My First Year of Pastoral Ministry – A Letter to a Friend

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Andy Lynch

Not too long ago a pair of events coincided which have led to the post before you today. The first event was the completion of my first year of ministry as the Pastor-Teacher of Stansbury Park Baptist Church in Utah. The second was a message from a friend just about to enter pastoral ministry with some questions he was hoping I might answer. I was happy to help him and even encouraged that he found my answers helpful. And since he did, I would like share the same info here in case it might be an encouragement to anyone currently serving in ministry or facing the prospect of having a new Pastor arrive at their local church.… Continue reading

The Nature of Apologetics

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Brett Smith

Because Scripture is inerrant and inspired by God, it is the Christian’s sole authority concerning matters of life and godliness. Therefore, whatever the Bible teaches on any topic binds the Christian’s conscience. Christians are obligated then to believe what the Bible teaches and to obey what the Bible prescribes (having been rightly interpreted of course). Because of the nature of Scripture, people attack the many claims of Scripture and its life-giving doctrine. Consequently, defending of the Christian faith is necessary. I desire to conduct a brief overview on the nature of apologetics in Scripture, extrapolating some practical lessons for us as we engage the culture with the life-changing power of the gospel and as we defend our faith.… Continue reading

Who is this messenger?

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

Hebrews opens with one of the most Christ-descriptive paragraphs in all of the New Testament,

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they (1:1-4)

In short, Jesus is God in the flesh, the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God. … Continue reading

A Solution for Isis

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Matt Tarr

Like you, I was shocked this week by the words of State Department Marie Harf when commenting on her solution (or can we call it an anti-solution?) to ISIS during her initial interview with Chris Matthews that “we can’t win this war by killing them.” Her solution? Give them jobs… never-mind the fact that many Jihadists are some of the wealthiest people in the world. Well, I have to practice great restraint to avoid getting tied up in a political debate on that, and the truth is, her initial statement was not what motivated me to write. We’re not here to talk about political agendas.… Continue reading

Inerrancy Denied…?

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Greg Peterson

In a mere two weeks, probably the greatest conference for pastors and church leaders will commence. The Shepherd’s Conference. It is a gathering of men who God has called to lead and shepherd local flocks of church members from all over the world. Some of these men hold higher level degrees, while others hold no formal Bible/theology training, but make up for it in multiple decades of faithful church & gospel ministry. The one thing they all have in common: they all love the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, and His church. They are men who have personally surrendered their lives to Jesus and are tirelessly engaged in advancing the kingdom of the one true God through daily church ministry.… Continue reading