Romans, Lessons 28-29: Paul’s Appeal and a study on Deaconesses by way of Phoebe

Paul shared his plans to visit Rome on his way to Spain.  But first, he needs to deliver the monetary aid to the Jerusalem Christians, and so he makes a […]

Hebrews 13:7-17: Spiritual Remembering

How ironic.  The day before I leave to care for my parents because they suffer from Alzheimer’s, the book of Hebrews warns us against a spiritual Alzheimer’s.  For the Christian […]

2 Corinthians, Lesson 13: The Delegation Coming to Corinth

Unlike some of our translations, what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (last week’s lesson) began and ended with God’s grace. Paul finished vs. 9 opened ended, moving from Jesus’ […]

Titus, Lesson 2: Whom Titus is to Appoint

Paul told Titus “to… appoint elders in every town [in Crete] as I directed you” (Titus 1:6). But this appointing of elders wasn’t based on whom Titus happened to like […]

1 Timothy, Lesson 10: Elders and Overseers Continued

Last week, Paul spoke of “honoring” elders/overseers: They were to receive a wage for their work. Moving from there, Paul then told Timothy how he was to handle accusations against […]

1 Timothy, Lesson 5: Pastors and Deacons

At the end of 1 Timothy chapter 2, Paul covered the role of men and women during worship, pointing to fall into sin as the reason men and women have […]

1 Timothy, Lesson 1 (and Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles)

Before we delve into 1 Timothy, a general survey of what we call “the Pastoral Epistles” would be helpful.   Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles What are the Pastoral Epistles? […]

Acts, Lesson 23: Paul Gives Godly Counsel to Fellow Pastors

Paul is still on his third missionary journey. Having left Ephesus, his longest stay during his missionary travels, he makes a final sweep through Greece before going to Jerusalem. During […]

1 Corinthians 4:1-5: Pastors as the Stewards of God’s Mysteries

John the Baptizer was a preacher’s preacher, putting the rest of us pastors to shame.  We fuss and fret over preaching what we know God wants us to preach–all because […]

If It Seems Like Your Pastor Is Crazy…

This article is reprint of what was posted on Internet Monk on August 6, 2012.  The author makes some insightful points about the state of the church in North America […]