Keith A. Strunk

Brief, applicational devotions from a reformed soteriological perspective… @boldnessofgrace?si=rFRGVb6Y_eoOeSDy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@boldnessofgra…

Charlie Kirk on knowing if you have found the right church. “You only need Jesus, or you believe you need Jesus, if you know you're off the mark.” “You cannot talk about a Savior if you never talk about sin. And the modern church is afraid to talk about sin. Why?” “Because I might judge somebody. I might offend somebody. To the modern church, happiness is the goal, judgment is the ultimate sin and God is just a guess.” “In a true biblical church, God is the ultimate truth, holiness is the goal, and the greatest sin is blaspheming in the name of God and defiling the name of Jesus Christ.” “That's how you know you're sitting in a Bible-based church.”

"The workmen die, but the work of God goes on." —C.H. Spurgeon

The roaring lion is silent. Yesterday, Voddie Baucham went home to be with the Lord at 56. More than a preacher, he was a prophetic voice in a dark age. The best way to honor him is not to admire him, but to imitate his courage. 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/virgilwalk…

This is a huge loss. Voddie was a fearless champion for the gospel and a powerful voice against destructive heresies infiltrating the church. May the Lord comfort his wife, family, and friends.

I hoped never to have to make this post. Pray for the Bauchams. A warrior has died. founders.org/articles/the-d…

Should pastors have mentioned Charlie Kirk's assassination yesterday?🧵 Every pastor is responsible to shepherd the flock in which the Lord has placed him. For that reason I wouldn't presume to dictate to any pastor on this situation. But I did mention him. Here's why. 1/

Many people are stunned by how many youth Charlie Kirk reached. Here's a big reason why: he answered hard questions with clear speech, standing on Scripture unapologetically to ground his convictions. Pastors: the younger generation CRAVES clear truth. Let's give it to them!

Charlie & Erika Kirk are right. Find a healthy church & build your life around it. Get to a church Sunday that teaches Scripture clearly, simply, & unashamedly. Here is a good place to start looking: church.founders.org

Here's Charlie Kirk rightly critiquing the water downed gospel message in America...

My five year old just watched this with me. He knew that both John MacArthur and Charlie Kirk are no longer with us. But he saw them talking and asked, “Is that where heaven is?” Grateful for hope beyond the grave.

The day we lost Charlie Kirk shattered hearts, but it also left a challenge for every believer. We can’t just watch. We must engage. Live for truth. Live for Christ. Read or Listen: open.substack.com/pub/virgilwalk…

Pray for @charliekirk11 🙏🙏🙏

John MacArthur's book changed my life's trajectory... I was first influenced by John MacArthur when I was an Assemblies of God minister. I first encountered John MacArthur’s influence when the head pastor of the church I was on staff at, offered me a collection of books from the church attic. Among them, "The Gospel According to Jesus" caught my eye, despite not knowing who MacArthur was. I immediately began to read it. The book introduced me to the biblical doctrine of "Lordship salvation" and exposed the flaws of "easy-believism" in American evangelicalism. It was my first exposure to Calvinist theology in my early Christian journey. This led me to explore teachings from MacArthur, Paul Washer (Shocking youth message), Voddie Baucham, and later the Puritans, Reformers, Spurgeon, and Ryle. This was 2009-2010, in my mid-20s. Within a year, I parted ways with the Assemblies of God, profoundly altering my ministry and family life. Though I never met John MacArthur, his bold commitment to truth deeply shaped my life, and I remain forever thankful for his ministry. This is the original copy of the book... -Bryan (moderator of Ryle's X page)

@danwilliams79 Did you key score? Who won?

Enjoyed a fun round of golf with my boy today. ⛳️🏌🏻‍♂️❤️

@danwilliams79 @tim_bertolet @JoshuaTorrey @bfcdenomination Probably more so at the dessert table!

@tim_bertolet @JoshuaTorrey This is also a must have for every @bfcdenomination pastor.

i’m going to be randomly delivering these to men at #pcaga in line for microphones.

@tim_bertolet @JoshuaTorrey @danwilliams79 Now that’s funny!

@JoshuaTorrey My friend @danwilliams79 who was moderator of our church conference (our GA) needed one of these things years when we reminded me to wrap of my speech for the study committee at about 40 minutes in. 🤣

Five Hard Things Nobody Tells You About Being a Pastor They’ll tell you how to craft a sermon, lead a staff, and moderate a business meeting. They’ll teach you to parse Greek verbs and structure a strategic plan. But very few will tell you about the pressure and pain that often comes with the calling. And that’s what this is. Not to discourage you. But to prepare and encourage you. Because if God’s called you to this work, these five hard truths won’t disqualify you—they’ll refine you. They’re part of what it means to pastor well. And with each one comes grace, strength, and hope. 1. You’ll Bleed in the Same Places You Bless. You’ll love deeply, pray passionately, invest personally—and sometimes get betrayed profoundly. The same people you’ve counseled and comforted may one day criticize you unfairly or leave without explanation. It’s disorienting. Painful. Personal. Jesus knows exactly what that’s like. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John ). The betrayal didn’t disqualify Him—it revealed His love. What do you do? Don’t let bitterness take root. Keep short accounts. Preach grace, and live it. If ministry wounds you, let it also drive you closer to the only One who was wounded for you. God often uses the deepest hurts to develop the deepest compassion. That’s part of how He makes you a true shepherd. 2. Your Family Will Live in a Glass House. Your wife will feel it. Your kids will too. The glances. The whispers. The pressure to be perfect. What most don’t realize is that while you’re giving your all to the church, your family often pays a price nobody else sees. They carry your burdens. They endure the pace. They give up time with you so others can have it. What do you do? Protect your family at all costs. Set boundaries. Keep your word to them. Guard your day off. Say “no” when you need to. Take your wife on dates. Show up for your kids’ games and recitals. Remind your church that your first ministry is your family. And let your children grow up loving the church—not resenting it. The health of your home will either sustain or sabotage your long-term ministry. 3. You’ll Preach Faith While Wrestling with Doubt. There will be weeks you stand up to preach while walking through a storm yourself. You’ll open the Word with a broken heart. You’ll encourage others while wondering if the breakthrough will ever come for you. That doesn’t make you a hypocrite. It makes you human. Here’s what you do: Keep going. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans )—that means your own preaching can feed your faith too. Be honest with God. Talk to a trusted friend. Stay grounded in the Word. And know this: God often does His deepest work in you when you feel the weakest. You’re not alone. Elijah doubted. John the Baptist questioned. Paul despaired. But God still used them—and He will use you too. 4. Success Will Be Harder to Measure Than You Think. Pastoring in the social media age tempts us to measure everything—followers, likes, attendance, baptisms, budget growth. And when those numbers dip, your confidence can too. But here’s the reality: Faithfulness isn’t always flashy. And fruitfulness isn’t always fast. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Not “famous.” Not “followed.” Faithful. That’s the goal. Keep sowing seeds, even when it feels slow. Water the work with prayer. Stay obedient. You’ll never fully see on earth what God is doing through your ministry. But one day, you will. In the meantime, let eternity—not applause—be your scoreboard. 5. You’ll Want to Quit More Than Once. Nobody tells you how heavy the call can feel at times. You’ll want to quit after a contentious meeting, a critical email, or a week when the sermon didn’t land and the room felt half empty. You’ll wonder if you're making a difference—or just making noise. But the fact that you feel that weight? That means you care. And that’s not a weakness. That’s a sign of a pastor's heart. What do you do? Rest if you must. (Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.) Talk to someone. (No, that's not being a wimp.) Take a sabbath. But don’t quit just because it’s hard. God never promised pastoring would be easy—but He did promise to be with you. And He who called you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians ). If God hasn’t released you, then stay faithful where He’s planted you. The feelings will pass. The call will remain. BONUS: The Call Will Cost You—But It’s Worth It. This isn’t a job. It’s not a career. It’s a divine calling. And yes, the call will cost you. It’ll cost your time, your comfort, your preferences, and sometimes your peace. But it’s worth it. Because you’re giving your life to what matters most—souls, eternity, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. And one day, when you stand before the Chief Shepherd, He won’t measure your worth by your numbers, your building size, or your platform. He’ll look for faithfulness. So press on, brother pastor. Stay faithful. Keep going. Heaven is watching and cheering you on. And it’s still worth it. #pastorlife #pastoralministry #ministry #pastorsarepeopletoo #fivethingsbook

"Preach not for people’s smiles because they will then control you with their frowns. Preach for the smile of God." -Harry Reeder