"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
I was one of the thousands of people who attended the Together for the Gospel (T4G) Conference back in 2008, a conference that occurs every two years encouraging and exhorting pastors to stand "Together for the Gospel."
Today being the observation of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, I thought I post this clip of Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile's sermon highlight from the same conference that touches upon the biblical perspective of "race." It is an important and needed reminder that the only "race" (if I may use that term) that really matters is one that surfaces as a result of sovereign regeneration. My biological identity may be Asian-American, but one that is of greater spiritual significance and eternal relevance is that I am one who by God's grace is part and within "God's chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession" (1 Pet 2:9 [Emphases Added]). This biblical "race" is the one matters to both this life and the next. By way of implication then, there is only one race that sinful man must seek to abandon, which is the fallen human race in its unregenerate state. The gospel is the very way of that abandonment! That should be our "dream"!
Manage your time to the glory of God. This is a crucial, essential component of the pastor’s life and calling. Far too many pastors waste precious time performing ever-nebulous “networking.” Time, once spent, cannot be regained. Therefore, how we use our time matters greatly. Since we are accountable to God, pastors should have an exemplary work ethic. Among other tasks, the pastor must make time for theological study and keeping his use of Greek and Hebrew, he must be fully conversant with the contents of Scripture, taking the requisite time for sermon preparation and delivery, and setting aside time for prayer and reading the Bible devotionally for himself and for his own instruction and edification.
The pastor must also lead his own home well. This requires a disciplined life. He pays attention to his marriage and the spiritual instruction of his entire family. He is a good friend and neighbor. He builds solid relationships with his session and deacons, and other church members who serve in various other leadership positions.
A faithful pastor takes worship seriously. For Christians, how we worship God is a key consideration. To worship God rightly means to worship Him scripturally. The pastor and his congregation must pay careful attention to what God requires in His Word. If God’s people are to worship Him in spirit and in truth — and they are — then we must look to Scripture both to form and inform our worship style. By using the ordinary means of grace God has given us, worship gives the opportunity to preach the Word, sing the Word, pray the Word, and read the Word. True worship is Christ-centered and Word-centered.
Manage your time to the glory of God. This is a crucial, essential component of the pastor’s life and calling. Far too many pastors waste precious time performing ever-nebulous “networking.” Time, once spent, cannot be regained. Therefore, how we use our time matters greatly. Since we are accountable to God, pastors should have an exemplary work ethic. Among other tasks, the pastor must make time for theological study and keeping his use of Greek and Hebrew, he must be fully conversant with the contents of Scripture, taking the requisite time for sermon preparation and delivery, and setting aside time for prayer and reading the Bible devotionally for himself and for his own instruction and edification.
The pastor must also lead his own home well. This requires a disciplined life. He pays attention to his marriage and the spiritual instruction of his entire family. He is a good friend and neighbor. He builds solid relationships with his session and deacons, and other church members who serve in various other leadership positions.
Hope in the Lord
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We were blessed to have Dr. Brian Borgman, pastor of Grace Community Church
in Minden, NV preach God’s word to us today at King's Church, Peoria, AZ.
His s...
The New Riddleblog Goes Live!
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The New Riddleblog goes live! Check it out.
This blog will remain up and running as I update and move material over to
the new blog.
"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
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