Category: Local Church

The Silent Pain and Secret Shame In Our Churches

Posted on January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 by Paul Tautges

Whether you’re aware of it or not, there is silent pain and secret shame in your church. Cheerful greetings are exchanged each Sunday morning. The “How are you?” greeting is politely met with “Fine” or the more daring “I’ve been

Cultivating a Church Culture Open to Constructive Critique

Posted on January 13, 2021January 19, 2021 by Paul Tautges

There are two equally dangerous extremes that local congregations may fall into as they relate to criticism. The first is a culture of criticism where nearly everything and everyone is viewed with suspicion and negativity. Self-righteous criticism becomes the defining

Heavy Trials Test Our Strength and Endurance

Posted on January 6, 2021January 7, 2021 by Paul Tautges

A few weeks ago, we had our first real snowstorm of the season. One of our neighbors said it was the most damaging snowfall they experienced on their property in the 37 years they’ve lived there. Our generator ran for

How My Newest Book was Conceived Over Nine Years Ago

Posted on January 3, 2021January 15, 2021 by Paul Tautges

Here is the Introduction to my newest book, When Disability Hits Home: How God Magnifies His Grace In Our Weakness and Suffering, with contributions from Joni Eareckson Tada. The idea for this book was conceived in April 2011 at The

NUGGETS

Posted on December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 by Paul Tautges

When Christmas Isn’t Merry and Bright – Christmas is not joyous for everyone. For some, the Christmas season brings grief or stress or numbness, which no amount of eggnog or carol singing can overcome. Family tensions, tragic memories, personal sin

Old and New Testament Foundations for Coping with Criticism

Posted on December 15, 2020January 13, 2021 by Paul Tautges

Last month, one of the books I read is Pastors and Their Critics: A Guide to Coping with Criticism in Ministry by Joel Beeke and Nick Thompson. This book ministered to me personally, encouraging me to remember the biblical pattern

My Three Personal Encounters with Jay Adams

Posted on November 18, 2020November 19, 2020 by Paul Tautges

“For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong,’” it was said of the apostle Paul, yet his bodily presence and manner of speech were unimpressive. The same could be said of Jay Adams, the father of modern day biblical

NUGGETS: Pastors and Churches

Posted on October 5, 2020October 6, 2020 by Paul Tautges

It’s Okay to Be a Pastor – Head down, chin up, one foot in front of the other. The world is broken, but what’s new about that? The Word still needs to be proclaimed, the darkness still needs the light,

What Does the Bible Teach about the Poor and Oppressed?

Posted on September 10, 2020September 11, 2020 by Paul Tautges

In the Bible, God speaks often of the poor and needy and how He cares for them. One example is His provision for the poor through “gleanings” from the corners of the field (Lev. 23:22). The Bible also contains stern

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

Posted on June 3, 2020June 8, 2020 by Paul Tautges

As congregations of Christians begin to regather, there are challenges and even threats that local churches will face. Here’s an appeal that I wrote to my own congregation, along with a brief teaching from Romans 14. Perhaps you will find

WEEK 2: Congregational Singing Is an Act of Heartfelt Obedience

Posted on April 11, 2020April 25, 2020 by Paul Tautges

This week, the subject of our reading revolved around the fact that the Scriptures clearly teach us that congregational singing is commanded by God. But, as the Gettys rightly point out, our obedience to this command is “not a clinical obedience, without warmth of conviction or joy of relationship.”