Save room for church coffee
I really liked this one: ‘Every Sunday morning, I save one cup of coffee for church, even though we have better coffee already brewed at home. I drink a cup at home but then save room for a styrofoam cup filled by an ancient-looking machine called an urn… the industrial-strength stuff served in most congregations around the country. And it all tastes the same. Trust me, I’ve been sipping it every week since middle school. It’s Baptists’ preferred kind of sipping.’
How not to handle a pastoral succession
‘Pastoral transitions are among the most delicate moments in a church’s life. Retiring pastors, incoming leaders, and church leadership teams each have a vital role to play in ensuring a smooth and God-honoring transition. When approached with humility, wisdom, and trust in God’s sovereignty, these transitions can strengthen the church for generations to come.’
How Many Hours Must a Pastor Work to Satisfy the Congregation?
‘Ministry is a calling, but it is also a role performed by humans with finite time and energy. Honest conversations about expectations—rooted in grace and mutual understanding—can lead to healthier relationships between pastors and their congregations.’
Why Hospitality in the New Testament Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Does
Michael Kruger explains how hospitality would have been understood in the Ancient world and how their understanding might be different to ours.
Three Levels of Sermon Introduction
Tim Challies: ‘Though every sermon necessarily needs a beginning, it does not necessarily need a formal introduction. Though it has to begin somewhere, there is no rule that it must begin with some kind of story or illustration. A preacher can jump straight into his text if he so desires. Some do. However, many preachers, and perhaps even most, do choose to begin with a kind of “bridge” from the service to the sermon—a way of capturing the listeners’ attention and drawing them into the exposition. In this way, the introduction serves as a kind of hook to intrigue a congregation and motivate them to listen.’
What would I like you to know about Islam, Muslims and immigration?
As one of those who lives and works in an area with a high Muslim population, and whose church is in an area of Oldham that is dominated by Muslims, I would like to co-sign this one. I think the issues involved are much more complex and nuanced than many with big platforms and big voices often seem to permit.
From the archive: Don’t play your people out of position
‘Good management in the church must also include recognising the gifts, talents and abilities of people within your church and employing them for the good of the kingdom. We aren’t managing God’s people well if we keep putting people to work in posts where they are simply unable to fulfil the function. Everybody can, of course, do something. And we recognise the empowering work of the Holy Spirit to do it. But we don’t do well to try and turn every false 9 into a right forward.’