Darryl Dash's Blog, page 13

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Top Books of 2024

From Kevin DeYoung, Kevin Halloran, Russell Moore, Trevin Wax, plus Christianity Today Book Awards, For the Church Book Awards, and The Gospel Coalition Book Awards

What God Praises

We find God praising various churches in the book of Revelation (chapters 2-3). Embedded within each letter to these churches is something Christ commends in His servants.

Dear Pastor, Keep This in Mind When There Is “Too Much to Do”

I’ve been asked if I have any su...

A Short Checklist for Preachers

I heard a good preacher last Sunday. I know him well; he is a man of deep integrity who loves the Lord. I also trust his scholarship. He has been studying God's Word for a long time, and it shows in how he lives and teaches.

When he stood up to preach, there was an urgency in his message. He cared deeply about two things: God's Word and us, the congregation. He spoke with passion, even when saying hard truths. I, along with the other hearers, benefited from his sermon.

Listening to his sermon remi...

The Greatest in the Kingdom (Luke 22:25-27)

Big Idea: The path to true greatness involves service and trials and follows the example set by Jesus.

For our twentieth anniversary, we traveled to a resort in Jamaica. A limo picked us up at the airport. Upon check-in, we were served champagne, our preferences were noted, and we were informed that our butler would arrive shortly.

Butler. I like the sound of that. I didn’t know what we would do with a butler, but I thought I might enjoy having one.

We did. The butlers — we had two, working in shif...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

10 Theories of the Atonement

Over the centuries, theologians have articulated several different theories or models of the atonement. Most of the models get something right, though some are much closer to the mark than others.

You Already Work a Christian Job

Vocation dignifies all legitimate efforts.

Unequally Yoked in Business?

. “Pastor, should I start a business with an unbeliever? Would it be wise for me to partner with this person or not?”

The Coddling of th...

The Unknown Pastor

Right now, in a small town you've never heard of, there's a pastor starting his day at the church. He sits alone in his office, preparing a sermon, answering emails, and planning pastoral visits. He doesn't make much money and isn't well-known. Sometimes he wonders if his work is worth it, but he keeps serving.

Long ago, this man had big dreams. He wanted to make a difference, inspired by famous pastors. But unlike them, he's remained mostly unknown and often unappreciated. Many in his church lov...

When God Seems Hidden (Ruth 1)

Big Idea: God is actively at work in the darkest times and among the most hopeless people, even when it's not obvious to us.

We’re starting our Christmas series a little early this year because next week we’ll be hearing from Paul McDonald. We’re also walking through an unusual book in the Bible as we head to Christmas. We’re looking at the ancient book of Ruth.

Does it ever seem like God is hidden? We go through times when God is very real to us. There’s an old hymn that says:

Heav’n above is soft...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Make the Most of Sunday Mornings

By resolving to come hungry and leave full, we position ourselves to grow. And by resolving to come early and stay late, we position ourselves to serve.

10 Mistakes I’ve Made in Preaching

I would like to share with you 10 mistakes I’ve made as a preacher, with the hope that you would learn from them and make progress.

Pray Till You Pray

Moody Stuart gave 3 instructions on prayer which I’ve found helpful.

Immaturity, Memorials, and...

Not That Different

At 30, I found myself pastoring a church, a significantly larger congregation than the first I’d pastored. To be honest, I felt overwhelmed and a little insecure.

A member from our church, who had studied in the States and served at a well-known megachurch, approached me with words that would stick with me. He said, "The prominent pastors may seem very gifted, but they're not. They’re gifted in one or two areas, and they get to use those gifts. They’re also pretty bad at other things. You’re not ...

The Self-Sufficient Church (Revelation 3:14-22)

Big Idea: Trade our self-sufficiency for what only Jesus can provide, allowing us to receive what we truly need: Jesus himself.

We had a GFC Essentials class a couple of weeks ago. It’s a class that introduces GFC to people who are interested in joining.

Whenever I meet someone who’s new to GFC, I’m happy for them. I say that because I was new to GFC just a year ago. We’re not a perfect church by any means, but I’ve been watching this church for a long time now, and it’s a good one. I could make a...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

You Can’t Life-Hack Your Way to Holiness

The center of spiritual formation isn’t about what you do or the practices you adopt—it’s about the Spirit forming you into Christ’s image.

Is Stoicism a Friend of Christianity?

I’m concerned about the trend among Christians to embrace stoicism as a way of dealing with the challenges of modern life.

When Offences Come: How to Forgive and Move On

How do we move from offence to forgiveness, especially when the moment keeps ...