Category Archives: Index

The Preacher Search: Lessons for Churches Searching for Preachers, Part 3

10. Don’t prepare a job description so much as a person description. Job descriptions are canned, boring, and unhelpful, in my experience. You aren’t hiring someone to do a job. You’re hiring someone to be in close, long-term relationship with … Continue reading

Posted in Preacher Searches, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

The Preacher Search: Lessons for Churches Searching for Preachers, Part 2

6. Don’t go too fast. People grow very attached to the pulpit minister. They see him as a pastor, counselor, spiritual leader, guru, father figure, best friend … all sorts of ways. Having him leave their lives will be traumatic for … Continue reading

Posted in Preacher Searches, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

The Preacher Search: Lessons for Churches Searching for Preachers, Part 1

We finished a 15-month preacher search late last year. I’ve learned several lessons I thought I should pass along. Many of these I learned the hard way. This was not my first preacher search, by any means, but the Churches … Continue reading

Posted in Ministers, Preacher Searches, Uncategorized | 58 Comments

ElderLink in Atlanta — An Idea for Supporting Our Elders

(So I did a search for images for “ElderLink.” And look at what I found! For those of you who don’t play Zelda — or have kids who do (my situation) — the picture is a sculpture of Link, the hero … Continue reading

Posted in Elders | 8 Comments

Jesus and Paul on the Hermeneutics of Sexuality: Masturbation

Since we’ve spent that last several days on the subject of sex, and since we just addressed one of those questions I’d hoped I’d never get, here’s the other question I’d hoped I’d never get — Is masturbation a sin? … Continue reading

Posted in Homosexuality, Sexuality, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

The Message of Ezekiel, by Christopher J. H. Wright

So I was called to New York on business. And I like to read on the plane. I just can’t make myself watch movies in an airplane for some reason. And it’s just too uncomfortable to sleep. It was short notice, and … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Jesus and Paul on the Hermeneutics of Sexuality: Grace and Gay Christians

Okay. I lied. The series isn’t over — except it is. This is a new series (See the new picture?) We had been pursuing the question of whether homosexual sex is a sin — and thanks to many thoughtful readers … Continue reading

Posted in Homosexuality, Sexuality, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Jesus and Paul on the Hermeneutics of Sexuality: In Conclusion, Part 2

Okay, this is the last post. Really. Where does this leave us? Well, we’ve spoken quite a lot about the sacrifices required of homosexual Christians. We need to remember that God has some demands to make on us heterosexuals, too. … Continue reading

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Jesus and Paul on the Hermeneutics of Sexuality: In Conclusion, Part 1

I need to thank Gary for pushing me into this study and for being a good sport as we’ve disagreed on so many things — and for putting up with a massive number of comments. Frankly, men such as Gary … Continue reading

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Jesus and Paul on the Hermeneutics of Sexuality: Further on Eunuchs and Matthew 19

So I was sitting at home, minding my own business, reading Christopher J. H. Wright’s commentary on Deuteronomy (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) (review forthcoming) for a little relaxation when — all of a sudden — I stumbled across this passage — which … Continue reading

Posted in Homosexuality, Sexuality, Uncategorized | 2 Comments