7 Books on End-of-Life Issues

Andrew Spencer provides a list of seven books on end-of-life issues here.

Saying, "No"

I have a hard time saying, "no." But I am getting better at it and Charles Stone has some good advice here for doing it gracefully.

Pastors as Pastoral

In the ecclesiastical tradition I participate in, the title pastor is often preferred over others like elder or minister. One could debate the merits of this preference but what I find more troubling is that too many "pastors" forget that the title relates to shepherding. And all too many build their ministry model more around business practices and CEOs than the practice of caring for sheep. 

Recently while teaching Acts 9:36-43, I was struck how Peter served like a shepherd. Peter came when he was called in response to death of Tabitha/Dorcas (v. 39). Although, Luke tells us that "Lydda was near Joppa," it was around a twelve-mile journey and likely traveled by foot. Peter does not say that he is too busy vision casting nor send someone else. He simply goes. One can imagine that apostles have places to go and people to see but Peter seems to have understood that pastors ought to be pastoral (1 Pet 5:1-4).

Tax Tips for Pastors

This is a pretty helpful overview concerning tax issues for pastors (and perhaps others in full-time ministry).

Outreach Magazine's Essential Reading for 2022

This list of annotated resources is worth checking out.

Most Embarrassing Pastoral Wedding Mistakes

Ed Stetzer asked pastors to share their most embarrassing wedding mistakes and this article shares some of the responses.

Spiritual Stupidity

J. Lee Grady lists ten things here that a pastor should not do.

Mail Ministry

 Gary Shogren has a good post here on how answering mail is also ministry. I agree wholeheartedly.

Pastors and Adultery

Last year, Lifeway conducted a phone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors asking the question, "If a pastor commits adultery, how long, if at all, should the pastor withdraw from public ministry?" I was quite surprised by the results. But you should see the results for yourself here.

Church Members Who Will Not Return after the Quarantine

Thom Rainer discusses five types here. Unfortunately, I suspect he is right.

Advice to Younger and Older Pastors

Jimmy Draper has some good advice for younger pastors here and older preachers here.

Fatal Assumptions Concerning Communication

Don McMinn has some important thoughts on communication here. In my experience he is spot on and I have fallen prey more than once to his four fatal assumptions.

Designer Shoes and Ministry

Ramesh Richard has some helpful thoughts here on the tension between material possessions and ministry.

The Loneliness of the Pastor-Theologian

This Christianity Today article looks at the issue.

Hospital Verses

See this list of verses to memorize when you are going to or in the hospital.

Ethical Leadership

Although this post from the Harvard Business Review is not geared specifically to ministry, there is good advice that is applicable to ministry.

Writing a Thank You Note

Here is a helpful post on writing thank you notes. There are many contexts in ministry where such notes are appropriate. Unfortunately, it seems that many have forgotten this skill.

Praying the Psalms with the Terminally Ill

Eric at the Scatterings blog has posted a former student's paper entitled, "Praying the Psalms with the Terminally Ill." Check it out here.

8 Tech Tools for Church Staff

See this article although I must admit I don't use any of these.

Staff Bios

Thom Rainer has some good suggestions here on six things to include in church staff bios. I think this would also relate to faculty bios as well.