Posts from November 2023
5 Things at the Heart of a Pastoral Visit
One of the privileges of being involved in pastoral ministry is being able to visit you, whether that is in your home, out for a meal, or in some other place. I read an article a few months ago in which a pastor shared his thoughts on what it might be helpful for you to bear in mind when you receive a pastoral visit (whether from me, one of the elders, or one of your brothers and sisters in Christ).…
Why is Jesus’ birth so important to Christians?
The reality of Christmas is astonishing if you think about it. The God of the universe became a human being. If you’ve been a follower of Jesus for a while, the reality of Christmas and the Incarnation (God becoming human) may not hit you all that hard. The very reason Jesus came was to be born – ultimately to die and give His life as a ransom for many for the forgiveness of sins. The reality of Christmas made this…
Persevere in Praying for Unbelieving Love Ones
Here’s an article I read in the last month called “Persevere in Praying for Unbelieving Loved Ones.” The author shares, Praying for the salvation of a loved one over the course of a lifetime without losing hope is hard work. It takes spiritual muscles that many of us haven’t used. It takes perseverance. We persevere in the hard work of praying for unsaved family members and friends by anchoring our prayers in the truth of Scripture and the character of…
We Can Always be Friendly
Here’s a wonderful article I read recently called “We can always be friendly” that encourages us to do something that I think many of us already see as important. It’s written in the context of something that small churches can do well, but although we’re quite a lot larger than a small church, it seems to me equally relevant to us as well. Friendliness towards those who come through our doors might be harder in a larger church, but it’s…
Grow in Contentment Through Worship
“Paul had experienced the best and the worst of life in this world. He knew what it was to be “brought low” and he knew what it was to “abound.” He knew what it was to have “plenty” and he knew what it was to be in “need.” Paul had experienced life at the top and life at the bottom. He knew the full range of human experience and he says, “In every circumstance, I have learned to be content.” The implication…