In recent years, more churches have recognized the value of granting their pastors a sabbatical—a designated period away from the regular responsibilities of ministry for the sake of rest, renewal, and spiritual rejuvenation. But while the Pastor steps back for a season, the Church is called to step forward in prayer. A sabbatical isn’t simply… Continue reading How to Pray for a Pastor on Sabbatical
Last year, my church graciously granted me my first sabbatical. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity, and I wanted to take a few moments to explain why a sabbatical matters—not just for me but for any pastor. This article isn’t about burnout horror stories or some “woe is me” tale. It’s a biblical reflection on… Continue reading Why Pastors Need a Sabbatical
For years I have tried to blow the whistle on the subject of shallow theology. This is a current trend among evangelical churches to keep things shallow. It is especially highlighted among the current 20-30-something crowd. Quite a few of my pastoral peers fit into this mold. Most have not heeded the warning. They look… Continue reading A Call for Pastors and Churches to Go Deep
In October I celebrated 15 years of pastoring Cornerstone Bible Church in Forest City, PA. A lot of people don’t know that this is unusual. Pastor turnover rates are high for much of the country. The average tenure of 3.5 years is now around 6.5 years, depending on the study you read. An improvement, but… Continue reading How to Keep a Pastor for 15 Years
Our Top 10 Most read Articles October marks our 6th anniversary of Maddening Theology, publishing over 300 articles on this site “attempting to make simple the deep things of God.” We actively work to build up believers and teach those who do not know God about Him and His wondrous salvation. Here are the top… Continue reading Our 6th Anniversary of Maddening Theology
Many people have been told recently that online “church” is a fine substitute for church. I have written articles listing 8 reasons why I find that to not be true. You can read them here (link) and here (link). One of the reasons I think we still need (and are called to gather) as local… Continue reading 6 Benefits of Live Local Preaching
By Guest Blogger Ty Woznek This article is by guest blogger Ty Woznek. He is the senior pastor of Heartland Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. Ty and I have been friends for a few years. We often discuss theology, Christian philosophy, and church practice, sometimes on a weekly basis. Recently he published this article that I… Continue reading Should Pastors Engage in Politics? Part II
Guest Blogger Ty Woznek This article is by guest blogger Ty Woznek. He is the senior pastor of Heartland Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. Ty and I have been friends for a few years. We often discuss theology, Christian philosophy, and church practice, sometimes on a weekly basis. Recently he published this article that I thought… Continue reading Should Pastors Engage in Politics? Part I
None of us like to be or want to be watched. Our privacy is something that we lose more every day living in a technological age. Any time someone notices something about us, that we prefer to not be noticed, it feels like an invasion of privacy. The question is, does anyone have the right… Continue reading Appreciating Watchdog Pastors
