Ministry Isn't For Wimps

The blessings of ministry far outweigh the realities below; however, ministry is definitely not easy. Don’t waste your time and money going to seminary or college for pastoral training if you are not prepared for the negative aspects of ministry mentioned below. Furthermore, always remember that God has called you to love His church, not merely His mature church, but His immature church, as well. Moreover, a call to ministry is a call to bleed.

If you enter pastoral ministry …

10. Not everyone will like you.

9. You will make people angry regardless of how godly you handle yourself; it comes with the position.

8. You will feel like a failure often, and when you do appear to succeed, the fruit that is produced cannot be accredited to you. God alone gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:7). Thus, there is little “sense of accomplishment in ministry” that you may be accustomed to in other vocations.   Continue at Jared Moore

Is It True That God Blesses Those Who Bless Israel and Curses Those Who Curse Israel?

It must be true, because this is what God says, isn’t it? Well, actually God says this, “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

 When God makes a promise we can know that it is certain, and that He will not change. The problem is, however, when we hear Him saying what He did not say. This text does say that God will bless those who bless Israel, but rather those who bless Abraham, to whom God is speaking. Later, however, in Numbers 24, it gets a little more clear. There Balaam, clearly speaking about the nation of Israel says, “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.”

That should settle the matter, should it not? The difficulty is still, however, answering about whom this promise is made. Does not Paul himself say, “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). Here it is all too easy to get confused. What could it mean that not all Israel is of Israel?   Continue at R. C. Sproul Jr.

“What Would You Say to My Husband if You were a Young Seminarian Again?”

Dear Students in the Gospel of Christ:

Recently, I was asked by a young wife and mother to write some thoughts on ministry reflections for her husband, a seminarian. Specifically, this godly young woman wanted me to answer the question, “As you look back on life and ministry, and where he is in life as a seminarian, what wisdom would you offer him as a husband, father, a man of God preparing for ministry? What would you do differently? What went well? What counsel would you give him? This will be my gift to him.” Well, perhaps she might have done better at Macy’s or with another minister, at least. But here is my reply. If the Lord could use anything in it in your life, then I would be most thankful.

“Here are some reflections on your wonderful question: As I look back on the season of life that your husband is in, I would…

…thank God even more for a faithful wife who was made by God to help me; with wisdom, insight into the challenges I face, the opportunities I have, and to listen better, more carefully, to her God-given intuitive understanding of how I could be a better father, husband and man of God.

…listen more and enjoy the changing cycles of growth in John Michael, our son. In short, enjoy the present stages in your little ones’ lives; soon they will pass. I have always told my son, all through his growing up, “Son, do you know what my favorite age is for a boy?” He soon learned that I would say his age back to him. Recently I asked him that and he told me, “Dad, I think it is (pause…): seventeen!!!” “Yes, Son. That is my favorite age for a child.” Yet don’t just say it, take time to soak up the unique blessings and challenges of every age.  Keep Reading >>>

Too Much And Too Many

Let me remind you of where we are at so you can get your bearings.  “The Mute Christian” is written is show Christians that it is their duty to refrain from complaints and murmuring in trials.  We are now on the last main division where he gives answers to ten objections to this silence.  Today we will cover two objections and Thomas Brooks’ answers because, as both objections are really similar, so are the answers.  When told that it is their great duty to refrain from murmuring against God in afflictions, some will say “my afflictions daily multiply and increase upon me; like the waves of the sea, they come rolling over the neck of one another; and how then can I hold my peace” and others will say though “they were many, yet if they were not great I would be mute, but alas! they are very great”.  If you have a copy of “The Mute Christian” yourself and try to follow along it is going to be tough because I am going to weave together some of his answers to both of these objections.  The following is taken from pages 359-364 of volume 1 in my Banner of Truth edition.    Continue Reading>>>

Union Station

As Christians, we know we’ve been saved by Christ, we should look like Christ, and we can have a relationship with Christ. But we rarely consider how all this depends on our union with Christ.

The whole of our salvation can be summed up with reference to this reality. Union with Christ is not a single specific blessing we receive in our salvation. Rather, as Michael Horton points out, it is the best phrase to describe all the blessings of salvation, whether in eternity (election), in history (redemption), in the present (effectual calling, justification, and sanctification), or in the future (glorification).

Every blessing is received “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). No part can be excluded from our union with him. This is the foundation and basis for all his gifts. So while it’s appropriate for theologians to talk about an “order of salvation” (ordo salutis) whereby we are called by the Spirit, born again, moved to faith and repentance, justified, adopted, sanctified, preserved, and glorified, we must never separate these benefits from the Benefactor. Every blessing in the order of salvation flows from our union with Christ. As John Murray said, “It is not simply a step in the application of redemption; when viewed, according to the teaching of Scripture, in its broader aspects it underlies every step of the application of redemption. Union with Christ is really the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation not only in its application but also in it once-for-all accomplishment in the finished work of Christ.”   Continue Reading...

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