Renewable Spiritual Energy

Mark 1:35-39 After a long day of ministry and a short night of rest, Jesus got up before dawn and slipped out of the house. Later others woke up. Someone, maybe Peter, asked, "Where's Jesus?" No one knew. As the little fishing village of Capernaum began to stir, the disciples asked...

What Makes A Great Preacher?

As the story goes, on a Sunday night a young pastor was driving home, his wife beside him. It had been a busy weekend at the church. The Sunday night sermon had lasted longer than usual since the preacher felt unusual liberty and unction in the pulpit. They drove in silence for some miles, he...

“Look, The Lamb Of God!”

John 1:29-42 John the Baptist understood the Passover ritual as a picture of the sacrifice of Christ. Seeing Jesus coming toward him John said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (vs. 29). John repeated his prophetic proclamation the next...

Pilgrimage From Prejudice

Acts 10:34-43 Like most people who grew up in northwest Louisiana in the mid twentieth century, I absorbed a lot of racial prejudice from my culture. I didn't realize it at the time, of course, for prejudice of all kinds is usually unconscious and unintended. In time God let me see...

How To Cope With Calamity

Isaiah 60:1-6 A preacher of national renown and chaplain to the halls of government warned for years that the nation was ripening for judgment. He was largely ignored. When the worst came, he might have been tempted to say "I told you so," but instead he began...

A Primer For Pastors

A Primer for Pastors by Austin B. Tucker (Kregel) is a helpful survey for new and bi-vocational pastors covering a variety of issues, including preaching, pastoral care, dealing with conflict, and more. Tucker writes out of rich experience, offering practical guidance...