Contributor's Blog

A Different Letter That Made a Difference

May 31, 2024 • John Lathrop
The New Testament contains a number of letters. Most, though not all of them, were written by apostles. For example, Jude wrote a letter but he is never called an... Read More

Advancing the Word

February 4, 2023 • John Lathrop
Near the end of his letter to Titus the apostle Paul gave him some instructions about two men: Zenas and Apollos. These men were traveling and would be going through... Read More

Missions: The Needs of the Hour

December 9, 2022 • John Lathrop
Missionaries need support. One kind of support that they require is prayer. On more than one occasion the apostle Paul requested prayer for himself and his coworkers as they engaged... Read More

The Strengthening of the Church

September 2, 2022 • John Lathrop
In an earlier article I wrote called, “Church Planters,” (that can be found on www.PentecostalPastor.com) I focused on those who planted the church in Antioch as recorded in Acts 11.... Read More

Church Planters

June 24, 2022 • John Lathrop
Planting a church is very difficult work and it is not for everyone. I know because I tried it once and failed. When we think about people who are involved... Read More

A Unique Opportunity

September 28, 2021 • John Lathrop
By John Lathrop In the New Testament the normal pattern for evangelism is for believers to go to unbelievers and engage them with the gospel. We see Philip do this... Read More

The Preachers’ Paths

December 21, 2020 • John Lathrop
In life and ministry there are some things that just stay with you. It could be because of the people involved, or the place where it happened, or the significance... Read More

Turning the Page on Reading

September 11, 2020 • John Lathrop
Seasons. We see them in nature; there is winter, summer, spring, and fall. Having been born and raised in New England I am very familiar with the seasons. During each... Read More

Pulpit Problems: The Preparation and Presentation of Sermons

August 20, 2020 • John Lathrop
Preaching. It is great honor to be called to preach, it is a very high calling. I dare say that it is one of the most significant tasks a pastor... Read More

Preaching Practices

June 15, 2020 • John Lathrop
Preaching is an important activity, God uses it to get His word to people, both sinners and saints. In the Bible Noah is called “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet.... Read More

New People

April 21, 2020 • John Lathrop
The church is made up of new people. At least that is the way it is supposed to be. The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, said that... Read More

I Am Pentecostal

April 21, 2020 • John Lathrop
We live in a world in which labels are very important, a trip to the grocery store will make this clear. Virtually every item in the store has a label... Read More

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

April 21, 2020 • Craig Dumont
One of the judgements of God on His people who refuse to listen to Him is that “one will chase a thousand and two will chase ten thousand.” [Deut. 32:30]... Read More

Servants

March 28, 2020 • John Lathrop
In 1 Corinthians 16:15 the apostle Paul made mention of “the household of Stephanas” (NIV). Stephanas was obviously the most prominent person in the group because the household was called... Read More

Ministerial Warnings

February 21, 2020 • John Lathrop
Recently I was reading Acts 20. In this chapter, a good part of the text is devoted to the apostle Paul’s words to the elders of the church in Ephesus.... Read More

‘Dominion’ Review: An Amazing Historical Account Of How The Cross of Christ Transformed The World

February 11, 2020 • Craig Dumont
“The greatest story ever told.” The scandal of the Gospel message, as the Apostle Paul so starkly framed it, is from a human standpoint, “an offense,” “foolishness,” a “stumbling block,”... Read More

Remember and Move Forward

January 30, 2020 • John Lathrop
The writer of the book of Hebrews describes the Christian life as a race (Heb. 12:1). It is that, and as the context indicates there are things that can weigh... Read More

Rejection

January 15, 2020 • John Lathrop
If you are going to be involved in Christian ministry you are going to experience rejection. This is a given, it is a normal part of the Christian experience. Though... Read More

Invisible Churches

December 30, 2019 • John Lathrop
In the New Testament there were some “invisible churches.” What? How is that possible? We all know that the church is made up of people and people have bodies, they... Read More

When Being Less Than Number One is Good Enough

November 14, 2019 • John Lathrop
There is a lot of pressure in our world to be first, to be number one. Some people will attain it, but the number of those who do will be... Read More

Greatness

October 11, 2019 • John Lathrop
In Luke 1:15 we find these words, “he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (NIV). The angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19) said this to Zechariah as he delivered... Read More

Transforming the Church

October 7, 2019 • John Lathrop
Every church is a work in progress. Each congregation has some commendable qualities as well as some that need work. Those of you who are pastors can identify the strengths... Read More

Seeing The Bigger Picture

September 25, 2019 • John Lathrop
All people encounter difficulties in life, this holds true for both believers and unbelievers. As believers we may at times find ourselves in difficulty because of our commitment to God;... Read More

Evangelistic Openings

September 11, 2019 • John Lathrop
Sometimes when Christians know they will be meeting with family members or friends who are not saved, they will ask other believers to pray that there will be an opening... Read More

Impartation

August 23, 2019 • John Lathrop
The Old Testament book of Nehemiah tells the story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The key earthly character in the book is Nehemiah. He became aware of... Read More