Pastor's Inbox

How may we shepherd ministerial aspirants under our ministry through the preached word?

What aspects of Christ’s person and work do aspiring ministers need to hear?

What doctrines or passages should we preach to minister to the souls of believers who wrest with assurance?

What aspects of Christ’s person and work do doubting believers need to hear?

Again, we’re not “singling out” anyone from the pulpit. Like Pastor Lee mentioned in a previous episode, we don’t want to use the pulpit as a “bully pulpit.” That shows more cowardice than bravery. But when true believers are among us who have backslidden, what passages or doctrinal themes should we preach to address backslidden believers?

What aspect of Christ’s person and work do the backslidden need to hear about?

What truths do new Christians need to hear from the Word, and where might you go to proclaim them?

What aspect of Christ’s person and work do new believers need to learn through the preached Word?

What advice would you have for someone who wants to be born again?

I've been previously assured of my own salvation in a monergistic but ultimately fruitless form of Christianity. About five years ago I was forced to consider and was soon absolutely convinced by the Scriptures I was not at all saved. Since then, I've been striving to enter the narrow gate, through prayer, sometimes fasting, constant scripture study, local church attendance, contacting the broader Church, and reading old Puritan books about my situation. I've been asking God to save me, whatever it takes, give me the Holy Spirit, break me, just don't let me die in this state, however long it takes. I hope he would be pleased to work in me the changed heart and life he is looking for.

So all that to say, what is the responsibility of someone who wants to be born again, assuming they're not?

Should a Credo-Baptist church require PaedoBaptists to be immersed as believers for church membership

When admitting new members, does your church require that all members be baptized by immersion? Would you make a special exception for someone who was baptized as a believer by aspersion (sprinkling) if there was not a baptist church in their region at the time of conversion?

There are several positions that a church may take on who should be permitted to partake in the Lord’s Supper. There is the “open” position, which allows for all believers in Christ to partake, the “close” position, which allows for members of a church of like faith and practice to partake, and there is the “closed” position, which allows only for members of that particular local church to partake. From your perspective, which position is most Scriptural and what does it look like in practice in your local church (ie, instructions beforehand, fencing of the table, etc.)?