Recently, I (Rick) had the joy of teaching a group of pastors from over 25 countries. In one of the sessions, I spoke on the preacher's closest ally. I made the case that, if a pastor is married, his closest…
Tag: Bible
Keep Your First Love
The place goes by the name of Mensa Christi, which means “Table of Christ.” Situated on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, this quiet, rocky beach commemorates the spot Jesus served breakfast to seven of his disciples on…
Learning from the Prince of Expositors
Most of us who preach know about Charles Spurgeon, the man they call the “Prince of Preachers”. I suspect many of us don’t know about one of Spurgeon’s contemporaries, Andrew Maclaren. Maclaren was called the “Prince of Expositors.” He’s credited…
Praise and Prayer Update (April 22, 2024)
The next few weeks are full of some exciting ministry opportunities. I wanted to give you an update and invite you to pray with us, asking the Lord for His strength and grace as we serve. Open Toronto Initiative. Linda…
Portrait of an Effective Minister
I’ve never been accused of being a great artist. But that hasn’t stopped me from doing some drawing. In fact, I sketched an impromptu picture during the first course I taught after coming to Heritage. The class was on the…
Dealing with Criticism as a Preacher or Teacher
Preachers can count on being critiqued. In some ways, it’s only fair. Preaching, by its very nature, takes place in a public forum. And going public with our thoughts—even when seeking to exposit God’s Word—opens us to public response. Since…
Sailing Through 2016
As we set sail into a New Year, we all hope for smooth sailing. But most of us have lived long enough to know storms will be coming our way. Balmy days and calm waters will, at times, turn into…
A Lincoln-like Response to Rebels
These are trying times for those of us who hold to biblical values and believe God’s truth is needed for human flourishing. We are increasingly reminded that we live in a culture that is in rebellion against God and His…
How God Leads Those in Ministry (Part 3 of 4)
In the last few posts, I’ve been reflecting on what I’m learning from the book of Acts about how God guides those engaged in ministry. My interest in this subject is theological but not theoretical; I need God’s guidance as…
How God Leads Those in Ministry (Part 1)
One of the paradoxes of Christian ministry is that leaders are first and foremost followers. When Jesus called His first disciples--those who would give leadership to His church--He told them, "Follow me." So unless we are following Jesus, we have no business…
Rick and Linda Reed 