“The prophetic ministry is continued indefinitely until Christ returns. From the death of the apostles on, the ministers of the Word are the incumbents of this prophetic office, assisted by the elders and the deacons of the church . . .” (Volbeda, The Pastoral Genius of Preaching, p. 57).
Suffering as Means
“Suffering is not an accidental result of obedience. It is an ordained means of penetrating the peoples and the hearts of the lost” (Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, p. 195).
When Relativism Hardens
“Therefore, speaking the truth is service to Christ and love to others, even if they consider themselves your adversaries . . . [but charges of arrogance are] “true now in the less-than-tolerant American public square, where relativism no longer means: Your claim to truth is no more valid than mine; but now means: You may …
Two Ways to the Same Place
“For the legalist, morality serves the same function that immorality does for the anitnomian or the progressive — namely, as the expression of self-reliance and self-assertion” (Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, p. 153).
Immediate and Mediate Blessings
“Christ is directly from above and the new birth is from above with equal directness. But from that double point on, Christianity, like general history, operates under the law of creatural causality and by that token becomes a moral process” (Volbeda, The Pastoral Genius of Preaching, p. 48).
The Witch of Endor
INTRODUCTION:The miserable King Saul is now approaching the very end of his life, and he is terrified. In that terror, he casts about for a word of certainty, but what he is given provides no comfort for him. THE TEXT:“And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for …
The Gospel and Thanksgiving
INTRODUCTION:The gospel is good news for everyone, and this includes all those who have already heard and believed it. The gospel is food, not just information, and so when the gospel is declared rightly it creates and reinforces true faith. The gospel does not unsettle true faith. You are a congregation of God’s people, a …
And Hard Wood Burns Longer Than Kleenex
“The danger of formalism is real. Prayers and sermons that are read from a manuscript are usually stiff and unnatural and artificial. But the dangers of spontaneity is also great. If the heart is without passion, it will produce lifeless, jargon-laden spontaneity. And if the heart is aflame, no form will quench it” (Piper, Brothers, …
The Point of Pastoral Pain
“No pastoral suffering is senseless. No pastoral pain is pointless. No adversity is absurd or meaningless. Every heartache has its divine target in the consolation of the saints, even when we feel least useful. How does a pastor’s suffering achieve the consolation and salvation of his flock? The context of Paul’s words suggests the following …
Co-Laborers With God
“What the preacher must be out to do as he exercises his pastoral office in the pulpit, is to be a co-laborer with God in making God’s people more spiritual so that their spiritual life may progressively dominate their natural life in all its earthly relationships” (Volbeda, The Pastoral Genius of Preaching, p. 43)