Posts by Forrest McPhail
Church Discipline: Guarding the Gospel
Ever heard of church discipline? Have you experienced church discipline or seen it practiced in a local church? Shortly after publishing Pioneer Missions, I had opportunity to discuss the book with several cross-cultural missionaries from around the world who read it, including Korean, American, British, and Canadian workers. One part of the book that provoked…
Read MoreWhat Activates Faith in the Power of the Gospel?
This article first appeared on the website of Gospel Fellowship Association Missions, here. We republish it here with permission. People who are confident in the power of the Gospel will proclaim it. They will be burdened for the Gospel to spread to the world. But experience teaches us that our confidence in the power of…
Read MoreWhen Working For God Becomes the Goal
Even though I had my struggles as a teen, God had my heart. I wanted to serve Him. When I heard appeals from pastors or missionaries about being willing to give ourselves fully to Christ in full-time Christian service, my heart sang, “Let me!” I remember one sermon where there was an appeal to young…
Read MoreCultivating an Affectionate Marriage
I am no expert on marriage. But I have been married long enough to experience those times when coldness creeps in and distance grows. The simplest lesson that the Lord has taught us is the importance of time spent together. Taking time to stop, look each other in the face, and really talk, has proven…
Read MoreThe Leadership Crisis: Searching for Answers (2)
Many are writing about the rapidly growing leadership crisis in America’s churches. In part one of this series, I suggested that there are two glaring omissions in many of our lives and churches that contribute significantly to this vacuum of leadership. These two omissions may even create or encourage other causes pointed out by other…
Read MoreThe Leadership Crisis: Searching for Answers (1)
The churches of America have entered a major leadership crisis. Many churches don’t have pastors and cannot obtain one. The number of churches without qualified spiritual leaders is multiplying by the day. This vacuum of leadership has hit every denomination and group. This situation is a relatively new one for Bible-believing American churches. How Do…
Read MoreThey Profess to Know God: Do they know Him? Pt.3
This is the last of three articles exploring these truths: Those who endure to the end are true believers (first article) Church discipline reveals true saving faith (second article) Levels of growth vary between believers. Life “baggage” and hindrances can make change difficult. The goal in pondering these four truths is to better understand what…
Read MoreThey Profess to Know God; Do They Know Him? Pt.2
Introduction This is the second of three articles exploring these truths: Those who endure to the end are true believers (first article). Church discipline reveals true saving faith. Levels of growth vary between believers. Life “Baggage” and hindrances can make change difficult. The goal in pondering these four truths is to better understand what our…
Read MoreThey Profess to Know God: Do They Know Him? Pt.1
The Disciple-Maker’s Challenge Everyone who seeks to make disciples in obedience to Jesus Christ faces the same difficulty: We all try to discern whether or not those we lead to profess Jesus Christ have genuinely believed. None of us wants to give an unbeliever false hope of salvation if they have not yet repented and…
Read MoreIn the Beginning, There Was No Buddha
There are no hidden keys of knowledge about Buddhists that will ensure success in reaching them with the Gospel. Only the Spirit of God can enlighten the minds of unbelievers (1 Cor. 2:6–16). And yet the Apostle Paul was most serious about his need to adapt himself to the cultures he ministered in without compromise…
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