Phil Newton

Fundamentalism May Feel Safe, But It’s Shortsighted
By Phil Newton | 09.11.2023Fundamentalism blinds us to healthy catholicity and theological error due to pride in a sterile, tightly-packaged belief system.

Book Review: The Shepherd’s Toolbox, by Timothy Z. Witmer
Review by Phil Newton | 07.05.2023‘The Shepherd’s Toolbox’ gives practical counsel for “obstacles facing those who are committed to shepherding their flocks.”

What’s Wrong with Us? Revival vs. Revivalism
By B. Lacey, C. Morell, D. Hodge, J. Leeman, M. Dever, P. Newton | 07.12.2022Mark Dever, Jonathan Leeman, and friends discuss Revival vs. Revivalism, a conversation about two different ways of doing ministry today.

Why Revivalism Causes Pastors to Burn Out and Job-Hop
By Phil Newton | 9Marks Journal: Pursuing Revival While Avoiding Revivalism | 06.14.2022Understanding dependence on the Word and Spirit would have reoriented my entire approach to and practice of pastoral ministry. But instead, I struggled to make sense of the man-centered revivalism I’d been taught.

The Hope of Heaven at the Beginning and End of Ministry (with Omar Johnson & Phil Newton)
By O. Johnson, P. Newton | 02.05.2021Pastors need the hope of heaven at the beginning of their ministry, and they still need it at the end of their ministry. Jonathan Leeman chats with Phil Newton (a pastor … keep reading…

The Hope of Heaven at the End of Ministry
By Phil Newton | 9Marks Journal: Heaven: Rejoicing in Future Glory | 12.22.2020I should have talked more about the hope of heaven at the beginning of my ministry because I certainly can’t quit talking about it now as I near my ministry’s end.

Right and Wrong Pastoral Ambitions
By Phil Newton | 9Marks Journal: Shepherding: The Work & Character of a Pastor | 06.30.2020Pastoral calling and ministry training do not inoculate from wrong ambitions. But men who are humbly lashed to God’s Word, with character shaped by the gospel, will pursue right ambitions.

5 Reasons You Should Preach through 1 Timothy
By Phil Newton | 06.03.2020Brothers, preach 1 Timothy. And don’t wait too long. You and your congregation need its Christ-centered focus for the church.

Stories of Restoration after Church Discipline
By J. Kurz, J. Folmar, P. Newton | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Following the Lord Together | 05.07.2019We asked three pastors to share a story of restoration—that is, someone who had been restored to membership after being disciplined for unrepentant sin.

Mailbag #74: The Wisdom of Confronting an Older Pastor . . . Is It Biblical to Call Women “Ministers”? . . . How a Pastor Should Schedule His Week
By C. Humfrey, J. Leeman, P. Newton | 02.15.2019— One of our elders, a man far older in the faith than us, has begun to regularly preach poor sermons. How should we respond? — I’ve noticed some SBC churches give women on staff the title of “minister” in deliberate distinction from “pastor” or “elder.” Is this practice wise? — What are some principles for how a pastor should schedule his week?

Book Review: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
Review by Phil Newton | 01.11.2019While it is certain that Scroggins’ book will get wide readership, I think the book fits best outside of local church leadership structures.

Book Review: Gospel Eldership, by Robert Thune
Review by Phil Newton | 05.06.2016Thune has put together a series of essays, exercises, and questions for aspiring elders to consider before embracing the office of elder.

Book Review: Christ-Centered Preaching, by Bryan Chapell
Review by Phil Newton | 9Marks Journal: Biblical Theology: Guardian and Guide of the Church | 08.20.2014Those committed to proclaiming God’s Word will find Chapell’s volume accessible, resourceful, and useful.

Elders in the Life of the Church
By M. Schmucker, P. NewtonRediscovering the Biblical Model for Church Leadership Newton and Schmucker convincingly demonstrate that a return to the New Testament pattern of elder plurality best serves the shepherding needs of the … keep reading…

Book Review: The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church, by Timothy Witmer
Review by Phil Newton | 9Marks Journal: Pastoring Women | 06.25.2010I found this book so helpful that I’m asking all of our elders and pastoral interns to read it.