As I was working on another blog post this morning, an email with this question was sent to me from a pastor: How do I and our church minister to a man who appears radically converted, desires to come to our church, but is an habitual child molester and long-time sex offender? Needless to say, [...]
Archive for September, 2010
How do you welcome a man in your church who is an habitual child molester?
Posted in Battling Sin, Discipleship on September 29, 2010 | 38 Comments »
How do I evalute a church member I suspect is unconverted?
Posted in Discipleship, Training for Ministry on September 27, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Sometime back, I had a pastor write me and ask that I address this issue. Even though I have sadly dealt with this on more than one occasion, I tremble to communicate in any way that I have all the answers on this matter. Nevertheless, it is a reality and it is especially so for [...]
What do I say to a Christian who is dying in the hospital?
Posted in Hospital Visitation, Oversight of Souls on September 22, 2010 | 5 Comments »
If there is ever a moment when words fail, it is standing over a person who is dying. You know it. They know it. It is just a matter of time. What do you do? What do you say? Here’s a suggestion or two: First, don’t say anything. Don’t talk the moment away. First, just [...]
How do I teach what a pastor is to a child?
Posted in Home and Family, Training for Ministry on September 20, 2010 | 12 Comments »
It has been a month of interesting speaking engagements outside my church. So far this month I have addressed pastors, college students at U of L’s Campus Crusade for Christ, and a funeral for a man few people knew anything about. Yet, this morning posed to be the most challenging. I was asked to address a [...]
How can I learn more about this blog and why you write what you do?
Posted in Uncategorized on September 16, 2010 | 4 Comments »
I have been humbled and overwhelmed with encouragement by those of you who follow this blog on a regular basis and, in the Lord’s grace, are somehow helped by it. Though much of what I write comes from my daily experiences of pastoral ministry, you’ve probably noticed I don’t share a whole lot of personal [...]
How are pastors most tempted to evaluate their ministries in ways God does not?
Posted in Training for Ministry on September 15, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Yesterday, I had the privilege to address a sweet group of pastors about our biblical call to shepherd. As I did so, I also took the opportunity to confront what I feel are the 2 greatest temptations that pastors have to evaluate their ministries in ways God does not. Here is a summary of those 2 temptations contrasted [...]
Why are pastors to study, spend themselves, and sacrifice for their people?
Posted in Oversight of Souls, Training for Ministry on September 13, 2010 | 5 Comments »
The stresses, expectations, and rigors of pastoral ministry can leave many pastors asking this question…”Is all this worth it?” Many today are answering this question with, “No, it’s not.” I assume you have observed much that I have in regard to the brief stints of many young pastors who eventually don’t pursue another pastorate after leaving one. [...]
What is a common, yet unbiblical way a pastor evaluates his ministry?
Posted in Training for Ministry on September 8, 2010 | 4 Comments »
There are numerous ideas that could qualify for an answer, but the one I have in mind proves to be a most harmful one. I recently received word of a Senior Pastor who was questioning his own faithfulness as a shepherd, evangelist, preacher, and even his faithfulness to the gospel because of this common, yet unbiblical method of evaluation. A common, yet flawed, [...]
How can I involve others from my church in my weekly sermon preparation?
Posted in Discipleship, Preaching, Training for Ministry on September 6, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I am surprised how many pastors want to hide and close themselves off while preparing their sermon, when there are layers of benefits when we involve others in our preparation. Maybe, this results from pastors who either don’t know of the benefits or don’t know how to involve others in their church as they prepare. [...]
How do I discern “timing” when it comes to caring for the sick?
Posted in Hospital Visitation on September 1, 2010 | 2 Comments »
There are many wise thoughts on the issue of time. How long should we stay when we visit? When is it urgent enough that we go? Is it different depending on whom and where we visit? A helpful starting place is to consider the wise words of Alistair Begg: “It is always better that people should [...]
