15 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.
Expository preaching is a central function and practice of the Christian ministry because it is through the proclamation of the Word that God reveals Himself to the world, saves His people, and ordains them to service for His glory. It is God's appointed means by which He makes Himself known. Therefore, a systematic theology of preaching must not begin with those who exposit the Scriptures or those who hear the message, but with God Himself, who speaks, saves, and sanctifies through His written and spoken Word.
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.
Matt Perman is a Christian author and thinker who has worked at the intersection of theology and productivity for many years. He previously served at Desiring God under John Piper and later with Made to Flourish, an organization that equips pastors and churches for flourishing ministries. Currently, he is employed by King's College in New York City, where he serves as the Director of Career Development—a fitting position for someone with as much expertise in the areas of productivity and growth.
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 spiritual disciplines assignment beginning in week one was transformative. I started the course very excited about this assignment, for I have previously struggled with Scripture reading and prayer, focusing most of my attention on my courses. While I recognize that learning is also a discipline to be embraced, I acknowledge now that it has led to the neglect of other, more crucial disciplines.
The biblical basis for Gospel centrality or centeredness is found in many sections of Scripture, but a passage that demonstrates this ideology and practice well is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For I [Paul] delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." According to Jared Wilson in Gospel-Driven Ministry: An Introduction to the Calling and Work of a Pastor, Paul's statement of these facts that are "of first importance" do not "mean simply [that they are] of initial importance but of utmost, central importance." In other words, Paul saw a declaration of the Gospel as the most necessary, most helpful, and most God-glorifying Message to preach, because in this Message "of first importance" salvation is accomplished and communicated.
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.
Scriptural texts like 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 14, and Ephesians 4 make it clear that the body of Christ is composed of a variety of parts. These parts are due to different gifts that the Lord has given to His people. There are ministerial parts, composed of elders, which includes pastors and overseers, and deacons.
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.
Tripp, Paul D. Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020. 231 pp. $26.99.