Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult & community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. Emily grew up as a pastor’s kid, and therefore she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this week’s passage. My fatherContinue reading “Who are the leaders in your church family? (And more importantly, how do you treat them?) – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 1”
Tag Archives: pastor
Church leaders – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Preview
Throughout the history of the Christian church, there has at times been a testy relationship between the church’s congregation and its leadership. In some eras of church history, there has been more of a general respect for leaders, and for some eras, there has been less general respect. Some of that difference is cultural, someContinue reading “Church leaders – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Preview”
What should you hope for in a church? – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 5
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. I was a denominational administrator for for 20 years. In that time, I sent a lot of letters to churches on behalf of the denomination. Those letters were communicating hopesContinue reading “What should you hope for in a church? – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 5”
Only 1% of churches are very effective in outreach? – 1 Thessalonians 2 & 3, Preview
A recent article notes “Evangelism is on life support in most churches.” The article reports a poll in which only 1% of pastors surveyed say their church is very effective in sharing the Good News about Jesus. Here’s the data: Does this relate to your church? Maybe a little? I’ll let you answer that for yourself. AsContinue reading “Only 1% of churches are very effective in outreach? – 1 Thessalonians 2 & 3, Preview”
Maybe all Christians need to attend a pastoral assessment center – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Preview
My denomination, the Evangelical Congregational Church (ECC), has something I love called the Pastoral Assessment Center (PAC). The PAC is one of the early steps a pastoral couple or single attends on the road to becoming a licensed pastor in the ECC. When my wife and I started at Faith Church in October 2002, IContinue reading “Maybe all Christians need to attend a pastoral assessment center – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Preview”
Let’s admit it, sometimes the Bible is weird – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 1
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. Weird is one of those words of which it could be said, “We know it when we see it.” But describing or defining what makes somethingContinue reading “Let’s admit it, sometimes the Bible is weird – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 1”
The battle with “Bigger is Better,” and 2 other battles I wasn’t prepared for…and one great joy – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 5
All week long on the blog, I’ve been trying to answer the question: “What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor.” In this final post in the series, I have a few more responses. I wasn’t prepared for the Christianity of it all. My life is in large part wrapped up inContinue reading “The battle with “Bigger is Better,” and 2 other battles I wasn’t prepared for…and one great joy – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 5″
People can see pastors as vending machines – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 4
Pastors are spiritual vending machines. Well, not really, but some people view their pastors and ministry staff like they view vending machines. You put your money in, you get your spiritual goods and services out. We live in a consumer society, so it is very common for people to view most everything in our livesContinue reading “People can see pastors as vending machines – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 4”
Preaching is like packing apples & Church competition can be brutal – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 3
In high school I worked at Hess Bros Fruit Company, packing bags of apples into boxes. Bags come down the conveyor, and I would gently place the bags in boxes, close the box lid, and send it down the line to the box-taping machine. Then I would do it again. And again. And again. ForContinue reading “Preaching is like packing apples & Church competition can be brutal – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 3”
How The Matrix taught me people are difficult (me included) – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 2
In my first year as senior pastor of Faith Church, I showed a video clip from the R-rated movie The Matrix, attempting to illustrate a sermon. I could have shown a brief clip from the film that was relatively tame, but, no, I had the great idea of showing a ten-minute clip, including then scene whereContinue reading “How The Matrix taught me people are difficult (me included) – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 