Ryan Welsh

At many points in my 25-year pastoral career, I've considered getting a DMin. Unfortunately, I never had someone to encourage me to go for it or to guide me in the decision-making process. I still haven't given up on the idea, which is why I appreciated this week's preaching skills article by Ryan Welsh—"Should a Pastor Get a DMin?" Ryan coaches us to think through four critical questions in our pursuit (or non-pursuit) of this degree, including questions like, "What's your story?" and "What's your calling?" I have to admit, I thought this door was closed long ago, but now that my fourth and final child is finishing his last year of college, the door has been cracked open once again. How about you? Another degree may not be advisable, but how can you learn and grow as a preacher, a pastor, and a disciple of Jesus? What will stretch and develop you?

Lee Eclov

Also, over the last year at PreachingToday.com, we've produced a lot of resources for preaching the hard and less familiar passages of the Bible. So it's nice to have this exegetically sound, homiletically clear, and well-organized sermon on a familiar text—John 3:1—and a familiar biblical phrase that nearly dropped out of our lingo: "born again." Our good friend and wise preacher Lee Eclov revives that phrase and takes a fresh look at old Nicodemus as what he calls "a case study in salvation." This is just straight-up, solid, clear expository preaching at its best. Thanks, Lee!

Also, check out these new resources:

• Featured Illustration: Chinese Student Enters Church Praying for His People Group
• Featured Video: Crossing Paths: Use this Easter invite to emphasize the need to invite friends and family to your Easter services.
• Featured Sermon: "Born Again?" by Lee Eclov
• Featured Skills Article: "When Should a Pastor Get a DMin?" by Ryan Welsh

Matt Woodley
Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.