God’s Joy Project: A Small Group Discussion Guide
I’ve written a discussion guide for Tony Reinke’s book The Joy Project: A True Story of Inescapable Happiness. You can get it here free of charge.
The Wilderness Makes or Breaks a Man
Peter C. Craigie wrote, “The wilderness makes or breaks a man; it provides strength of will and character.” But what he means by this is not what you’d expect.
How Much Does a Pastor Work?
Tracking how much a pastor works is difficult. Here are a few thoughts about how I work out some of the issues.
Pinterest Perfect Wedding Pressure
An interview I recently did about the pressures on couples as they prepare for weddings.
Visions of God – A Hymn I Wrote
Several years ago, I wrote a hymn about three men who came face to face with God: Job, Isaiah, and Peter. I’d love to share the lyrics and the audio recording with you.
Beware of the Me Monster
This is my favorite piece of stand-up comedy. It comes from Brian Regan. It’s brilliant commentary on our human condition: we love to talk about ourselves.
Why We Sing What We Sing, Part II of II
Recently, our director of music, Ben Bechtel, put together a “map” to help our church choose worship songs. I thought it was so helpful, that I asked him if he would let me share it on my blog. Hope you like it too. This is Part II of II.
Why We Sing What We Sing, Part I of II
Recently, our director of music, Ben Bechtel, put together a “map” to help our church choose worship songs. I thought it was so helpful, that I asked him if he would let me share it on my blog. Hope you like it too. This is Part I of II.
Consumer v. Covenant Relationships
Talking about the difference between “consumer” and “covenant” relationships is a helpful way to get at the deeper meaning of marriage, that is, the gospel.
What Holds You Captive?
Over the years, I’ve attended a number of men’s retreats, even helping to organize a few of them. But I’ve never been asked to be the main speaker for one—until now. Recently, my former church asked me to speak at their retreat. It’s coming up the first weekend in August.
Opening a Church Bookstore
If you’ve been to a Christian bookstore recently, then you might have been overwhelmed by the amount of stuff there. That’s why two weeks ago our church launched our own bookstore. We filled it with 25-30 Christian books that were handpicked by our elders and staff. Here’s our list.
Thank You Salem Church
While in seminary, my family and I attended Salem Evangelical Free Church in St. Louis, MO. In a few days, as I complete my first five years of ministry, thankfulness for their investment in me is bubbling over. Here’s a copy of a letter I recently wrote to them.
How Taking Out the Trash Teaches us about the Lord’s Supper
What does it mean to “remember?” This may feel like a silly question, but it’s not. If we understand what it means, biblically speaking, "to remember," then we’ll be able to better understand the Lord’s Supper.
A Response to "Why Men Should Not Be Pastors"
Last week, Sojourners released a short video that explains “7 Reasons Men Should Not Be Pastors.” Perhaps you are one of the millions of people who watched the video in your Facebook feed, maybe even one of the 32k people who shared the post or the 16k who hit “like.” This is my response to the video.
No Longer Slaves
“No Longer Slaves” is a popular Christian worship song. I often hear it on the radio, and we occasionally sing it at our church. Here are five reasons I love this song.
How to Leave a Church Well
We spend lots of time talking about how to start church membership well, but we should also be discussing how to leave a church well. Here’s an excerpt from the Epilogue to the church membership book I wrote called, EACH PART WORKING PROPERLY.
Introduction from EACH PART WORKING PROPERLY
An excerpt from the Introduction to the church membership book I wrote called, EACH PART WORKING PROPERLY.
Moldy Bread, Sandy Water, Graphic Sin, and the Meal that Satisfies
In seminary, I remember having classes on the Lord’s Supper. And in those classes, I remember learning that many wonderful things take place when Christians participate in the Lord’s Supper. But as in salvation, during the Lord’s Supper, before grace becomes rich and satisfying, sin must be seen as graphic and unpleasant.
I’m Not Just Some Kid Beating on a Drum
When I look at the worship team from the front row, I know that the kid holding the wooden sticks is not just some kid—he’s one of us.