The scripture tells us in Ephesians 4:11-12 that God gives us pastors and teachers for the purpose of ‘equipping’ the saints for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the church. There are several things to note concerning the equipping ministry of the pastor: 1. Equipping is the pastor’s primary role. The…
In an earlier post, I shared an article about the longevity of pastors in small churches. The premise of the article was that longevity is a positive thing and that it should be encouraged. I personally believe that staying in one church for a long time is a good thing. I admire those pastors who…
Here is an excellent article concerning the pastor and longevity in a small church. I have highlighted somepoints of emphasis. Two races seem to capture the attention of even the most casual observers of track and field — the mile and the 100-meter dash. Throughout the development of these races, the public has watched in fascination to…
We come now to the first of the seven churches of Revelation. The Lord is giving a message to the church at Ephesus. In verse one we read, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst…
We often focus on the fact that God is a God of love and mercy and grace. This is true. God is love. He does love you and He does love me. He loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. He has…
This is one of the most intriguing passages of scripture in all of the Bible. The apostle John sees Jesus in a way that he has never seen Him before. There are also some great principles that we learn from this vision that John had. What John Heard: The principle of authority. Revelation 1:9-11 says,…
In verse 15 of Romans, we see how Paul had an eagerness to preach the Gospel. He had an overwhelming burden and a sense of obligation to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Paul had no shame when it came to proclaiming the Gospel. Why was Paul so bold? Why should…
Just like any good book, John gives a dedication and an introduction for the book of Revelation. In looking at John’s greetings to the churches, we find some relevant Biblical principles that we should follow. The Recipients. Verse four reads, “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from…
In this passage, we see the Pastor’s heart in Paul. He had a great love for the believers in Rome. There are several things that we see in the heart of Paul that can apply to our lives today. He thanked God for them. “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all,…
No other book has brought such interest and awe like the book of Revelation. It has also brought much confusion as to its meaning. Scholars have debated its meaning for centuries. As we study the book of Revelation, there are a couple of things that we need to keep in mind: 1. It is inspired…
Pastor Chris Noland 