This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. You wouldn’t withhold food from a starving man. Nor would you deny air to a drowning child. Frankly, that kind of monstrous behavior is hard to imagine. But that’s effectively what many pastors and church leaders are guilty of today, as they withhold that which is… Continue reading Preach the Word: Because It Sanctifies God’s People
Author: Crossmap Blogs
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The Four Soils: The Fertile Ground
This post was first published in August, 2017. —ed. Our approach to evangelism shouldn’t be influenced by the way people respond to the gospel. When the gospel is preached faithfully and clearly, acceptance of the message is never the result of the skill of the messenger or the marketing of the message. As we have… Continue reading The Four Soils: The Fertile Ground
The Four Soils: Among the Thorns
This post was first published in August, 2017. —ed. Most of us have endured the tragedy of watching people we counted as spiritual brothers and sisters leave the church and turn their backs on Christ. It is heartbreaking to see friends and loved ones reject the Savior and instead pursue sin. When we think of… Continue reading The Four Soils: Among the Thorns
The Four Soils: The Rocky Ground
This post was first published in August, 2017. —ed. Just a short drive from the freeways and congestion of Los Angeles you’ll find barren hills and mountains. During the rainy season they suddenly spring to life with luxuriant-looking greenery. But they quickly revert to a parched brown. The green that looked so promising turns into… Continue reading The Four Soils: The Rocky Ground
The Four Soils: Beside the Road
This post was first published in August, 2017. —ed. Ineffective evangelism can cause a lot of soul searching for the one evangelizing. Some re-evaluate the message while others question their methodology. But those are only worthwhile endeavors insofar as the message remains faithful to the one true gospel (Galatians 1:8–9) and the methodology is obedient to Christ’s command: “That… Continue reading The Four Soils: Beside the Road
Preach the Word: Because It Informs Our Worship and Walk
This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. The modern evangelical quest for relevance has created several rifts in the church, perhaps none more visible than the divide over worship. Deep, biblical understanding of God’s Word and His character is routinely pitted against the euphoria of a vibrant musical experience. But that false dichotomy… Continue reading Preach the Word: Because It Informs Our Worship and Walk
Preach the Word: Because It Brings Depth and Balance in Ministry
This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. One frequently overlooked benefit of consistent Bible exposition is that the preacher’s faith and practice is tested by every text. Over the long haul, everything I have ever taught has had to survive the scrutiny of the Scriptures. By God’s grace, I’ve been able to teach… Continue reading Preach the Word: Because It Brings Depth and Balance in Ministry
Preach the Word: Because It Promotes Personal Bible Study
This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. Prior to the Reformation, personal Bible study would have been a foreign concept to all but the religious elite. Churchgoers didn’t have individual access to God’s Word, much less a Bible in their own language. Only the Roman Catholic clergy were able to view Scripture, and even then… Continue reading Preach the Word: Because It Promotes Personal Bible Study
Preach the Word: Because It Makes the Ministry Dependent on God
This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. You wouldn’t expect to hear a pastor tell his church, “I know better than God.” And yet that’s what many preachers and leaders today communicate when they focus their ministry strategies on market research and consumer response. Chasing popular trends and whims is a sure recipe… Continue reading Preach the Word: Because It Makes the Ministry Dependent on God
John MacArthur on Faithfulness
This post was originally published in March 2019. –ed. What key qualities do you look for in a church leader? In a world enamored with worldly metrics of success—popularity, influence, acclaim, and charisma—it’s easy for Christians to be swept along with the conventional secular thinking of our day. But we need to be always mindful of… Continue reading John MacArthur on Faithfulness