Pastoring

7 Well-Meaning Objections to Church Discipline — And How Pastors Ought to Respond to Them

By C. Greggsen, S. Emadi | 07.05.2019

Let’s briefly consider some of the “good-faith” objections to discipline we’ve encountered and how we try to help church members understand the theological principles undergirding discipline.

Pastoring and the Art of Balance

By J. Beeke, P. Smalley | 06.17.2019

God’s promise of a transformed community (Jer. 3:17) comes with a promise of competent pastoral care.

What I Told My Congregation After Our Founding Pastor Died

By Mark Redfern | 06.07.2019

On that morning, I stood in front of our church on the first Sunday without our pastor of 46 years.

Meaningful Membership & Shepherding the Saints

By Jason Seville | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Following the Lord Together | 05.07.2019

Church membership isn’t just a useful tool in the pastoral tool belt; it’s the tool belt itself.

How to Conduct a Membership Interview

How to Conduct a Membership Interview

By PJ Tibayan | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Following the Lord Together | 05.07.2019

The two-pronged goal of an interview is to (1) disciple the person, and (2) discern whether their profession of faith in Jesus is credible. You want to disciple and discern.

5 Reasons Pastors Ought to Pray for Slow Growth

By Aaron Menikoff | 05.06.2019

Smaller churches are not godlier than larger churches. I’m not calling for no growth. I’m simply going to suggest both you and your congregation will be well-served by slow and steady growth.

Book Review: Why I Love the Apostle Paul, by John Piper

Review by Nathan Loudin | 04.25.2019

Piper’s example is commendable. Pastors should get to know the Bible and their authors more comprehensively. How might our ministries change if we invested ourselves so thoroughly in Peter, John, Jeremiah, and others biblical authors?

Preachers, Don’t Just Explain What the Text Means—Tell Us How You Got There

By Lucas O'Neill | 04.15.2019

We need to explain and apply the text, but we should also demonstrate how we came to our conclusions from the text.

Mailbag #79: How Should Vocational Pastors Approach Their Own Giving to the Church? . . . How Do Deacons Relate to Elders?

By J. Dunlop, J. de Koning | 03.29.2019

— Should vocational ministers tithe? Should a church then count on 10% of that staff member’s salary toward the budget? — Are deacons there just to “do what they’re told” by the elders? Should deacons be used as a means to develop future elders?

Book Review: The Forgotten Church, by Glenn Daman

Review by Dayton Hartman | 03.28.2019

This book is a compelling and thoughtful presentation of the value of small community ministry and the of the need for healthy local churches in those communities.

Episode 79: On Funerals

By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 03.12.2019

In this episode of Pastors’ Talk, Jonathan interviews Mark about how to preside over funeral services.

Leverage Your Short-Term Mission Trips for Long-Term Goals

By Jon Deedrick | 03.11.2019

Would the Apostle Paul join your short-term missions trip?

Episode 78: On Pastoring Members in the Workplace (with Sebastian Traeger)

Episode 78: On Pastoring Members in the Workplace (with Sebastian Traeger)

By J. Leeman, M. Dever, S. Traeger | 03.05.2019

Pastors, the vast majority of people in your church will spend tens of thousands of hours at work. How will you help them connect the gospel to their work?

Mailbag #76: The Role of Matthew 18’s “One or Two Witnesses” . . . Must Christians Go to Church Every Sunday? . . . How to Care for an Unwed & Pregnant Member

By B. Johnson, J. Kurz, P. Martin | 03.01.2019

Three pastors answer one question each about church discipline, church attendance, and caring for a church member who is unwed and pregnant.

4 Ways Martin Luther Encourages Pastors to Pray

By Mark Rogers | 02.25.2019

As a fellow pastor, Martin Luther provides a treasure of wisdom and insight on prayer.