A small taste of what I’m listening to this morning…

Here’s John MacArthur preaching to what I think are a group of graduates from The Master’s Seminary.  He is speaking from I Tim. 4:6-16.  His address is titled, “12 Marks of Excellent Pastoral Ministry.”

• (right-click to download)

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MacArthur describes this address as “a wonderful summary of what ministries should look like.”  At sermon’s end he asks the question, “So what does a pastor do?”  His answer?

“[A pastor] makes the following commitments:

1. I will warn my people of error.
2. I will devote myself to the study of Scripture.
3. I will avoid the influence of unholy teaching that sucks out my conviction.
4. I will discipline myself in godliness.
5. I will work hard.
6. I will teach with divine authority.
7. I will endeavor to be a model of spiritual virtue.
8. I will maintain a thoroughly Biblical ministry.
9. I will employ my spiritual gift and not neglect it.
10. I will be passionate about this privileged work.
11. I will let all see my growth in grace
12. [I will] persevere with endurance to complete the task that God gives me…”

Anyone else been listening to good sermons lately?  Do share in the comments below.

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!

I recently had some questions posed to me by a couple church members about baptism and church membership.  I’d already been feeling somewhat compelled to do a few topical studies on both subjects.  Their questions sealed the deal for me and Sunday night we did a topical sermon called, “On Biblical Baptism.”

Among other things I did in preparation for this sermon (like looking at this, this, this, this, and of course, this), I consulted a number of free online resources on the subject of baptism from the likes John MacArthur, John Piper, and Alistair Begg.

The most helpful was a sermon by Alistair Begg entitled, “Biblical Basis for Baptism.” You may click through to Begg’s site to download the sermon.  Or you can listen to it here:

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Begg explains helpfully that the reality of salvation is displayed in baptism, not dispensed—a very helpful and catchy distinction.  He covers the history, meaning, and practice of baptism.

I need your help:

I’m currently preparing for a sermon(s) on church membership.  I’m in the process of looking for helpful resources but I’m not having much success.

What resources (books, sermons, articles, etc.) have you found helpful on the subject of church membership?  Thanks in advance to any who respond.

Archangel Michael fighting Satan on the Coat of Arms of Arkhangelsk, Russia.

I’m not one who typically gets into material on spiritual warfare—demons, Satanic influence, doing battle in invisible realms, etc.  I certainly believe in all of that, but I think that many who speak and teach on it are WAY too confident in their assertions and are dabbling arrogantly in things that they shouldn’t be.

That being said, I stumbled upon an excellent treatment of the subject by John MacArthur.  No surprise there—MacArthur is a master at sifting through troves of information and presenting the best of it in a clear and compelling manner.

I’ve been listening through his series on 1st Timothy (to see how’s its done!)—because I am currently preaching through 1st Timothy.  He does a two-part deal on I Tim. 1:18-19, a passage where Paul charges Timothy to “wage the good warfare.”

MacArthur uses the first part of this sermon to spread out and explain as much biblical data as he can on the subject of spiritual warfare.  He begins with the fall of Satan and works his way all through to making the point that, as Christians, we are indeed in a war.  Therefore, we should live like it.

Click here to read the sermon’s manuscript over at the Grace to You site.  Or listen below in the media player (which may not be functioning properly if you’re reading this in an email subscription or on Facebook).  If you can’t see the player below you’ll need to click-through to my site and view the original post.

• John MacArthur’s, “Fighting the Noble War—Part 1″

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Would you lend a hand (or book)?

Any good, solid resources related to this subject that you’d be willing to recommend?  I’m all ears.