In reading J. I. Packer’s A Quest for Godliness some time ago, I came across this moving quotation from Richard Baxter about the need for pastors to attend to their own lives in ministry. Baxter was an interesting figure, best known for his writing of that classic of pastoral practice, The Reformed Pastor. Just a quick …
The Church is a Hospital for Sin-Sick Sinners: J. I. Packer from a Quest for Godliness
This past weekend in my message, "Friend of Sinners," I mentioned an article by J. I. Packer that I read many years ago in which he talks about the church as a hospital for sinners. In searching for it, I discovered that the article was actually an excerpt from Packer's book, A Quest for Godliness. I found …
Recovering Holiness
As I continue to reflect on the nature of pastoral ministry, ministry in the North American evangelical church, and questions of ministry integrity, I find myself returning often to the topic of holiness. Even writing the word holiness makes me feel a little bit "old school." However, if I hold the tension of that uncomfortable …
Bibliography on Christian Identity for the “Who Am I?” series
Whenever I study for a sermon series, I spend a lot of time far in advance of that sermon series doing research, reading books, thinking, reading articles, reflecting, reading more books, writing, and reading even more. I usually gather all of the resources I use together into a bibliography for each series. In the past …
Continue reading "Bibliography on Christian Identity for the “Who Am I?” series"
I Am Known by Faith
Why is it so important for us to be authentically known and to authentically know others? Why do relationships feel a tension expressed often in exasperation with phrases like, "You don't even know who I am!" or "I don't even know who you are anymore!" It is because being known and knowing others is one …
Matthew Erickson 