Helping you grow in God's all-sufficient grace and truth
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
“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
Continue reading
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,
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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.”
Continue reading
I hope you enjoyed the reading for the first of our seven weeks together, as much as we did. One evening, I took out our copy of SING! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church and read the Prelude
Continue reading
It’s only been one Lord’s Day that we’ve been unable to gather together as a church family, but I’m already aching for the day we can come together again to sing praises to the Lord as a congregation. So, I
Continue reading
Surely the apostle Paul’s description, or definition, of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is the most well-known of all. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogantor rude. It does not insist on
Continue reading
As evangelical churches become increasingly user-friendly in an attempt to reach their world for Christ, one of the aspects of corporate worship that has fallen on hard times is what is customarily known as the pastoral prayer. This longer time
Continue reading
The family of God is the only family that will last forever. For this reason, the Scriptures exhort us to do good to the household of faith. The “household of faith” is a phrase that is used in the Bible
Continue reading
One of my dreams and goals for our church is that we become a hospital and rehabilitation center for sinners—a place where sinners like each of us may live in an atmosphere of grace, where we love and worship Jesus
Continue reading
Sometimes worship comes by way of weeping in the pew. When the broken enter the sanctuary of God on Sunday mornings, they do so, perhaps, with every fiber of their being tempting them to withdrawal. They drag their grief, depression,
Continue reading
By God’s grace, I’m a husband, dad, grandpa, and a pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Hts, OH. I love Christ because He first loved me.
