One of the joys of expositional preaching is preaching through a book of the Bible. Great joy and real challenges exist in preaching through books...
Preparing to Preach Through a Book of the Bible
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Feeding
Preaching the Gospel through all elements of the Worship Service
Seeking to ensure our worship services bring glory to the Lord and impact those gathered can feel daunting. Though not exhaustive, here are six...
Working with the Minister of Music to Create Powerful Worship
Worship is a vital part of any effective ministry. The relationship between pastor and minister of music is key to consistently presenting powerful...
Reading Scripture Publicly
The Associate Pastor slowly meandered to the pulpit. The congregation could nearly hear the second hand on the clock ticking it took so long as the...
Incorporating Apologetics Into Your Ministry
A few years ago I talked with a college student who had been a part of our ministry at Olivet. As we talked I mentioned some of the other students...
Leading
Ministry is About Relationships
John Maxwell popularized the leadership quip “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” True enough. Hang around in ministry for a hot minute and...
Engaging with Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children
By James Swain, President of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children When I started to write this article, I realized that I have been President of...
Giving Strength To And Gaining Strength From One Another
Something powerful happens when people and churches work together. Beyond our commitment to scripture and passion for the gospel, no other...
Things a Pastor Should Think About When Making a Nursing Home Visit
Both of my grandmothers spent a few years in nursing homes during their final years on earth. During part of that time I served as the interim...
The Power of Presence — Incarnational Ministry
Pastor, one of the two biggest moments in the history of the cosmos centers upon the ministry of presence. What is the incarnation if it is not the...
Pastors and Financial Integrity
Ministry should be messy at times, but the same should not be said about our books. Brothers, a lack of financial integrity has the power to destroy our ministry as fast as a moral failure. Money, or the lack of it, has this unique ability to expose the depth of our character. And as my father always told me, “our ministry will never rise above the depth of our character.” Marked by that thought, here are a few humble attempts to help. Not to become professionals, but simply to stay faithful.
Elements of Graveside Service
Oklahoma Baptist churches have been aging in demographic for several years. Part of the answer has been to program to reach younger people. However, in the course of doing this we likely overlook a valuable group of God’s people who need to be evangelized, discipled, equipped, and deployed for Gospel ministry: Senior Adults.
Revision…Revitalize…Ministry to Aging Adults
Oklahoma Baptist churches have been aging in demographic for several years. Part of the answer has been to program to reach younger people. However, in the course of doing this we likely overlook a valuable group of God’s people who need to be evangelized, discipled, equipped, and deployed for Gospel ministry: Senior Adults.
Moving to a New Ministry: Leaving and Arriving Well
Moving from one ministry assignment to another is an extremely important time for you, your family and both churches involved in the transition.
Making the Transition to a New Pastorate
I was the pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Beggs, Oklahoma for four and a half years. The church loved us and we loved them. I genuinely...
Podcast
33: How To Address LGBTQ Issues With Grace
The cultural pressures associated with LGBTQ issues are being felt in the church. How can the church respond with both truth and grace? In this episode, Dr. Ryan Smith, the pastor of Arrow Heights Baptist Church in broken arrow, equips us with some key strategies.
32: Todd’s Testimony
In this special episode Dr. Todd Fisher shares some of his testimony, call to ministry, and an encouraging message to pastors to run the race and finish well.
31: Pastors Building an Evangelistic Culture
Pastors must constantly cultivate an evangelistic culture among their congregations. Join Todd and Andy as they explore principles of building an evangelistic culture with Tarvoris Uzoigwe, our new Oklahoma Baptists Evangelism and Apologetics Ministry Partner.
30: Elders
Church governance has become a frequently discussed topic. Todd and Andy welcome into the discussion an experienced trio of pastors concerning the topic of leadership roles and models in the biblical and modern church.
29: SBC Follow-Up
Todd and Andy share highlights from the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans.
28: Preaching Outlines
Just as every house or building has a hidden structure that supports both the function and the aesthetic of the space, so the development of well-thought out outlines can assist in the delivery of Gospel preaching each week. Todd Fisher and Andy Taylor talk about both content and process in developing good outlines.
27: Funeral Prep
Ministry following a death of a church member or family is challenging in many ways. Listen as Todd Fisher and Andy Taylor discuss the pastoral implications and principles to maximize the Gospel impact during these intimate moments of ministry.
26: Conflict Mediation with Ken Sande
Todd and Andy are joined by Ken Sande, the executive Director Relational Wisdom 360 (RW360) and author of the best selling book “The Peacemaker.” Listen as Ken shares insights into the cause, concerns, and first steps toward conflict resolution and reconciliation.
25: Pastors and Criticism
Pastors experience criticism. It is inevitable. But every pastor can choose how to receive, process, and respond to criticism in a manner that is constructive. Todd Fisher and Andy Taylor provide practical principles for handling criticism in pastoral ministry.
24: The Art of Illustration
Hear Todd Fisher and Andy Taylor explain how powerful sermon illustrations can drive home biblical exposition for the listener.