Thursday, April 2, 2026
Hot Take: When deciding where to go to college, a healthy local church should be the single most important factor.
There are lots of factors that come into play when deciding where to attend college (finances, scholarships, degree options, teachers, location, etc.). But is there a healthy local church near the college—a church that will strive for your maturity in the Christian faith? This is the question you should seek to answer first.
*The same holds true when it comes to relocating for a job.*
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Hot Take: If your pastor consistently neglects teaching on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust at funerals and graveside services, you should find a different church.
Death! It’s an enemy. It’s unnatural. It doesn’t give; it takes and takes and takes! It takes children from parents and parents from children. It leaves families in utter grief. It leaves women as widows and men as widowers! Death—horrible death!
But there’s a great, biblical solution to the massive problem of death: RESURRECTION!
So, dear Christian, if your pastor consistently neglects to mention the bodily resurrection, the great solution to the massive problem of death, especially at funerals and graveside services, then you need to find another church!
* Let me also say this: If you’ve never heard your pastor preach at the funeral or graveside service of a fellow church member, then you’ve likely fallen short of the expectations of healthy church membership. Change it up. As often as you’re able, attend the funerals of beloved church members.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Hot Take: No one is harder to reach with the gospel of Jesus Christ than a carnal deacon with a false faith.
The carnal deacon has resisted biblical instruction and godly leadership his entire life. At some point, likely due to lax church membership, he was received into the church. Later, because of a shallow, unbiblical view of deaconship, he was voted into the office of deacon—though he did not meet any of the biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:8–13).
Rather than using his time, energy, and resources to strengthen the ministries of the church, the carnal deacon actively uses them to oppose the work of God. Like Sanballat and Tobiah of old, he sets himself against anyone who seeks the welfare of God’s people, especially faithful pastors, staff members, and fellow deacons (Nehemiah 2:10).
Because he has done this year after year without any consequences for his sins and wrongdoing, he has developed a calloused heart and a desensitized conscience, one that resists God’s Word and will. As a result, he has become one of the hardest people on earth to reach with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
* Faithful, humble deacons are, as C. H. Spurgeon put it, the church’s valiant sons! They bask in the excellencies of Jesus Christ. They love the church and seek her spiritual and material welfare. They love their pastors and seek to encourage them in the Lord. They value the ministry of the Word as the primary means of grace in the life of a Christian. In public and in private, they strive for holiness (Hebrews 12:14). They are valiant sons, absolutely indispensable to the life of a local church and the advancement of Christ’s kingdom.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Hot Take: Older couples who cohabit outside of marriage are in sin and are no less in need of biblical reproof and correction than younger couples who do the same.
Throughout my Christian life, I’ve noticed something inconsistent: many Christians are quick to recognize the sinfulness and imprudence of young couples cohabiting outside of marriage, yet fail to apply the same biblical, convictional clarity to older couples who do the same—as though God’s sexual ethic changes with the passing of birthdays. So, for the sake of clarity, hear me out: older couples who cohabit outside of marriage are in sin and are no less in need of biblical reproof and correction than younger couples who do the same.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Hot Take: Plagiarism has no place in the pulpit.
Plagiarism has no place in the pulpit. Now, I’m not saying every thought, sentence, and argument in your sermon has to be original. Not at all! (If we’re honest, that would make for a TERRIBLE sermon.) Read widely. Listen to good sermons. Read good sermons. Have intentional conversations with others about the passage. Make prudent use of the thoughts of other men’s brains! Quote all you want.
But do not pilfer another man’s thoughts and pass them off as your own. Do not purchase a sermon online for $10.00 and claim that it came from the Lord. Do not copy another man’s words and act as though they came down from Mount Sinai. Do not let A.I. generate your sermon and then act as though it came from careful, deliberate study. No. No. No. As some godly men of old have said, “Milk many cows, but churn your own butter.” Churn. Your. OWN. Butter.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Hot Take: Nobody stretches the truth quite like a man recounting his golf handicap.
I took up golf shortly after my family moved to Daphne.
- Am I good? No.
- Is my handicap high? Very.
- Has golf taught me how to suffer? Without question.
- Has golf taught me how to count past 100? More times than I’d like to admit.
But more than that, golf has taught me a great deal about the deceitful nature of man.
You see, we are, by nature, liars. We care deeply about what other people think—deeply enough to tell a few tall tales to protect our image. We bend the truth, we stretch the truth, in an effort to safeguard our self-perceived dignity. And let me just say, nobody stretches the truth quite like a man talking about his golf handicap.
A man will play 18 holes, lose 20 balls, break 2 clubs, mutter 10 curse words, quit keeping score by hole nine, and still walk off the course with a handicap that would qualify him to compete in the Masters.
Come on, now! As an older friend of mine used to say, “I may have been born at night, but I wasn’t born last night!”
“I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone’s game: It’s called an eraser.” Arnold Palmer
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Hot Take: Of all the ministry philosophies out there, the philosophy of people-pleasing is the worst.
There are different ministry philosophies out there. You may be ignorant of their names, but you have seen them in practice. Though all of them have their dangers, they are not equal. That said, I will start with the best and healthiest philosophy of ministry and end with the ABSOLUTE worst.
You have the “Theocentric and Bibliocentric” philosophy of ministry.
According to this ministry philosophy, pastors make decisions primarily in accordance with the glory of God and fidelity to Scripture. What’s the danger? There aren’t many, but let me list one. At times, pastors can lose sight of the sheep—especially individual sheep—as they seek to transform the ministries of the church to conform to clear biblical teaching. In other words, pastors can make the right moves in harsh or rigid ways that hurt the very sheep they are trying to help.
You have the “Missional” philosophy of ministry.
Here, pastors make decisions primarily in hopes of taking the gospel to the community, the state, and the world. What’s the danger? According to Scripture, pastors and the ministries of the church ought to focus on the building up of the church and the salvation of the lost. So here’s the danger: it does not take much for pastors who have embraced a “Missional” philosophy of ministry to lose sight of the edification of the church while attempting the evangelization of the world. The result is an army of spiritually immature and biblically illiterate Christians seeking to evangelize a dark world that is ignorant of the things of God.
You have the “Traditional” philosophy of ministry.
In this model, pastors make decisions primarily in accordance with the local church’s history and traditions. What’s the danger of this philosophy? In an effort to adhere to tradition, pastors may lead the church to violate or overlook the clear teaching of Scripture.
You have the “Programmatic” philosophy of ministry.
This ministry philosophy seeks to build a healthy church by creating lots and lots of programs, such as children’s church, children’s choir, Fifth Sunday singings, AWANA, revivals, and community groups. This has several dangers:
- It’s possible to implement “successful” programs that are at odds with God’s Word.
- The desire to sustain programs can lead to placing unqualified people in leadership.
- Faithful, devoted members can become exhausted, not by ministry, but by ceaseless activity. In the end, the church becomes busy without being healthy.
You have the “Seeker-Sensitive” philosophy of ministry.
Here, pastors shape decisions around attracting and winning unbelievers. What’s the danger? It’s really twofold: first, pastors and church ministries can become so hyper-focused on “winning” unbelievers that they end up neglecting the sheep. Second, “winning” unbelievers often gives way to merely entertaining unbelievers, which can cause pastors and church ministries to drift away from biblical teaching and practice. In other words, those who’ve embraced the “Seeker-Sensitive” model usually end up seeking to win the world by becoming like the world.
You have the “People-Pleasing” philosophy of ministry.
In this model, pastors make decisions primarily to appease people—often the loudest, most dissatisfied people in the room. My momma would call it the “Squeakiest Wheel Gets the Most Grease” philosophy of ministry. The dangers are legion:
- The fear of God no longer governs decision-making; the fear of man does.
- Scripture no longer guides the church; the shifting winds of human opinion do.
- Prudence no longer filters what the pastor says; nods of affirmation do.
- Godly wisdom no longer determines which ministries are offered; personal preferences do.
- Chapters and verses no longer shape what is preached; “atta-boys” do.
- The role of the pastor shifts from shepherd to appeaser.
- The spiritually immature become entitled, increasingly expecting the church to revolve around their preferences.
- The spiritually immature grow louder, realizing that complaining is the fast track to getting their way.
- The spiritually mature become discouraged, increasingly frustrated that biblical truth is compromised to satisfy complaints.
- Church discipline is neglected, allowing sin, division, and disorder to spread.
- The church drifts from being Christ-centered to being people-centered.
- And let me say this plainly: of all the ministry philosophies out there, the philosophy of people-pleasing is the worst.
When pastors adopt a people-pleasing philosophy, they abdicate their God-given responsibility to lead, guide, and protect the church, handing that responsibility over to the most immature and discontent members of the flock.
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Hot Take: In the New Testament, the love, unity, hope, and purity of the local church are the driving forces of gospel advancement—not evangelistic programs, urgent “altar calls,” or pragmatic schemes.
Regarding Love
In John 13, Jesus talks about the church’s love for one another: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Just think about what Jesus said: the world will identify us as followers of Jesus—not by our strategic evangelistic programs—but by our loyal and affectionate love for one another. Pretty crazy, huh? “The point is clear,” said one churchman, “the mutually lived-out, heartfelt love of Christians for one another will be the single greatest missionary force in the world.”
Regarding Unity
Then, in John 17, Jesus goes on to talk about unity. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20–21). Did you see it? What leads the world to believe that Jesus Christ is the one whom God the Father has sent to redeem and rescue the world? It’s not zealous altar calls, the likes of which would make Billy Graham and Adrian Rogers blush. It’s the unity of the church—brothers and sisters in Christ who are like-minded and have hearts bound together in Christian love.
Regarding Hope
In 1 Peter, Peter writes to comfort and console people in the midst of suffering and hardship: “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:14–16). What leads to evangelistic conversations with hostile people, people who inflict suffering on the people of God? It’s not pragmatic schemes carefully crafted to attract the world. Not at all! Rather, it’s a Christian’s joyful hope in the Triune God that enables them to suffer patiently. So, holy hopefulness gives us a hearing among pagan peoples!
Regarding Purity
Finally, the whole Bible addresses the importance of purity. The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for us to “purify for Himself a people for His own possession” (Titus 2:14). Because we have been regenerated, gloriously made children of light, we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13–16). As the holy people of God—people who have been set apart by God and consecrated to God—we should strive to purge evil, unrepentant people from our midst (1 Corinthians 5:13). After all, what good is an impure people? An unholy church? An unsalty people? Not good at all! But a holy church, a pure people, a salty church—a church shining brightly on a hill—is a church that will be used to make much of Christ among the nations of the earth!
He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear
Let me say it once again: in the New Testament, the love, unity, hope, and purity of the local church are the driving forces of gospel advancement—not evangelistic programs, urgent “altar calls,” or pragmatic schemes.
So, if a local church is filled with love, unity, hope, and purity, it will be a glorious instrument in the hands of God to advance the glorious kingdom of Christ.
On the other hand, if a local church is filled with hatred, inner-church conflict, and unrepentant sin, it will be an unholy vessel, unfit to advance the kingdom of Christ—regardless of how many evangelistic programs are implemented, how many times people are invited to the “altar,” or how many pragmatic schemes are carried out.
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Hot Take: If you’re in ministry long enough, you’ll be betrayed by false brothers and abandoned by true brothers.
It was true for David, God’s Chosen and Anointed King
Psalm 41:5-9: My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?” And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.” EVEN MY CLOSE FRIEND IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHO ATE MY BREAD, HAS LIFTED HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.
Psalm 55:12-13: FOR IT IS NOT AN ENEMY WHO TAUNTS ME—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is YOU, a MAN, my EQUAL, my COMPANION, my FAMILIAR FRIEND.
It was true for Jesus, the True and Better David
Matthew 26:14-16, 47-49: Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity TO BETRAY HIM . . . . . While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now THE BETRAYER had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
Matthew 26:30-34, 69-75: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, YOU WILL DENY ME THREE TIMES. . . . . Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
It was true for Paul, The Apostle to the Gentiles
2 Corinthians 11:25-26: Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from FALSE BROTHERS. . .
So, lean in and listen closely again: If you’re in ministry long enough, you’ll be betrayed by false brothers and abandoned by true brothers. Of the various trials you endure, this will be one of the harder ones to bear joyfully. BUT. . . . . .
Here’s what you must do if you want to endure joyfully: you must fix your eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, your FAITHFUL and TRUE Elder Brother.
When friends betray you with a kiss, the Lord Jesus remains forever faithful.
When those whom you hold dear to your heart walk away from you, the Lord Jesus remains present, standing by you to strengthen you (2 Timothy 4:17).
Dear friend, fellow co-worker in the Lord, may the Holy Spirit seal this word upon your heart: The Lord will rescue you from EVERY evil deed and bring you safely into His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Hot Take: In the Bible, an “unfruitful ministry” is not typically the result of the prophet or pastor; it is the result of hardened, unbelieving hearers.
In our day, people often lay the blame for a numerically unfruitful and largely ineffective ministry at the feet of the pastor. In the Bible, though, an “unfruitful ministry” is not typically the result of the prophet or pastor; it is the result of hardened, unbelieving hearers. Before you write me off as crazy, hear me out.
Think About Isaiah
The prophet Isaiah labored eagerly and faithfully. He taught the Jews clearly and simply, “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:9–10). “Isaiah presented the truth with such simplicity,” said Motyer, “that the ‘men of the world’ of his day would pack him off to teach kindergarten.” He taught God’s Word with fresh, unparalleled clarity. FAITHFUL. IN. EVERY. WAY!
But guess what? He had a numerically “fruitless” ministry. Why? Well, his hearers were unaffected by his preaching and responded negatively to it. Why? Because they were obstinate and faithless. The Lord actually warned Isaiah of this toward the beginning of his ministry, lest he lose heart:
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’ And he said, ‘Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed’” (Isaiah 6:8–10).
In other words, God tells Isaiah beforehand that his labor in teaching will be fruitless and that his instruction will actually lead to the Jews’ destruction.
As you can see, Isaiah’s numerically fruitless and largely ineffective ministry was not an indicator that he himself had been unfaithful, but rather that his hearers were hardened, obstinate, and faithless.
Think About Jeremiah
The Lord called Jeremiah to be a prophet: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The Lord commanded Jeremiah to speak, and he spoke. The Lord put words in Jeremiah’s mouth, and he heralded them.
But the message the Lord gave Jeremiah was not an easy one to deliver. He was to rebuke Judah for the sins she had committed, urge her to repent, and exhort her to live a life dominated by her relationship with the God who revealed Himself at Sinai (Jeremiah 3:6–10). He was also to warn them of the coming judgment—that God was about to use the mighty nation of Babylon as a rod of judgment against them:
“Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, ‘Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities.’ Raise a standard toward Zion; flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from the north, and great destruction. A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant’” (Jeremiah 4:5–7). With anguish in his heart and tears in his eyes, Jeremiah proclaimed these words. FAITHFUL. IN. EVERY. WAY!
But guess what? He had a numerically “fruitless” ministry. Why? His hearers rejected his teaching. Because of their hard and obstinate hearts, they did not listen to the Lord:
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” (Jeremiah 7:23–26).
And because of their hard and obstinate hearts, they did not listen to Jeremiah: “So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you” (Jeremiah 7:27). So, as with Isaiah, God tells Jeremiah beforehand that his labor in teaching will be fruitless and ineffective.
As you can see, Jeremiah’s numerically “fruitless” and largely ineffective ministry was not an indicator that he himself had been unfaithful, but rather that his hearers were hardened, stubborn, and faithless.
Think About Jesus
Jesus. Precious Jesus. Just think about His life and ministry. Is it not the paradigm of faithfulness—of ministry carried out with pure motives? He unashamedly sought to accomplish the Father’s will. And just think about His teaching. When He preached, it was the message of the kingdom, not from a steward, but from the KING! When He spoke, it was the pure, unadulterated Word of God. It was clear and precise. UTTERLY. FAITHFUL. IN. EVERY. WAY!
But guess what? In many ways, He had a numerically “fruitless” ministry. The religious establishment of the day rejected Him, seeking to undermine His ministry and even kill Him. As He spoke in parables, people could hear but never understand; they could see but never perceive (Matthew 13:14). As He taught, He would periodically say hard things:
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever’” (John 6:53–58).
At this, people deserted Him: “After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him” (John 6:66). Why is this? Well, we can confidently say it was not the result of some deficiency in Jesus’s life, ministry, or teaching! Rather, it was because of the hard and obstinate hearts of the people.
As you can see, Jesus’s numerically “fruitless” ministry was not an indicator that He Himself had been unfaithful, but rather that His hearers were hardened, obstinate, and faithless.
Think About Paul
Paul was a pioneer missionary, taking the gospel to places where Christ had not been named. In some towns, Paul carried out faithful ministry and saw very few conversions. In other towns, Paul carried out faithful ministry and saw many conversions. And get this: his ministerial success in one town as opposed to another was not a result of his faithfulness; it was a result of the receptivity of his hearers!
Just think about Acts 17, where Paul carried out the exact same ministry in two different places: Thessalonica and Berea. When Paul came to Thessalonica, he entered the synagogue to carry out gospel ministry:
“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2–3).
By God’s grace, many of the Greeks believed the message of the gospel. But the Jews were not receptive. Why? Because they had hard hearts: “But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd” (Acts 17:5). Because of this, the church in Thessalonica sent Paul to Berea.
In Berea, Paul did the EXACT SAME THING he had done in Thessalonica: he entered the synagogue and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. This time, MANY of the Jews believed. What made the difference? It wasn’t that Paul was more faithful in Berea than he was in Thessalonica. NOT. AT. ALL. It was because the Jews in Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica:
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men” (Acts 17:11–12).
So, why did Paul experience more ministerial success and fruitfulness among the Jews in Berea than he did in Thessalonica? It had nothing to do with Paul. It had everything to do with the hearts of the hearers. The Jews in Berea were more noble; thus, they were more eager to examine the Scriptures. That made all the difference.
So, let me say it one more time: In the Bible, an “unfruitful ministry” is not typically the result of an unfaithful prophet or pastor; it is the result of hardened, unbelieving hearers.
(Point of Clarification) I’m not saying that a numerically fruitless and largely ineffective ministry is NEVER the result of the pastor. At times, it certainly may be!
However, I’m simply saying that, according to the Bible, a lack of visible fruit is often tied to the condition of the hearers—hearts that are hardened or resistant to God’s Word.
Therefore, if a church is struggling, both the pastors AND the hearers ought to examine themselves, to see if their own hearts are responsible for the lack of ministerial fruitfulness and effectiveness of the church.
Doctrine & Devotion 