Pastoral Ministry

A little more than a year ago I read Handbook for Battered Leaders . It was written by husband and wife Wesley Balda and Janis Bragan Balda. Wesley is president of the Simeon Institute. In the past he has led the Ph.D. program at the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management and was founding...

I have often admired Martin Luther, and wondered at his composure. When all men spoke so ill of him, what did he say? Turn to that Psalm--"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble; therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be...

Though the month escapes me, every year Barnes and Noble features famous banned books in their stores. The collection includes such titles as The Catcher in the Rye , Candide , Lolita , and even the Bible. Many of the books are now ubiquitous in libraries and bookstores. But there was a time when...

I am a blessed man. I have the privilege of serving a church as pastor. There are more blessings attending to this call than I can possibly describe. God has been especially kind in allowing me to serve a church that loves its pastors well. But I have not always had this experience. I sojourned...

I spent my early years in ministry immersed in the language of vision and mission. Somewhere along the way, it was decided that if a church was going to be successful then it must have both a mission and vision statement. If you were really good you had purpose, vision, and mission statements. It...

If you have been hoping for a new reality show highlighting the big life of a rich preacher in Texas then good news is on the way! Ed Young Jr., pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX is negotiating terms for a new reality show based on himself. However, if you are like me and dread the idea...

If you have been hoping for a new reality show highlighting the life of a rich preacher in Texas then good news is on the way! However, if you are like me and dread the idea of yet another sad side show under evangelicalism's big top then we have Ed Young Jr. to thank, or better, blame. Actually, I...

Editor's Note: In the coming months, reformation21 will be reprinting some of our classic articles. This month's selection comes from January 2002. Shortly before college I read Mortimer Adler's little classic How to Read a Book . That may sound like an odd title. After all, how could somebody read...

Editor's Note: In the coming months, reformation21 will be reprinting some of our classic articles. This month's selection comes from January 2002. Shortly before college I read Mortimer Adler's little classic How to Read a Book . That may sound like an odd title. After all, how could somebody read...

How to Listen to a Sermon Understanding the Times Derek Thomas Sermons! They are the stuff of jokes! Like this on, which makes the rounds in different guises: "Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of...