I had the wonderful privilege of taking Jim Singleton’s Pastoral Ministry course this semester at Gordon-Conwell. As a Th.M. student in Homiletics I wasn’t supposed to take anything outside my field, but I convinced my advisor that this class was a good idea for me in preparation for pastoral ministry. It was a true gem of …
It was a wonderful privilege this Winter and Spring to share the Word of God with the people at Londonderry Presbyterian Church in New Hampshire. God called me during my time here at Gordon-Conwell to preach among two different New Hampshire congregations. It was a blessing to get to know them and I thank them … Continue reading »
This past weekend I had the opportunity and privilege to preach at Londonderry Presbyterian Church in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The church is the oldest continually worshipping Presbyterian congregation In New England. A few of us students and professors are helping the church during a transitional phase this Winter/Spring. We are walking through the Gospel of … Continue reading »
Here’s my final sermon for the Fall Semester at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The task was to prepare a “vision-casting” sermon. Many students chose to cast vision for missions, for discipleship and mentoring plans, as well as a vision for small group ministries. I chose to cast a vision for the importance of reading our Bibles, … Continue reading »
One of my favorite books of the Bible is James. In particular I love the practicality of his letter and the exhortations to live into our calling as Christians. I was struck reading James 3:1-12 about the power of words, particularly those of teachers and preachers, people of influence. As a preacher I decided it … Continue reading »
Discouraged I stood up and began the short walk from the pew to the pulpit. There was a sour taste in my mouth and words of discouragement in the back of my mind, “This is a poor sermon; it is not worth preaching, give up JT.” Doubt had slithered into my mind like a snake. … Continue reading »
Here’s a sermon from PR 722 at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The task was to write a sermon that aimed at convincing my fellow classmates of a position that they did not hold. As a Presbyterian, God’s sovereignty over salvation was an issue I tackled in this task. In particular I argue that “saving faith happens … Continue reading »
John Calvin’s calling as a pastor was both one-of-a-kind and ordinary. There is a unique nature to the calling that every pastor experiences and a normality to it as well. Calvin’s calling exemplifies this dichotomy of God’s will in calling men and women to be heralds and shepherds. Because of this, Calvin makes a great … Continue reading »
It is no coincidence that John Calvin converted to Protestant Christianity while studying Greek and reading the New Testament in it’s original language. It was in Bourges, 100 miles south of Paris, France, that Calvin continued his law degree (1528) and it was here that the world of the New Testament opened to him as … Continue reading »
Studying Homiletics at Gordon-Conwell has been a great experience over the past few months. God is shaping me as a man and as a preacher through the program and I am already indebted to the school and faculty for what I have learned. However I find myself reading texts that are primarily associated with Homiletics I’m … Continue reading »
Schism. 495 years ago to the day a necessary schism took place in the church. It was the day which Martin Luther’s conviction for the authority of Scripture manifested itself in the public display of 95 theses (retorts to the Roman Catholic Church) that were nailed to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. It was … Continue reading »
