Pastor’s Life Newsletter
This e-newsletter arrives every two weeks as our gift to help your ministry. Each issue contains a brief reading, along with links to a helpful resource or video.
Readings include book reviews, theological reflections, quotes from popular novels (think sermon illustrations), and wisdom for preaching and teaching.
The Pastor’s Life is compiled by Dr. Joe Small and occasional guests.
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Literary theology: quotes and thoughts from contemporary novels
Provocative insights on religious themes from contemporary novelists ... On Church: On Easter, she surprised me by wanting to go to church. She said it would be bad luck not to go. Thus Christianity, once an encompassing cathedral built on...
Good Books to Strengthen Pastoral Ministry
Augustine heard the voice of a child saying, “Take and read, take and read.” He opened a Bible, began to read, and was set on the path of committed discipleship and faithful pastoral ministry as the Bishop of Hippo and...
From the bookshelves: quotes and thoughts from contemporary novelists
Theological wisdom (and theological foolishness) is not the private preserve of professional theologians. Many contemporary novelists deal sensitively with religious themes, often offering provocative insights that pastors can use to good effect in preaching and teaching. Brief quotes do not...
God and the Art of Happiness
Augustine heard the voice of a child saying, "Take and read, take and read." He opened a Bible, began to read, and was set on the path of committed discipleship and faithful pastoral ministry as the Bishop of Hippo and...
The Early Preaching of Karl Barth
Augustine heard the voice of a child saying, "Take and read, take and read." He opened a Bible, began to read, and was set on the path of committed discipleship and faithful pastoral ministry as the Bishop of Hippo and...
Confessing our Faith with John P. Burgess
Augustine heard the voice of a child saying, "Take and read, take and read." He opened a Bible, began to read, and was set on the path of committed discipleship and faithful pastoral ministry as the Bishop of Hippo and...
Listening in on conversations with Karl Barth
Augustine heard the voice of a child saying, "Take and read, take and read." He opened a Bible, began to read, and was set on a path of committed discipleship and faithful pastoral ministry as the Bishop of Hippo and...
Hebrew Grammar and Biblical Translations
Ezekiel was surrounded by the 'likeness' of glory of the LORD, and he heard 'someone' speaking: "eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 1:28, 3:1). Each week, pastors continue...
More on Bible translations: how many do we need?
Ezekiel was surrounded by the ‘likeness’ of the glory of the LORD, and he heard ‘someone’ speaking: “eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 1:28, 3:1). Each week, pastors...
Fall reading selection: Future of Mainline Protestantism
Suggestion for September reading James Hudnut-Beumler & Mark Silk, eds. The Future of Mainline Protestantism in America. New York: Columbia University Press, 2018 In the Presbyterian year of “The Way Forward Commission,” “The All Agency Review Committee,” and “The 2020...
