishing God’s people throughout church history.
Who’s in Charge at Church? 3 Ways the Answer Is You
The whole congregation has the responsibility for its health, its preaching, and its membership. All the members together are responsible.
A Word to the Youth Pastor Who Feels Discouraged
To a youth pastor who is feeling discouraged, your reward is in heaven where you’ll see in glory the things that Jesus has done through your ministry, you’ll see the fruit of your labor.
Dear Pastor, Slowing Down Might Just Save Your Ministry
Coleman M. Ford, Shawn J. Wilhite
In the past five years alone, how many reading this have questioned your calling, lost ministry friends and co-laborers, or have grown generally weary?
How to Adapt Our Children’s Ministries to Reach Every Kind of Learner
How do we meet the needs of the diverse group of learners we have? How do we know what they can learn, what challenges they face, and what our expectations should be?
Podcast: The Church's Leadership Crisis (Paul David Tripp)
What is the church's leadership crisis and what is the solution?
The 5 Greatest Heart Challenges Preachers Face
Sometime during seminary, I heard a guest speaker say, “Pastoral ministry is a place where lazy men can hide.” I saw and felt the truth of that. It sobered me. It continues to sober me.
An Open Letter to Pastors about the Teens in Their Congregation
The relationships, the preaching, the teaching, and the admonition of a specific church body are as vital to teenagers as they are to every other believer.
5 Myths about Counseling and the Church
We come to Jesus as people in need, and we continue in Jesus as people in need.
How to Move Doctrine from Head to Heart
If you preach to the heart, you enter into the experience of the people of God as they encounter doctrine in their own lives.
The Proper Expectation for Pastor’s Wives
It's important to remember our families are members of our churches and not unpaid staff.
Why Pastors Should Catechize Their Congregations
Catechism benefits adults and children alike by giving them a deeper understanding of theology and the ability to communicate those beliefs well.
A Guide for Your Personal Worship Entering Holy Week
A sample day’s readings from O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, a 48-day devotional liturgy to help readers effectively prepare their hearts from Pascha (Easter) to Pentecost.
4 Ways Healthy Church Members Cultivate True Growth
How do healthy church members cultivate such growth? The following are some suggestions for continuing to develop godliness or holiness in life.
The Importance of the Gathered Church
Love is messy. You know what else? The gospel is messy. It means loving sinners—people like you and me.
5 Things That Shouldn’t Be at the Center of Missions
Throughout history, churches have been the launch-pad for mission and the Great Commission. Yet the trend among missionaries and missions agencies has been in another direction.
What Should We Do When Members Won’t Attend?
Pursuing longstanding non-attenders and disciplining those who can’t be found is a mark of a healthy church.
Comparison Is the Enemy of Contentment
Leadership mistakes are often not a single event but an attitude, habit, or mind-set that has been forming for years.
How to Pray When You Want to Give Up in Ministry
If you’ve been in the pastorate very long, you most likely have considered walking away and doing something else—anything else—with our lives.