11 articles.
The Christian life is marked by numerous paradoxes. To name a few, Christians live by dying (John 12:24-25), are exalted by humiliation (Matt. 23:12; James 4:10; Phil. 2:5-11), and are freed from sin by being bound to Christ (Rom.
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Pastoral Ministry/Leadership Practicum at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS), I had the God-given privilege of attending the annual For the Church conference virtually and reading a wide range of books on Christian leadership and pastoral ministry. The conference's theme in 2025 was "Kingdom Come: Ministry in Light of Glory." The morale and energy of the conference reflected this: The Kingdom had come, and the King was present in our worship and the proclamation of His Word.
The pastor's job is a difficult one. Not only are they expected to carry out their duties on Sunday at church and other weekly meetings, but their responsibilities transcend what is commonly assumed. Sunday services are expected to "be gospel-centered through regular preaching that lifts up Christ through the exposition of the Word, and [provide an] order of service that serve[s] to exalt Christ," yet this gospel-centeredness is not meant for Sundays alone.
The church is a lot like an automobile. It is composed of parts that work together to carry passengers down the road. Similarly, the church as a body is made up of parts.
Reju, Deepak. On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2014. 210 pp.
Just like any other entity in the world that has a constant flow of money and resources, churches have to manage their finances. However, this management is not like any other management. It is a stewarding of the resources that God has given a church to use for His glory and His people.
There are many characteristics of a Christian leader. Leading as a Christian requires humility, service, candor, ambition, balance, intentionality, and many other characteristics. However, to explain Christian leadership through characteristics in a short essay is a tremendous task.
Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2007. 244 pp. $15.99.
Wax, Trevin. The Multi-Directional Leader: Responding Wisely to Challenges from Every Side. Austin, TX: The Gospel Coalition, 2021. 88 pp. $14.99.
Edward Welch, a decorated author and counselor, earned his M.Div. degree from Biblical Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Utah in 1981. The same year, he started work for both the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and Westminster Theological Seminary where he serves as the director of counseling/academic dean and professor of practical theology, respectively.
Tripp, Paul D. Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020. 231 pp. $26.99.