Three Essential Elements of a Funeral Sermon

What 3 elements need to be in every funeral sermon? An answer can be found here.

Writing Tips for Pastors

This post discusses the following five tips.

1. Make Writing a Priority
2. Don’t Waste Your E-Mail
3. Send Helpful Newsletters
4. Share Your Devotions
5. Thorough Sermon Notes or Manuscripts

John Piper on Cremation

John Piper has a good word and modest proposal on the cremation versus burial debate here.

Kent Hughes Reflecting on 40 Years of Pastoral Ministry

See this blog interview with R. Kent Hughes reflecting on forty years of pastoral ministry.

Eleven Questions Worth Asking

  
Trevin Wax has an excellent post entitled "11 Questions Every Pastor Should Ask." Read it here.
 

Some Proposed Seminary Courses

See this post by Donn Johnson on suggestions for some new seminary courses.

HT: Scot McKnight

Pastoral Thorns in the Flesh

See this helpful post from Brian Croft on pastoral thorns in the flesh or "How do I shepherd a church member who doesn’t like me?"

Handling Criticism

We all experience it. Trevin Wax has a good reminder of how to handle criticism in ministry. Read it here.

Lutzer on Principles for Pastoral Success

Erwin Lutzer discusses five principles for pastoral success here.

Advice for Leading Change in the Church

Michael Duduit offers some helpful advice on leading change in the church. His advice is drawn from Stuart Briscoe's new memoir Flowing Streams.

• Don't be hasty in introducing change.
• Don't knock down a fence until you know why it was put up in the first place.
• Do present solid biblical and commonsense reasons for change.
• Do present change as a proposal, not a fait accompli.
• Do allow time for reaction, and don't fail to listen to objections.
• Do invite suggestions, and don't hesitate to incorporate the best ones.
• Do give people a chance to take ownership of the change.
• Don't be disappointed by naysayers, and don't forget you're still their pastor.