Tag Archives: pastors

Cold water to splash in Despair’s face over Apostasy

Cold water to splash in Despair’s face over Apostasy

Of late many high-profile apostasies have rattled evangelical Christianity. Some of the men who have departed from the faith were much admired and loved for their earlier writings and teachings. After all, they were pastors and Christian leaders. News of their exodus from the Promised Land back into Egypt exploded on social media. Fear and… Continue Reading

Pastors – Become Literate in Christian Culture

Pastors – Become Literate in Christian Culture

When the topic of music and worship comes up, a favorite slap-down argument against thoughtful discrimination of music is that pastors need not study music to be faithful pastors. It is beside the point to say that pastors need not become art critics. If their vocation is that of shepherding the flock, it is manifestly… Continue Reading

Why I Spend Time with “Old Men” in Ministry

Why I Spend Time with “Old Men” in Ministry

Jeff Straub Throughout my 35+ years of ministry, I have been privileged to meet a few grand old men—Calebs, if you will—whose strength remained undiminished until the day of their passing. I am not talking about physical strength, for many of these men would have been past their prime physically. Spiritually, however, they were as… Continue Reading

The Character of a Christian Leader

The Character of a Christian Leader

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Character of a Christian Leader You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

“Pay careful attention to yourselves” (Acts 20:28). “Keep a close watch on yourself” (1 Tim 4:16). Paul gave the former of these commands to the Ephesian elders and the latter to Timothy who later served in Ephesus when several elders failed to heed such a command. As one can see, despite the slight difference in… Continue Reading

A great model for pastoral worship oversight

A great model for pastoral worship oversight

Last week in two separate posts I addressed the issue of pastoral oversight in worship and music. I agreed with Michael Lawrence’s article that pastors should have oversight in these matters, but I also insisted that this means that pastors must be equipped to do so. In response to those posts, I received an email from Steve… Continue Reading

More on pastors and musical training

More on pastors and musical training

There has been a profitable discussion happening in the comments of my recent observations about the need for pastors to be trained in worship and music if they are going to (rightly) reclaim their role as those primarily responsible for worship music choices. A commenter asked for a fuller explanation for why I believe this… Continue Reading

Pastors As Teachers

Pastors As Teachers

Pastors (that is to say, bishops or elders) are supposed to rule. That proposition is hardly controversial, for the New Testament repeatedly depicts the office of pastor-bishop-elder as one of spiritual leadership (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7, 17). The question is not whether pastors are supposed to rule. The question is how.… Continue Reading

Pastoral Example As Pastoral Authority

Pastoral Example As Pastoral Authority

Pastors have authority—real authority, given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ. They have a duty to exert their authority and to employ it as Scripture requires. Congregations are responsible before God to submit to the legitimate authority of pastors. Any rejection of rightful pastoral authority will be unprofitable for the believer when he stands… Continue Reading

The Crisis of Pastoral Authority

The Crisis of Pastoral Authority

Over the past few weeks I have spent a good bit of time writing about congregational authority. I have tried to show how the New Testament grants authority to the congregation for decisions about selecting leaders and servants, seeking and giving counsel to other churches, defining doctrine, and disciplining members. At the same time, I… Continue Reading

Why join a church?

Why join a church?

Many professing believers today are asking, “Is it really necessary at all to be a member of a visible, local church? If I am a member of the invisible, Universal Church by nature of my spirit baptism, then why should I join a local church?” I think the Bible teaches that it is necessary to… Continue Reading

Why else are we in this mess?

Why else are we in this mess?

I suggested last week, springing from Kevin Bauder’s excellent article, that one of the reasons worship is in such trouble today is that pastors who should be the primary leaders of worship are often ill-educated in matters of worship and music. I suggested that while pastors used to give careful attention to the leading of… Continue Reading

Why are we in this mess?

Why are we in this mess?

One of the most frequent questions I get as I travel the country or through email is why I think worship has so many problems today. The simple answer is sin–worship has always had problems because worshipers are sinners. But there are, I think, specific reasons for the current problems we face today, problems that we should… Continue Reading

A Conservative Worship Symposium is coming to a city near you!

Introducing the Conservative Worship Symposium, a one-day, regional gathering of conservative pastors, music directors, and other church leaders. The symposium, held in several regions of the country throughout the year, gathers together knowledgeable teachers of conservative worship to instruct church leaders about: principles of conservative worship, implementing these principles consistently in the local church, and communicating these principles to their… Continue Reading

Pastors, get a free copy of the Sound Worship Teacher's Edition!

If you are a pastor, assistant pastor, music director, or Christian School Administrator, you can receive a free copy of the Sound Worship Teacher’s Edition! The Teacher’s Edition includes full book text from Sound Worship plus 14,000 additional words of research, explanation, discussion, and application, as well as student handouts, study guides, and more! A $20… Continue Reading

Book Review: Christ-Centered Worship by Bryan Chapell

Book Review: Christ-Centered Worship by Bryan Chapell

Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice, by Bryan Chapell. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009. 307 pp. $24.99. “Structures tell stories.” So opens Bryan Chapell’s recent volume, Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice, published by Baker Academic. Chapell, noted homiletician, theologian, and author of the popular volume, Christ-Centered Preaching, is president of… Continue Reading

"Ebenezer" – biblical literacy and singing hymns

"Ebenezer" – biblical literacy and singing hymns

Before pastors discredit lines of hymns because they are “archaic” or “don’t make any sense today,” perhaps they should make sure that what they are complaining about isn’t a direct biblical allusion. I’ve recently heard several pastors — with theology degrees, leading large churches — complain about the word “Ebenezer” in the hymn “Come, Thou… Continue Reading

InTune for July 2009

InTune for July 2009

Click here for a FREE subscription to InTune. InTune is a newsletter for church music directors, church musicians, and pastors (especially those without qualified music directors). Each issue includes reviews of church music, including carefully selected choral music, instrumental selections, etc. for the local church as well as practical articles, CD recommendations, church music tips,… Continue Reading

What Others Are Saying About Worship in Song

What Others Are Saying About Worship in Song

Pre-order for 30% off | Book Website “Scott Aniol has contributed a reasoned, thoughtful, Scripture-infused, and theological approach to his subject. This book should prove to be a helpful volume to any serious worshiper.” Paul S. Jones, D.M. Organist and Music Director – Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia Author, Singing and Making Music: Issues in Church… Continue Reading