Articles

“I have had enough, Lord.” This phrase from 1 Kings 19:4 (NIV) is one many of us feel like saying (or shouting!) frequently on our Christian pilgrimage. Indeed, while we may sometimes think that we are unique in our desire to escape the difficult circumstances that attend the calling to ministry, each of us stands in a long line of God’s people who have faced similar discouragement. The prophet Elijah was one such individual—someone who wanted to escape.

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The Spanish philosopher George Santayana famously wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”¹ The thought has surely passed into the realm of cliché since, yet the deeper truth behind the platitude is found in the apostle Paul’s teaching that “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction” (Rom. 15:4).

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These days, preaching is under increased scrutiny. Preaching itself is often viewed as a dated practice of former generations, while preachers are challenged by people who say things like “Preaching doesn’t do any good!” and “People don’t even listen to preaching anymore!”

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It’s not uncommon for preachers to daydream about success in pastoral ministry. Every pastor wants to make a difference in the kingdom of God, and it’s easy for pastors to envision the perfect ministry situation in which they could really be used by Him. Indeed, it’s very easy for any of us—pastor or not—to think that there exists a “perfect” place to work. We think that if we can just be in that place, then we could really serve the Lord to the best of our abilities.

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The following material was adapted from Lasting Love by Alistair Begg (©1997). Published by Moody Publishers. www.MoodyPublishers.com. Used by permission.

The day is almost here. You’ve been planning and waiting for months. Those colors you chose came together nicely. The catering is finally all set (although maybe it was a bit pricier than you’d hoped). Guests have started sending back RSVPs. This is the day you and your future spouse have been waiting for. It seems there’s always more to do, and yet the details are coming together.

But what about your wedding vows?

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I’ve always appreciated someone who could turn a phrase. My now-in-heaven friend T. S. Mooney was known for always being able to summarize his thoughts in a matter of a few words. He taught a boys’ Bible class in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, for fifty years. When I asked him on one occasion, “What are you seeking to do with these boys?” he said, “It is my purpose that every boy would have a Bible in his hand, a Savior in his heart, and a purpose in his life.” No mistaking it. Absolute clarity.

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When we’re hoping to understand what a word means, a dictionary is often a great place to start. But certain words require us to do more than simply read and memorize a definition. We shouldn’t be surprised, then, that when we read the dictionary definition of the word Gospel—“the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation”—we’re left with more questions. Who is this Christ? Where is His kingdom? What is salvation? A quick search on the internet tells us Gospel comes from a Greek word that means “good news”—but what exactly is this good news?

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Why did God create a world in which suffering exists?

You don’t have to be a philosopher or a doubter of God’s goodness to ask such a question. Look around: everyone suffers, and everyone tries to explain why. Some may say pain is an illusion. Others may reject God, saying that suffering disproves His existence. Still others may try to redefine God, saying that suffering proves His limitations. Yet each of these explanations for suffering is, in its own way, inadequate.

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The following material was adapted from On Being a Pastor by Derek J. Prime and Alistair Begg (©2013). Published by Moody Publishers. www.MoodyPublishers.com. Used by permission.

Preparing a sermon or a talk is a very personal process, and the reason we (Alistair and Derek) share our own approach is that we have been helped over the years as we have asked others how they set about the task. Whatever our method, prayer and personal obedience to the Word of God must come first. The very spirit in which we prepare should express our dependence upon God and our personal willingness to be obedient to what He reveals to us to pass on to His people.

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In 2 Corinthians 4:1–6, we find Paul making a series of great declarations concerning the ministry of the Gospel—declarations that stand to encourage today’s pastors in their vital work:

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