Policemen, Paramedics, and Painters: How Working for the King Matters
We spend the better portion of our days and even our lives working. Jesus appealed to work in His parables (e.g., sowing, reaping, buying, selling, fishing, shepherding). Paul told his readers to be hard workers (Col. 3:23), and he was a tentmaker himself. But on some days we wonder if our work actually makes any difference. Due to sin, everything takes on a new dimension in our world, being wounded towards disorder and confusion.[1]...
From Goofs to Glory
Have you as a church leader ever stepped in front of a congregation to discover that things aren’t going as expected? Perhaps something didn’t quite come out right in your preaching or teaching; or you began playing a song in the wrong key, or your instrument was out of tune. Whatever the mishap, we’ve all been there at some point. And usually our only option is to grit our teeth and get through it. We may feel embarrassment,...
Martin Luther on the Holy Spirit
If there is one member of the triune Godhead that Protestants tend to know the least about, it is the Holy Spirit. Martin Luther, the central figure who gave impetus to the Protestant Reformation, discussed the Holy Spirit by emphasizing His role as an Intercessor in these ways: “The Holy Ghost has two offices. First, He is a Spirit of grace, that makes God gracious unto us, and receives us as His acceptable children, for Christ’s...
Ministering Well in the Middle
by Frank Owens “Some pastors and preachers are lazy and no good. They do not pray; they do not read; they do not search the Scripture…This evil, shameful time is not the season for being lazy, for sleeping and snoring” [1]. Here Luther reminds us that ministry requires vigilance at every stage of ministry, especially in the middle and later years. When speaking of “the middle” I’m primarily referring to that age between 40-55, where...
The Gospel in Romans 1
Stephen J. Nichols gives a wonderful introduction to Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. In his introduction, he quotes Luther commenting the Gospel found in Romans 1. A beautiful reminder of the glorious Gospel we’ve been commissioned to share. According to the Apostle in Romans 1, the gospel is a preaching of the incarnate Son of God, given to us without any merit on our part for salvation and peace. It is a word of salvation, a...
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