A Surprising Truth It comes as a surprise to some that Charles Spurgeon had a lifelong battle with...
The Gospel and the Ministry
Pastor, Don’t Quit—Learn to Lament
When Ministry Wears You Out Years ago, I remember hearing a seasoned pastor say, “Ministry would...
How the Psalms Saved My Life
In Psalm 121, the Psalmist is in a valley and looks up to the hills and in desperation, asks,...
Depression and Lament
“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres.” (Psalm 137:1, 2) Depression is a complex condition that no single formula can heal—and we should not pretend that any can. I have too much...
When the Pastor’s Wife Needs Prayer
Christmas Eve found me sitting behind a table with a sign on the front, offering prayer to those who wanted someone to pray with them or for them. As the quiet, instrumental Christmas carols played in the background, my heart cried out, “What if I am the one who needs...
4 Lessons for Pastors from the Life and Ministry of John Calvin
Life Intertwined with Ministry On April 25, 1564, about a month before his death, Calvin wrote his last will and testament. In it, he identifies himself as “minister of the word of God in the Church of Geneva.”1 He served in this role for nearly half of his life. As...
Stop Comparing Yourself to Well-Known Pastors
Preacher, you can preach better than John MacArthur, John Piper, David Platt, and H.B. Charles. I wonder if that surprises you? It should not. You can preach better to your flock than any of those world-renowned expositional preachers. If you played their sermons at...
Get Ready for Preaching through the Incarnation and the Second Coming
The glory of “God with us” shines brightest when lit beneath the things most seemingly God-abandoned. That is why I love Advent. Advent has the power to turn over the inconceivable to discover the unimaginable. I especially love preaching Advent. No literary work...
Fighting Pastoral Covetousness with Contentment in Christ
There’s something in us that discounts our current circumstances: our lives, our location, our role, our life. We look at others and want more. It’s sin, of course, a direct violation of the tenth word: You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet...