Category: Pastoral Ministry
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Biblical Basis for Shared Leadership in Churches
A biblical and pastoral case for shared leadership in the local church As I’ve studied Scripture and grown as a pastor, my view of church leadership has changed. I used to assume that every church had just one pastor. I thought others on staff or in leadership were assistants, but not pastors themselves. However, I’ve…
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The Power of Story: What Aladdin and the Arabian Nights Teaches Us About Biblical Narrative
I’ve been reading Aladdin and the Arabian Nights lately—a collection of tales filled with adventure, wisdom, and the power of storytelling. At the heart of these stories is Scheherazade, a young woman who captivates a ruthless king with her tales, postponing her execution night after night. She understands something profound: stories have the power to…
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The Foundation of Discipleship is Strengthening Families
In the grand tapestry of God’s design, family stands as the cornerstone of discipleship. Long before the establishment of the church, the family unit was instituted by God Himself as the primary vessel for nurturing faith, shaping character, and passing on His truth from one generation to the next. Today, I want to delve into…
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Building Stronger Relationships
As the leaves change their hues, and the air grows crisper, we find ourselves in autumn. October’s combination of changing seasons, upcoming holidays, and opportunities for reflection make it a favorable time to focus on building and restoring relationships. It’s a season of transition, gratitude, and preparation for the coming year, making it an ideal…
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Back to School: Navigating Education with Faith
As the summer comes to a close and the school bells ring once more, it is time for our students, teachers, and parents to embark on a new academic journey. The start of a new school year is a crucial time for each member of our community, and we at Chandler Southern Baptist Church join…
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Embracing the Transition: A Summer of Spiritual Growth
As we find ourselves amidst the scorching summer days, we can’t help but look back with gratitude on the incredible events and moments we’ve shared as a church family. With the summer events drawing to a close and the new school year on the horizon, we have so much to reflect on and anticipate together.…
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New Leader, Same God
It is always a mix of excitement and discomfort when major life changes happen. Transitions are difficult. One of the challenging parts of coming into a new pastorate is the question of what to preach on your first Sunday.
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Book Review: Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students
This review is over one of the reading staples of pastoral ministry: C.H. Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. I must state up front that the book I checked out of the Roberts Library was an early copy that does not contain all of the chapters of later editions. This review will be a little bit…
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The Nature of Religious Pluralism (The Challenge of Preaching in an Age of Religious Pluralism: Part 1)
This week begins a multiple week series on the challenge of preaching in an age of religious pluralism. Today the focus is on defining the problem. The Challenge of Preaching in an Age of Religious Pluralism The modern preacher of the Christian gospel faces a different challenge than the gospel preachers of the past two…
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Micah
The short book of Micah is a theologically rich and important book. Micah lived and prophesied around the same time as Isaiah. He prophesied to both Judah and Israel. Micah warned of God’s coming judgment because the leaders and prophets of the land are becoming wealthy through theft and greed at the expense of the…
Joel McReynolds 