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A Letter to Young Men Seeking the Call to Pastoral/Elder Ministry

Dear brothers, I write this to you who are considering if the Lord's purpose for you is to serve in the church as pastors and elders. It is a good and right thing that you desire to serve the Lord as elders, pastoring the people of God. This is a weighty thing, not lightly to be considered, and certainly not lightly to be entered into. As a result of the great responsibility and weight of this calling and work, I write to encourage you should the Lord choose to use you as elders and pastors, and I write to you to guard you against some of the temptations and traps that lay ahead of you as you pursue this noble task (1 Timothy 3:1).

Little Voices in the Pews

Many children in our western culture have been told they can’t sit in worship. They have been led to believe that the Bible is too difficult for them to understand. That there are only certain stories worth learning about. Why these stories? Because some believe kids can only learn the “fun stories of scripture." Children are taught about Jericho falling down, but are they taught about Joshua, Rahab, or Moses? Are they taught why the walls of Jericho needed to fall down? Are they taught of the victory of God in fulfilling His great promises to His people? Are they taught how destructive and devastating sin is? Are they exposed to the ultimate reality of God’s wrath against His enemies? Are they told of the grace of God in Christ? Are they taught about the significance of the return of Christ?

Some quotes on the Ascension of Jesus

While Christmas and Easter get by far the most contemporary "press" and "headlines", the ascension is another "pillar" in understanding who Jesus is and why he matters. The Apostle's Creed is a unifying summary of beliefs among many Christians since as early as the 5th century.

10 Simple Hymns to Teach our Children

One of the problems I find with teaching hymns to young children is that the words are not repetitive. This is great for adults and older kids who can read but becomes more difficult with younger children. Below ,you can find hymns that are simple to learn and fun for your children.

Jacob Toman 9/19/23 Jacob Toman 9/19/23

1 Timothy 2 - An Opposite Reading

Sometimes having ideas challenged and tested can have a refining effect. Not only do I ask my usual questions in the study of the passage, but I would also take note of what an unbeliever, a skeptic, a doubter, or a completely new Christian might make in response to the text. This can help bring to light where the tension points are in a passage. Today we look at 2 views of 1 Timothy 2 with regards to false teaching and women in the church.

Jacob Toman 9/13/23 Jacob Toman 9/13/23

Q&A 1 Timothy: When was 1st and 2nd Timothy Written?

There are some sources that would date 1 Timothy earlier (such as the 50s) and 2nd Timothy later in the life of Paul. One of the difficulties in discussing the dating of 1 and 2 Timothy today is the prevalence of modernist and liberal scholars in the 1800s and 1900s who deny the authenticity of 1 and 2 Timothy as genuine works from Paul.

Jacob Toman 8/29/23 Jacob Toman 8/29/23

Order in the church: Paul the Sexist? [1 Timothy 2](Part 1)

The family is continually under assault in today's contemporary Western society. Even defining a family can be tricky today with as many "blended", "mixed", "multi-layered" and "modern" family units and styles as there are. We all know that "Yo Mama" jokes are a great way to alienate. But nowadays culture considers any sort of defined role within a family unit or structure as offensive, abusive, and evil, it's tough to put any concrete reason as to why "Yo Mama" jokes are offensive. If there are no mothers or fathers and we're supposedly all fluid anyway, these joke would not be offensive. When the most basic unit of the human experience is cast away, the society doing the casting is not long for this world.

Jacob Toman 8/22/23 Jacob Toman 8/22/23

1 Timothy Introduction

I’m stoked to be studying 1st Timothy, and myself having old sin, old idols, and old pride taken down and out. I’m looking forward to how the Lord will humble me, grow my loyalty to Him, and find enlivened trust in God’s Word. Let me encourage you today to take your excitement, and read 1st Timothy. May you be informed, instructed, and inspired as you read and submit to God’s Word.