“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking” (Lk 7:34). A key component of Jesus’ ministry revolved around having meals with people. As we read the Gospels, we see Jesus on the move, from one meal to the next. Often he would eat with scandalous company, from a party of sinners (Mk 2:16) to… Continue reading The Ministry of Eating
Author: Justin Deeter
Justin Deeter is the Senior Pastor at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Wilson, NC (www.foresthillsbaptist.org). He is also a Ph.D. student studying Historical Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He is married to Kaitlyn, and they live with their two children in Wilson, NC. Justin blogs at justindeeter.com.
Persistent Prayer Deepens Faith
Many Christians struggle with the slowness in which God often answers our prayers. In our microwavable culture of instant results, God appears to respond as slow as molasses. We expect immediate action at the first request of our prayers. As a result, we fail to be persistent in our prayers and whimsical in our faith.… Continue reading Persistent Prayer Deepens Faith
Pastor, Love Through Teaching
As a pastor, our aim is to love of congregations well. However, loving them well can be a great challenge! After all, each member has their own preferences for how they wished to be love. We attempt to show our love in a variety of ways, mostly through the giving of our time. We sit… Continue reading Pastor, Love Through Teaching
The Failure of Theological Liberalism
As liberal theology developed from within Protestantism in the 19th century, it created a crisis of authority within Christianity in America. The squabbling over orthodoxy spurred theological innovation. Such innovation diminished the authority of Scriptures, eschewed dogmatic claims, and revised Christianity with modernism. Various groups emerged, each trying to redesign Christianity for the modern era. Men… Continue reading The Failure of Theological Liberalism
Give Your People the Puzzle Box
I’m not a fan of puzzles. The thought of sitting at a table for hours on end, arranging jig-saws together only to tear it apart and put it in the box, sounds pointless. However, my grandparents always had a puzzle on their dining room table. I have fond memories of sitting down with them and… Continue reading Give Your People the Puzzle Box
The Freedom of the Christian: Martin Luther’s Great Discovery
This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, a German monk posted his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. With that act, Martin Luther began a debate that launched the Protestant Reformation. After the Leipzig debate, Luther wrote three influential tracts building up to the… Continue reading The Freedom of the Christian: Martin Luther’s Great Discovery
Why Bother With the Trinity?
I’ll never forget this one conversation I had with a life long member at my first church. I was a young man and still in college, serving for the first time on staff at a church as a youth minister. The previous Sunday I had the opportunity to preach one of my first few sermons.… Continue reading Why Bother With the Trinity?
7 Ways To Become a Praying Pastor
In today’s world, pastors neglect deep, rigorous prayer for their flocks. New pressures have put strains on the biblical role of the pastor. The managerial revolution has forced pastors to redefine their job description in light of corporate America. The church as institution takes precedent over the church as flock. So, we pastors get caught… Continue reading 7 Ways To Become a Praying Pastor
Seek Him and Be Satisfied: An Exposition of Psalm 63
An arid desert drains the life out of its travelers. Imagine a man traveling through the the Sahara. He’s sandy, dusty, and incredibly thirsty. The heat of the sun beats upon his forehead, and he’s grown so dehydrated that he can no long sweat. As his throat burns, he embarks across the mounds of sand… Continue reading Seek Him and Be Satisfied: An Exposition of Psalm 63
New Affections and Their Expulsive Power
Every pastor dreams of having his sermon become a Christian classic. For most of us, our sermons will long be forgotten after our deaths, but occasionally a sermon provides a lasting legacy for centuries after the message was originally preached. One such sermon was written by a Scottish minister named Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847). The sermon… Continue reading New Affections and Their Expulsive Power