Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Excellent Essay on Pastoral Ministry
Courteous Reader,
I recently renewed an old blogship (friendship made through blogging) with a fellow pastor, Barry Maxwell, who ministers in a church in Tennessee. He was asked to address a class at a Baptist college, and wrote a manuscript of his remarks for the occasion. He has briefly described the experience and generously posted the manuscript on his blog. I highly recommend it.
Here is the link:
http://bjmaxwell.com/2010/03/09/strive-to-be-ordinary/
Here is one of the helpful thoughts, to whet your appetite:
"Some medicine is best taken on a full stomach, or else it causes more pain than the ailment. Likewise, imperatives are digested far easier and with greater hope by souls full of the gospel."
That's just what Paul did in his epistles! Consider how Romans chapters 1-11 is all about how God has saved us by His Son Jesus Christ. Then chapter 12 begins with "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God . . ." and goes on to tell us how we should live, all in response to the salvation given by God's grace.
In Brother Barry's essay, there is also material about humility. But I'm already perfectly humble, and proud of it, so I didn't need any of that. :)
Love in Christ,
Jeff
I recently renewed an old blogship (friendship made through blogging) with a fellow pastor, Barry Maxwell, who ministers in a church in Tennessee. He was asked to address a class at a Baptist college, and wrote a manuscript of his remarks for the occasion. He has briefly described the experience and generously posted the manuscript on his blog. I highly recommend it.
Here is the link:
http://bjmaxwell.com/2010/03/09/strive-to-be-ordinary/
Here is one of the helpful thoughts, to whet your appetite:
"Some medicine is best taken on a full stomach, or else it causes more pain than the ailment. Likewise, imperatives are digested far easier and with greater hope by souls full of the gospel."
That's just what Paul did in his epistles! Consider how Romans chapters 1-11 is all about how God has saved us by His Son Jesus Christ. Then chapter 12 begins with "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God . . ." and goes on to tell us how we should live, all in response to the salvation given by God's grace.
In Brother Barry's essay, there is also material about humility. But I'm already perfectly humble, and proud of it, so I didn't need any of that. :)
Love in Christ,
Jeff
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tabernacle Experience?
Courteous Reader,
Have you heard about the "Tabernacle Experience"? It made the front page of this week's Southern Baptist Texan newspaper, and was brought to my attention by a dear brother, a pastor in another Baptist church. I have been thinking about this phenomenon, and am concerned about some aspects of it.
Would you be interested in examining it with me? If so, let's start with the founder's statement about how she came to create the "Tabernacle Experience." Here's the link to her page:
http://www.tabernacleexperience.com/founder.html
What do you think about her description of her experience?
How do you think this verse applies here:
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
I look forward to reading your ideas.
Love in Christ,
Jeff
Have you heard about the "Tabernacle Experience"? It made the front page of this week's Southern Baptist Texan newspaper, and was brought to my attention by a dear brother, a pastor in another Baptist church. I have been thinking about this phenomenon, and am concerned about some aspects of it.
Would you be interested in examining it with me? If so, let's start with the founder's statement about how she came to create the "Tabernacle Experience." Here's the link to her page:
http://www.tabernacleexperience.com/founder.html
What do you think about her description of her experience?
How do you think this verse applies here:
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
I look forward to reading your ideas.
Love in Christ,
Jeff
Labels: Tabernacle Experience
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
