What does it mean be in a church that had an unbroken line of succession to the first Apostles, namely to Peter and finally, to Jesus Christ?
David Roseberry is the founder of LeaderWorks and the LeaderWorks Trust, equipping churches and clergy for faithful and effective ministry. He writes regularly on Substack at The Anglican, where he reflects on faith, leadership, and the Anglican tradition.
David is the author of several books for Anglican pastors and leaders, including The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop.
Lent is Coming!
The Psalm on the Cross When the story of Jesus’s crucifixion is told in the Gospel, Jesus is said to have spoken these words in Aramaic: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.” (“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”) Perhaps because these words are the most famous of Psalm 22, their depth nearly overshadows the…
The Bible Arranged for Worship: Our Book of Common Prayer
There is a rather common saying that the Book of Common Prayer is composed of 85% bible passages. It is true. As J.I. Packer once said, The Book of Common Prayer is the Bible arranged for worship. I like that. (To learn more about the Book of Common Prayer, read our Rookie Anglican Guide.) On…
Healthy Systems, Healthy Churches: 6 Systems of an Anglican Congregation
In college, I was a medical technology major for about a semester. During the school year, I found a low-paying job at the local hospital to work in the lab as a helper. One morning, I met a pathologist who invited me to come to help with an autopsy. So I did. That was my…
Jesus and Psalm 22: Sorrow and Satisfaction
When Jesus was crucified on His Cross, the last words He spoke before he died are extraordinary examples of what was in His heart. Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” This is one of the most passionate and intense moments in the entire Scripture—the Son of God crying out…
The Psalm on the Cross: Learn More about Psalm 22, Christ’s Song of Sorrow and Victory
Psalm 22 is a pilgrimage from the depths of pain and suffering to the final proclamation of victory. Jesus knew the entire psalm by heart and understood the psalm as a prophetic depiction of his own death but also a prophetic declaration of hope and victory at the end. The Psalm on the Cross is…
Did God Forsake Jesus? Take A Closer Look at Psalm 22
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” These were the dying words of Jesus as he hung on the cross on Mount Calvary. But what did He mean by them? These words are read as part of the “Seven Last Words of Jesus from The Cross”. And they raise some very important questions….
9 Best Practices for Your Church Vestry
It is that time of year when new Vestry members are elected, selected, and then seated as their congregation’s leadership board. Usually, there is an outgoing class of three or four making up one-third of the total Vestry. And of course, after the election or selection process in a parish, there is an incoming class…
12 Challenges of the Christmas Eve Service
Even if your shopping is complete and the gifts are wrapped, the pastor knows that there is one more thing to do before Christmas morning. Hold Christmas Eve Services. Whether you are preaching, celebrating the Eucharist, leading the prayers, singing the carols, handing out bulletins, or greeting people at the door, it is a big…
The “Perfect” Christmas Eve Sermon??
Christmas Eve is rough on preachers; at least for this one. The atmosphere for a truly great sermon is all there: scenery, families, music, lighting, Scripture, attendance, joy, and a holy hope in every heart and on every face. But my Christmas Eve sermons (33 and counting) are never equal to this setting. They always seem weak and…
Rector, NEVER Do These 5 Things at the End of the Year!
Let’s say it is December 10th, and you (the Rector) and your Vestry are sitting down to review the giving to date and the giving needed at the end of the year to pay all the bills. Suddenly, you realize that there will be a HUGE deficit at the end of the year. The Vestry…
What Does It Mean That the Lord is MY Shepherd?
What does it mean to have a ‘personal relationship’ with Jesus Christ? One thing it does not mean is ‘customized’. In this excerpt from When the Lord is My Shepherd: Finding Hope in a Hard Time, we go deeper into the pastoral connections that we are promised. Believing that the Lord is a shepherd is…
