The Plodding Preacher

Man needs woman.  This intriguing article articulates some very important truths. Anthropologists have long recognized that the most fundamental social problem every community must solve is the unattached male. If his sexual, physical, and emotional energies are not governed and directed in a pro-social, domesticated manner, he will become the village’s most malignant cancer. Wives and children, in that order, are the only successful remedy ever found. Military service is a   very   distant second. Nobel Prize winning economist George Akerlof   explains   that “men settle down when they get married; if they fail to marry, they fail to settle down,” because “with marriage, men take on new identities that change their behavior.” This   does not   seem to work with same-sex male couples in long-term   relationships . Husbands and fathers become better, safer, more responsible and productive citizens, unrivaled by their peers in any other relatio...

It is a reading age, a preaching age, a working age, but it is not a praying age. C. H. Spurgeon

Starting this week, I am hoping to include something for family support each Friday.  Today - an excellent help from Michelle Brock . Rearing Children Who Love the Local Church One of my long-term prayer requests is for my children to grow to love the local church and  experience the precious community that we see in the Bible. However, as children, they are limited in ways that they can be involved. How can I encourage them to be a part when people aren’t beating down my doors for their contribution? I’ve learned a few things. First, small churches are fantastic places for children to feel valued and important. Parents may be drawn to the opportunities large churches provide serving our children, but small churches are pretty special for the opportunities they bring even our young children to serve others. It’s not that children can’t serve in big churches; they can and they should! However, they’re not exactly needed in large churches like they can be in a small ch...

Top 10 Things I Love That Worship Leaders Do Aug 19, 2016 | Jared C. Wilson I wasn’t surprised by the big reaction to my recent post “Top 10 Things I Wish Worship Leaders Would Stop Saying”   because I know that the subject is a particular hot button for evangelicals. And while I think too often we inappropriately insulate our preferences/traditions from criticism, I am of course sensitive to the request for a more positive, proactive help. I’ve actually written quite a bit on worship, both online and in print— The Prodigal Church and my Gospel Coalition church resource   Gospel Shaped Worship   are the most notable examples—but new readers triggered by yesterday’s blog post are not likely to be familiar with that work. I was already planning on writing the list below but decided to hasten its appearing. Here’s to hoping this list reaches the same audience as   the last . I love it when worship leaders . . . 10. Lead more than perform. I am grateful for t...

A former pastoral colleague planted a church under our denominational banner.  During the process he received support from the denomination as did his church.  By most standards the plant was a success and the pastor became the toast of our fellowship, even being asked to speak at our national conference.  I have just learned that for the flimsiest reasons he is now leaving our denomination and taking his congregation to join the Harvest churches. A former president of our Seminary sits on the board of a conservative mission agency.  During his term as president the seminary strayed from Biblical teaching in several key areas.  Each of these areas significantly contradicted the doctrinal statement of the mission agency.  Yet, he still continues to sit on the mission agency board. Both of these case studies have something in common.  They reveal the significant lack of integrity among so-called Christian leaders.  There is an ethical callo...

The belief that sexual orientation is an innate, biologically fixed human property—that people are ‘born that way’—is   not supported by scientific evidence . Likewise, the belief that gender identity is an innate, fixed human property independent of biological sex—so that a person might be a ‘man trapped in a woman’s body’ or ‘a woman trapped in a man’s body’—is   not supported by scientific evidence . Only a minority of children who express gender-atypical thoughts or behavior will continue to do so into adolescence or adulthood. There is   no evidence   that all such children should be encouraged to become transgender, much less subjected to hormone treatments or surgery. Non-heterosexual and transgender people have higher rates of mental health problems (anxiety, depression, suicide), as well as behavioral and social problems (substance abuse, intimate partner violence), than the general population. Discrimination alone   does not account for t...

Am I putting in conscious effort (work) into learning something new from God, whether in the scripture I read or the sermon I hear? Do I carefully examine the text of each song I sing in church or just blindly get caught up in the catchy melody or ongoing repetition? Does my hunger for the food of God’s word match my hunger for physical food? Are they fed even   close   to equally? (Jeremiah 15:16) Do I know where in my church I can be taught from God’s word,   besides   Sunday morning service? Where are my time and money being spent   most ? Am I too busy for regular corporate   and   personal study of God’s word because of other things? Is the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and growth an invested priority in my life? (Matt. 6:21) These excellent questions appeared in an article by David Bordy.  Link

Our feelings, as real as they are, are a poor barometer of the truth. The only solid unshakable unfailing truth we have is God’s word. No matter what we feel, we need to go to the Bible to discern the reality of our situation. We may feel like God has abandoned us but his word says he will never leave us nor forsake us. We may feel like God is distant and uninvolved, but he tells us in his word he is a very present help in trouble. Mark Altrogge in the article " The Truth About our Feelings ."

Today's question comes from a potent article by Aimee Byrd. In their article for The Weekly Standard , Judith Miller and Ann Marlowe highlight Kim Kardashian, who kicked off a whole slew of celebrity support sending the message that they can be proud to post their naked bodies on social media for all to admire. The authors conclude, “Sharing nude selfies is just the latest form of ‘empowerment,’ or exhibitionism, at the expense of self-respect.” What is it that makes women want to expose themselves in such desperate fashion, demanding strangers to venerate their bodies? And why do they have to keep assuring everyone that there’s no shame in it? Are their beautiful, naked bodies their glory? Read the whole article HERE

We are looking forward to hosting missionaries this Sunday in our church.  Here are ten missions quotes to get us in the mood.  The list was compiled by Mike Livingstone. “Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us.” – Keith Wright “Let my heart be broken with the things that break God’s heart.” – Bob Pierce “To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations with Him.” – John Piper “We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.” – John Stott “The Lord did not tell us to build beautiful churches, but to evangelize the world” – Oswald J. Smith “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” – Oswald J. Smith “Go, send, or disobey.” – John Piper “If the Great Commission is true, our plans are not too big; they are too small.” – Pat Morley “A congregation that is not deeply and earnestly involved in the worldwide proclamation of the gospel does not understand the nature...

“Have it your way” has creeped into the gathering. Too often, we can (often times unaware) come into our churches on Sunday and want it to our liking. Instead of saying, “ketchup, mayo, pickle only please,” we say: “hymns only, only current stuff, too loud, too soft, why is he leading, oh great that guy is preaching... please.” We can easily slip into an “arms crossed, apathetic” disposition because we don’t like what is being “served” that day. But worship isn’t about us. It begins and ends with our God. He is worthy! What if the gospel shaped our approach to Sunday gatherings more than a burger joint does? What if we spent the week being influenced by the saving truth that the Son of God left the glories of heaven for the slums of the earth and then died for us so that we might have eternal life? What if we closed our eyes and imagined our King on His throne, listening to the praises of His people? We’d have a unified, powerful time of worship where voices are raised as...

God may not do what we ask, but we must never think it’s because He is not able to do it .— D.A.   Carson

Back in 1988, a little book was sent around to most pastors in the Canada and the U.S.  It was entitled, "88 Reasons Jesus Will Come Back in '88."  Needless to say, Jesus did not come back in 1988.  So what do we learn from this stupidity?  Absolutely nothing.  There is a new pamphlet being sent around entitled, "17 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be On September 22, 2017." What part of Jesus' words don't we get?  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows , not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding bat...

By Erik Raymond How can you tell that your pastor loves you? This could get tricky. We might be tempted to exegete his facial expressions, evaluate his manners, or consider whether or not he sends you a birthday card. However, the Bible actually gives several ways that demonstrate this love. One of the ways the pastor shows his love is by feeding the flock (the church) the Word of God. Where do we get this point from? There are many places in the Bible, but a good place to see this is in John chapter 21. “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”” ( John 21:15 ) Jesus tells Peter to feed his lambs. He says the same thing in verse 17. The word has to do with caring for or looking after the flock. In the Middle Eastern agrarian culture the shepherd would lead his flock to food and the still waters of refreshment. He ...

There are few days in my life when I am more pathetic than the first day back to work after vacation.  My personal pity party is quite something to behold.  What is lacking is a good old dose of perspective to remind me that my "griefs" pale in comparison to what most of the world faces each day.  It took a comic strip to give me that perspective this morning.

Your life should be built on fact. Theological fact first. The way the world actually is, second, meaning natural revelation. I would put math third. All such facts are just the way a foundation ought to be—hard, cold, rigid concrete. It doesn’t wobble. If you anchor your feelings to such facts, the end result is that your feelings will be disciplined by them, and you will finally be able to enjoy your feelings. Feelings are like children—when they are wild and undisciplined they are no fun at all. Little hellions is what they are. Nothing worse than chaotic feelings with runny noses. Doug Wilson Taken from the article Little Hellions