Where are all the young people going? Why do the visitors never seem to stick? Why have there been so many fights in our church history? Unfortunately, these are common questions in the Reformed tradition. In my years as a pastor, I . . . Continue reading →
Ministry
What Is A Seminary?
The question arose on a discussion board as to how a theological seminary relates to C. S. Lewis’ distinction between “education” and “vocational training.” The premise of the question was that one had to choose between the two, relative to a university I . . . Continue reading →
One of the Dirtiest Little Secrets About Preaching
One of the dirtiest little secrets about preaching is that many preachers are using what we used to call in radio “a service.” There are, or at least there used to be, businesses that sell jokes and one liners and gags and . . . Continue reading →
Machen On The Uniqueness Of Pastoral Ministry
Remember this, at least — the things in which the world is now interested are the things that are seen; but the things that are seen are temporal, and the things that are not seen are eternal. You, as ministers of Christ, . . . Continue reading →
The Vulnerability Of Pastors In The Post-Christian World
Clergy are particularly vulnerable in these decades of decline, because the financial security and health of their families are hanging by a thread; and their reputation in the world is already smudged and prejudiced; the cross-sector colleagues who once defended them are . . . Continue reading →
Resources On Fencing The Lord’s Table
Some HB readers have been discussing the question of fencing the Lord’s Table. Fencing is a figurative way of speaking. There aren’t literal fences in Reformed Churches. It’s a way to describe the Reformed attempt to apply Paul’s instruction in 1Corinthians 11:27–32. . . . Continue reading →
Law And Gospel In A Pastoral Context
DATHENUS: Just as this is very comforting, so it also is certain and true. For this is what Paul is teaching us with these similar words, namely, that “by the deeds of the law no flesh shall justified in his sight: for . . . Continue reading →
Preaching The Third Use And Encouraging The Saints
What about preaching and the third use of the law? Preachers often end their sermons with a moral application of the text. This practice has a long and honorable history in the Reformed and Presbyterian churches. Certainly pastors should preach the third use . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Ministry And Mission
What happens to WSC students after they graduate? Most of them go on to become pastors in confessional Presbyterian and Reformed congregations. Most of them spend the rest of their lives in faithful service to Christ, preaching the gospel, administering the sacraments, . . . Continue reading →
Boston: Ministers Are Fishers Of Men
III. Ministers are fishers by office; they are catchers of the souls of men, sent “to open the eyes of the blind, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,” Acts 26:18. Preachers of . . . Continue reading →
The Next Big Church Thing
One of the hottest restaurants in my hometown of Chicago is Next. Chef Grant Achatz’s first restaurant, Alinea, has three Michelin stars and is regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world. Achatz wanted his second restaurant, Next, to be . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Where Are They Now? How Ted Hamilton Became A Preacher
Perhaps you have seen on television or in the movies successful, wealthy professionals driving, surfing, and generally enjoying what looks like a magical life in Southern California. Television glitz aside, there is some reality to that portrait and one place it is . . . Continue reading →
A Pulpit Is Not A Platform
A Pulpit Is Not A Platform Since the early 18th century, American Christianity has been dominated by personalities. George Whitefield, the Wesleys, and Jonathan Edwards feature prominently in any narrative of the history of eighteenth-century American Christianity. When we think of the . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Enforcing Law And Preaching Grace
The primary mission of Westminster Seminary California is to prepare men for pastoral ministry. That’s what they have been doing since 1980. They have more than 1100 graduates serving the Lord across the globe and here in the USA, most of whom . . . Continue reading →
Why The Heidelblog? Pulpits, Pews, Profs, And Plancius
From time to time I get the question, “Why do you blog?” This is my attempt at an answer. § The first time I remember seeing the word “weblog” was in 1995 or 1996. At the time it was widely regarded as . . . Continue reading →
The Difference Between Magic And Ministry
As a child I was fascinated by “magicians” such as Harry Blackstone Jr. For a few dollars one could order a kit or study library books and learn to do “magic.” Of course, it was not magic at all. It was merely . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: From The Pasture To The Pastorate
Office Hours kicks off its 11th season (247 episodes so far) with an interview with our newest faculty member, Dr Craig Troxel. Craig comes to Escondido from Bethel Presbyterian Church (OPC), Wheaton, IL. Prior to that he was pastor Glenside OPC, in . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: On The Spiritual Care Of Seminary Students With Chuck Tedrick
Chuck Tedrick is no stranger to Office Hours. He first appeared on Office Hours in 2009, season 1, episode 3, as a student at Westminster. Then he appeared in season 8, episode 22. Before coming to Westminster he studied at BIOLA University . . . Continue reading →
Ministry Is Not Business
If you must apologize to retain market share, Continue reading
Heidelcast 180: As It Was In The Days Of Noah (23): Serving Under The Chief Shepherd
This is episode 23 in the series, As It Was in the days of Noah. We have two items of business before we turn to our passage for the episode (1 Peter 5:1–5): (1) To say thanks to Jack Miller, sometime HB . . . Continue reading →