How can you engage a stranger in a spiritual conversation the Monday after Easter Sunday?

All Christians should be looking for ways to engage in spiritual conversation with others with hopes to talk about the gospel. Yet, many struggle to see when those doors are open or how to try and open them. Here is one easy way to engage others in a possible spiritual conversation that I was taught many years ago and has proven quite effective when asked at the right time.

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What are some ways an aspiring pastor can serve his wife before becoming a pastor?

Aspiring pastors are usually chomping at the bit to become pastors. Rightly so. Because of this, those aspiring to pastoral ministry often times dream to the future to one day serve in that capacity and miss some very significant ways he can serve his wife now that he cannot once he becomes the pastor preaching every week. Here are a few of those ways:

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What do I love about C.H. Spurgeon’s ministry that is largely overlooked?

Charles Spurgeon is celebrated as one of the most gifted, dedicated, brilliant, and impacting preachers and pastors in history. This honorable distinction is given by most because of his piercing, articulate, Christ-centered, and Word-driven sermons that were heard and have been read by thousands all over the world. Because of the popularity that Spurgeon reached in his ministry, his faithfulness as a very young pastor is often overlooked.

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How do I endure through difficulties in pastoral ministry?

Dear brothers, if you find yourself discouraged, angry, wondering why some of your people do and say what they do and you can’t take it any more…do not forget the debt to mercy you owe. It is a debt greater than you and I could ever payback. It is a debt that should weigh heavier on our joyful hearts than the most difficult person in our church.

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3 differences between a pastors and deacons

I often get asked this question, as many churches affirm the distinct roles between pastors and deacons, yet confuse these roles functionally. Particularly in SBC churches, the deacons commonly carry the title of “deacon” but actually function like a pastor with “pastoral type” authority. Many factors can cause this, but a primary reason for this confusion is short-term pastorates. Pastors come and go. But the deacons remain and feel the absence of this missing office. Nevertheless, the Bible has distinct roles for these two biblical offices.

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Should pastors try to unite 2 churches that split from the other?

Church splits are very unfortunate and painful experiences anytime they happen, but what made this split that much more tragic was the reason for the split. What do you do if you feel the Lord calling you to unite those two churches to become one? Should this be done? Brian Croft writes his thoughts on this topic.

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How can a pastor be certain he is regularly shepherding everyone in a larger church?

In the last post, I discussed how a pastor can be certain he is regularly shepherding everyone in his church. In it I explained a system to pray and contact every member of the church in one month. This is based on the shepherding efforts of a smaller church, so naturally I can anticipate the question, “That’s great, but what about those who pastor at a larger church?” This post is for you.

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How can a pastor be certain he is regularly shepherding everyone in his church?

Though we are shepherds who will give an account for each soul in our care (Heb. 13:17), we all still have this tendency to gravitate to those we either love to be with the most or who make the most racket, thus demanding our attention. Because of this, there are church members who unintentionally slip through the cracks. In seeing this in the early years of my ministry, I came up with this system that has become a very effective way to care for our folks and to cut down on unnecessary and unintentional neglect.

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How does a man not lose his soul in the work of pastoral ministry?

God calls pastors not to be superman, but to be faithful. As pastors seek to be faithful every day in their ministries, God’s sovereign will is being accomplished. Why is that not enough? Because a pastor brings with him to his church his own brokenness, personal struggles, and unhealed scars deep in his soul where God’s grace in the gospel has yet to affect. Pastors struggle to find their true and full identity in Christ and when pastors fail to show up secure in Christ, they show up in these false ways

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How does a pastor evaluate his sermon one hour after preaching it?

This might surprise you, but one of the most dangerous times for a pastor are the hours following his Sunday sermon. You step down from the pulpit still wired and juices flowing as you greet those leaving from the service.  Then, like after a good jog, you begin to calm down, your body starts to return to “I’m not preaching mode” which then brings a temporary, but real emotional let down with it.

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