Ben Patterson

When ministry becomes mechanical, motivation dries up. But grace revives what guilt and grind never could.

Learn to pray in agreement with others.

The difference between a biblical and a pagan understanding of worship lies in the difference between a verb and a noun.

If saying no makes me narrow, so be it.

God loves the little things, the secret things his servants do.

How “vectoring” adds depth and strength to conversation with God.

What tops our shorter to-do list for the new year.

What is the eternal purpose in this weekly exercise in elocution?

Feet on earth, head in Heaven.

The authority of Scripture mandates God must be called Father.

God entered human history through Mary because she was open to his will and obedient.

It is our past pain that keeps us from believing what God promises us today.

Forget the judges, I’ve found a higher standard in my quest for excellence.

What does a man my age have to offer the trend-setting generation?

Good conversation with God isn’t just a series of monologues.

Imagine worship in which people actually come alive.

If saying no makes me narrow, so be it.

What happens when you realize your emergence is behind you?

One pastor’s greatest regret, and how he is making up for lost time.

God loves the little things, the secret things his servants do.

She was gorgeous and tanned and God used her to teach me a lesson.

Have you snacked on a good book lately?

Why prayer gets preempted

Sometimes God provokes you because you need the fight.

When you’re the church lightning rod, you have to be well grounded.

The way we view our task makes all the difference in the world–and in the church.

Pastors, as player-coaches, must both give instructions and follow them at the same time.

A defense of an old-fashioned idea.

The dangers of stones and pinnacles en route to a pastorate.

A spineless body has trouble standing up for anything.

Preaching is the most visible aspect of ministry—and the most easily misused.

Is there any choice about serving the kingdom of God?

The Christian’s response to time is quite different from the non-Christian’s.

Prayer is the first thing we talk about but the last thing we do.

Are the priorities of God, family, and job the right ones?

The difference between a biblical and a pagan understanding of worship lies in the difference between a verb and a noun.

Asking church members to give money is not fundamentally different from making an altar call or encouraging a parishioner to read the Bible.

Maybe it’s not just a matter of poor leadership and weary volunteers yearning to go home…

A look at pastoral care by a minister who spent six weeks flat on his back.

Dealing with conflict that threatens to tear a small church apart.

Perceptions of a small church pastor.