poolsandpastures
Thoughts on the Gospel, Life, and Ministry
Tag: Discipleship
Will You Follow Him?
I wrote the following article was written for the March/April edition of ARP Magazine, a publication of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. May it be an encouragement and a challenge to you. My task is to write an article on the Moderator of our… Continue Reading “Will You Follow Him?”
Thankfulness is Necessary — A Pastoral Note
We, like the lepers, act as if we deserve God’s good works in our lives when we don’t. This arrogance, intentional or not, is an affront to the glory of God. We glorify him when we recognize our need for him, depend upon him, and thank him for his goodness to us.
Church Planting and the Future of the ARP Church
Between June 14-25, Christian Education Ministries hosted our denomination’s (ARPC) summer conferences for middle and high school students at Bonclarken (the ARP’s conference center). I understand those were two great weeks, and our Lord worked powerfully among the students. After the conferences were finished,… Continue Reading “Church Planting and the Future of the ARP Church”
Be Better This Year
I want to encourage you to think about 2021 in terms of getting better rather than completing a list of arbitrary and somewhat unrealistic resolutions. That’s the goal in life anyway, isn’t it? Be better today than you were yesterday. Be better this year than you were last year. Therefore, set some goals that will enable you to be better in 2021 than you were in 2020.
Developing Selflessness
Selflessness does not come naturally to any of us, but it can be developed in all of us through faith, intentional decision-making, and action.
3 Necessary Commitments for Planting New Churches
Planting new, biblical, Christ-centered, and confessional churches is the most effective way to impact the lost world for Christ. Period.
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 22
I apologize for the delay in posting these comments. At this point in the Gospel, the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders was at a fever pitch. They did not like Jesus and were prepared to stop at nothing to get rid… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 22”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 17
There is something different about chapter 17. You can feel it. You can taste it. The drama intensifies. A Dramatic Shift and Peter’s Objection In 16:21, Matthew tells us that Jesus became singularly focused on getting to Jerusalem, enduring his cross, and preparing his… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 17”
Cracked Pots
Last night, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. R.J. Gore preach at my good friend Kyle Sims’ church in Lancaster. Dr. Gore chose as his text 2 Corinthians 4:1-10. His main point was that the light of the gospel, Jesus Christ as Lord,… Continue Reading “Cracked Pots”
A Complacent Pastor and Mrs. S.
Isn’t it amazing how the Lord mysteriously and graciously confronts us? Last week I poured myself into preparing a sermon on Pontius Pilate who was nothing if he wasn’t complacent. Pilate’s complacency led him to make the decision to crucify Jesus. He was, from… Continue Reading “A Complacent Pastor and Mrs. S.”
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