Last week, Dr. Sam Storms was in Seattle and graciously took some time to talk with Scott Thomas about what it looks like to be a Spirit-led pastor. Dr. Storms is pastor of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma, and recently published Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calivinist.
In this video:
How can a pastor be led by the Spirit?“The Spirit-led pastor begins with a confession and heart-commitment to God saying, ‘Lord, I am open to the prompting, correcting and redirecting of my life, ministry and decisions by your Spirit in accordance with Your will.’"
Through the Scripture“Most of all, pastors need to understand that the Spirit leads through God’s Word, principally and primarily.”
Nurturing a Spirit-led Life1. Spend time alone with ...
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By Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29 Network
As Pastors we must first preach the gospel to ourselves before we proclaim to the world the necessity of a Savior. How damnable it would be to die of malnutrition while we busily prepare food for others.
Yet, many men in the pastoral ministry lack a true conversion. Young men may enter into ministry as a means to atone for their own sins and they live a religious life of morality so nobody notices their unregenerate spirit. He often reaffirms his own righteousness in an (unsuccessful) attempt to obtain the favor of God.
When we assess men for church planting, we assume nothing—regardless of their heritage, affiliation or great seminary degree. Men can learn the language of the gospel without truly applying the gospel in ...
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By Winfield Bevins and Scott Thomas
In the Book of Galatians, Paul gives a list of nine virtues called the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:16,22,25). The Holy Spirit endows the church with nine ethical qualities. Paul illustrates the difference between a person who is under the flesh and a person who is walking by the Spirit.
J. I. Packer reminds us that, “Holiness is the fruit of the Spirit, displayed as the Christian walks by the Spirit” (Keep in Step with the Spirit, Baker Books, 1994, p. 97). Therefore, the fruit of the Spirit is in stark contrast to the ‘works of the flesh.’ Business experts inform pastors with all kinds of strategies to lead the church. Most of them lack a biblical basis. Pastors must lead the flock with evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.
1. ...
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By Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29
Pastors and church planters must be Bible guys. In order to be able to teach (as a biblical qualification of all pastors), we have to know our Bibles well and be able to defend its central truths with clarity and passion. A bit of winsomeness never hurt either.
In his book, Brothers, We Are NOT Professionals (Broadman and Holman, 2002), author and Pastor-scholar John Piper said that every pastor should become a biblical theologian. “If we are going to feed our people, we must ever advance in our grasp of Biblical truth,” Piper said. We have to be like Jonathan Edwards who among his seventy resolutions said:
“Resolved: To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself ...
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Pastor Scott Thomas
The Bible specifically speaks about the qualifications for those who will lead a congregation of people. These qualifications have been the same for almost 2,000 years. Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of these qualifications as the “senior pastor” of the Church.
Above Reproach (Titus 1:6, 7; 1 Tim 3:2)
This is the overarching, summarizing characteristic. You will find similar (but not identical) lists in First Timothy and Titus. Living a life above reproach is the first requirement in both lists and Titus repeats it. The other items on the list explain what “above reproach” means. If we peruse the two lists, as well as First Peter, we find 17 qualifications of an elder who is above reproach.
1. A Pastor must be devoted to his wife; ...
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