Category Archives: Pastoral Identity

Who, What is a “pastor” or a church leader?

Getting pastors a little drunk and in the mood for some whoring

Posted on November 24, 2009 by PaulVK

In my Revelation study for Sunday School I’ve now arrived at chapter 17, the closeup of the whore of Babylon. She is the mother of whores, contrasted with the another woman found in the wilderness who is the mother of … Continue reading →

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The Care and Feeding of a Congregation

Posted on October 26, 2009 by PaulVK

I wrote this on CRC-Voices in a thread where someone was telling about why they left their CRC church for an OPC church which unlike their former CRC preached serially through books in the Bible. There are levels to this … Continue reading →

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The Tim Keller Sermon Collection

Posted on October 23, 2009 by PaulVK

I’m very grateful that Redeemer has decided to put a whole bunch of new sermons outside their pay wall. The value isn’t just there in terms of putting a bunch of great sermons into the public sphere for people to … Continue reading →

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"Pastors like people who have problems that are quick to fix"

Posted on October 14, 2009 by PaulVK

“Pastors like people who have problems that are quick to fix.” A friend of mine told me this on the phone today. His observations of pastors and churches are just dead on. We like people whose problems are quick for … Continue reading →

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Notes from Tim Keller’s "The Gospel and Your Self"

Posted on August 6, 2009 by PaulVK

“The Gospel and Your Self” The Vision of Redeemer Series by Tim Keller, from Isaiah 6 1.    If we’re going to be a community that cares that much about the city we’re going to have to get a new relationship … Continue reading →

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A happy generalist grazing widely

Posted on July 31, 2009 by PaulVK

After 19 years in ministry I finally have an article filing system I’m satisfied with. When I was in seminary I’d hear from the preaching teachers about the importance of developing a file system to clip newspaper and magazine articles … Continue reading →

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Eugene Peterson's "ecclesiastical pornography"

Posted on June 30, 2009 by PaulVK

Eugene Peterson is God’s prophet calling out to American clergy. His book “Under the Unpredictable Plant” is one of his clearest oracles on the subject. I have shopped his term “ecclesiastical pornography” more than once. Here’s the quote: “Parish glamorization … Continue reading →

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Why are pastors so needy?

Posted on June 30, 2009 by PaulVK

This was from a conversation about pastors from CRC-Voices I have a friend who is a pastor and his father is a doctor. He told his son “I feel sorry for you. I don’t have to be friends with all … Continue reading →

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Word-gardening for Kingdom Traction

Posted on May 13, 2009 by PaulVK

In Sacramento the CRC pastors meet once a month to spend time together working on our mutual effort. Each month one of us is responsible for the topic, discussion, whatever. This is my month so this is what I prepared … Continue reading →

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Pastor as Word-Gardener of People

Posted on May 5, 2009 by PaulVK

Repost from Feb 2, 2009 This I wrote as a response to a general comment about the time people take posting and reading blogs, Facebook, etc. I think here too is where a gospel of grace, rather than the covenant … Continue reading →

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