John 2:13-25 is one of the most difficult pages in the Bible. The content is not the difficulty, but rather, the placement in John’s Gospel. Both historically and in the other Gospels it is agreed that Jesus cleansing the temple occurred during the holy week leading to his crucifixion. It is also agreed that there…
We live in a very negative world. Everywhere you go there are people and circumstances that are just waiting to ruin your day. At every turn there is someone that is not happy and no matter what you do they are never satisfied. Even when you try to stay positive and maintain a godly attitude…
Victory Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet Tennessee is celebrating 25 years of ministry. What a celebration it is! We give God all the glory for all that He has done these past 25 years at Victory. As we celebrate what God has done, we must be mindful of what God is doing today and how…
There is often a misconception concerning secular vs. ministry employment. There are some who feel that ministry is not a ‘real job.’ In some ways that may be true, ministry is certainly not the same as secular employment. However, serving in fulltime ministry is most certainly viable and respectable. One major concern in Christendom…
I have served in full-time ministry all of my adult life and grew up in a pastor’s home. There are many things that I have experienced, witnessed, and learned over the years. One interesting thing that has always dumbfounded me is that most problems that a church faces very seldom originate from attacks outside the…
It is often said that we should not ‘reinvent the wheel.’ This statement coincides with another thought, ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ These statements certainly contain truth. There is no need to create something that has already been created. There is no need to change something that is working just fine. We are…
You may have read or heard recently how there is a group that is trying to start so-called ‘Satanist’ clubs in public schools as a direct attack on Good News Clubs. As a matter of fact, the Satanic Temple has declared Good News Club as their number one nemesis. Praise the Lord! I never…
At the church where I pastor, First Baptist Church of Decherd Tennessee, we have a special day called Baptist Men’s Day. On this day we have special activities for men and an emphasis on godly manhood and leadership along with a celebration of Baptist men. You may ask, “What is a Baptist man?” To answer…
Over the years I have counselled with young men who felt the call to serve in ministry particularly as a pastor. My response has always been out of a heart of love and concern that those men follow whatever God calls them to do. In answering the question ‘do you want to be a pastor’.…
There are many things that are crucial for a pastor to do in order to have an effective ministry. One of those things is to make himself visible. Whether he likes it or not, the pastor is the face of the local church. Depending on how you look at it (rightfully or wrongfully), the local…
Pastor Chris Noland 