I remember when the word missional was new. It was filled with all the facial hair, slim-fit shirt, Avett Brothers cache that a single word could carry. If churches were not actively seeking how to be “missional” they were missing out on the next great thing. And no church wants to miss...

I have never seen a time when discussions and debates about homosexuality and gender identity were more ubiquitous as they are today. And with those discussions have come much confusion, error, and sin. We all know about denominations like the PC(USA), the United Methodists, Disciples of Christ,...

So much can and should be said in response to the horrific murders that occurred in Charleston, SC at Emanuel AME Church. But one thing is for certain, the actions of the murderer cannot be adequately described in anything less that theological language. What the murderer did was evil. Yes, it was...

The evangelical world has been not-so-rocked by Tony Campolo’s recent declaration of support for homosexual unions. Specifically he has joined the cacophony of voices calling the church to embrace as members practicing homosexuals; to pronounce as wholesome the sin of homosexuality. Others...

By now you have no doubt heard the troubling news concerning Josh Duggar of the immensely successful television program 19 Kids and Counting . Many others have weighed in already. It is an important story not least of all because it gives the church another opportunity to think about how it should...

I was interested to read Dr. Bryan Chapell’s piece in By Faith on the current tensions in the PCA between what he calls traditionalists and progressives. Not surprisingly Dr. Chapell’s piece is gracious and helpful in some ways. I share his hope that the PCA will remain united. I share...

Some friends and I were recently talking about the book When the Wicked Seize a City by Chuck & Donna McIlhenny. Pastor McIlhenny served as pastor of First Orthodox Presbyterian Church in San Francisco beginning in the 1970’s. It was during those years that Pastor McIlhenny and the church...

Lifeway, a publishing arm of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination will no longer be promoting and selling Heaven tourism books . This is good news. If you are unfamiliar with the term, Heaven tourism refers to books like 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is for Real in which the authors...

Desperately seeking relevance, the habitually dwindling Disciples of Christ denomination announced that Indiana, having had the audacity to pass a version of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, will not be host to their annual denominational convention. Once again the Disciples of Christ...

Many of you are no doubt familiar with the sad tale of Congressman Aaron Schock. Representative Schock recently announced his resignation from the House amid scandals involving his spending habits. It seems Mr. Schock loves the high life. He famously, or infamously, spent many thousands of tax...

Over at Scot McKnight's blog David Moore has written what is sure to be a provocative post . He does what many are not willing to do. He criticizes The Gospel Coalition. Certainly there is nothing small, petty, or mean about Moore's criticism. His words are thoughtful and his critique is...

Our friend Carl Trueman is one of the featured speakers at this year's Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church. That is in Southern California for those of you who may not know. And what fits better in Southern California than a pasty white English history professor? Word has it that...

Recently the MOS crew had the pleasure of spending some time at Cairn University. During that time we sat down with Jonathan Master for a conversation. You can check it out HERE .

Charles Spurgeon suggested that the pastoral prayer may be the most important element of the church’s corporate worship. That may have been a bit of hyperbole. It may even be apocryphal. But I would suggest that a time for the pastor to publicly intercede for the people he serves should...

This Sunday I am beginning a four week hiatus from my current sermon series through the Book of Acts in order to preach a brief series addressing gender and homosexuality. As I am sure you know our culture has, with stunning rapidity, normalized homosexuality and deconstructed the very notion of...

No surprises HERE . What is sad is that the market for heavenly tourism books will remain high. On a related note, perhaps Lifeway will begin to seriously examine and reconsider the sorts of books they sell. The culture has probably been lost . If you believe what Christians have always believed...

If you want to get people mad at you (I mean really mad) just criticize Beth Moore’s teaching. Trust me on this. Many a young pastor has found himself being roasted over the rhetorical bonfire of women’s ministry meetings for daring to raise concerns about Beth Moore’s rather...

A few months ago Carl, Aimee, and I had the priviledge of having a public conversation with Kent Hughes about preaching and ministry. I was moved not only by Dr. Hughes' graciousness but grateful for the wisdom that the Lord has given him after years in ministry. Here are a few titles worth...

It is Christmas Eve and I wanted that special gift for Trueman to enjoy. I passed THIS along to him. Sermon Audio - Last week I preached from Matthew 1:18-25. You can check it out HERE . We have heard much about injustice in recent months. It is a worthy subject to be sure, especially for...

This week's Mortification of Spin: Bully Pulpit addresses the issue of battered pastors. Having gone through an experience of battering for several years, it is a topic near and dear to my heart. Take time to listen to the discussion HERE . The following are the books we mention: New Life in...

Last Sunday I continued preaching through the Book of Acts. The sermon is entitled "The Death of Dying" and was taken from Acts 9:32-43. It is the account of Peter's healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha. Along the way I deal with the purpose of miracles. The following are some...

After wading through some of the less than helpful and, frankly, pandering comments about Ferguson from some well known white evangelical "leaders" I found the peice by Voddie Baucham to be a most necessary corrective. You can read it HERE . White evangelicals need to read Baucham's...

I am currently preaching through the Book of Acts . Last Sunday I preached on Paul’s conversion from Acts 9:1-19a. It’s the sort of text that seems to preach itself. Paul is God’s great object lesson of grace. In his first epistle to Timothy Paul affirms just that. God saved him,...

I deeply appreciate John Piper. His ministries of preaching and writing have meant a great deal to me over the years. I pray that the Lord will continue to use him to bless His church. I point that out because I am not a guy who makes it a point to hate on Piper. I don’t consider it cutting...