What to Remember When It’s Going Poorly
By Ray Ortlund | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020What should we remember when tragedy overwhelms us, or when we lose our way in confusion, or when we seem unable to please anyone and the congregation is stiff and cold—or even walking out?
What to Remember When It’s Going Well
By Ray Ortlund | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020When the ministry is going well, remember that tomorrow’s setbacks and reversals will be bent around in God’s mighty hands into yet more blessing.
Preach, Pray, Love, and Stay
By M. Dever, P. Alexander | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020When I was interviewing with Capitol Hill Baptist Church before they called me to be their pastor, someone asked me if I had a program or plan to implement for growth. Here’s how I responded.
Whacking the Wolves
By Juan Sanchez | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020How should we confront the problem of wolves in the church? At times, we must protect the sheep by whacking the wolves with the shepherd’s rod.
Build Fences Around Your Flock
By Joel Kurz | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020We must guard the sheep against wolves. For this reason, we must know how to build fences; that is, we must lead our church in practicing meaningful membership and discipline.
Keep Studying
By Evgeny Bakhmutsky | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020When I took my final exams at university I was convinced my life would only get easier. “Well, now I will have a calm and measured life,” I thought. How wrong I was!
Three Warnings for Those Who Preach the Word
By Ken Mbugua | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020In and around the shadows of the pulpit, soul-damning dangers lurk.
What “Able to Teach” Means and Doesn’t Mean
By Sam Emadi | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020God requires clarity, not cleverness; doctrinal fidelity, not rhetorical flourish.
Pastors, Watch Your Doctrine
By Gregory A. Wills | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020Some of God’s truth may not be welcomed by your hearers. That must not deter you. Preach all that God has spoken. Do not judge the effectiveness of the word of God; let it judge you.
Do the Work of an Evangelist
By Jaime Owens | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020Dear pastors, do the work of an evangelist. By the grace of God, those whom you are called to lead will fill up the tracks you’ve made.
Be Courageous! Don’t Avoid Hard or Awkward Conversations
By Andy Davis | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020Pastors can neither be people-pleasers on the one side, nor take pleasure in hurting people on the other. A loving courage for the sake of the final blessedness of the flock is the goal.
Parenting Advice for Pastors
By Ed Moore | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.29.2020Listen to these points with a discerning ear and apply them by grace as they relate to you.
Gifted and Godly . . . But Especially Godly
By Bert Daniel | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.29.2020In his letter to Timothy, Paul spends more ink on pastoral godliness than he does on giftedness.
What Does It Mean to Be “Qualified” for Ministry?
By Bobby Scott | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.29.2020May the measureless love of our Father, who gave us his holy Son to save us from our sin, fill our hearts so that we delight in pursuing holiness.
Small Beginnings: J. C. Ryle in Exbury
By Geoff Chang | 06.29.2020Pastors are often tempted to be dissatisfied with their churches. Some long for greater prominence and larger congregations. But this dissatisfaction is part of the Enemy’s lies; such outcomes must be left to the Lord.
