In all my years of pastoring, I have learned this lesson: a person's spiritual maturity is not truly visible until they DON'T get their way. Then you see the person.
Sinclair Ferguson's "10 Commandments" for preachers:
1. Know your Bible better
2. Be a man of prayer.
3. Don't lose sight of Christ
4. Be deeply Trinitarian
5. Use your imagination
6. Speak much of sin and grace
7. Use "the plain style"
8. Find your own voice
9. Learn how to transition*
10. Love your people.
*pastorally bringing hearers from old ways of thinking and living to new ways
(HT: @Andrew_Roycroft)
@AshFarms No, you got the right one. There are different translations of the Bible. Some will argue one or another is best (some are more literal) but the New Living will be easy to understand. You’re fine.
And he didn’t come to America. That is the Book of Mormon which isn’t true Bible.
@AshFarms The reason most are saying John is that it will give you a clear picture of who Jesus said he was (and why) and also a clear understanding of the good news of his life, death, and resurrection (and why they are important).
I learned how to love the Bible because of him. I’m reformed largely because of his ministry and those who learned from him. He kept the faith and finished the race.
Our hearts are heavy, yet rejoicing, as we share the news that our beloved pastor and teacher John MacArthur has entered into the presence of the Savior. This evening, his faith became sight. He faithfully endured until his race was run.
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Even though we pastors preach grace, we have a hard time receiving it.
We think of ourselves as helpers more than the helped.
Frankly, the cross shatters that perspective.
So, pastors, with great joy and freedom... let's take our rightful place as first in line at the cross — and preach from there.
👉 1 Tim 1:15-16
Suffering can either move us toward God, or move us away from him and consequently away from being fully human and alive. -Dan Allender, The Healing Path
Post election call to action:
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
-1 Tim 2:1-2
Christian, as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, we vote today and wait for the results trusting in our God who measures the waters of the earth in the hollow of his hand and measures the universe with his fingers tips.
Hoping in election results leads to fear. Hope in Jesus instead
NEW: JD Vance tells Americans they are making a “terrible mistake” if they end lifelong friendships because of the election.
A good reminder.
Vance opened up about some of his personal friends who don’t agree with his politics.
“If you're discarding a lifelong friendship because somebody votes for the other team, then you've made a terrible, terrible mistake and you should do something different.”
“Most of my family obviously is gonna vote for Donald Trump and JD Vance, and if they're not, actually, I need to talk to 'em, but, I've got friends who like me personally, acquaintances, who aren't necessarily gonna vote for me.”
“That doesn't make them bad people. Whether you vote for me, whether you vote for Donald Trump, whether you vote for Kamala Harris…”
“Don't cast aside family members and lifelong friendships. Politics is not worth it. And I think we follow that principle. We'll heal the divide in this country.“