December

Links For The Church (12/9)
This week's links include resources on peace during Christmas, emotionally unhealthy leaders, why God would give kids a sick mom, the real meaning of Christmas, and singing Christmas carols.

10 Reasons Your Sermons Shouldn't be Too Short or Too Long
Train your flock through your preaching to behold.

Definitions: Gospel and Persuade
The gospel is the joyful message from God that leads us to salvation.

Nathan Rose on Transitioning a Church to a Plurality of Elders
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Nathan Rose, Lead Pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO: "How do you transition a church to a plurality of elders?"

Pastor, Read A Poem
I feel in my bones the common temptation to professionalize ministry, as if tools for effective ministry cannot be found in Narnia, only seminary.

Preaching for a Verdict: A Book Review
Series: Book Reviews
If you preach regularly, you should read this book.

The Theological Educator as Sherpa
Just as the Sherpa comes alongside his clients and helps organize, direct, assemble, and lead, the theological educator does the same for students.

What Should I Think About During the Lord’s Supper?
How should you take communion? I’m not talking about the form of being served, but what should be going on in our hearts and minds as we partake?

The Bible is One Book
In these three ways, Irenaeus helps us understand how the Bible is one book about one Person written by one Author.

Jonathan Leeman on Who Has Influence HIs Preaching the Most
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jonathan Leeman, Editorial Director at 9Marks and an elder a Cheverly Baptist Church (Cheverly, MD): "Who has influenced your preaching the most?"

Links For The Church (12/2)
This week's links include resources on gratitude, C.S. Lewis and youth ministry, anxiety, and ministering to the homeless.

What Did Mary Know?
How often has God told us in the Scriptures that he is good, but we choose our own golden calf?

George Whitefield's Grave
A Meditation on the Labor of Ministry
The first thing you see may be the breaker box. Or boxes of church maintenance supplies. I’m always struck by the snow shovel leaning against the wall.
November

Trevin Wax on The Pastor and Cultural Trends
Series: Conversations
How important is it for preachers to pay attention to cultural trends and popular media?

Episode 071: Why Are Christian Movies So Terrible?
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with Dr. Matthew Millsap about why movies made for the evangelical marketplace seem to be so bad.

9 Things I've Learned in 9 Years Of Theological Education
All theological education exists to build up the church, equip the church, adorn the church, love the church - it is for the church.

Three Characteristics of Healthy Church Discipline
The only kind of soil in which church discipline can properly grow is communal love.

Don’t Speak Up: On the Spiritual Discipline of Silence
We should pray that God will lead us by his Spirit to know when it’s best to be quiet, to pray, and to live a life that commends the gospel, and when it’s best to add more of our own words.

Jared C. Wilson on Transitioning from an Attractional to a Gospel-Centered Ministry Model
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jared C. Wilson, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Author-in-Residence at Spurgeon College/MBTS, "What is the first step for a church in moving from the attractional paradigm to a gospel-centered model of ministry?"

Links For The Church (11/25)
This week's links provide resources on multiplication in the church, women and the Word, who delivered Jesus to death, a letter for "dones" and "nones," and faith as defiance.

The Beauty and Burden of Nostalgia
Nostalgia can be a nice place to visit. But it's a terrible place to live.

Russell Moore on Politics and the Pastor
Series: Conversations
How political should a local church pastor get with his flock?

Pastor, Don’t Interview like Michael Scott
Interviewing can be a rough experience for most pastors, but it doesn’t have to be.

Lordship is Not Legalism
What does countercultural Christianity look like in America today?

Don Whitney on Neglecting Spiritual Disciplines
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Don Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, "What is the impact of neglecting the spiritual disciplines?"

Why Women Are Critical To the Mission of the Church
The ministries in which women participated are among the markers of genuine Christianity in a community and these ministries led to the growth of the early church.

We Need You: Why Mentorship is Need in the Church
Whether you are a pastor, a leader or just a growing follower of Christ, it is up to you to ensure that the young people in the church have the opportunity to be mentored.

God’s Presence Rooted in Redemption
While we may not feel the impact of silence for generations and to one day hear the news of the Messiah being born, we do have the promise of Jesus’ presence.

I Pray God Turns the Church Upside Down
We cannot say we are clear on doctrine when we are so often unclear on the application.

We Need to Help New Converts from Non-Christian Backgrounds Honor Their Families
In short, it’s vital for older Christians to talk often with new Christians, making sure that in following Christ, they haven’t unduly harmed their relationship with their family.

Feelings vs. Faith?
The point isn’t that feelings don’t matter or aren’t important. The point is that feelings are not the definer of ultimate reality.

What It Means To Love Christ
In valuing Christ we devalue all else for this object of our love, the treasure.

Links For The Church (11/18)
This week's links include resources on speaking truth in your heart, hope and sexual past, hymns for youth groups, and mothering as a first-generation Christian.

Michael Kelley on Pastor's Who Write
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing pastors who write ought to remember?

A Healthy Itinerant Ministry
Nothing is more cringe-worthy than a guest preacher who takes a pulpit only to make himself famous.

Life from Death: The Upside Down Story of the Christian Life
Death marks not the end, but the beginning for the believer.

The Poetry of Earth is Never Dead
The special value of General Revelation is that it calls the believer simultaneously to praise God and proclaim God.

Episode 070: The Most Significant Figure in American Church History You've Never Heard Of
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss a pioneering pastor from American church history who is woefully unknown.

How A Desire To Be A Good Parent Can Kill A Ministry
It’s painful, but good shepherding often means that we say things that are challenging to our people.

Reduce Your Social Media Friction
Social media platforms have to be a tool for outreach and benefit, not stress and anxiety, or they're not worth it.

Michael Kelley on Why We Hate to Wait on God
FTC.co asks Michael Kelley, Director of Discipleship at Lifeway Christian Resources, "Why do we hate to wait on God?"

5 Exhortations from Three 10th Anniversaries
My main exhortation to you is to fearlessly adopt a gospel fixation. Don’t worry about it seeming rote or redundant.

God Loves You, Deal With It!
His standards are the robes of Christ’s righteousness—they literally cannot be higher.

Devotion to Good Works
We need to remember that we were culpable products of our sinful environment as well.

What Kind of Older Man Will I Be?
I’ve been told that becoming an older man guarantees more aches and pains. I hope it also means more hopeful discipling, and more earnest prayer. May the Lord help me.

Your Unfulfulled Desires are a Treasury, Not a Tragedy
The Bible reveals that while we are fixated on what we don’t have, God’s focus is on what we are becoming for the sake of His purpose.

Christian Theology: A Working Definition
The doctrines of systematic theology do not replace or stand over the Bible; rather, they provide definitions and summaries of certain key terms and themes that we encounter in the biblical story.

The Fruit of the Spirit
The flesh may counterfeit Spirit-fruit. But it cannot produce genuine fruit.

How God’s Wrath Equals and Reveals God’s Worth
In a world of self-justifiers and wannabe gods, the idea of God’s wrath will always be the first domino the devil tries to topple.

Debating the Historical Adam Debate
When teaching or reading Genesis 1, we should focus on the sovereignty of God in creation and how important mankind is to him and to the flourishing of the world.

David Prince on the Importance of Application in Preaching
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks David Prince, Pastor of Preaching and Vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church and Assistant Professor of Preaching at Southern Seminary, "How important is application in preaching?"

3 Ways to Turn Against Your Pastor
These dangers are possible in every church, because every church is made up of sinners -- both pastors and laypeople alike.

After 20 Years, I Still...
I do not deserve to be in this place, doing this thing every day. No one does.

Links For The Church (11/4)
This week's links include resources on the Christan non-majority, pastoral encouragement, evangelicals and retrieval, disabled children in the womb, and God's Book.

Jonathan Leeman On The Church and Politics
Series: Conversations
"In what way should a church be political?"

The Best of Times & The Worst of Times
The Promise and Peril of Modern Gospel Ministry
We have learned again Christ’s words to be busy storing up treasures in heaven and not on earth, where moth and rust destroy.
October

God’s Wrecking Ball: A Tribute to Luther
Luther was God’s wrecking ball. He was God’s appointed servant for such a time as the Protestant Reformation.

When My Halloween Became My Reformation Day
The Stand That Saved My Soul
On Halloween night 1998 I threw a party in my apartment. I had girls, booze, weed, and cocaine. On that Halloween night, I was geared up for what I expected to be a good time. But my friend Dave didn’t respond like I expected he would.

Episode 069: Matt Carter on The Long Walk Home
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson talks to Dr. Matt Carter about his newest book, The Long Walk Home.

Superman Can’t Share the Gospel
When others hear the gospel from your lips, they hear it not from one who can leap over buildings in a single bound but from one who needs grace for the next breath.

The Bible Told Us Every Girl Was Sour?
We’ve bought into the same worldview of the larger culture, which is that women—and all people, really—are objects for our consumption.

On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Book Review
Series: Book Reviews
We’re all looking for a place where the Father comes running, wraps his arms around us with a tearful smile, and throws a party. We’re all looking for home.

Does Your Church Offer Weak Community?
Ensuring our Christian communities are “high group” isn’t just a question of growth. In a post-Christian America, it’s a question of survival.

I Awake, and I Am Still With You
How is it that even while we sleep, we don’t lose our bearings concerning Christ?

Christ Over Compartmentalization
When we “accept” Jesus into our life, we give him a seat at the table. But this is not how Jesus operates.

Links For The Church (10/28)
This week's links include resources on disagreeing well, the Samaritan woman, joy, and those with special needs.

No Fear, No Wisdom
True wisdom—biblical wisdom—is not limited to the intellect.

We Need Theological Triage
He took on skin to veil his radiance and live the life we should have lived to die the death we don’t want to die and save us from our sins.

Don Whitney on The Christian's Devotional Life
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing you would do to change the Christian’s devotional life?

Biblical Theology in Discipleship
Here’s why I believe biblical theology should be woven into the fabric of discipleship in the local church.

A Revolutionary Prayer Life
Where does the wayward mind truly go when it comes time to pray? It’s hard to say.

We Are Not Omni-Anything
All our longing for God-likeness is only wrong when we strive for it in and of ourselves.

10 Ways to Identify and Develop Missionaries from Your Student Ministry
While missions is more than evangelism, it is never less than that.

Three Opportunities for the Criticized Preacher
The proud preacher can’t stand to be criticized, let alone critiqued.

Learn to Love Your Uncomfortable Church
How do we stick with our uncomfortable church long enough to see this growth happen? How can we endure—no, learn to love—our uncomfortable church in spite of its frustrating imperfections?

All Men Need a Band of Gospel Brothers
Men today are often drowning is superficial relationships, but do not possesses any genuinely accountable gut-level friendships.

Jonathan Leeman on Planting New Churches with Current Church Members
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jonathan Leeman, Editorial Director at 9Marks and an elder a Cheverly Baptist Church (Cheverly, MD): "I want to plant a church and take current church members with me. What do I do?"

The Gospel According to Galatians
The letter to the Galatians reminds us that the faith that saved us is the faith we still walk by and the Spirit that regenerated us is the Spirit that grows holiness within us.

Understanding the Mosaic of the Atonement
While the attributes of God’s wrath and God’s love may seem to clash to our spiritual ears, they were in perfect harmony in Jesus’ death on the cross.

Dwelling on Death
Many would rather live it up now and use the party they create out of their life as a sedative numbing them to the certainty of what lies ahead in death.

Steve Bezner On Maintaining A Culture Of Community
Series: Conversations
How do you maintain a culture of community in a growing church?

Brothers, We Are Not Talking Heads
Dear brother pastors, why have we become so compelled to let everyone know what we think about so many issues peripheral to our calling?

Tolerance Trouble
When you hear of new appeals for tolerance of sinful behavior in the churches, remember that this is not a nascent problem, but the old Corinthian problem revived.

Episode 068: Legalistic About Gospel-Centrality?
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the strange phenomenon of undermining the philosophy of gospel-centrality with our ministry and personal practices.

Whatever Happened to "Surrendering to Ministry"?
The minister is to be at God’s disposal, sensing and seeking his leadership for where he would have the minister go and to whom he would have the minister serve.

Dear New Seminary Student
Separating vocational ministry from academic ministry is something I would encourage you to avoid.

Christian, Feel Free to Love Politics
We can love politics without it replacing God. We can love politics without it eclipsing our evangelism. We can love politics without it devaluing the eternal. We can love politics and honor Jesus simultaneously.

Adam McClendon on How Pastoral Counseling Relates to Discipleship
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Adam McClendon, Director of the D.Min. Program at Liberty University, "How does pastoral counseling relate to discipleship?"

Six Lessons I've Learned In One Year Of Pastoral Ministry
Pastors have a weighty calling. It is a calling that carries with it lasting and eternal consequences.

5 Ways to 'Feel' Scripture
We will not be mastered by Scripture if we don't occasionally allow it to overwhelm us, intimidate us, and force us to wrestle with it.

Links For The Church (10/14)
This week's links include resources on sex, raising up leaders, proclaiming Christ at work, and the humanity of pastors.

The Gospel According to David and Bathsheba
I am transformed from a person who balks at King David’s selfishness and short-sightedness into a person who bawls alongside of him.

Won Kwak on New Christians & Their Churches
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing a new Christian needs most from his church?

You Are Not Hidden From God
If the Lord who counts every star came down from heaven to die in your place when you were his enemy, is it likely that he has forgotten you?

The Christian, Art, and Rediscovering John the Baptist
Just as we appreciate the skill of a spectacular soloist, or an elite athlete, or simply a brilliant coworker, we can appreciate the work of an artist.

Clint Pressley on Mistakes Beginning Pastors Make
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Clint Pressley, Lead Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, "What are some common mistakes beginning pastors make?"

The Missionary and His Gospel
We cannot afford to have Christ on our lips without Christ in our hearts.

What It Means to Be a Christian
The essence of Christianity is the believer’s union with Christ.

How to Study Theology: Eighteen Specifications
Here are eighteen specifications on how we should study theology.

How to Encourage Your People Just Like the Apostle Paul
Who in your congregation would welcome a note from their pastor today?

Nathan Rose on What Comes First in Church Revitalization
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Nathan Rose, Lead Pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO: "What comes first in church revitalization?"

Pastor: What To Do When Members Leave Your Church
Ask God to renew and restore the joy of His salvation and His calling to ministry.

What the People of God Will Be (and Are!)
Reflections on Psalm 48
Psalm 48 as a portrait of a gospel-centered church is an incredible song for reflection!

Links For The Church (10/7)
This week's links include resources on domestic abuse, generations in the church, entertainment and our minds, and helping kids love the Bible.

Michael Kelley on Churches and Discipleship
Series: Conversations
What do too many churches get wrong about discipleship?
Letters to My Students: A Book Review
Series: Book Reviews
The call of Paul to Timothy is simple: preach the Word. Letters to My Students takes this simple charge at face value.

When Failure Leads to Worship
Yes, we fail, but God is good and worthy to be worshiped. He accepts us by the blood of Christ. We can draw near to him right now.

Steve Bezner on Making Disciples Without Relying Solely on Programs
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Steve Bezner, Lead Pastor of Houston Northwest Church in Houston, TX: "How do we make disciples without creating a one-size-fits-all program?"

Episode 067: Tim Challies on 'Gospely' Everything
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
Is there a problem with evangelicalism's use of the word "gospel?" Author, pastor, and blogger Tim Challies joins host Jared Wilson to discuss the peril (and potential) of our fascination with a "gospely" everything.

The Uncomfortability Of Others’ Suffering
There can be a temptation to put believers who are suffering in a petri dish, watching to see if they grow evidence that will confirm our doctrinal beliefs without making us too uncomfortable in the process.

Bibliology: What The Bible Is and Why It Matters
As God’s revelation to man, the Bible comes with binding authority.
September

The Page That Changed My Life
These words gave me permission to wonder at God and to deepen in enjoyment of the true story of his Son’s reigning forevermore.

Links For The Church (9/30)
This week's links include resources on singing in church, personal holiness, God's love, racial reconciliation, and hard conversations.

Nathan Rose on Church Replanting
Series: Conversations
What have you learned are the advantages of a church re-plant over planting a new work?

Who Is an Evangelical?: A Book Review
Series: Book Reviews
In Who Is an Evangelical?, Thomas Kidd reminds us of what initially earned us the "evangelical" label, beckoning us to remember where we came from and offering a proposition to return.

Won Kwak on When to Stop Counseling Someone
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Won Kwak, Lead Pastor of Maranatha Church in Fort Lee, NJ: "How do you know when to stop counseling someone?"

Revival and the Book of Nehemiah
If you are not content with a Christianity characterized by minimal devotion to God, Nehemiah is your book.

Our Only Hope: A Review of the 2019 For the Church Annual Conference
One rhythm rooted in the life of Midwestern Seminary is the annual For the Church National Conference. For two days in September, pastors and ministry leaders ascend upon Kansas City in hopes to feast on the goodness and grace of God in the form of conference sermons, breakouts, panels, and fellowship with one another.

A Rubbish Redeemed
Because He is the Master at creating a brand new something from a pile of nothing, He saw what we could become.

Unforeseen Benefits of Expository Preaching
We are a people who want to walk through and consider every verse of Scripture.

8 Ways to Battle ‘Comfort Idolatry’
One of Christianity’s greatest idolatries today is also one of the most subtle and insidious: the idolatry of comfort.

Five Encouragements for Pastors Intimidated by Biblical Counseling
When it comes to people who are really suffering, many pastors are tempted to feel overwhelmed and under-qualified. If that’s you, pastor, here five things to remember.

Dan Darling on the Difference Between Civility and Cowardice
FTC.co asks Dan Darling, Vice President for Communications at the ERLC, "What's the difference between civility and cowardice?"

The Way to Greatness
Jesus commands humility from us but he does not leave the humble man hanging!

Links For The Church (9/23)
This week's links include resources on retirement, hailing Jesus' name, marriage as ministry, reasonableness within outrage, and feasting on the Word of God.

What To Know While You're In KC for FTC
Our best suggestions for barbeque, food, coffee, and things to do while you're in our wonderful city.

Trillia Newbell on Parenting and Idolatry
Series: Conversations
How do we love our kids without making them into idols?

Who Is an Evangelical, Anyway?
An Interview with Thomas S. Kidd
Whatever people call “evangelicals,” I hope we will still be known as bearers of the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ.

When Bible Study Goes Wrong
The Bible is preoccupied with the Messiah and we must be as well.

Discipling Our Children Starts With a Question, Then an Answer
So how do we—as parents, mentors, and church leaders—help the children in our care separate wisdom from folly? We train them as the Church has for generations: we catechize.

Episode 066: Pastors and Evangelism
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the obstacles vocational ministers face in sharing the gospel -- and also the opportunities.

Jonah Couldn’t Get Away
Jonah fled because he knows that God is compassionate and loving, eager to forgive sinners.

A Stolen Unity
I made a disjointed relationship into a convincing substitute for true unity.

Leadership in the Valley of Vision
I need to be reminded that a vision of God is greater, more important, than any vision I could ever create and cast

4 Myths that Keep College Students from Joining a Church
Do you want to faithfully follow Christ during your college years? Then join a church.

Jared Wilson on Advice for New Writers
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jared C. Wilson, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Spurgeon College and Author in Residence at MBTS, "What advice would you give to new writers?"

There Should Be Two of Us
A Lament for Loss and A Look to Hope
We share a couple of things in common besides our name. One is a dark reality. The other is a greater Truth.

Until Every Child Is Home: A Book Review
Series: Book Reviews
When church members see pastoral leadership caring for orphans, it helps them to see that they can do the same.

Links For The Church (9/16)
This week's links include resources on biblical womanhood, being a former white supremacist, forgetting Christ, studying the Bible with joy, and transitioning to a new ministry.

Carl Trueman, the Osteens & the Quest for Evangelical Identity
The most helpful response is not just to give the Osteen’s a well-deserved rebuke.

Clint Pressley on Training Men in Ministry
Series: Conversations
What are some important components in training men for ministry?

Love is Love, Except When It is Not
Love that is true love is wrapped in objective truth.

Steve Bezner on Pastors Leading Through Conflict
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Steve Bezner, Lead Pastor at Houston Northwest Church in Houston, TX: "What should pastors remember when leading through times of conflict?"

Dreaming Dreams and Taking Risks
God has entrusted each of us with talent.

Working Together as a Global Body: How to (Re)Engage National Churches
When we listen well at the beginning of a partnership, we focus on serving the church rather than using them to advance our own plans.

Father, Help Us to See
Father, help us to see that you are at work through us for the advance of the gospel.

Advice to Young Seminarians
This is part of God’s curriculum for pastors: in leading a church post-seminary, men of God will need to personally know of God’s faithfulness if they are going to lead the flock to walk by faith.

Don Whitney on Advice for Young Families Wanting to Start Devotions
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Don Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, "What encouragement would you give young families wanting to start family devotions?

He Must Increase; Our Churches Must Decrease
Thoughts on The Desire for Revival
There is one thing that the churches experiencing historic revival have in common: they seemed overrun with the sense of the glory of God.

Links For The Church (9/9)
This week's links include resources about praying for children, pornography, preaching the bible, poverty, and women in leadership.

But You Are Holy
God desires us to run to Him with both the things that bring us joy and the things that bring us pain.

Dean Inserra on Contextualizing Without Compromise
Series: Conversations
What are some important guardrails for a preacher to help him contextualize without compromise?

7 Questions to Answer Before Your Next Sermon
I can overlook an essential element to the preaching process if I don’t intentionally pause and reflect upon the task at hand. These seven questions help me do just that.

The SBC and Fighting in Our Own Frontiers
We should think more carefully about how we conduct our family affairs, including our fights. We need to think about these issues for the good of our churches, the future of our convention, the joy of all (watching) peoples, and the glory of our King.

Nathan Rose on Proportionate Church Membership
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Nathan Rose, Lead Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO: "Does it matter if a church's membership is greater than its attendance?"

Episode 065: Drew Dyck on Self-Control
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with Drew Dyck, author of the recent book Your Future Self Will Thank You about the discipline of self-control in the Christian life.

Once Abused by the Church, Now I Love the Church
Christ is the head of the church, and he has given the church and its leadership as gifts to all believers, including me.

Words For The Widowed
In this fallen world permeated with sin and death, even adopted children of God may taste the bitterness of loss.

Run Like the Wind from Sexual Sin
If you genuinely believe sexual sin is wrong and it keeps you from experiencing joy in God, then what?

Thankfulness Always: Reflections on Five Years as Provost
Because God is good and he does not change, there is a reason to be thankful, to God, for God, always.

Trillia Newbell on Division Between Younger and Older Women
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Trillia Newbell, Director of Community Outreach at the ERLC, "What keeps younger and older women divided in the church?"

The Fear-Driven Life
Lessons from Genesis 12 on God's Most Frequent Command
The more bored you are with the things of God, the more vulnerable you will be when difficulty comes.
August

Won Kwak on Throwing In The Towel As A Pastor
Series: Conversations
When are you most tempted to throw in the towel as a pastor?

The Tales of Our Time: An Examination of Storytelling in Christianity
A Christian writer should develop his or her craft so that a story is created so beautifully that it rivals the hopeless fiction that runs in abundance today.

Preacher, Study the Text—But Also Study Your People
How can I help this member see and savor Jesus Christ?

Won Kwak on What Others May Not Know About Asian Believers
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Won Kwak, Lead Pastor of Maranatha Grace Church in Fort Lee, NJ: "What do many evangelicals generally not know about their Asian brothers and sisters?"

What A Bloomless Tree Taught Me about Trusting God
We may not always understand why the Father prunes the way He does.

The Wittenberg Door of American Evangelical Missions
It is good and right also to consider the impact of a group of praying students, heirs of Wittenberg themselves, on the modern missions movement of global gospel proclamation.

Is Your Calling Causing an Identity Crisis?
If all else were stripped away—your career, your earthly relationships, your plans—your identity as a beloved child of God would still remain.

Steve Bezner on Who Has Influenced His Preaching the Most
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Steve Bezner, Lead Pastor of Houston Northwest Church in Houston, Texas: "Who has influenced your preaching the most?"

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken
The good news is that the Lord has a way of making a way where there is no way.

Augustine and a Distracted Heart
Certainly, my smartphone and its accompanying array of apps can be a tool of inestimable value.

Links For The Church (8/26)
This week's links include resources on motherhood as artistry, church for college students, God and your weakness, and Jeremiah 29:11.

Student Ministry as Mission Agency
I have come to firmly believe that student ministries are uniquely positioned to be mission sending agencies within the local church.

Mark Dever on Contextualization in Preaching
Series: Conversations
How important is contextualization in preaching and teaching?

4 Lies That Cause Pastors to Neglect Their Families
At the front door of pastoral ministry, we find that if a pastor isn’t a family man, he’s not a churchman.

Worship Already in Progress
What’s it like to hear the whole world sing your praise? Only God knows. Be awed by the fact that He does.

Dan Darling on Why We Need a Dignity Revolution
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Dan Darling, Vice President of Communications at the ERLC, "Why do we need a 'dignity revolution?'"

Episode 064: Changing the Culture of Your Church
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz offer some rough notes on navigating the pastoral challenges involved in "changing the DNA" of your church culture.

The Nursery Should Net Positive
Actively praying for the children and begging the Lord to save these little ones is not a small request.

When I First Confronted Religious Pluralism
Believing, teaching, and defending the truth should be a priority for every Christian.

A Father’s Love in a Pixar World
Two decades of pastoral ministry has taught me that a prevailing theme of Christian life is the faulty thinking that we relate to God as though he is a disappointed father.

The Head Crusher Cometh
How the Biblical Narrative Reveals the Messiah
This is the story of the hopeful, dreadful time between sin’s entrance and Christ’s conquest.

David Prince on Ethics and Playing Football
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks David Prince, Pastor of Preaching and Vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church and Assistant Professor of Preaching at Southern Seminary, "Does the discovery of CTE make playing football unethical?"

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
The life of faith is difficult. But there is a joy waiting for us beyond all comparison.

How To Be Lonely (To The Glory Of God)
No matter how severe our loneliness might be, it can never surpass the loneliness of Christ crucified.

Links For The Church (8/19)
This week's links include resources on caring for single parents, calling and serving, teaching children to love the vulnerable, and praying in spiritual warfare.

An Interview with Jason K. Allen
Dr. Allen answers questions about his new book
Dr. Allen answers questions about his new book, Letters to My Students, Vol 1: On Preaching.

H.B. Charles Jr. On The Church and the 21st Century
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing the local church needs to get right in the 21st century?

Jonathan Leeman on Distinguishing Between Primary and Secondary Issues
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jonathan Leeman, an Elder at Cheverly Baptist Church in Washington D.C. and Editorial Director at 9Marks Ministries, "How do we distinguish between primary and secondary issues?"

Activate Your Sanctified Imagination
Rather than reciprocating proportionally based on what has been done, the way forward for disciples of Christ’s Kingdom is rooted in the grace of Kingdom.

Your Prayers Won't Save You
God’s character is as honest as we can be in our prayers. Our quest may feel endless but our God is not.

When God Calls
The abundance of God comes in part in this life, but in fullness only later.

Training For Godliness
While reading your Bible every day, praying, and fasting do not necessitate spiritual growth, neglecting them is like never going to the gym in the first place.

Putting the “Service” Back in Worship Service
Four basic ways we can use our Sundays to serve others, as opposed to just being served ourselves.

An Essential Sentence for Seminary
Often, the greatest threat to theological understanding is a lack of humility.

Barnabas Piper on Why It Seems Like Everyone is Angry
FTC.co asks Barnabas Piper, Director of Community at Immanuel Church in Nashville, TN: "Why does it seem like everyone is so angry?"

Shepherding Through Hostility
Pastoral Reflections on Ecclesiastes 7
You may feel “all is meaningless.” Especially when you are ministering in the midst of conflict, division, unfair or undue criticism, or even hostility.

Shepherding Your Staff
Work to embed spiritual growth and vitality into your staff gatherings.

Links For The Church (8/12)
This week's links include resources on asking questions, fear in evangelism, pursuing others, and dealing with doubt.

Why I’m Committed to Expository Preaching (Part I)
A conviction worth holding is a conviction worth defending and advocating.

Dean Inserra on Creativity in Worship
Series: Conversations
How do you adorn the gospel with creative elements in worship without hindering it?

Singing Gospel Truth at Home
May our times of family worship and discipleship be richer and fuller because we have experienced the good God has for us in His command to sing.

When the Perfect Comes
When the perfect comes, the partial, half-measures of today will pass away, and no one will miss them.

Jared C. Wilson on Advice for New Pastors Who Want to Quit
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jared C. Wilson, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Spurgeon College and Writer-in-Residence at Midwestern Seminary, what advice he would give a new pastor who already wants to quit.

Episode 063: For The Church Mailbag
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
Pastors and the upcoming election; young pastors among established staff; bivocational priorities; what to expect of teenagers in the church; Josh Harris's announcements.

A Missionary Reflection on Paul’s Letter to Titus
Paul was able to continue to minister in established fields as well as pioneer new fields largely because his missionary team continued to grow and expand.

The Millennial Pastor and the Looming Midlife Crisis
When a man is not okay with the life God has given him, he often pursues more not for the glory of God and building of His kingdom, but for the glory of self and building of the self-kingdom.

The Gospel According to Essential Oils
I am not against you, friend. I’m against the golden calf that I’ve seen built in your midst.

Pastor, Don’t Avoid Uncomfortable Topics
Pastors, your people want you to go there.

Nathan Rose on Who Has Influenced His Preaching Most
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Nathan Rose, Lead Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, MO: "Who has influenced your preaching the most?"

Narratives of Surprising Conversions
3 Stories of the Gospel's Unusual Power
Here are just three of my favorite anecdotes touching on the surprising power of grace.

Why We Sent Our Daughters To Hard Places
Through yieldedness and surrender, we placed her in the Lord’s hands; it was not easy; lots of tears were shed and fervent intercession was made.

Links For The Church (8/5)
This week's links include resources on being uncomfortable at church, kids and transgenderism, recruiting young leaders, missionaries of color, and growing in Christ.

Introducing #FTCFriday
We are excited to introduce a fun new weekly tradition—#FTCFriday!

Christine Hoover on Encouragement for Pastor's Wives
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing you would say to encourage the pastor’s wife?

The Pastor as Evangelist
For the pastor to ignore evangelism is to have an unfulfilled incomplete ministry.

Trillia Newbell on What is So Great About Romans 8
FTC.co asks Trillia Newbell, Director of Community Outreach at the ERLC, "What's so great about Romans 8?"
July

Are There Good and Bad Kinds of Accountability?
If we deny we’ve been tempted or sinned, leave out parts of the truth, or distort the facts, then we’re robbing ourselves of holiness and joy.

The Enduring Witness of a Normal Life
Mimi is a good reminder, to me at least, to curb my ambition and instead simply, faithfully seek Christ.

Beware of Sin
You can try as hard as you may, clawing at the mud and gravel and tree roots with a free hand—as long as the other hand clutches onto that sin, the ditch is your home.

How Weekly Participation in the Lord’s Supper Can Help Your Children
One of the joys of weekly communion is the opportunity it affords the parents in our churches to declare the great news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to their children.

Living Wisely to Spite Satan
When we engage in what the Bible calls foolishness—choosing sin over obedience—we engage in a practical kind of atheism.

Links For The Church (7/29)
This week's links include resources on fear of God, the sufficiency of Jesus, wisdom, communicating with missionaries, and criticism.

How Expository Preaching Should Engage Cultural Concerns (Part II)
Though we cannot improve upon the Bible’s relevancy... perhaps we can make our sermons a touch more relevant.

Matt Capps on What The Church Needs From Pastors
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing a church needs from its pastor?

J.T. English on Growing Churches “Feeling Small”
We ask J.T. English, "How do you make sure a growing church keeps 'feeling small?'”

What to Do If Your Church Won't Change
Often, in lieu of your local church becoming the best contextualized version of itself, God is fashioning its parts into a whole that looks more like Him.

Episode 062: Pastors and Handling Conflict
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss how pastors can biblically and wisely shepherd through relational tensions in the church.

A Call To Do Good
We are not to do good to meet a goal, exercise a gift, or fulfill a calling.

What to Say When a Church Member Asks for Help
The Spirit convicts Christians of sin so that they will stop hiding in the darkness and instead walk in the light.

For the Pastor's Kid: Your Dad Needs You
Pastor's Kid, your dad devotes his time and talent to faithfully steering the church toward Christ. As his son or daughter, don’t detract from that mission. Be a catalyst.

J.D. Greear on Signs of a Church's Faithfulness
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks J.D. Greear, Pastor of Summit Church (Raleigh-Durham, NC), "How can a church know it is on the right track? What are some signs of faithfulness?"

16 Leadership Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
For good or bad, leaders set the emotional tone within an organization. . . . Hope is the most powerful tool in your arsenal.

Why You Should Have That Difficult Conversation
We think the problem might just "go away" on its own. But if it doesn't, we have the biblical obligation to "take it to our brother."

Women's Ministry For The Church
We do not want to avoid equipping women just because it can be hard.

Links For The Church (7/22)
This week's links include resources on what the Bible says about women, dangers of money, unshakable joy, and pride and the pastor.

When God Swallows Your Sin
Jesus went willingly into the weakness of flesh, to make himself like us so he could save us.

5 Resolutions for Pastoral Ministry
I pray that my soul would not be so fickle as to rely on man’s acclaim or applause or attendance as validation of my ministerial efforts.

Barnabas Piper on Pastor's Kids and the Church
Series: Conversations
What do pastors’ kids wish their churches knew about them?

Enduring Pastoral Hardships
Whether it’s the man in the pulpit or the believer in the pew, suffering can be the greatest help or the greatest hardship to the proclamation of the gospel.

Know Your Idols
Consider with me, brothers and sisters – do we really see the idols of our culture? Can we call them by name?

Five Encouragements for Pastors Intimidated by Biblical Counseling
When it comes to people who are really suffering, many pastors are tempted to feel overwhelmed and under-qualified.

5 Ways to Protect Your Eldership from “Yes Men”
If a man is easily swayed, we are slow to consider him as an elder.

Matt Capps on Transitioning to Pastoral Ministry
Series: Conversations
Recently transitioning back into pastoral ministry, what do you feel prepared for this time around?

Embarrassing Christianity
Jesus' torn flesh and spilt blood was for the embarrassing—those like you and me.

Jeff Medders on What a Pastor Should Do When His Church is Tired of Hearing the Gospel
FTC.co asks Jeff Medders, Pastor of Redeemer Church in Tomball, TX: "What should a pastor do when his church is tired of hearing the Gospel?"

Things Jesus Will Never Say to You
If you hear this, it won't be from Jesus.

Stewarding Volunteers
Perhaps our lack of volunteers has less to do with our recruiting strategy and more to do with how we are stewarding our current volunteers.

Links For The Church (7/15)
This week's links include resources on reverse culture shock, multigenerational leadership, studying the Bible, neglecting lament, and the war on sin.

Are Your Church Staff Meetings a Waste of Time?
Attention is to be focused on the Lord, the true object of our service, not people pleasing.

Don't Play With Sin
Don’t set yourself up to play with something that will grow to something that can kill and maim you.

Why Pastors Should Engage Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics
As a theologian, Bavinck listens carefully before making a judgment; this is the kind of theology that pastors need to learn and to emulate.

Why the Church Can and Must Care for Orphans
An Interview with Dr. Todd Chipman, Author of Until Every Child is Home
If our churches are following the New Testament grid of ministry, orphan care will be natural, just another outlet for the powerful message of Christ that gathers and disperses us each week.

Episode 061: Pastors' Reading Habits
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss what they're reading, what pastors are reading, and what pastors should be reading.

What Happy People Do Differently
Living in the present, with a forgiven past, and secured future, will definitely lead to a happier life.

Why I Like to Read Biographies, and Why You Should Too
As one who is entrusted with a leadership position, I find it profitable to read of others who have led.

4 Starting Points for Reading Revelation
Revelation is very much a capstone to the Bible’s unified storyline, not a freaky add-on to the end.

Christine Hoover on What the Average Churchgoer Doesn't Understand About Their Pastor
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Christine Hoover, pastor's wife and author of Searching for Spring and Messy Beautiful Friendship, "What does the average churchgoer not understand about their pastor?"

What I Miss Most (and Least) About Being a Pastor
I've been out of pastoral ministry now for 5 years, and while I am not asked as often I was in those first few years, I still get the question a fair amount: "Do you miss it?"

Who's Your One?
Evangelism is a biblical mandate for every Christian.

Links For The Church (7/8)
This week's links include resources on college students and evangelism, revival, kindness, and communion with Christ.

What I’ve Learned in my First Year of Seminary
God is producing lifelong fruit and an eternal joy within me during these formative years in the classroom and in the church.

Matt Chandler on Cultivating a Healthy Marriage
Series: Conversations
How do you cultivate a healthy marriage in the midst of a busy ministry?

The Most Radical Mission For Christians May Be The Most Mundane
Mission isn’t just something made possible by a passport or a seminary degree. It’s a paradigm which should inform everything we do

What Is Union With Christ?
We have died to sin in his death and are now alive to God in his resurrection.

Trillia Newbell on Disappointment in Marriage
Series: Conversations
What advice do you have for the wife who is disappointed with her husband?

On First Looking into Spurgeon’s Sermons
On first looking into Spurgeon’s sermons, I have found joy and awe in the work of Spurgeon, the man, but also in the work of Spurgeon’s God.

Clint Pressley on Key Components to Discipling Young Men
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Clint Pressley, Senior Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC: "What are some key components to discipling young men?"

3 Things to Be Careful About Saying at the Start of Your Service
Here are some common introductory cliches that might be worth weighing in terms of their helpfulness to the congregation's gathering to worship.

Links For The Church
This week's links include resources on spirituality, leadership, pain, family worship, and waiting.
June

Matt Chandler on Church Growth & Pride
Series: Conversations
How do you lead a growing church without getting a big head?

Of Blooms and Roots
We don’t always see what the Vinedresser is doing beneath the surface, but we can rest assured that it’s always for our growth.

The Tragedy of Sparing Others from Obedience
We’re not doing anyone any favors by sparing them obedience, even when it’s hard, even when it feels “insane.” We’re only withholding from them everything on the other side.

Why the Church Still Needs Immutability
A Conversation with Six Pastors and Scholars About an Attribute That Matters
A classical Christian understanding of God’s immutability would maintain that God cannot – and need not! – change even by a divine decision to alter himself.

Amsterdam and Autonomy: The Good News of a Sovereign God
There is only one who instructs the rain to fall on Holland. There is only one who know the number of Netherland hairs. There is only one who administers days to Amsterdam. There is only one who is truly sovereign.

Episode 060: Dean Inserra on The Unsaved Christian
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
Jared Wilson talks with Dean Inserra about perhaps the largest mission field in America.

Not So with the Onlookers
A Word in Praise of Ordinary Discipleship
At the height of my foray into theological worlds unknown, I met a traveler. Her name was Mrs. Billie Jo.

Five Challenges for Missionaries from The Life and Diary of David Brainerd
Missionaries are keenly aware of the shortness of life.

Don’t Waste Your Vacation
9 Ways to Optimize Time Away
Vacations should be a time to rejuvenate you for your calling, not escape it.

The Bible in Miniature
This may come as news to you, and if so, I am sorry that it has taken this long for someone to tell you, but you are not the center of the universe.

Christ Our Ransom
To whom is the ransom paid?

The Transforming Power of God-Centeredness
Our God is a treasure to be enjoyed, worshiped, and obeyed.

Links For The Church (6/24)
This week's links include resources on prosperity preachers, missionary callings, praying for family vacation, and myths about marriage.

Philosophy and the Christian Life
Philosophy can show us the extent to which Scripture answers life’s ultimate questions.

Putting the “Service” Back in Worship Service
All of our obedience begins with listening to our God.

Russell Moore on Politics and the Pastor
Series: Conversations
How political should a local church pastor get with his flock?

How to Greet Visitors to Your Church on Sunday
What we say to new people (and how we say it) will either give credence to our message about Jesus or take it away.

The Indispensable Value of Christ-Centered Courage
You get the story wrong if you don’t see Jesus as the center and the goal. But when you get it right, you understand, as Stephen did, that suffering makes sense.

March to the Different Beat
Both beats in our ears make promises, promises of fulfillment and of satisfaction. But only one has the power to keep and deliver on its promises.

Sleep Well for God is Awake
Seven theological and practical reminders to help you sleep like someone whose God is actually alive.

Like A Bird In A Thunderstorm
My current struggles weigh as much as a feather while the weight of God’s glory is incalculable.

Mark Dever on Sermon Prep
Series: Conversations
What does your sermon preparation look like?

Trillia Newbell on Talking to Our Children About Ethnic Diversity
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Trillia Newbell, Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, "What are some important things to remember in talking to our children about ethnic diversity?"

You Need to Be Inconvenienced for Your Church
God is calling us to make adjustments in the areas of our lives that are hindering us from costly participation in the mission of the church.

The Test of True Worship
The Bible teaches three facts of life: God is good. God is all-powerful. Terrible things happen.

What's Your Church Sign For?
3 Things to Do -- and Not to Do -- with Your Roadside Message
Here are three all-too-common approaches to sign messages I think churches ought to avoid . . .

Matrimony and the Mind: The Need for Husband-Theologians
We should not be mistaken, a man who has all of his theological ducks in a row is not guaranteed to be a gifted husband.

Links For The Church (6/17)
This week's links include resources on biblical truth, the missionary and insufficiency, loving your spouse, and when someone backslides.

Envy and the Seminarian
All the “humble brags” on social media have a green shade if you look closely enough.

Dean Inserra on First-Year Church Planting
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing you would say to the first-year church planter?

Five Ways Congregational Worship Shapes Us
Though we should seek Him in our closets or a quiet place during the week, he has commanded us to gather together as the church on Sunday morning.

Liturgy for Life: The Rhythms That Shape Us
If Christians are shaped by the form of corporate worship, then they will also be shaped by the rhythms of their daily life as a part of the community of God.

Toward a Trinitarian Ecclesiology
In the doctrine of the Trinity, the church is given a pattern for unity and participation in mission.

5 Rules for Sermon Illustrations
Always seek to feed your people, do not settle for unhelpful—or even less helpful— diversions.

Episode 059: Jonathan Leeman on Why Everyone's So Angry on Social Media
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the podcast, Jared Wilson talks with Jonathan Leeman about navigating the current minefields in evangelical social media.

The Danger of Roadblocks along the Avenue of Grace
The ministry of reconciliation continually provides a clear, unobstructed avenue to grace to all of those who need to hear the gospel, which includes all of us!

The Greatest Gift to Your Pastor
Like any good pastor, it vexed and frustrated him to see God’s sheep led astray on something so vital and yet so simple.

Breaking the Power of Shame
Ashamed friend: look to the shamed one on the cross and know his shame was for you. His shame was so that you might not be ashamed, that his welcome would overcome the world’s rejection.

You're Not Entitled to Ministry
Being called to ministry of any kind is both a responsibility and a privilege.

J.D. Greear on What Difficult Thing In Your Life Has Taught You The Most?
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks J.D. Greear, Pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, "What difficult thing in your life has taught you the most?"

Preachers Talk Preaching
Brandon Smith Interviews Tony Merida and Me
My conversation on preaching with Tony Merida and Brandon Smith.

You Can't Ignore Church
He is the One who makes everyone in Him not just “better”, but righteous.

Links For The Church (6/10)
This week's links include resources on potted plant Christians, salvation of a pastor's wife, virtue signaling, skating as missions, and Jesus' resurrection.

God Uses Unhealthy Churches
Jesus can be glorified in you and me, and in the pitifully inadequate, sometimes myopic, church we attend.

The Day I Ditched My 5-Year Plan
The more we orient our lives around Him, the more His Spirit shapes and even transforms our plans.

Jen Wilkin on Women and Discipleship
Series: Conversations
What misconceptions do pastors have about women and discipleship?

Preaching to Sufferers
One deficiency in much contemporary preaching is the failure to proceed with an understanding that we preach as sufferers, to sufferers.

Glorify God: the Shared Task of Churches & Seminaries
For, as we live and serve at the end of the world, the six seminaries count it a joy to do whatever it takes to serve cooperating churches as they carry out their biblically designed task of seeing God's great name proclaimed to the ends of the earth.

Confession ≠ Repentance
How many times have we seen confession happen without genuine and lasting change? Why does genuine transformation still evade us?

Old Books, New Books, and Trends That Fade Away
Lessons Learned from a Book Sale
The waves of trends beat against the rocks of God’s Word. They make quite a noise, but they can never change it.

When Self-Preservation Becomes Our God
The problem is when self-preservation becomes an ultimate thing, when safety becomes a god.

Jeff Medders on Writing Sermons
Series: Conversations
How do you write sermons? Describe your sermon preparation process.

Celebrating the Role of "Sender" in World Missions
It is vital that senders see the immense value and importance of their role in getting the gospel across the street and around the world.

10 Things I Learned a Year Into Church Planting
A year into church planting: it's hard and it's wonderful. And I don't want to be doing anything else.

H.B. Charles on the Pastor's Most Important Weekly Tasks
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks H.B. Charles, "What are the pastor’s most important weekly tasks?"

20 Quotes from 'The Gospel-Driven Church'
Choice lines from this recent release.

Links For The Church (6/3)
This week's links include resources on dying, forgiveness and children, Ecclesiastes, prayers of repentance, fighting with your spouse, and fear of God.

Dependency and the Power of God
We should be so dependent on God that our first ingrained action should be to pray to Him when times get tough or even when we start a new day.
May

An Obedient Woman
Eventually, if we actually believe what we believe, obedience will be the tell-tale sign that follows us.

Nathan Finn on Diversity in the Church
Series: Conversations
What kind of diversity is important for every church?

The Bondage of Either/Or Spirituality
Pride can only bring bondage and discontentment because you do not have the power to compel the world to affirm you on your terms.

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Pastor
Here are three open and honest struggles I faced and things I wished I knew in my first year of ministry.

Episode 058: The Gospel-Driven Church
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the importance for churches of centering on the gospel.

My Flooded Soul
This is where I am - covered by water and desperate for God’s help every moment to truly believe this flood is a gift.

Filling The Void
We walk around incomplete or empty, longing to once again be complete in God.

What Seminary Degree Do I Get if I Don’t Know What the Future Holds?
When the door opens for MDiv study, go through it.

A Mistake We Often Make When Reading the Bible
By and large, the Bible is a book written for a community.

Don Whitney on How Spiritual Disciplines "Work" in Our Sanctification
FTC.co asks Don Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality & Associate Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Seminary, "How Do Spiritual Disciplines ‘Work’ In Our Sanctification?"

River Runs To The Lowest Place
Aren’t we left here in this in-between time to point others to the Lamb of God?

Links For The Church (5/27)
This week's links include resources on spiritual indifference, trauma and the body, worshipping on Sunday, lamenting, sharing with Muslims, and when God seems silent.

Was George Whitefield a Christian?
Dealing with the Tainted Legacy of American History's Greatest Preacher
What do we make of the fact that the man who was perhaps the greatest preacher in American history and is still one of evangelicalism's favorite heroes owned slaves and propagated slavery?

Continue in the Faith
Wear your shield, Christian, and cry mightily unto God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end.

Becoming a Grateful Discipler
A godly motivation to disciple others is your gratitude for God’s work for, in, and through them.

Andrew Walker on the Christian & Ethics
Series: Conversations
Why should the average Christian care about ethics?

Being a Special Nobody
David was anointed to sit on the throne. But he was appointed to sit among sheep.

The Incarnation as Revelation
We couldn’t reach up on the top shelf to get God, so God places himself on the bottom shelf—right within our reach—in the person of Jesus Christ, the carpenter from Nazareth.

The Language of Forgiveness
My problem? I tend to think God forgives like I do.

Faith is Personal — It Always Has Been
Faith is not about impersonal plans, unfolding programs, or divine principles. Faith is heartfelt trust in the person of Christ.

Counsel For A Younger Me
My younger self wanted a voice, wanted a platform but was unwilling to invest in the character required by the gospel.

How to Avoid Accumulated Fatigue
When accumulated fatigue takes hold of us, a night of rest, a weekend get-a-way, or a six-week sabbatical likely won’t help.

Greg Belser on The First Year of Ministry
Series: Conversations
If you could send a message to yourself in your first year of ministry, what is the one thing you would say?

Fear, Faith, and the Fatherhood of God
How the Gospel Empowers Us to Lead in Uncertain Times
God is calling us out of the stands and into the arena. He is calling us to follow Him deep into the wild and restless world around us. But we are not going there alone.

Do You Love the Word “Propitiation”?
Why We Should Preach and Teach Using the Words the Bible Uses
When we come across big, "technical" words in our preaching and Bible study, we should use, study, and explain those words, rather than skirting around them or simply glossing over them with an alternative phrase.

4 Reasons You Should Pray For Your Pastor Daily
As a pastor, few things warmed my heart more than church members telling me they prayed for me daily.

Won Kwak on Effectively Leading Multi-Ethnic Congregations
FTC.co asks Won Kawk, "How can a pastor effectively lead a multi-ethnic congregation?"

What Does Job 31:13-15 Tell Us About the Unborn?
No law can be just if its justice for one is predicated on injustice to another.

Jesus Sympathizes With Moms
Even though Jesus isn’t a mother, he is still able to sympathize with every weakness we face as moms.

Links For The Church (5/20)
This week's links include resources on exercise, dark times, insufficiency of good theology, and choosing the right kind of busy.

He Requested Not to Die
We are not to expect that God will give us everything we choose to ask for. We know that we sometimes ask, and do not receive, because we ask amiss.

A Better Mom is a Broken Mom
Apart from a broken spirit that sees how much we need Christ first and foremost, these betterments are futile.

Gates of Glory
The best this world offers is incomplete.

Peyton Hill on Christ-Centered Leadership
Series: Conversations
What does Christ-centered leadership look like?

This Mystery is Profound
Nothing can provide a better picture of the relationship between believers to Christ than marriage. It explains why loving submission and sacrificial authority is so important.

Will We Go When Wisdom Calls?
The wisdom of God is more than just right thinking; it’s the glories of his righteousness and the wonders of his love.

To the Young Pastor Who Feels Inadequate
We have a God that deals in the business of the inadequate and unworthy. Let the power of Christ rest upon you, young pastor.

Episode 057: Robby Gallaty
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the podcast, Jared Wilson talks with author and pastor Robby Gallaty about the discipleship deficit in the church and how to correct it.

How Do We Know If We Have The Spirit?
God's track record is flawless, and His ability to accomplish His purposes is unquestionable.

Don’t You Stir A Step
The First Californian Believer’s Baptism
Testimonies arising from scores of churches all over the Golden State represent the Kingdom fruit of the gospel sown over the last 170 years.

Jesus: The One Who Commands and the One Who Understands
Jesus is commanding a life of faithfulness, of loyalty, and yes, in many cases, sacrifice. But He is not unaware of what He’s asking. He understands.

A Gentle and Quiet Woman
Our goals as Christian women should and will look different the more we behold Christ and, in desperation, throw everything aside and root ourselves in him. Only then can we be immovable, unshakable, laughing at the days to come.

Jonathan Leeman on Church Discipline
What do most Christians not know about church discipline?
Series: Conversations
We asked Jonathan Leeman, "What do most Christians not know about church discipline?"

4 Questions to Ask the Pastoral Search Team -- If You Dare
There are questions every pastoral candidate asks a search committee or hiring team when evaluating possible relocation, and then there are the questions every pastoral candidate ought to ask but rarely do. Here are four...

Overthinking
When we overthink our faith we tend to have some really bad thoughts and go places God never said to go with those thoughts.

Links For The Church (5/13)
This week's links include resources on the gospel and the cry for "mama," sharing the gospel with family, going to church as a mom, having eternity and mind, and what to pay pastors in poor areas.

Forward Without Fear
How blessed to feel assured that the Lord is with us in all our ways, and condescends to go down into our humiliations and banishments with us!

Drawn into the Picture
We decided early on that our rhythm of weekly worship would consistently include celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

The True Story of Who We Are
The truth that sets us free, like the truth that set free the original audience of Genesis, is that the God of the universe created us.

J.D. Greear on Mission in the Bible Belt
Series: Conversations
What is the one thing we need to remember about mission in the Bible Belt?

Making the Faith Your Own is Not Making Up Your Own Faith
There are secret things, and there are revealed things, but the faith once for all delivered is not a secret thing.

Reset: How to Live a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture
Finding a consistent pace between too slow and too fast is vital for endurance, not only for an athlete but for a Christian as well.

5 Things I Hope are True of Me When I Retire
As I think about a future "retirement" from formal ministry, there are five things I hope are true about me at that time.

4 Reasons the Wilderness is Not a Waste
God knows our idols will ultimately disappoint us and leave us empty, so He gets us alone into the wilderness to win our affections back.

It’s Not Our Job to “Finish” the Missionary Task
Training a new believer to do a single (very important) task is not the same thing as making a disciple.

Christine Hoover on Pastors' Wives & Congregations
Series: Conversations
What are some important things for pastors’ wives to remember about congregations?

God Does Wonders With Average People
Here's one lesson taught through education: it is okay to be dim in the sunlight. We need our heroes, but any of us can please God and be used significantly by him even with average abilities.

Humble Confidence, Not Self-Love
The love of the cross rescues us from an idolatrous love of self. This gospel rescue doesn’t destroy personal confidence; it is the only true ground of it.

Matt Carter on Adoption and Orphan Care
Why are adoption and orphan care important to the mission of the church in the 21st century?
Series: Conversations
Why are adoption and orphan care important to the mission of the church in the 21st century?

Porn is Not Ultimately About Sex
Until we understand that the gospel is the doorway into freedom from sin, even our religious efforts will simply be rearranging idols.

Looking Back on Easter
Methods Matter in Both Outreach and Criticism
We can critique so often and in such ways that we also hurt the cause.

Links For The Church (5/6)
This week's links include resources on pastors resting, emotionally healthy leaders, the dangers of media, if God can suffer, and praying with expectation.

They Shall Be My People
Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number?

4 Creative Ways to be Generous
God’s infinite grace fuels generosity, which fuels the glorification of God and his gospel.

Understanding Our True Citizenship
In local churches, converted men and women manifest God’s righteous rule and true political righteousness.

Adam McClendon on Counseling Troubled Marriages
Series: Conversations
What should pastors remember in counseling those in troubled marriages?

The World is Passing Away
Knowing the trajectory of the things of this world and their declared and promised end should drive us to place our hope and trust in God and not the world.

The Kingdom of God is for You
Here’s Christ’s kingdom offer: all our striving and trying for all his finished and accomplished.

3 Motivations for Parents to Avoid
Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed in others—and, unfortunately, in myself—three parental motivations to avoid. Like weeds that force their way through the best-cultivated garden or thickest concrete, these motivations seem stubborn, always reappearing; resilient, always resurfacing.

When Should A Child Be Baptized?
A child must also see that in their sinful nature-state they are morally deficient and hopelessly unrighteous.

The Disconnect
The disconnect happens when we forget who we are in Christ and choose to live in our old ways of self-reliance, self-determination, and self-rule.

Episode 056: For The Church Mailbag
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On the latest installment of the For The Church Mailbag feature, Jared Wilson is joined by Ronni Kurtz. Listen in as they answer submitted questions related to the Christian life and ministry.
April

3 Principles for Evangelism I'm Trying to Embrace
Let’s remember the people we are sharing with are not just “targets” or “hot prospects.” These are human beings, made in God’s image, who have not formed their beliefs in a vacuum.

Theology for the Teen Years
God is at work among my generation. And the harvest is plentiful. So, pastors, keep laboring. Parents, keep laboring. Youth workers, keep laboring. Don’t give up on us.

Jeff Dodge on Theological Training and Intellectualism
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jeff Dodge: "How do you keep theological training from becoming intellectualism?"

How to Fall in Ministry
And What to Do if You Do
Four steps to making a trainwreck of your life. And how to get back on track.

Is Contentment Even Possible?
We often neglect or ignore that Paul learned contentment both in times of frustration and in times of favor.

Links For The Church (4/29)
This week's links include resources on pornography and missions, quitting the pastorate, the road from Emmaus, and lessons from Moses' leadership.

Trust in God's Word
If you have lost the sweet sense of the Saviour's presence, and are seeking him with a sorrowful heart, remember the promises.

‘Listening’ As An Essential Word Ministry
One of the most significant personal needs a person has is the need to be heard.

The Worship Leader and Anxiety
I believe isolation is the enemy’s number one tool to take down worship pastors.

H.B. Charles Jr. on Sermon Prep
Series: Conversations
What are the non-negotiables for sermon preparation?

The Many Medicines of the Lord
Much of the Christian life does not involve suffering, but is one of mundane, normal days under the good gifts from the Father of the heavenly lights. These days are crucial in our sanctification.

Leading Your Church Through Uncertainty
We have the one message of hope our crumbling culture and our challenging congregations need. Now our calling is to follow through.

The Doctrine of God and the Content of Our Prayers
Who is God? What is he like? How do we come to know him? To whom are we speaking when we go to God in prayer?

3 Helpful Reminders When We’re Surprised By Our Sin
God is never surprised by our sin.

David Prince
Series: Conversations
What does gospel-centered parental discipline look like?

God In the In-Between
We must trust that these in-between days where we can’t see God at work are not signs that he’s turned his back on us.

Simple Suggestions for a Successful Church Business Meeting
While business meetings can be a great cause for anxiety, they need not be. Here are a few ideas for avoiding acrimonious business meetings in a local church.

Making God a Liar
Mankind has exchanged the truth of God for a lie and seems happy about it.

Russell Moore on the Culture War
Series: Conversations
If conservatives have lost the culture war and the American church is in decline, what is there for evangelicals to be encouraged by?

The Gospel of an Australian Easter
The News from the Future is Good
Jesus has a word for you today about tomorrow.

Does Your Search History Know You?
Our restoration begins with a change in what we’re searching for.

Links For The Church
This week's links include resources on small sins, passion in marriage, Psalm 22, women celebrating women, and encouraging children to befriend those with special needs.

At the Right Hand of God
Christ at the right hand of God hath all power in heaven and in earth.

A Good Friday Admonition from Andrew Fuller
Preach Christ Crucified
On this Good Friday, consider these words from one of church history's greatest Baptist theologians on the apostolic preaching of the cross of Christ.

When Trials Become Joy
Despite my despair and self-pity when trials come my way, He lovingly draws me to Himself and reminds me there is so much more.

D. A. Horton on Winning Your Church to Mission
Series: Conversations
How does a pastor win his church to mission?

The Lamentation of a Sinner
Confessions of Henry VIII's Sixth Wife
Though a relatively short work, Queen Katherine Parr's The Lamentation of a Sinner is a deeply personal and overwhelmingly theological confession of her unworthiness for the grace of God.

The Slow and Steady Pace of Discipleship
We don’t need something new. We need something old. We need to do the same things that saints of old have been doing in order to deepen our understanding and apprehension of the greatness of God.

The Kingdom of God is Radically New
Jesus is not the poster boy for old-time religion. He’s not the Bible Belt co-pilot. He’s not the post-modern homeboy. Jesus is the covenant-making God filling up the old in himself and pouring out the newness we long for.

Why Christians Oppose Abortion
Theological and Sociological Reasons
When Christians oppose abortion, they are beginning with the fundamental belief that humans are the capstone of creation, created in the image of God, and therefore ought to be preserved.

Be Tender-Hearted and Thick-Skinned
How Humility Protects Pastors from Pastoral Burnout
Sheep have been known to bite their shepherd. How should pastors respond in the face of unjust criticism?

Episode 055: Ed Stetzer on Whatever Happened to Missional?
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with Ed Stetzer about the state of "missional" in the evangelical church.

Aging and Finishing Well
I deeply believe that for those of us who are over 60, the most profound growth still lies ahead of us.

The Silver Chair and the Solas
For those of us living in the twenty-first century, how one understands the relationship of their faith in Christ and their obedience to Christ makes all the difference for living a life of joy and God-glorifying freedom.

Matt Carter on Training Young Men for Ministry
What are some unique things you’ve learned in training young men for ministry?
Series: Conversations
Matt Carter on unique things he has learned in training young men for ministry.

Pastors Are Special
4 Reasons Pastoral Work is Different (and What You and I Should Do About It)
I'm convinced that too few church members often think about the burdens and responsibilities that really do make ministry special.

I Used To Be
We long for the whitewashed memories to be a present reality.

Links For The Church
This week's links include resources on explaining the gospel, why parents' generosity matters, God's kindness, Sign Language and Scripture, believing the Bible because of our parents, and how to encourage the preacher.

It Will be Well
O beloved, if God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare it to be ill, but we laugh them all to scorn.

Jesus Is Better Than The Church
Jesus defines the church, but the church does not define Jesus.

Holy Weakness
The grace of God meets my identity crisis and reminds me that I am approved by God in Christ, and the approval of man I can never earn.

Christine Hoover on Christian Friendships
Series: Conversations
How are Christian friendships different?

How to Sleep When You’re Afraid
One day my eyelids will do what they were made to do.

Seen by the Unseen
Among the panoply of spiritual beings said to see into our world, none is more pervasive, interested, and involved than God himself.

Commitments of a Great Commission Church
What does it mean for a church to be on mission for Christ? Here are ten commitments of a Great Commission church.

Matt Chandler on Marriage and Ministry
Series: Conversations
How do you cultivate a healthy marriage in the midst of a busy ministry?

When You Make Your Bed In Hell
I wanted the Bible to fit my story. I didn’t want any impositions.

Simply Profound Yet Profoundly Simple
The Paradox of the Gospel and the Mandate for a Robust Witness
God’s people must not settle for only a rudimentary knowledge of God’s saving message.

You're Dead, Start Acting Like It
“To live is Christ and to die is gain” is more than a hashtag for your Instagram account; it’s theology clothed with flesh.

Giving Ourselves Fully to God
We must carefully balance between conformity and non-conformity by purposing to no longer be conformed to the world and by being transformed by the renewal of our minds.

J.D. Greear On Winning A Church to Mission
How do you win a church to mission?
Series: Conversations
How do you win a church to mission?

Love Actuarially
Christian, the Lord knows you are not an asset to the organization.

Who Is God, Anyway?
We understand that loving doesn’t always mean doing what others want, but doing what serves them best.

Links For The Church (4/8)
This week's links include resources on angels, serving adults with special needs, parents and repentance, sexual abuse in the church, and abortion 50 years from now.

Freed From Sin
We must sing of the finished work of a precious Saviour; and he who knows most of forgiving love will sing the loudest.

The God Who Heals
Does Jesus want to heal you? In this lifetime, it’s possible he does.

Big Reflections on Small Phrases
Recovering Meditation
Though there was a desert around him, there was no desert in his soul.

Trevin Wax on The Future of The Church
Series: Conversations
What encourages you about the future of the church?

Christ Fulfilled the Law
The overhwleming answer to the question: how can an unholy people enter into God’s presence and live?

Rebuilding Together
Communal Truths to Anchor Shifting Emotions
God made us emotional beings, but we must anchor those feeling in the truth.

3 Reflections on Turning 40
I turned 40 last month and as I reflect on God’s goodness in my life and on what I have to look forward to in Christ, my soul is full and content. I can’t wait for the future, gray hair and all.

Episode 054: Growing Without Going Attractional
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss guarding against consumerism and pragmatism in a growing church.

Antinomianism and the Modern Church
Christ takes all of our law-breaking and gives us all of His law-keeping, placing the Christian completely under Himself, grace.

Trusting God In Your Waiting Season
If the pace of our lives is in His hands, then even our seasons of silence are for a purpose that goes way beyond our current circumstance.

The Kingdom of God is for Sinners
Are you sick enough for the Good Doctor, Jesus? If so, rejoice! The kingdom of God is at hand, and it’s coming for you!

Steve Bezner on What Average Churchgoers May Not Understand About Being a Pastor
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Steve Bezner, Lead Pastor of Houston Northwest Church in Houston, TX, "What’s something about being a pastor the average churchgoer doesn’t understand?"

9 Factors to Consider When Choosing Someone to Disciple
You only have so much time in the week. You can’t disciple the whole church, so how do you decide in whom to invest?

You Believe the Prosperity Gospel
Here are 4 ways ordinary evangelicals like you and me sometimes fall prey to a kind of prosperity gospel in our thinking.

Links For The Church (4/1)
This week's links include praise for the plateaued church, preaching from the OT, contentment, and women and men working together.

2 Surprises From Ministry Travels Outside of the USA
Churches, train and send missionaries who are not only godly, and not just eager, but also knowledgeable
March

By His Stripes We Are Healed
Believer in Jesus, can you gaze upon him without tears, as he stands before you the mirror of agonizing love?

The Quietly Poured-Out Life of Lilias Trotter
We should slay the lurking thought that obedience to God should give something other than Christ.

Why Shouldn’t We Love the World?
We shouldn’t love the world because it means we have divided hearts.

Robby Gallaty on The Future of the Church
Series: Conversations
What encourages you about the future of the church?

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Seminary
Here are five areas to take a long, hard look at before making a committment to pursue seminary training for the next three to four years of your life.

The 7 Disciplines of Living Coram Deo
You do not accidentally live your life before God. Positioning yourself in the presence of God to know him, hear him, and respond to him takes discipline.

The Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
Are leaders created or developed? This age-old question is not easily answered. There are natural leaders, but anyone can grow into a leadership role.

Waiting on Jesus
Have you found yourself walking through seasons of great anticipation only to end up crawling through disappointment?

You Can Doubt and Have Faith without Exploding
If I’m doubting some aspect of my faith, I should dive deep in investigating that aspect.

Mark Dever On The Importance of Expository Preaching
Series: Conversations
Why is expository preaching as important today as it’s always been?

Don't Stumble Over the Simplicity of Jesus
There is a blessed kind of simplicity for the Christian who is convinced of the providential love of God in Christ.

What Does It Mean for God to Be Our Father?
Even if your earthly father was a failure, here you come to experience fatherly love in its ideal. Here is a Father who has committed himself to provide for us, his children, in exactly every way we need, and he has promised to direct our every step for our good and his glory.

Christine Hoover on What Average Churchgoers May Not Understand About Their Pastor
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks author and pastor's wife, Christine Hoover, "What does the average churchgoer not understand about the pastor?"

Don’t Preach Microwaved Leftover Sermons
I know more than a few pastors—and overhear many more besides—who cite the busyness of their ministry lives as the reason sermon preparation gets crowded out week to week.

Life is Improv
We are living in a society that is becoming more isolated from each other.

Links For The Church (3/25)
This week's links include resources on friendships with other ministry leaders, what God does while you wait, the idol of "workism," and SSA Christians and non-sexual relationships.

Rejoice in Your King
Exiles though we be, we rejoice in our King; yea, in him we exceedingly rejoice, while in his name we set up our banners.

John Calvin as an Intellectual Model for Pastor-Theologians
The intellectual discipline exhibited by Calvin in his early years of study, and consistently displayed in his years of ministry in Geneva, is worth emulating.

The One Life Dream That Makes a Girl Blush
We’ve gone so far down the road of feminism that we’ve forgotten how to proudly be feminine.

Dean Inserra on Successful Outreach
Series: Conversations
What’s been the most successful form of outreach your church has practiced?

Distracted by Serving Jesus
If we’re honest, for most of us, it isn’t the Hollywood sins that choke out our faith; it’s all the worries of life. All the distractions and noise around us simply box the Spirit of God right out of our day.

Seasons of Waiting
Usually waiting doesn’t seem to make much sense or have much purpose at the time, but that is a sheerly human perspective, bound and shackled by our mortal limitations.

What Was It Like to Pastor at 17?
What was it like to pastor at seventeen? Ultimately, the short answer is credit to God. For that matter, the long answer is God. God did it all!

Hallmark Movies, Marriage, and Church
In our highly educated and Biblical competent circles, we all know marriage is important, but as leaders in ministry, is caring for our marriage our utmost goal beyond abiding in Christ?

Episode 053: Chris Thomas
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with Chris Thomas, Lead Pastor of Raymond Terrace Community Church in New South Wales, Australia.

Your Church Needs Biblical Theology
Biblical theology shows us that this covenant was superseded in a way we couldn’t imagine.

When Abstinence Is Wrong
The Silent Sin Subtly Sabotaging Marriages
A lack of physical intimacy in marriage boosts fleshly desires and opens us up to temptation in significant ways. Here are some ways to guard against it.

Why Preaching?
Preaching is the pastor's indispensable task, his most paramount duty, and his most consequential and urgent job assignment. For the pastor, preaching is priority number one.

Matt Capps on What the Average Churchgoer Doesn't Understand About Being a Pastor
FTC.co asks Matt Capps, Senior Pastor of Fairvew Baptist Churchi in Apex, NC: "What’s something about being a pastor the average churchgoer doesn’t understand?"

Pastor, Be What You Want to See
Pastors "go first."

Why Your Preaching Stinks
Maybe the main reason your preaching is subpar is because your expectations are subpar.

Links For The Church (3/18)
This week's links include resources on a single ladies catechism, being related to a slave owner, poetry and evangelism, and SBC institutions.

Remember the Poor
Why does God allow so many of his children to be poor?

The Most Important Discovery I Learned in Seminary
To read the Old Testament is to encounter many new areas of knowledge that might appear tangential or skippable.

Church Discipline: Done for the Self-Loving Lord
Though God surely loves you and me, there is someone He loves even more: Himself.

J.A. Medders on Pastoring Elderly Church Members
Series: Conversations
How can a young pastor lead elderly church members well?

Why You Will Join the Wrong Church
Our relationships will ebb and flow, as will our affection for the church. But the solution is not always looking for a better fit.

When the Authoritative Jesus Shows Up
Jesus has the authority to fix everything in the deepest part of your being and no one can stop him.

Preacher, Give Them Bread
Discipline yourself not to feel the need to overwhelm in every sermon. It’s difficult to do, but we must get over the temptation to feed God’s people everything we have each week.

Leading Your Ministry Marriage Well
It feels counterintuitive for ministers to talk about their own health, but self-care is strategic, not selfish.

The Dangers of Disconnected Discipleship
Don’t view discipleship as a separate activity from your church engagement and involvement.

Trillia Newbell on Exciting Things About The Church
Series: Conversations
What excites you most about the church today?

'The Gospel-Driven Church' Releases Today!
This new book from FTC managing editor Jared C. Wilson promises to help you introduce your dreams for church growth to the biblical metrics of grace.

3 Things that Keep Christians from Living with a Sense of Urgency
Christians, proclaming the gospel is an urgent matter. Let us look at our lives to see what’s keeping us from allowing it to be so.

The Harmonics of the Old Testament
The theology of the OT often rides on the harmonics created by the songs and poems breathed out by the Holy Spirit through the skillful pen of His prophets.

Won Kwak on How to Identify Leaders in a Smaller Church
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Won Kwak, Lead Pastor of Maranatha Grace Church in Fort Lee, NJ: "How do you identify potential leaders, especially in a smaller church?"

Steering from the Stage
Keys for Gospel-Driven Preaching
Who is church for? And what do they need? - An exclusive excerpt from the new book The Gospel-Driven Church

Links For The Church (3/11)
This week's links include resources on struggling to obey God, worship essentials, advice on discussing gender roles, and rethinking unreached peoples.

Are You Persuading or Are You Polarizing?
When we polarize, we miss an opportunity to draw someone into a meaningful conversation.

The Path of Trouble is the Way Home
Lord, make this thought a pillow for many a weary head!

Satan Isn't After the SBC, God Is
God will not let pastors flatter his people instead of taking responsibility for the many forms of abuse in his church.

David, Jonathan, and the Dangers of Reader-Centered Interpretation
We should grieve when people think the deep friendship of David and Jonathan was sexual.

Steve Bezner on Older Members and Church Changes
Series: Conversations
How do you prepare older or established members for significant change in a church?

Discipleship Simplified
If Christ is to be followed, He must be well-known, to the point that the disciple can discern His voice, predict His next move, and go His direction at all times.

10 Ways to Lead a Great Team Meeting
Activity does not always mean productivity and just because you meet doesn’t mean you're accomplishing anything of value.

Don’t Domesticate God with Words
If our God-talk doesn’t respect him who is incomprehensible, we risk worshiping a glorified version of our own likeness. But if our posture is one of humility—faith seeking understanding—then our stammering turns into worship.

Episode 052: Jeff Medders
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with Jeff Medders, Lead Pastor of Redeemer Church in Tomball, Texas and author or co-author of several books, including the new release Humble Calvinism

The Department of Redundancy Department
As flawed humans, we don’t always reflect this patient willingness to repeat ourselves.

How to Make the Most of Your College Education
The classroom environment for learning the content was invaluable, but without working it out in actual ministry it would have remained knowledge that merely puffs up.

Joyful Frustration
What It is Like to Minister in New England
The Enemy has held this ground for a long time, and he won’t give it up easily. Fortunately, he doesn’t get to decide who wins in the end.

Pastor, Your Congregation Plays Video Games (and That’s OK)
What should the pastor’s response to video games be? Where do they fit within the lives of the congregation?

Jen Wilkin on Facilitating Inter-Generational Discipleship Among Women
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks, Jen Wilkin, author and teacher at The Village Church in Dallas, TX: "How can we better facilitate inter-generational discipleship among women?"

Peter, Paul, and Race
What Does Galatians 2 Have to Do With Racial Justice?
Does Paul's confrontation of Peter as recounted in Galatians 2 really have no implications for racial reconciliation?

Set The Pattern
There is more to it than just the pattern, but the pattern sets us up and supports the truth.

Links For The Church (3/4)
This week's links include resources on prayer, sexual assault, short term mission trips, "arriving" in ministry, and healthy conversations about race.

Blessed Spirit
The brooding of the Spirit of God upon the face of the deep, first produced order and life, and in our hearts, he causes and fosters new life and light.

5 Confessions of a Preacher
I quickly learned that an unguarded heart leads to unfiltered preaching.

Sexual Abuse in Student Ministry
Every leader needs accountability, including youth pastors.

Michael Kelley on Passion Without Legalism
Series: Conversations
How do I become passionate about the things of God without becoming a legalist?
February

The Circular Mission of the Church
Reflecting on my life reminds me that God truly works in mysterious ways. But I'm reminded that God also works in another, more primary way, that is, through the local church.

Rebooting Those New Year’s Resolutions
Recommit to and pursue your New Year’s resolutions looking through the lenses of God’s constant, abundant, tender, firm, and loving presence and strength.

The Father Himself Loves You
At the end of it all, he makes his final offer: all of your sin and unloveliness for all my kingdom of righteousness and unending, unyielding, unashamed, outrageously faithful love. Does that sound good?

Maturing in the Faith-One Decision at a Time
Leaders who blindly accepting the lowest bid, hear just one side of a matter or fail to count the cost prior to making a decision fall into this trap of failing to get all of the facts.

7 Questions For Meaningful Conversation With Believers
Sometimes, all it takes is one good question to start a meaningful, God-honoring conversation.

Russell Moore on Encouragement for Parents
Series: Conversations
How would you encourage Christian parents worried about the world their kids are growing up into?

Pitting the Mission Against Itself
Pastor, if you served the rest of your ministry and never saw another convert, would you be content with watching the spiritual growth of your congregation?

5 Callings More Noble than that of Pastor
Oh yes, being a pastor and preaching the Bible is a high, great, and glorious call. But, it is not the highest, greatest, and glorious call of all.

Jonathan Leeman with Advice for Pastors Practicing Church Discipline for the First Time
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Jonathan Leeman, Editorial Director for 9Marks Ministries, "What advice would you give a pastor who wants to practice church discipline in a church that never has?"

3 Principles for Christian Political Engagement
In light of the story God is telling with the world, how should the church engage politically?

Numbering Our Days
We must let time pass over us with the night and we must give in to letting God be the sovereign one.

Links For The Church (2/25)
This week's links include resources on single pastors, praying for your parents, God and the workplace, discontentment, and Old Testament Violence.

Approach Him
You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: he who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting his own children.

The Gospel is Better Than Amnesty
God has spoken the verdict of “not guilty” over law-breakers in his realm.

Hold Out The Story
We should all seek to know the story of the Bible, not as simple facts, but as a vivid living story that we find our place within.

Jeff Medders on Pastoral PTSD
Series: Conversations
What is Pastoral PTSD and what can a pastor do if he has it?

3 Reasons to Fight Self-Pity
You may or may not have reason for self-pity today. If you do, there is good reason to fight that impulse.

Open-Door Discipleship
I don’t think we can accomplish the goal of discipleship in the 21st century without demonstrating that we are willing to invite others into our mess, to hopefully show them that our mess is a Christ-centered and redemptive mess.

10 Things to Know About Ministry Among the Poor
The poor in our cities are not going to be won by a group of timid men and women in a committee meeting; they will be won by those who dream big and trust in the absolute sovereignty of God to get things done.

Three Reminders For Parents In The Trenches With Young Children
Compassion remembers the frame of our children like God remembers that we are dust and prone to weakness.

Episode 051: Power-Hungry Pastors
For the Church Podcast
A Resource for the Church from Midwestern Seminary
On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the root sin beneath some recent headlines, from the Houston Chronicle's report on sexual abuse in the SBC to the recent firings of pastor James MacDonald and others.

How to Do Ministry When You Don’t Have Money
If you grumble in your lack, your heart posture may not be service for Jesus but an inordinate affection for money.

Get FREE Resources When You Pre-Order 'The Gospel-Driven Church'
Pre-order the new book from Jared Wilson and get free bonus resources!

Refuting the Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
If you’ll do these things, you’ll continue to grow as a leader in health and effectiveness, and your organization will grow right along with you.

Equip Your People to Counsel Each Other
This lay ministry is an extraordinary happening. No longer do people need a special—though temporary—anointing to offer a prophetic word of direction and wisdom.

Nathan Rose on What Average Churchgoers May Not Realize About Their Pastor
Series: Conversations
FTC.co asks Nathan Rose, Lead Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri: "What’s something about being a pastor the average churchgoer doesn’t understand?"

What the Popularity of 'NCIS' and 'Blue Bloods' Tells Us About Ministering to Senior Adults
Why are older folks drawn to these kinds of shows? And what do those connections mean for ministry to older folks?

The Tears of Success in Foster Parenting
There is a powerful beauty in beholding oneself in another.

Links For The Church (2/18)
This week's links include resources include being slow to speak, atypical women, misunderstanding the Trinity, materialism, compensating your pastor, and being a second wife.

The Lord Was There
The saints are God's heritage, and he is in the midst of them, and will protect his own.

How to Lead Women’s Ministry in a Complementarian Church
God created men and women to work in such a way that we both have the same goal and we need one another to get the job done.

J.T. English On The Local Church and Theological Training
Series: Conversations
Why is the local church integral to theological training?

When Fighting Anxiety Seems Unbearable
He may not change your circumstances, but he will give peace in the midst of hardship as he promised.

Turning the Corner on Effective Church Planting (Part 2)
When we talk about multiplication, we mean that churches have a process to discover, develop, and deploy church planting teams from the inside.

Lessons Learned from a Leadership Nightmare
Stuff is going to happen. Things will break. People will hurt you. Leaders will disappoint you. But Jesus never fails. Never.

So, Do You Write Your Own Sermons?
When you stand behind the sacred desk to preach, be a voice, not an echo.

Do Not Regard God's Discipline Lightly
When circumstances are running smoothly and our own plans are being fulfilled, it is easy to forget the Lord and all he has done in the gospel.

He Came - We Go
I am a long way from having the character of our heavenly Father, but my daughter is helping me understand what it means to be drawn fully into the gospel story.

Don Whitney on Family Devotions
Series: Conversations
How do you encourage a young family struggling with family devotions?

Marriage: A Covenant, Not a Contract
Marriage is a covenant and not a contract. Marriage is intended to be commitment to which we maintain trust and fidelity until separated by death.
