Fourth Year Ministries

Some jobs are more dangerous than others. Certain risks are associated with various professions. By most standards, pastors have a pretty cushy job. At least we do in the United States. But even in this modern American context there is a real danger for pastors. Few are talking about it. Most don't even know it's a danger. But it's there. Always lurking. It's a hazard that many fall into. It seems that many don't even realize they've fallen into the trap. This occupational hazard for pastors (and for all Christians really) is related to pride. It's a symptom of our modern church systems. It can only be fixed by returning to a robust theology of the church and focusing our attention back where it belongs. So, what is the danger? It is foolishly taking a position for ourselves with our lips that doesn't belong to us. The danger arises every time I meet someone new. Typical conversations may dwell for a few minutes on superficial and trivial...

You've probably heard the term Evangelist before. Most people have. The term most likely brings something to mind. Sometimes positive. Often negative. Does your idea match what other people think of when they hear the term evangelist? More importantly, do any of these ideas match what the Bible tells us an evangelist is ? The truth is that most of the popular ideas about what an evangelist is and does are based on the culture, not the Bible. This is a problem. The cultural idea of an evangelist is so popular that it is beginning to be used by companies. If you go to popular job sites and put the term evangelist into the search bar you will find many non-church jobs looking for evangelists. Many of these positions include the duties of spreading knowledge about a particular company, product, service, or idea. The Bible tells us that Jesus gave some Evangelists for His church. And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as...

How To Bring Men To Christ by R.A. Torrey was recommended to me recently. I'm glad that it was. A short book and quick read. Even so, it contains a lot of powerful information. Some readers will take issue with some of Torrey's theological positions. However, there is much wisdom that can be gleaned in the main thrust which is bringing people to a saving knowledge of Christ through the use of God's word under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Greatest Strengths 1. Dependence Upon God's Word and Spirit Torrey emphasizes from beginning to end the need for the effective witness to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of God's word. Nothing else will be effective in bringing the lost to the living Lord and Savior. The first chapter deals with certain conditions that Torrey believes are necessary for the Christian to be effective in service and witness. The final chapter discusses the controversial topic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Regardless...

My wife and I are expecting our 8th child this year. I want my children to grow to full maturity. That's not to say that I want to skip the fun things that accompany young kids. I don't want to skip any of it. As each day passes I realize how quickly these moments are gone. The march toward adulthood is inevitable. Every day, we all get older. I must be aware that my children are growing up, whether I like it or not. But maturity is not the same as age . It is possible to get older while never really growing up. When I say that I want my children to grow to full maturity what I mean is: I desire my children to realize their potential. I want them to grow into responsible adults. I don't want my three sons to live in my house indefinitely. They shouldn't be expecting their mother to cook and clean for them into their thirties. Part of my responsibility as a father is to steward the children God has so graciously given us. We are to raise them so that they can b...

Many stumbling blocks exist for people coming to Christ. One of them is the idea that God's grace is unable to save some because they are too sinful. This stumbling block can exist in the mind of the person being confronted with the gospel. They may believe the words of the preacher couldn't possibly apply to them. Not with their background. Not if you knew the whole story. Maybe for others. Not for me. This is false. God's grace is more amazing than we can fathom. It is the responsibility of Christians to declare the height, breadth, width, and depth of God's redeeming love in Christ. God is both able and willing to save all who will turn to Christ. Another stumbling block may exist in the mind of the preacher. This occurs when the Christian restricts their preaching from certain people because of their own bias. This is why Jesus taught about the Good Samaritan. God's glorious gospel and offer of salvation should be freely offered to all. Even th...

Unity is important. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6) The church is called to glorify God with one mind and one voice. Disunity is a terrible hindrance. Paul wrote to quarreling believers in Corinth. They were divided. They were putting more faith in their human leaders than in Christ. The bickering was resulting in factions. Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and...

Content is important. But it's not the only thing. Some evangelistic methods are presented as if they are the  perfect witnessing method. Some think memorizing a method and mechanically delivering the content means you have effectively witnessed. Witness throughout the New Testament demonstrates this is not accurate. There is not a cookie-cutter approach that is applied the same way every time. Content is extremely important. Without the right content our witness cannot be effective. Messing with the content of the gospel voids its power. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. (1 Corinthians 1:17) Focusing only  on content fails to recognize that we are not preaching to the air. We are preaching to persons . To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for t...