For Younger Pastors

I’ve not had much original content in the last few weeks. There are a couple of reasons for that, but the most significant one is that I haven’t had many original thoughts. 😁

Here are a list of links to articles you’ll find helpful for your self and your people.

Lydia Brownback has a podcast on Crossway’s website on how to lead a Bible Study. Leading a Bible Study group is not always that easy. Suggested listening!

Dr. Phil Ryken has a podcast on How to Read (and Not Read) the Bible. Hey – if your people are still in semi-shutdown why not forward helpful articles or podcasts to them? It would be far better for them to read/listen to these kinds of things than spend time on social media.

The problem of pornography is something that Christians have addressed often, and I can’t imagine Christians quibbling over whether porn is appropriate. However, it’s not often that a secular source deals with the subject. This article from The Federalist, a conservative political magazine, is worth reading. I don’t recall any naughty words, so if you find one, I apologize in advance.

Here’s an hour-long podcast by Pastor Won Kwak on writing sermons. We should be regularly looking to improve our preaching and here’s a good resource.

Aaron Earls writes about a study of churches who are gathering again in this period of pandemic.

Burk Parsons encourages behaving ourselves when we talk with each other. Several other writers have addressed this theme, but it is an important reminder. Send this to your people. Or post a link to it on your social media account.

David Murray has written several times lately on the subject of depression and anxiety. Here’s an article on prayer during depression. Keep it and share it. And here’s another keeper on understanding teen anxiety and depression.

Have you ever been discouraged as a pastor? Even during good periods of ministry there are issues that discourage. Jim Eliff shares some counsel for discouraged pastors.

There’s a lot going on that makes people afraid. Jonathan Rourke writes about how we can best care for fearful church members.

Simple title: America Was Never Home. I need this reminder. Do you or your people?

It may be painful to ask ourselves if you are exploiting your church, but it’s important that we do.

---

Have a great week!

Each Monday or Tuesday I provide links to some articles that I think will be helpful to pastors. While older pastors don’t have all the answers, these articles are often especially helpful to you younger guys.

Thankfully the majority of preachers I’ve heard treat the text of Scripture fairly and faithfully. But I’ve heard some who, while well meaning, find “truths” that aren’t there. Here’s one reason this happens.

When I first had kids TV was the only “screen” that they had, and it was always possible to let them have too much TV time. Then came video games, followed my computer games, followed by the internet, followed by phones and tablets. While it’s easy to keep kids occupied with these devices, there’s a price to pay if it’s not monitored. Share this with your parents. Well, not your parents, but the parents in your church.

Colin Adams writes about something most of us deal with – the very long time it is taking to get back to “normal church.”

From time to time there are articles that I think pastors should just leave lying around in visible spots for people to take. If you have people who are looking for the perfect church, here’s one to make available.

This article, by H.B. Charles is about preaching the tone of the text. So many times we ignore not only context (see the first article above) but the tone.

Here’s a half-hour podcast from Carl Truman and Todd Pruitt on church leaders and social media. Todd recently jettisoned Twitter and Carl is one of the most astute commentators on “what’s going on” that I’ve read/heard.

Kevin Vanhoozer write about a topic I’ve been thinking about a lot (again) of late. I’m letting some thoughts marinate for a future post that relates to the theme of doctrine in the life of the Christian. The title of this piece is Doctrine for Discipleship.

Here’s another article for preaching. Bryan Chapell discusses the importance of balance when dealing with imperatives and indicatives in the Biblical text. This article, and the other two above, are probably the kinds of preaching helps we should read every few months.

I’ll close this week’s list with another by H.B. Charles on sermon introductions. I wrote about this months ago. It’s an important topic.

---

I hope you have a good week!

Each Monday or Tuesday I provide links to some articles that I think will be helpful to pastors. While older pastors don’t have all the answers, these articles are often especially helpful to you younger guys.

Before I give this week’s links, I want to point you to an article my friend Cynthia Epply wrote last week. Cynthia served as a counselor for many years. Many, many, many years, right Cynthia? 😇 She encountered a situation by chance, and if you love baseball, whiffle ball, family, or just want to read about something good coming out of the pandemic, take a look at this article.

Now here are some helpful links for this week.

“Future Pastors Need Mentors” is a challenge not only to experienced pastors, but to you guys who might be starting out or still in seminary.

We evangelical Christians have often been guilty of using some really questionable means of finding God’s will. One of the best books on the subject is Kevin DeYoung’s Just Do Something. But here is an article about the dubious practice of “putting out a fleece.”

One of the ways you can be a better preacher is by planning in advance. The folks at 9Marks talk about planning a preaching calendar.

John Piper writes about the solemn charge to every pastor.

With some presidential candidates past and present identifying themselves as Christians, the late RC Sproul and some other well-known pastors talk about the theology of candidates and how it should/shouldn’t affect how we vote.

David Murray has written some helpful material for those who suffer from anxiety or depression. I believe it’s vital that pastors read up on these issues and grasp the various dimensions of both. If we don’t, we’re likely not only to be unhelpful, we may be hurtful. Anyway, here’s an article on prayer to share with those who struggle.

Jeff Robinson, on the Crossway Podcast, talks about the Blessings and Burdens of Pastoral Ministry.

Back in the day I used to thumb through the hymnal our church used and wince at some of the awful theology some songs contained. The church used to have a staple of 500-600 hymns. Today we have a plethora (note – side humor) of songs: some good, some not-so-good, some really bad. How do we choose what to sing? This article talks about how the Psalms can teach us what to sing.

---

That’s all for today. Have a great week. Let me modify what one network anchor says: “We’re one week closer to the New Heavens and New Earth.”

Here are some links you will find helpful. Some to file, some to read and share. Enjoy!

Important! Important! David Murray had several posts recently on the subject of teen anxiety and depression. This is stuff to read, save, share. There are a lot of hurting kids out there.

Did you ever feel that your small group is not what you expected or what you’d like it to be? Brad House has a helpful post right here. And then head over to this article on small groups.

We have lots of questions about life after death. What was life after death like during the OT period. Matthew Emerson writes about Sheol: Exploring the Afterlife in the OT.

Vaneetha Rendall Risner, writing at Desiring God, shares some thoughts for people who have lost a child. You’ll encounter this very painful situation. This article will help you navigate it and say the right things.

Was Jesus without sin? CNN host Don Lemon recently commented that he was “not perfect.” While this response is from a conservative publication, it is an excellent theological defense of the sinlessness of Christ.

Jenny Whitaker speaks to an issue that all pastors can relate to – being concerned about pleasing people.

My friend Cynthia Epply has some thoughts on the cancel culture that is growing in our society. And they are worth reading.

Quina Aragon and Eugene Park speak to how to minister to “wounded and straying sheep in a pandemic.”

This article is one to read, reflect on how it relates to the climate you’re creating in your church, and then send to your congregation with a note that says, “I found this interesting. What do you think?”

John Folmar writes about “The Danger of Sending Unqualified Missionaries.”

I’ve written a couple of times about finding companions in ministry. This article, titled “Uncommon Brothers” reminds us why this is so important.

And that’ll do it for this week. Have a good one!

Another week is ahead of us, filled with opportunities and challenges. Here’s a group of links to helpful resources.

First, my wife and I watched Alistair Begg yesterday morning and his message was spot on for the times. I appreciate how he can speak to current events while letting the text dominate the message. It’s worth watching this both for its content and as an example of good preaching.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the Psalms over the last few years and I notice that as the age we live in becomes more troubled there are more and more articles being written about the value of this OT book. Here are 4 Reasons to Preach the Psalms to Ourselves.

Another topic getting a good deal of attention is the way Christians behave on social media. Sharp Tongues and Angry Tweets is worth reading and passing on.

This article points to a podcast that provides the opportunity to listen to recordings of history’s greatest sermons. Not the originals of course, but worth checking out.

Crossway has a podcast that is worth checking. This particlar podcast is on Learning from the Church Fathers by Michael Haykin.

For churcn planters: The Secret to Church Planting (From a Former Muslim).

Some of you have been there, others are there right now. It’s going to happen to all pastors sooner or later. Read and file: How to Pray When You Want to Give up in Ministry.

All pastors and church leaders want to see their churches grow. Aaron Menikoff shares 5 Reasons to Pray Your Church Would Grow Slowly.

It’s so much easier to talk than to listen. But if we want to help people – really help people – we need to be better at the latter than the former. Here’s some help.

Again, you may have been there, others are there right now. Some of your people may feel that No One Understands.

That’s all for this week! I have an article rolling around my mind for probably Thursday. Have a great one!!