Book Review: Shepherds After My Own Heart
by Craig Batts What does it mean to be a shepherd in the church? What does it involve? When we consider these questions, it rightfully leads to a discussion of leadership. Unfortunately, there often seems to be a flaw in the way we proceed from that point forward. There is a temptation to look to the corporate world or to socially-established practices in order to develop an understanding of what qualities leaders ought to possess....
What Numbers Can and Can’t Tell You
When the year draws to a close, numbers become extremely important. This is true particularly as companies, organizations, and households evaluate their budgets. “How have we done?” they wonder. The right figures can help answer this question. Similarly, sometimes churches wonder, “How are we doing?” Pastors especially try to discern what is happening in their congregations. Whether it is pride or a sincere concern driving their...
Between Two Worlds: Remembering A Modern Classic
On Monday we were reminded of the need for Christ-centered, expository preaching. Bryan Chapell’s Christ-centered Preaching helped with understanding this crucial task. However, another modern classic helps place this kind of preaching in its historic and cultural context. Though published over 30 years ago, the late John R. W. Stott’s Between Two Worlds (Eerdmans, 1982) is a relevant guide for contemporary evangelical preaching. John...
Christ-centered Preaching: Remembering A Modern Classic
Preaching is a task (and privilege) that can always be improved upon. Homiletics professors can help with this. Listening critically to audio of our sermons, as painful as this can be, is often useful. Even wives are among preachers’ most helpful critics. Yet we can also benefit by reading and reflecting on the counsel of reliable theologians and homileticians. Bryan Chapell’s Christ-Centered Preaching and John Stott’s Between Two...
“Ministers” & “Witnesses”
article by Clint Morgan The Great Commission + One: Acts 26:16-18 Most believers are aware of the Great Commission where Christ told His disciples to go into all of the world and make disciples. Obviously, awareness doesn’t always translate into obedience, but even so, the command remains. It would be dangerous ground to add another passage to the Great Commission. Yet there are many biblical passages that broaden our vision for what...
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