We need more churches. To be more specific: we need more gospel-centered churches in more areas of missional need. In general, church planting is the most effective form of evangelism and more churches reach more people.

What we don't need, however, are more churches planted for wrong reasons. What...

Wrestling the Giant: Why I Deleted Instagram

Andrew Peterson provides some helpful wisdom on the woes of social media, and why he is choosing to step back from it. 

When the Thinker Decides to Kneel

Rebecca Reynolds writes to those who analyze and think through every angle of Scripture. She...

Growing up my family had a tradition of making traditions. On April 15th, a certain twelve-year-old girl was desperately craving cheesecake, and I begged my dad to pick some up on the way home from work. Like the dutiful father he is, he brought the delicacy home, and we gorged ourselves. From that...

"He hath commanded his covenant forever."-- Psalms 111:9

The Lord's people delight in the covenant itself. It is an unfailing source of consolation to them so often as the Holy Spirit leads them into its banqueting house and waves its banner of love. They delight to contemplate the antiquity of that...

Last year was the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which heralded The five solaes (sola, meaning “alone” in Latin), as the core foundation for the Christian Faith. It is vital to understand these five truths because they separate Christianity from every other...

There’s no secret to being a disciple-maker. Paul gave us clear instruction on how to do this, and it couldn’t be simpler:

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,...

If we spent some time together, it’s likely we’d soon learn what each other is passionate about. We make it known by what we say and how we say it. Imagine you were able to run all of your words spoken in a month through a concordance software. What would be the most common word you...

Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice  — Epitaph of Christopher Wren, 1723, St. Paul’s Cathedral

Twelve years after the completion of the beautiful and historic St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, it’s architect, Christopher Wren, died. Following the destruction of...

Recently, the church I pastor, Sycamore Baptist Church, began a small group specifically devoted to parenting. The group is designed to encourage and equip parents to parent from a gospel-centered perspective rather than from a man-centered perspective. To that end, we are studying Christ-Centered...

The Pointer, Not the Point

What is the function of a signpost? They are designed not to be the point, but to point to the point. They declare to you the purpose, the objective of why they exist; why they are planted on the side of the road is written on them. Now some of us have pictures...

It is misguided and a dangerous misconception to base God’s acceptance of you on your worthiness, or attempt to comfort others with the concept that, “underneath it all, you are actually beautiful in character, and therefore truly deserving of God’s love.”

Why?

1. You...

When it comes to evaluating the call to pastoral ministry, the first question a man must ask is: Am I godly?

The moral requirements for a pastor are spelled out clearly in 1 Timothy 1:3-7, which says:

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble...

I once served as an interim student pastor at a church about forty minutes from where I lived. A few days a week, I would make the drive away from the city to this small town. During the drive, I would pass through another small town and would see a billboard advertising a...

It is hard to pin down what is difficult about pastoral ministry for people unfamiliar with it. Many laypeople see their pastor once or twice a week during Lord’s Day worship or a church activity. A few may see him more frequently if they are involved in volunteer ministry or are being...

I know, I know, I can already hear the objections and excuses. We pastors are often tired, overworked, and burdened men. That is exactly why I ask you to consider being involved in VBS and/or Christian camp ministry next summer, or this summer if it’s not too late. We need the joy these...

What Lies Beyond The Welcome?

Michelle Van Loon writes on hospitality in the church. She shares that we are all responsible for welcoming newcomers into our church, even when we don't feel like we can or should.

Make ‘God Talk’ an Everyday Part of Family Life

A child's spiritual education...

"Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength."-- Psalm 31:4

Our spiritual foes are of the serpent's brood, and seek to ensnare us by subtlety. The prayer before us supposes the possibility of the believer being caught like a bird. So deftly does the fowler do...

“Complacency is the Devil’s word.” – Lewis Allen

I came across this quote while reading Lewis Allen’s The Preacher’s Catechism. It not only stood out on the page but it burned itself into my mind. I couldn’t shake thinking about it. I couldn’t move...

I don’t remember all the details of the conversation. My wife and I were sitting together. It was the evening time. We had this corner in our apartment that we called “the nook.” It was between the dining room and the kitchen and it had enough space to fit two armchairs, a table...

The minivan was packed, my wife and kids were waiting, and I paced once more through the house, making sure I wasn’t forgetting anything important. It wasn’t long after the van pulled away that I realized what I had missed.

How could I have once again forgotten something so essential for...

I can honestly say that I’ve grown to love visiting my church members when they’re staying in the hospital. I’m surprised to hear myself say that, since there was a time when I positively despised hospital visitation. I’m a rather shy guy by nature who has a...

Editor's Note: This post is Part 3 of a 3-part series. Click to read Part 1 and Part 2.

Our journey through "Come Thou Fount" comes to a close with this third and final verse. My hope is that the Church at-large will again find great refuge in the rich hymns of old. As we do so, may...

Every pastor knows the constant weight of sermon preparation. Sunday is a standing, unmovable deadline. It is like living in final exam week, with a massive deadline before you every Lord’s Day. But the preacher’s test is a public one, for all to see. He will be judged by God’s...

It has been exciting to see a surge in church planting happening around the world. I believe that planting churches, or should I say, planting churches well, is probably the most effective strategy for reaching those without Christ that there has ever been. Now that you know I’m pro-church...

"[Pray] at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:18-19).

This...