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,...
Pastoring the Aging Church
Aging is no simple matter. At one end of life, a year’s passage ignites celebration and signals newfound freedom; on the other, it signals the difficult, inevitable nearing of the end. If we focus on this latter end, we observe that aging reaches a point where forgetfulness, unpleasant physicals, and a decline in efficiency become regular experiences. The elderly have their own jargon (geriatrics), institutions (assisted/retirement...
The Pastor-as-Scholar and Public-Theologian with Owen Strachan (Part 2)
This is the second part of my interview with Dr. Owen Strachan, which follows Part One that posted on Monday. You may listen to the audio below, or you may read the transcript. ____________________ Jackson Watts (“JW”): I think a lot of pastors who listen to this or read the transcript will say, “Yeah, I can buy that. And I get that.” And I think they would say that they see the mandate to study, to be a student, to interpret the...
Book Recommendations (Autumn 2014)
The Helwys Society Forum (“HSF”) is pleased to share with its readers the Book Recommendations of its contributors. We believe strongly in the importance of reading for all people, but especially for those men and women who hold leadership roles in the local church. We hope to encourage our readers to engage with these texts and to provide resources for life and ministry. Each main HSF contributor (six in total) will share two books...
Anthropology for Pastors
Pastors spend a lot of time thinking about people. As much time as they invest in biblical study, planning services, and more, people are the focus of their ministry. To be sure, Christ is the ultimate object of our worship and service. Serving Him means we are shaped primarily by His Word and the Holy Spirit. However, sermons are preached to people. Struggling members are counseled. Wayward saints are confronted. Take any meaningful...
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