Matthew | February 18, 2008
While I attended Brown Trail School of Preaching, we had to attend numerous lectureships. These trips were always enjoyable experiences because of the time spent with one another. You really love the guys in these preaching training schools because of how close you grow together. Preaching Training Schools are like Bible Boot Camp. During these [...]
Matthew | February 17, 2008
Preaching is a powerful event in the life of the congregation. The attitude, topics, and presentation from the pulpit has an everlasting impact on the congregation. A negative pulpit has negative affects on the congregation. Years ago Ira North wrote a short book on church growth. The book was called “Balance” This book maybe outdated, [...]
Matthew | January 21, 2008
There is the issue to explain in defending the traditional view of the imparting of the Holy Spirit. How was Ananias given the power or right to lay hands on Paul and give him the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17)? F.F. Bruce argues correctly that Ananias was sent by the risen Christ for the special task [...]
Matthew | January 8, 2008
There seems to be some confusion over how to read the book of Acts. There are some who never see any pattern in Acts and there are others who see a pattern under every verse. Both of these methods are incorrect. Here is a simple way to read this great book. The first thing to [...]
Matthew | January 7, 2008
There is little doubt that the Gospel was given to the common man. But in no way was the Gospel a common Bible or story. Anyone can understand the story of salvation and react to God’s saving grace. What concerns me is the desire from some for a easy theology. It seems that sometimes people [...]
Matthew | January 3, 2008
During some recent study concerning 1 Timothy 4:14, I discovered some interesting ideas about the nature of “laying on of hands”. 1 Timothy 4:14 reads, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.” This verse caused me to [...]
Matthew | December 31, 2007
This weekend I was sent a free copy of Outreach Magazine. This magazine use to impress me. The conferences looked incredibly interesting and helpful. The speakers looked so cool in their up-to-date hair cuts. The magazine was selling the dream of the mega-church. If you could grow a culturally relevant church, then you could be [...]
Matthew | December 13, 2007
Growing up in Nova Scotia, Canada was a postmodern experience. Last night as I was reflecting on some of the experiences that happened at FHU, I realized what the problem was. Sometimes at school I am laughed at, make fun of, called out, and labeled a liberal. I started to realize the problem. Theologically I [...]
Matthew | December 6, 2007
Ever wish you were a baptist pastor? It seems so nice sometimes. You plug in a prayer request and God gives an audible answer. If not a audible sign, you receive a feeling that can be interpreted. But us in the church do not have these ideas of the operation of the Holy Spirit. Even [...]
Matthew | December 5, 2007
This short book on communication skills is written to the business culture. It does not address the typical concerns of a preacher. But the book certainly was not a waste of time. It helps to polish some of the presenting skills of the minister in other areas of the ministry. It provides good advice on [...]
