Disciple of Christ. Husband to Rachel. Father to Hannah and Jonathan. Professor of Theology @cedarville. Member of University Baptist Church. Ezra 7:10
This is a good read @cedarville students, especially to the young men. Take the risk, pursue a biblical marriage, prioritize your family, live together for the glory of God.
https://t.co/PLHoKcJuw7
Plurality isn’t the problem.
Unclear leadership is.
More voices ≠ more direction.
Healthy churches need both:
Shared authority + clear leadership.
👉 https://t.co/HlGBNCGOm4
The Spirit-filled life is committed to believing the Scripture and to obeying it from the heart. To the degree that Christians’ lives are Spirit-filled, their minds and lives are Bible-saturated.
https://t.co/H2Lsmjbohg
Young men aspiring to pastoral ministry, grace is powerful enough to keep you from lapsing into sin your entire ministry. Don’t doubt it.
It’s okay to be discouraged when you see good men lapse. But that doesn’t mean you will.
Look to Jesus, the Author & Finisher of your faith.
Most Reformed today preaching is just lecturing, not preaching. I blame it on the idolatry of the redemptive historical method. Untethered from experimental application, it leaves both saint & sinner untouched. It doesn't apply, doesn't press the conscience, doesn't woo, doesn't cut & heal, doesn’t search the heart. It's just data dumping. It's a seminary lecture in a pulpit. It comes across as either a lengthy theological paper better suited for a PhD dissertation, or vague and mushy platitudes. The result is dead orthodoxy, puffed up heads, & antinomian tendencies. That's why experimental preaching is needed more than ever in our day of cold, cozy, formal religiosity. And before you think this is a shot at everyone else, I'm talking about my own pulpit ministry as well. Lord, help us to preach a felt Christ!
Each month I meet with a man in my church's pastoral training program to talk about sedes doctrinae (foundational passages of Scripture for specific Christian doctrines).
Today we discussed how the biblical authors speak of Scripture's nature, meaning and purpose.
We looked at:
· 2 Tim. 3:14–17
· 1 Pet. 1:10–12
· 2 Pet. 1:16–21
· John 5:39–46
· Ps. 119:9, 11, 105, 130, 160
· Luke 24:25–27, 44–45
· John 17:17
· Prov. 30:5–6
· Heb. 4:12
· 1 Thes. 2:13
· 2 Pet. 3:15–16
· Isa. 40:8; 55:10–11
· 1 Pet. 1:23–25
· Matt. 4:1–11 (= Luke 4:1–13)
· Mark 7:13 (= Matt. 15:4)
· James 1:21–25
· Luke 16:29–31
The goal is familiarize himself with the key concepts in each verse or passage, so that he has a firm grasp of a particular doctrine. He also has to memorize a few of the key passages.
This is a great practice for anyone really, but especially for men pursuing a call to the pastorate.
Bread and circuses, bread and circuses...
The world is in turmoil and is being shaken by God- while hundreds of thousands of men stand around waiting to hear a 22 year old's name being selected for their favorite team. They chant for this player. They fight over him. And they proudly wear the names of other men across their backs.
Now you know why America and the West is the way it is...
7 habits of highly effective brains:
Sleep 7-9 hours each night
Start the day with an intention
Time block email & social media use
Reframe mistakes as learning
Listen more than you talk
Watch your thought-life
Take time to think deeply
The worst thing God can do for you is let you succeed in a way that untethers you from him. Boast gladly in your weaknesses as He is glorified in you (read 2 Corinthians).