Martin Luther’s life is an excellent example of a life well-lived for the glory of God. But his death is also an excellent example of how to die well for the glory of God. Luther preached what would be his last sermon at his home church, the Castle Church in Wittenberg, on January 17, 1546. On the same day, he wrote to a friend, “I am writing, my James, as an old man, decrepit, sluggish, tired, cold, and now also one-eyed.” He wrote of the “highly deserved rest (as [...]

Over the next two months I will be taking a sabbatical.  Some may wonder what this is and why churches do this for their pastors.  First, a sabbatical, broadly defined, is a time when a pastor draws back from his regular responsibilities for the purpose of rest and renewal.  There are no commands in Scripture that tell churches and pastors to do this.  Sabbaticals are thus a matter of prudence, not obedience.  Despite no clear commands in Scripture for pastors to take a sabbatical, in this article, I’d like [...]