Derek J. Morris

If you are looking for a simple and clear resource on the “how to” of evangelism, I strongly recommend A Practical Guide to…

Recently, I met a fellow pastor and ministry leader, Dr. Paulraj Massillamony. Over breakfast one morning, he told me a remarkable conversion story. 

We hear a great deal about the perils of pastoral ministry—and there are many. We constantly run the risk of becoming so preoccupied with serving others that we ourselves spend little or no time at the feet of Jesus. We also face the…

One of my most fulfilling ministry activities is teaching Hope Sabbath School, an in-depth interactive Bible study with a small group of young adults. We limit the group to 12 and strive for a diverse mix with an average age of 30.

Two…

"I think you’re depressed,” my wife gently confronted me.

“I don’t get depressed,” I retorted, quickly and defensively.

My wife responded by patiently listing the symptoms of depression that she had witnessed since my health…

On behalf of the entire Ministry team, we want to thank you, the many clergy who read this journal, for your faithful ministry.…

If we believe all of the analysis about our postmodern, post-Christian culture, it is not going to be an easy task to share the gospel in the twenty-first century.¹ Many are disillusioned with…

by Russell C. Burrill, Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2014.

Whether you are a seasoned Adventist evangelist or are preparing for your first evangelistic meeting, Adventist Evangelistic Preaching will be a valuable resource…

As a young lad, I thought the expression “golden oldies” referred to great songs from yesteryear. That may well be true, but perhaps “golden oldies” can also refer to great books of past generations that still have tremendous value for our…

In their recent book Mission Drift, Peter Grist and Chris Horst make the following prediction: “Without care­ful attention, faith-based organizations will…

Genesis reveals a startling account of Jacob’s face-to-face encounter with the Pharaoh of Egypt: “Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh;…

I am currently in the midst of a thoughtful book by Bill Hybels entitled Simplify.¹

After teaching courses on bibli­cal preaching for ten years, I returned to the pastorate, where I preached more than 100 ser­mons per year. I discovered, to my surprise,…

What is your greatest challenge in ministry? I am sure we could find numerous answers to that question,…

As I reflect back on my own pastoral ministry, I can identify several individuals who were crucially important mentors for me. H. M. S. Richards Sr., founder and speaker of the Voice of Prophecy radio…

The last issue of Ministry dealing exclusively with the sanctuary doctrine was in 1980—34 years ago. Those were turbulent times, as some of you well remember. Have we finally found peace, or have we just chosen to forget? Why are…

Not long after the founding of the Christian church, the apostle Paul gave some wise counsel to a young preacher named Timothy about the importance of preaching and teaching sound biblical doctrine: “Preach…

How millennial are you? If you were born between 1980 and 2000, just based on your birth date, you might automatically answer, “One hundred percent millennial.” But for the rest of us Builders, Boomers, and Busters (Gen Xers), the…

Editor’s note: Haddon W. Robinson has been recognized as one of the outstanding preachers and teachers of preaching in the twentieth century. He concluded his memorable career as the…

Theodicy--if God is good, all wise, and all powerful, why does so much evil exist in the world? I asked myself that question recently while I was visiting the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda. I have gathered with family and friends at…

Editor’s note: From time to time, we interview the various entities that serve the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. In this issue we interviewed John Graz, director of the General Conference Department of Public Affairs and Religious…

Editor’s note: The editors of Ministry interviewed the theologians who comprise the staff of the Biblical Research Institute. They are Artur Stele, director; Ekkehardt Mueller, deputy director; and associate directors…

We are excited to announce the launching of an electronic version of Ministry

I made a startling discovery during my early years in ministry. Most people do not have any interest in what grade point average…

I was chatting with my father recently about his experience during the Second World War. Because of frequent bombing raids, he was evacu­ated as a young lad from his home in Bristol, England, to a small village…

Everywhere I go, I meet people who become my teachers. Recently, I ate lunch with a col­league who has been holding focus groups with Christian young adults in eight…

I began my pastoral ministry with good intentions. After completing seminary, I set out with a deep desire to serve God with all my heart, along with all of His children. Unfortu­nately, I was misguided and…

Many times I have found myself repeating the Seren­ity Prayer originally penned by the twentieth century American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,…

Editor’s note: David Trim, director; Rowena Moore, Yearbook editor; and Benjamin Baker, assistant archivist, serve as members in the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research for the world church of Seventh-day Adventists, headquartered…

Distinguished Harvard Divinity School professor Karen King has caused quite a media stir with her comments regarding a recently translated codex fragment, which she refers to as The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife. King has carefully examined…

Serving as a pastor in the twenty-first century is hard work—demanding and sometimes dangerous. In order to support each of you in this hard work, our team provides this journal with a clearly defined purpose: to deepen the spiritual…

Have you heard the news? After more than 80 years of publishing an international journal for pastors, the Ministry team has added a new dimension: MINISTRYinMOTION. This weekly television program explores creative and practical…

Most people have never heard of Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. No thrilling narratives are recorded about these four brothers or their offspring. However, the sons of Issa­char and their descendants exhibited one character trait that is…

In recent years we have heard a great deal from Christian missiologists about the 10/40 Window. The term was originally coined in 1990 by Luis Bush when referring to the territory in the Eastern Hemi­sphere located between 10 degrees north…

Every time I interact with colleagues in ministry, I’m convinced that I receive more than I give. At a recent pastors’ con­ference, I met the distinguished Bible scholar and writer Frank M. Hasel. Dr. Hasel serves as dean of the theology…

A large crowd had gathered on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. For many hours, they had listened attentively to the words of Jesus. Now, as the sun began to set, the disciples urged Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they could go into…

On a recent visit to Russia, a group of pastors presented me with a gift—a simple hand-painted picture on a rough wooden plaque. This Russian land­scape may have little monetary value, but I carried it home like a precious treasure. Now on…

Editor’s note: Jay Perez is vice presi­dent for mission and ministry, Florida Hospital, Orlando, Florida, United States.

Derek Morris (DM): God is using you in remarkable ways to impact lives and communities…

Our world has lost a great Christian leader. The interna­tionally known and respected Anglican cleric, John R. W. Stott, died on July 27, 2011. According to Dr. Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, “The death of John Stott will be mourned…

Derek J. Morris (DM): After many years as an effective church pastor, you have accepted an invitation to serve as a full-time revivalist. What events and convictions motivated you to make this transition?

Lee…

Have you ever found strength and wisdom through the Word of God in a moment of temptation? It happened for Jesus. Three temptations are recorded during His time of fasting and prayer in the wilderness, and each time Jesus found strength and…

I have been blessed to serve in a variety of pastoral settings: multichurch, solo pastor, and multistaff. Even during my tenure as a full-time university professor, I considered it a privilege to serve as a pastor to my students. As I reflect…

Editor’s note: The editors of Ministry interviewed the presidents of the three church divisions that cover various portions of the European continent. Guillermo Biaggi is president of the Euro-Asia Division, which…

The apostle Paul was bold and unapologetic in his confession to the followers of Jesus in Corinth: “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).* Similarly, to Christians in Galatia, he…

Regarded as one of the great biblical preachers of the twentieth century, Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was trained as a physician and throughout his life read widely in theology, Christian biographies, and medicine. According to his…

Derek Morris (DM): In recent years there has been a growing interest in prophetic preaching. Let’s start with a definition.

Hyveth Williams (HW): Prophetic preaching is a biblically based form of…

As a Christian community, we have recently been reminded of the need for reformation within our churches and within our own lives as followers of Jesus.* An appeal for personal and corporate reformation challenges us to ask a vital question:…

Do you have a mentor who inspires and instructs you in the work of ministry? Let me recommend a servant leader who has been a great mentor to me—John the Baptist. He never called himself a prophet. He didn’t even take the title of teacher.…

Have you ever prayed a bold prayer? I am not talking about, “Thank You for the world so sweet, thank You for the food we eat,” or “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” I am talking about a bold prayer.

Like…

I just signed up for voice lessons. No, I am not planning to stop preaching and become a professional singer! Rather, I want to learn how to care for my voice in order to maximize and preserve my impact as a preacher for years to…

Bauman, a Mennonite pastor, has been actively involved in the Holy Spirit renewal movement in the Mennonite Church since the 1970s. In this thought-provoking study, Bauman explores the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the church and the varied…

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:19, NIV). In the same letter he also affirmed the Christocentric…

Charles H. Kraft, a professor of anthropology and intercultural communication at Fuller Theological Seminary, addresses the crucial issue of how our worldview impacts our openness to the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit in the life…

Calvin Miller, a highly respected preacher, talks about reaching people where they are.

Derek Morris: In your book Market place Preaching, ¹ you make a strong appeal for us to…

Derek Morris: In the past two decades, you have championed the cause of inductive biblical preaching. What's behind such commitment?

Fred B. Craddock: The theological reasons have…

I wish I could tell you that my ministry was like Mary's. But I have to confess that all too often I have been like Martha so busy serving God that I have not taken time to be with Him. Running on empty. Praying on the run.

I began…

Derek Morris: Dr. Stott, I really appreciate your willingness to share with us your thinking about relevant biblical preaching. In your book on preaching, entitled Between Two Worlds, there is one sentence that particularly…

Derek J. Morris: I would like to be gin with the glorious accusation in the book of Acts, brought against Paul and Silas, which says that these Christian preachers had "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). What can…

Derek J. Morris: Dr. Taylor, in your Lyman Beecher lectures,¹ you emphasize that "the preacher ought not dare to utter the things of Christ too hesitantly or casually or tentatively."² Why is it so important…

Derek Morris: In Biblical Preaching, you emphasize that "a sermon should be a bullet and not buckshot." In other words, a sermon should present a single dominant idea rather than a collection of numerous unrelated ideas.…

Derek Morris: In your book, Can Man Live Without God?, you suggest that there has been a concerted effort by some secular thinkers to prejudice the minds of this generation against a belief in God.¹ What…

Lord, teach us to preach!" We wish the disciples had made such a request. We could have all benefited from some practical pointers on preaching from the Master Preacher. Yet as we examine the life and teaching of…

Thomas G. Long is a distinguished teacher and author in the field of preaching. He taught for many years at Princeton Theological Seminary before assuming his present position as the Bandy Professor of Preaching at…

For over thirty years, Henry H. Mitchell has been recognized as an authority on Black preaching, and what he shares about preaching is relevant for preachers of any ethnic or cultural background. His preaching is known for its keen perception…

Lee Strobel is one of the teaching pastors at Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Illinois.

Derek Morris: Lee, you serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, one of the largest…

Derek Morris: In your book Imagining a Sermon, you state that "the imaginative process can be compared to the art of sailing a boat."² How is that metaphor helpful in thinking about the use of imagination in preaching?…

Ever wonder about the effectiveness of your weekly sermon? Of course! Would you like some help? Try unleashing the creative energies of your congregation.

Here's an idea: use a sermon resource group.

I…

Editior's Note: Patricia Fripp is an executive speech coach and award-winning professional speaker and former president of the National Speakers Association.

Derek Morris: As an…

Derek Morris: Dr. Shuster, in both teaching and writing, you have become an advocate of preaching Christian doctrine. And yet, in your essay entitled "Preaching the Trinity," you state: "I am well aware, then, that I am swimming…

The importance of prayer for the preacher, the hearers, and the community: An interview with Alvin VanderGriend

Editor’s note: Dr. Alvin VanderGriend is a leader in the Christian prayer movement and has written several…

I still remember my panic as a young preacher. With the early part of each week slipping through my fingers like dry sand, I would be staring at a bulletin deadline: the time my sermon title was due. That meant I…

Derek Morris: Where did you discover your passion for sharing the good news with the world?

Luis Palau: It goes back to my childhood. I spent the first years of my life in Buenos Aires, Argentina.²…

In June 2003, Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Ph.D., D.Min., (Ret.) was elected the 62nd chaplain of the United States Senate. Prior to this appointment, Chaplain Black served in the United States Navy for over 27 years,…

Charles D. Brooks has preached the Word for more than half a century. As a result of his evangelistic preaching, thousands have accepted Christ as their personal Savior. For 23 years, he served as director-speaker of the Breath of Life…

Morris: It’s a privilege to speak with two outstanding preachers about the sacred work of preaching. How does a person know if he or she is called to preach?

Cleveland: One…

Would you like to move your preaching ministry to a higher level of effectiveness? Try preaching without notes.¹ Many preachers are convinced that finding freedom from their sermon notes will enable them…

Preachers work with words. We prayerfully study the Word of God and then carefully use words to craft biblical messages. When we preach, we pray that those words will convey life-changing truth to our hearers.

But…

Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank sheet of paper or at a blank computer screen wondering what you’ll preach next week? If so, then consider sequence preaching. Preaching a series of sermons has advantages…

One of my members, 96 years old, has heard more sermons than I will ever preach. When someone speaks of Daniel in the lions’ den, or David and Goliath, he already knows “the rest of the story.” How can we retell these…

Josh McDowell is an internationally known Christian speaker and author. He has spoken to more than 7 million young people in 84 countries, including visits to 700 university and college campuses. He has authored or…

For the past several years, worship services of Forest Lake Church in Apopka, Florida, have been streamed via the Internet.2 In recent months, a dramatic expansion of our Web church ministry has led to the appointment…

Many preachers view preaching as simply a time to speak. They fail to recognize that effective preachers need to listen attentively to their listeners.¹ Every listener provides valuable feedback during…