A Practice for Pastoral Endurance
For the pastor, a life of piety can sometimes become a professional hazard. We are expected to be the most “spiritual” person in the room, yet we are frequently the most depleted. When the work of the ministry becomes a barrier to the God of the ministry, we fall into a subtle but soul-crushing trap: […]
Maintaining Joy in a Ministry Job Search
As I approach the end of my final year in seminary, the reality of applying to ministry jobs can feel like a consuming fire. Instead of reading for class, catching up with family, or recovering lost sleep, I am drawn to the ministry job boards. The pressure to apply my seminary learning in the right […]
The Gospel Adorned: A Pastoral Meditation for a Post-Christian Age
In Titus 1, Paul writes, “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have […]
Preaching That Connects: Why Delivery Matters More Than You Think
The Overlooked Art of Delivery Delivering a sermon is an aspect of preaching that often receives insufficient attention. Much of this stems from the reality that pastors rightly do not wish to focus on entertaining their congregation. Rather, a pastor seeks to glorify the Lord, who uses the “foolishness of preaching” (1 Cor. 1:21) to […]
Episode 331: Encouraging Your Pastor
Pastor Appreciation Month is coming soon, and Jared and Ross want to get you in the right mindset to make a difference in your pastors’ hearts and minds. Why do pastors need so much encouragement anyway? And where should we start? The guys discuss the “double honor” ways of encouraging our churches’ shepherds.
On Life and Doctrine
There’s one, often overlooked, verse that has captivated me more than any other. I reflect on it often, returning to it again and again as a compass for my life and ministry. I do so because of the stark warning and promising reward this verse contains.
Episode 317: FTC Mailbag
It’s a mailbag episode! On this week’s For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson dig into the inbox and tackle questions related to sheep swapping and church hopping, the pursuit of writing, fruitful pulpit supply, and how Satan’s rebellion connects to questions of worship, sanctification, and the possibility of sin in the new heavens and new earth. As always, to submit a question for the mailbag, email us at [email protected]
Five Keys to Applying for a Ministry Job
If we really believe that the Lord is sovereign and has a plan and purpose for our lives, we can trust Him with the timing of our next ministry assignment.
Surrender to Ministry
Series: Pastoral Ministry Collection
When I was a kid growing up in church, it was common to hear someone say, “I surrendered to ministry in 1968,” or, “It was on a Sunday night that I surrendered to ministry.” You don’t hear that kind of language much anymore—the word surrender. But it’s actually an incredibly powerful idea. It doesn’t mean […]
Pastoral Ministry and Christian Progress
Series: Pastoral Ministry Collection
Our Struggle with Progress I’m coming up on two years in pastoral ministry. Although I’ve not spent much time in pastoral ministry, I’ve come to realize something—there is importance in progress. Waiting patiently for God to do His work in His people is more important than seeing someone change overnight. Looking for a quick fix […]