Darryl Dash's Blog, page 80
February 5, 2019
The Road to Character
We’ve all met a particular kind of person:
They radiate a sort of moral joy. They answer softly when challenged harshly. They are silent when unfairly abused. They are dignified when others try to humiliate them, restrained when others try to provoke them. But they get things done. They perform acts of sacrificial service with the same modest everyday spirit they would display if they were just getting the groceries. They are not thinking about what impressive work they are doing. They are no...
February 2, 2019
Saturday Links
Links for your weekend reading:
The Most Attractive Quality in a Leader
The most attractive quality in a leader, I find, is when you discover that the inside is bigger than the outside.
Don’t Ignore the “Speed Limit”: How the Sufficiency of Scripture Should Make Us Patient
The speed limit in Scripture encourages us to a more patient, persevering, and sustainable ministry, one that more commonly takes the long view.
Why Church Planting ‘Success’ Is Dangerous
At some point I traded being sustai...
January 29, 2019
Terroir
terroir | terˈwär |
noun
the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.
I'm reading a quirky series of books called Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading. They're written by Ari Weinzweig, owner of a deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'm enjoying them more than I expected.
In the first volume Weinzweig writes about the concept of terroir. "The 'soil' in which a business is built does make a difference. Just as you c...
January 26, 2019
Saturday Links
Links for your weekend reading:
Many churches consider singing the funnest part of the service. Yet singing is not prescribed for Christian worship for the purpose of fun.
“If you can’t be faithful with a few, don’t ask the Lord to give you many.”
Why We Need to Think About Ecclesiology and Polity More Than We Care to Admit
The overwhelming majority of issues in our churches stem from a lack of thinking on ecclesiology.
January 22, 2019
A Year of Books on Pastoring
If you want to grow as a pastor, I’d like to invite you to a year of reading books on pastoral theology with me.
If you join, you will commit to reading six books with me this year and participating in the Facebook Group. If you join, I want you to participate. No lurkers!
Here’s how it will work.
First, join the Facebook group. Feel free to post there with observations, questions, and reflections on the books as we read them. Click on this link and request to join the group, and I’ll add you...
January 19, 2019
Saturday Links
Links for your weekend reading:
Want to fatten a church for slaughter? The steps are below.
This is a true story.
The Everlasting Impact of Faithful Shepherding
Faithful shepherding secures souls. Where would Steve be today if his church and his pastors had taken seriously the charge to watch over his soul?
20 Quotes on How Your Church Should Exhibit Loving Authority
So much of godly pastoring and parenting is about planting seeds and then waiting for God to give the grow...
January 15, 2019
Reflections on A Year of Books on Preaching
I’ve just completed a yearlong project reading, reviewing, and summarizing books on preaching. I introduced the project here:
Lessons LearnedIf you want to grow in your preaching ability, I’d like to invite you to a year of reading preaching books with me…My hope is that we will all grow as preachers this year by reading and reflecting on these books. I’d love for you to join me.
Here are some reflections on the project.
Concentrated reading on a subject is both useful and helpful. I star...January 12, 2019
Saturday Links
Links for your weekend reading:
Not Glamorous but Full of Glory
A Christian congregation is not a glamorous place. But I’ve come to see it can be a beautiful place.
The reason that flippantly missing church is so grievous is that the King himself is the one summoning us to the feast.
Church Planting? Do These 5 Things First
If I were starting out to plant a church in the next year, these five things would be a high priority in building foundations for a healthy chu...
January 10, 2019
Now Also Posting at TGC Canada
I’m changing things up a little.
I used to blog here Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then post my Saturday Links on Saturday, and my sermon on Sunday.
I started a column today at The Gospel Coalition (Canada) site, so I’m changing my schedule a little. I’ll now be posting here on Tuesdays, and I’m moving my Thursday post to TGC Canada. Thanks to Wyatt Graham for the opportunity.
My first one is posted today. I hope you’ll check it out and subscribe to the feed there.
Stay tuned. I’m also unwrappi...
January 8, 2019
Lessons on Suffering from Paul
I’ve been meditating on what Paul teaches us about suffering from 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. Here, in no particular order, are some lessons I’ve been learning.
Those who follow God can expect to suffer.Forget the lie that suffering is always a punishment or a sign that you’re doing something wrong. It’s part of the normal Christian life. If Paul suffered, we can expect to suffer as well.
...For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia… (2 Corinthians 1:8)
