When I was a recent college graduate I had expressed an interest in attending seminary. I sensed a call on my life to serve in ordained ministry. At the time I was a theological neophyte and was looking for good books to read.
Tag Archives: A Pastor’s Reflection Series
A Pastor’s Reflections: Be Somebody or Do Something?
Over the years I have had many students come into my office and ask me about pursuing doctoral studies. One of the first questions I ask them is, “Why?”
A Pastor’s Reflections: Flaws
There are preachers and theologians to whom we listen and read. They fill our hearts with joy because they excel at pointing us to Christ. They move us to tears when we hear them preach, or they instill zeal in our hearts when we read their thunderous prose.
A Pastor’s Reflections: The Inner Ring
One of the terms that has become popular in the last year is the deep state. In other words, people recognize that there is the recognized government, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, but that at a deeper level there is a group of people and institutions that truly make the decisions and run things.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Understanding Doctrine
As a professor and minister I regularly evaluate students to determine whether they possess the requisite theological knowledge to pass their exams. After a thirteen week semester students must take their final exam to demonstrate they have mastered the knowledge they have learned.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Consider
On this day as you revel in the cheer of the season, open gifts, celebrate with family, and perhaps take off to the movie theater to catch the latest show, consider that our triune God loved you before the foundation of the world.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Study Breaks
Over the years I have read and watched presbyteries review pastoral calls, and one of the regular benefits I’ve seen is a one or two-week study break. It’s fairly common, but what is the study break and what’s the best way to use one?
A Pastor’s Reflections: Sanity in the Swarm of Gnats
In my college days, I used to play in my church’s softball league. I had a lot of fun playing softball with my fellow teammates. In fact, I played in the fall, spring, and summer leagues—almost year-round.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Now Thank We All Our God
One of the things my family does each Thanksgiving is, before we partake of our meal, we sing the first verse of the hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God,” which states
A Pastor’s Reflections: The Dangers of Bitterness
One of the biggest dangers in the pastorate is growing bitter towards your church. Ministry can wear on you very quickly. Whenever I’ve heard a pastor tell me that they’ve served for twenty or thirty years, I always comment that I’m impressed. Why? Because years in the pastorate are dog years—they take a toll.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
The famous nineteenth-century novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells the story of Dr. Jekyll who would transform into the evil Mr. Hyde. Even though the novel was an early foray into science fiction, the book captures an aspect of sin-fallen condition.
A Pastor’s Reflections: License to Sin?
One of the more common patterns that appears in the church is when people find themselves in the midst of suffering, they believe they have a license to sin. Sometimes they do this consciously, although at times it might be an involuntary reaction.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Considering a Call
What things should you consider when you’re considering taking a call? Some seminarians don’t think much about it and are willing to serve wherever they can get a church, but others have very specific criteria including the type of church, geographic location, and even the specific role they want to play (e.g., an associate or solo pastor).
A Pastor’s Reflections: Why I Write, part 2
In last week’s post I gave the first four reasons why I write: to be a good steward, to improve my communication skills, to improve my teaching, and to make helpful contributions to the church’s ongoing discussion of doctrine. In this week’s post, I conclude with the final three reasons.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Why I Write, part 1
Over the years I have had a number of people ask me why do I write theology books and essays, so I figured I’d do the expected thing and write an answer! I don’t know why other people write, but I have my own reasons.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Frozen Chosen?
Reformed churches have a long-standing reputation for being the “frozen chosen.” There are a number of historic factors that contribute to this well-known but mistaken characterization including a concern for the purity of doctrine, worship practices that are fitting for the majesty and holiness of the God we worship, and a desire to use church discipline in a biblical but nevertheless pastoral manner.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Eschatological Bombs
When new seminarians first begin their theological education I suspect they are overwhelmed with the tidal wave of new terminology that comes their way.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Crossing Lines
In my time as a pastor I regularly encountered people who were in dire straits—unemployed, homeless, struggling with addiction, and the like. I feel sorry for people when they suffer and always did what I could to render assistance.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Cruciform Ministry and Joy
When Christians hear of the cruciform life they think that misery and sadness will mark their lives. All we have to do is read through the Bible and we quickly find the heart-wrenching cries of the saints.
A Pastor’s Reflections: Cruciform Ministry and Sacrifice
One of the more prominent words in the Scriptures is sacrifice. It appears throughout the Old Testament and in the instructions for the temple priestly service, but it also appears in the New Testament.