John MacArthur’s got a three-part series of articles on how to endure in the ministry.  Very beneficial stuff…and better still, very practical stuff.  Here’s are his 10 practical thoughts on an enduring ministry:

1. Don’t arrive unless you plan to stay.
2. Learn to be patient.
3. Don’t be afraid to change.
4. Study to know God, not just to make sermons.
5. Be thankful and be humble.
6. Don’t lose sight of the priority.
7. Expect to work hard.
8. Trust the Word to do its work.
9. Always depend on the Lord.
10. Don’t just leave to leave.

Some points on this list may seem a little ambiguous.  I’ll let MacArthur explain himself.  Find these ten points with additional commentary here:

• Practical Thoughts on an Enduring Ministry—Part 1
• Practical Thoughts on an Enduring Ministry— Part 2
• Practical Thoughts on an Enduring Ministry—Part 3

In case I’ve never mentioned it before on this site, John MacArthur is the man.  I listen to at least one of his sermons nearly every week.  In fact, I’m always looking for new places to find resources and new preachers to listen to.

What preachers or ministries help you most often?

Leave a comment and let us all know who’s online resources help you.  If possible, give a link to their website or online sermon archives.  Thanks!

Back in June I wrote up a few tips on how to get out of the doghouse.  It was inspired by a JCPenney’s advertising campaign.  Here’s JCPenney’s latest installment in this series.  Funny.

Summertime can be a strange thing for teenagers.  Many go from school-year schedules that require smartphones to summertime one’s that leave them checking their pulse.  Clubs, teams, meetings, appointments—these sorts of things fill their year, but oftentimes even the busiest of students are left with nothing to do once the summer arrives.  Here are some tips for how teens can get the most out of their summers.

5 +’s and 5 -’s = 10 Helpful Tips for Teenagers in the Summertime

First, the +’s.  Let’s start things off on a positive note.  Here are five things you need to strive to be with whatever summer you’ve got left.

1. Productive
   For goodness’ sake, find your lazy self something to do!
2. Mentor
   Find one for yourself.  Be one to somebody else.
3. Reader
   Find something you like and read about it.  Books, magazines, articles…whatever.  Just read.  It’s kind of like taking a shower for your brain…and trust me, you need one!
4. Holy
   Don’t waste away spiritually during the summer.  Start right away and establish a time and a place where you can read the Bible and pray every day.
5. Helpful
   Use the extra time you’ve got to do something positive.  Help out at church.  Help your neighbors with stuff.  Just help!

Now, here’s the -’s.  At all costs, resist the temptation to veg out all summer long, not doing anything but lounging around and learning how to be more comfortable with being lazy.  Instead, take my advice and steer clear from the following headings.

1. Screen Saver
   Like a computer that’s not being used, too many teenagers turn off their brains all summer long.  This is NOT GOOD!
2. Narcolepsy
   Sleep…ahhh.  We all love it, but ‘too much of a good thing is bad’ definitely rings true with teenagers, summertime, and excessive sleeping.  GET OUT OF BED!
3. Lazy
   Summertime does not mean you’re off the hook from having to do anything.  God didn’t create us to be lazy, so get off your butt and do something!
4. Selfish
   Many teenagers feel that they’ve somehow deserved the right to be lazy because they’ve made it to the summer.  Try telling that to your boss someday!
5. Fat
   When we lay around, encourage inactivity, and don’t do anything we become fat.  The same is true with our spiritual lives.  Don’t become spiritually fat over the summer.

There’s your 10 helpful tips on teenagers and summertime.  Any I forgot?  What advice would you give to young people during their summer months?

DISCLAIMER #1 — I am not currently in the doghouse.  If ever I have been, you must know that I probably deserved it (9.9876 out of 10 times, I do) and it didn’t last very long because my sweet, precious wife forgave me quickly and mercifully.

DISCLAIMER #2 — This post is intended for two distinct audiences: men and women.  To the men, be helped.  To the women, be amused.  To both, enjoy!

Gentlemen, we’ve all been there—the doghouse.  Sigh.

Some of us, fortunately, have not spent a great deal of time there.  For others, however, the doghouse has become a place of nearly permanent residence.  I don’t what you may have done to get there.  It’s not that important.  What’s important is that you get out—learn from your mistakes and get the heck out of there.

Here are ten simple words of wisdom for the man who finds himself in the doghouse.

1. Be Quiet—No, you don’t have to talk about it.  When she’s ready, she’ll talk and then you’re out.
2. Be Sweet—Never, ever, ever believe the lie that you can make your own doghouse and turn this thing around.  Just stay put and be sweet.
3. Be Helpful—Do stuff.  Wash, fold, and put away clothes.  Tidy up the kitchen.  Make the bed.  Even if it seems like its not working, it is.  You’ve just got to believe.
4. Be Holy—The doghouse is a great place to seek God.  Pray for your marriage.  Read the Bible.  Make sure to get your priorities straight.  “Seek first the kingdom…” (Matt. 6:33)
5. Be Smart—Don’t do anything stupid.  The doghouse can be a crazy place.  As such, it can cause you to do some crazy stuff. Don’t, though.  Be smart.  Resist.
6. Be Quick—to apologize and admit wrongdoing.  You are in the doghouse.  You probably did something wrong.  Even if you don’t know what it is, apologize!
7. Be Patient—It’ll happen.  You’ll get out of that place soon enough.  Your wife loves you, she’s just mad.  Patience is a virtue, right?  So be virtuous.
8. Be Ready—You’re wife will let out of the doghouse.  I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.  It really happens!  When it does, be ready.  Don’t let your hurt feelings and defensive nature keep you from getting out when she’s ready.
9. Be Sorry—If you did something wrong (and you probably did), don’t let the fact that you’re in the doghouse and mad about it keep you from being remorseful for what you did.  Apologize.  Seriously.
10. Be Open—Try and get outside of your own thoughts.  Don’t limit your perspective just because you’re upset.  Maybe when you see things from her perspective you’ll understand why you’re in the doghouse.

After having clicked this link from Tim Challies and reading this blog’s article on the benefits of dropping cable TV, I decided to try my hand at crafting a similar list of reasons why there’s better things to do with your time.

Here’s what I had to build from.  It’s the list provided by The Wisdom and Folly Blog, by Jim and Amy Spiegel.  I’m just provinding the list’s tag lines.  Visit the original post for it’s author’s commentary.

1. Avoidance of commercials and the fueling of the consumer mentality.
2. Better stewardship of time.
3. Protection of children.
4. Avoidance of narcissisim, bad ethics, and poor reasoning.
5. Enhancement of aesthetic sense.

And here are my five reasons why you’d be better off without cable TV:

1. It could save you money.
   It’s simple math.  Paying $50-100 every month adds up.   Not paying it does too!
2. It may help you value people more.
   No cable TV?  Spend time with your wife.  Call your family or friends.  Visit with a neighbor.  Be a person for crying out loud.  Don’t just waste away alone in front of a television.
3. It will probably increase your attention span.
   Less commercials.  Less multiple-scene scenarios all going on at the same time.  More time to do other focus-building activities like #’s 4 and 5 below.
4. It gives you more time to read.
   Instead of flipping channels, flip pages.  Reading is a proven way to make you smarter.  It helps you think clearer, comprehend more fully, speak more articulately, and acquire other skills easier,
5. It will encourage productivity in almost every area of your life.
   Nothing feels better than a hard day’s work, complete with productivity and the personal sense of fulfillment that can only come from getting things done.  Get off the couch and do something.  No TV means much more oppotnity to do stuff!

There are other reasons, I’m sure.  These were just a few that I thought of.  Can you think of any other reasons why getting rid of cable TV is a good idea?

Matthew 6:25-34 is one of the most logical, practical, helpful, and comforting passages in the Bible.  It’s Jesus’ treatise on why, as believers, we really don’t have anything to be worried about.  Here are ten reasons that He gives for why we shouldn’t be anxiety-stricken people.

(Make sure to place your pointer over the verse references at the end of each reason.  The scripture should instantly pop up on your screen.  It will go away whenever you move your pointer.)

Jesus’ Top 10 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Worry:

1. There’s much more to our lives than the things we have to worry about.  Unfortunately, some people never quit worrying long enough to understand that (Matt. 6:25).
2. God takes care of birds, right?  They have food to eat and lives to live, but you don’t see them running around worried to death about all sorts of stuff.  If he takes care of them, He’s surely going to take care of us (Matt. 6:26).
3. As much as people worry and grieve themselves over things they don’t even have control over, you’d think anxiety would be more a worthwhile endeavor.  As it turns out, though, it doesn’t really accomplish anything (Matt. 6:27).
4. God even takes care of and provides for grass—yeah, the stuff that’s out in your yard.  If He cares about us more than grass—and He does—doesn’t that make you wonder why you’re always so worried about stuff (Matt. 6:28-30)?
5. Worry is a big, huge sign that we wear which announce to all who see us, “Hey, look at me!  I don’t really believe God’s going to provide what’s best for me.”  That’s what Jesus said at least.  Here’s how he addressed the anxious person, “O you of little faith” (Matt. 6:30).
6. Because Jesus very clearly commanded us not to (Matt. 6:31).
7. Because anxiety is for unbelievers, not Christians (Matt. 6:32).
8. Because God doesn’t need your worrying.  He already knows, cares about, and has planned what He’s going to do concerning  every single thing in your life (Matt. 6:32).
9. Because Jesus promised that if we’d just trust him and live, first and foremost, in the service of his kingdom, he’d take care of everything that we could ever need (Matt. 6:33).
10. Because  the troubles of the present day are enough.  We don’t need to add tomorrow’s into the mix (Matt. 6:34).

I hope this list means something to you.  It definitely does to me.

Here are three sermons based out of this same passage (Matt. 6:25-34) that may help if you’re struggling with anxiety.  These guys are three of my favorites, so do yourself a favor and listen well.

1. The first one’s from Ligon Duncan.  It’s called, “True Religion: Anxiety’s Antidote.”
   

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2. This one’s from John MacArthur.  It’s titled, “Jesus, Worry, and You.”

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3. The last one is from John Piper.  It’s the second part of the sermon, “Don’t Be Anxious, Lay Up Treasure in Heaven.”

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Hopefully you saw where I previously wrote about what NOT to look for in a new church.  On a more positive note, here’s my take on what you should be looking for in a new church.

(As an aside, I don’t really recommend looking for a new church at all, not unless you absolutely have to.  In our case, my wife and I moved six hours away to another state.  So having to look for a new church was pretty much inevitable. If you do find yourself wanting to leave a church for less important reasons, I recommend that you take a look at Josh Harris’, Stop Dating the Church.  Click through the link directly below to get your copy for only 10 bucks.)

Here are five things that you should look for in a church:

1. God-centeredness (Rom. 11:36)
   Keep your eyes and ears open as you begin to take everything in during your initial visit(s).  Being a guest at a new church can be a bit intimidating. What you should be looking and listening for is the presence of a clearly articulated and unashamed God-centered mindset.  Listen to the way people are talking.  Notice the approach church members take as they greet you (…or neglect to greet you, which unfortunately may be the case).  Try to hear the heart of the pastor as he delivers his message.  What is the reason these people are meeting?  Is it a social club?  Is it merely the routine actualization of religious tradition steeped within a community’s cultural lifeblood?  Or is it God that’s really on their hearts and minds?
   
   Ask yourself, “Is God a subject or is He a person to these people?”  Try and answer that question while you’re there.  For far too many churches, it would seem, God is reduced to a reason they meet together on Sundays when He should be the Person they meet together on Sundays.  The difference is usually to be found in the contrast between a mindset of man-centered thinking vs. one of God-centered thinking.  Make sure the church you choose falls into the latter.
2. Inter-generational Make-up (Titus 2:1-10)
   Any church that wants to achieve a healthy balance  between the wisdom that often comes with experience and the zeal that is common in youthfulness had better strive to be a church for all ages.  From infants to the elderly, toddlers to retirees, churches need to experience faith being lived out across all stages of life.
   
   Here are some helpful indicators of an inter-generational congregation: present in the same room will be objects that represent both ends and, by default, the in-between’s of the entire age spectrum.  Look for such extremes as strollers for little babies and walkers for the disabled, heelies for the middle-schooler’s and wheelchairs for the old-schooler’s, braces for the teenagers’s crooked teeth and dentures for the seniors’ missing teeth.  If a church has grown too old in its membership, then it may be over the hill and on the way down.  If it’s all bright eyed and bushy-tailed youngsters runnin’ the place, then watch out because inexperience is bound to make some major mistakes.
3. Culturally diverse (Gal. 3:26-29)
   Look for a church that has an active membership comprised of people from all walks of life.  The gospel is a message that rings true for all who hear and believe it, regardless of their color, shape, size, income, or musical taste.  It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, well-educated or ignorant, conservative or liberal—God is no respecter of persons and the the membership of any given local body should reflect that.  A church that welcomes and embraces diversity exemplifies the unifying truth of the gospel in a way that churches consisting of people who are all alike cannot.
   
   Churches with a culturally diverse membership are better suited to reveal the universal nature of the gospel’s truth as well as the exclusivistic nature of it’s claims.  Jesus at one and the same time makes the universal declaration that He is the way, the truth, and the life, while insisting rather exlusivistically that no one comes to the Father unless it’s through Him (John 14:6).  This challenging message is one that should breed a church body that finds itself stocked with people having come from all sorts of worldview backgrounds.  The Christian message is not just true for Christians and Christians alone.  It is true for everyone—because it is truth.  The people coming to faith and joining our churches should reflect this.
4. Thoroughly evangelistic (Matt. 28:18-20)
   Truthful, obedient to Scripture,  friendly, comfortable in their own skin, high on sincerity, low on pretense—that’s the kind of church that reaches out to others.  That’s the kind of church I want to be a part of.  Evangelism is not a program.  Neither is it a once-a-year short-term mission trip.  More than anything else its a way of life.  It’s a relationship with Jesus Christ that naturally feels its way into every part of an individual’s life—the home, the workplace, the relationships, the conversations.  That’s where evangelism takes place.  Look for a church with those kinds of individuals and that kind of evangelism.   That’s where you want to be.
   
   Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that evangelistic programs are bad.   I think that parishioners need to be trained and educated and well-equipped to share their faiths.  I do think, however, that overtly canned presentations and stomach-wrenching nerves don’t make for the perfect gospel-sharing combination.  The long term fruit of regeneration and successful evangelism within the life of a church will not have a name and a logo.  Like I said before, it’s a way of life, and it’s one that every Christian in every church is commanded to life.
5. Intellectually stimulating (Prov. 16:20; I Pet. 3:15)
   The sermons, the SS lessons, the praise and worship songs, the Bible studies, the bulletin articles—each of these avenues for worship and Bible-teaching ought to be providing the church with an unabashed opportunity to feed deeply off of the rich nutrients found within the fertile soils of God’s Word.  All too often, though, the sad spectacle to be observed on the average Sunday morning in the average Christian church is that of people hearing nice little sermons with nice little points given by nice little preachers with nice little conclusions.  It’s not that they can’t handle intellectually rigorous sermons.  Many of these churches are full of students who’ve spent their week learning difficult things at school while their parents have toiled endlessly with laborious, mentally-demanding careers in professional settings.  Why then can we not expect to have similar cognitive rigor when we sit at the feet of God’s Word and hear it’s great truths proclaimed?
   
   Look for a church that takes God’s Word seriously enough to give it honest mental effort.  The Bible is filled to its brim with gut-wrenching, fist-clenching truth that’s just waiting to be drawn out by the hard work of a faithful preacher’s exposition.  Don’t settle for anything less than that which requires your utmost attention because that’s precisely what the gospel deserves.

These five things are not at all only things that you should look for in a church, they’re just the first solid five that I could think of.  What are some other things that we need to look for during our search for a new place to worship?  Any feedback would be appreciated.

Having recently moved to a new town (Mobile, AL), my wife and I now find ourselves faced with what for us is proving quite the rare opportunity—we’re “church-shopping.”  During our search for the place where we believe God wants us to serve I’ve had plenty of time to think about the “church-shopping” process.

What I’ve found out is that sometimes the best way to learn something new is to learn how not to do it first.  What follows are my tips for how NOT go looking for a new church.  If you find yourself being motivated to join a church by any of the five things listed here, then you may need to double-up and do some soul-searching while you’re at the business of church-searching.  Chances are you’ve placed yourself behind the wheel.  And we all know that, as Carrie Underwood has reminded us time and time again, Jesus needs to take the wheel!

On the surface these things may not appear to tempt you, but maybe they do and you just don’t realize it.  Let me explain.  We have unfortunately pragmaticized the living daylights out of church life.  Whatever, whenever, and whoever is the most practical—that’s what rules in our day.  It it “works” best and yields the most immediately recognizable results, then that’s where we go.  It it seems like the place where we can get the most out of a church by putting in the least, then that’s where we’ll join.

Here are my five tips for how NOT to go looking for a new church.

1. Go for the church with the most bells and whistles.
   When looking for a new church always remember the old proverb, “The bigger the better.”  (Was it Solomon who said that originally?) Whether its a new Family Life Center, or a completely decked out coffee shop, you’d better make sure that your new church of choice has all the latest and greatest features that’ll keep you and your friends ooh-ing and ahh-ing for months on end.  Didn’t Jesus say that he came that we may have life more abundantly?
2. Make sure to look for a church full of people that are just like you.
   Don’t neglect to find a fellowship where you really feel like you fit in the very first time you walk through the doors. If you’re young, forget about the old people.  They’re boring and slow anyways.  If you’re old, forget about the young people.  Their music is too loud and they don’t know anything about what it means to wear your Sunday best.  Who needs diversity anyways?  Let’s leave that to groups like Affirmative Action.  They get paid to make sure we have enough of it in our workplaces as it is.  Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would be one, right?  Let’s do our part and help make that prayer a reality.
3. Look for a church that doesn’t have any problems.
   We’ve all heard SO many stories of local bodies fighting and bickering over the stupidest stuff.  From battles concerning what color the walls should be painted, to congregation-splitting arguments over musical tastes, everyone knows that churches get a bad rap.  Let’s help be a part of the solution by only going to perfect churches.  Granted, you may have to look for a long time before you find one. You may even have to not go at all.  Just make sure that the next time you hear talk of a church that’s having problems, you can say, “Nope, not me.  I would never go to a church like that.”
4. Wait for magical, heavenly omens from God before you decide to commit anywhere.
   Choosing the right church is a big decision.  DON’T BLOW IT!  Take your time.  Pray.  Fast.  Deprive yourself of some sleep.  You’re bound to hallucinate at some point and, once you do, you’re probably going to receive some sort of really cool revelation as to which church you should join.  God gave Gideon a sign, didn’t he?  He sure did, and he might just give you one too.  If you’ve been waiting to join a church for two years because you, “Just haven’t gotten a peace about it yet,” don’t worry, keep holding out.  God will honor your lack of commitment and unwillingness to settle in and serve somewhere.  You just keep waiting for that sign.  One of these days, sure enough, a rainbow or a golden fleece or something is gonna land right in your lap.  And then you’ll know.
5. Be careful to choose only the churches that will improve upon your current social status.
   Let’s be honest, where you choose go to church tells the community you’re in a little something about you as person.  Am I right?  Of course I am.  Make sure your choice is the socially savvy one. There are a lot of business contacts that can be made in two hours on a Sunday, especially if you’ve joined the church the big spenders.  You are going to be spending time with these people every week anyways, right?  You’d might as well make it worth your while and kill two birds with one stone.  Besides, there’s nothing better than being a considered a godly person—that is, unless you can be really cool and godly at the same time.

Don’t forget, these were my pointers for how NOT to go looking for a new church.  Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to share with you some church-searching advice with a little less sarcasm.