Inner Testimony of the Spirit

As believers, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives to provide us with assurance of salvation: The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:16, ESV). In historical theology this is sometimes referred to...

The Living Voice of God

Most believers think that God speaks to them on a regular basis. At least based on my experience, that appears to be the common perception. People use the expression “God told me” or “I heard God” all the time. Certainly, in its worst form, it announces the...

The Myth of the Super-Human Pastor

There are many things a man prepares himself for when he thinks about the pastorate. If he has been blessed to be a part of a healthy congregation with godly and wise elders, then he hasn’t considered a call to ministry in some blind fashion. He prepares himself for a...

The Church Needs Shepherds, Not Coaches

It took me a moment to realize that he was a pastor and not a coach for a sports team or some sort of motivational speaker/CEO type. I met Bill at a conference for pastors. He explained that he was a coach for his clients, seeking to guide them through their story. I...

Where are the Leaders?

In the midst of everything going on in our world today, one distressing observation is unavoidable: there is a stunning lack of leadership in our culture. Government officials craft proclamations containing advisories and expectations that won’t be enforced, but do a...