Shepherding Thoughts

by Pastor Ben Francis

Welcome to Shepherding Thoughts: An inside look at a Southern Baptist Pastor's comments on navigating popular topics in Christianity and Religion.

A Pastoral Guide to Preparing for Communion

Ben Francis

Dec 158 min read

A Pastoral Guide to Preparing for Communion

Communion ; the Lord’s Supper ; also called the Eucharist . ** A Note upfront : This guide represents the Baptistic tradition and...

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Walking Our Wives through the Valley of Miscarriage: An Encouragement to Husbands

Ben Francis

Sep 97 min read

Walking Our Wives through the Valley of Miscarriage: An Encouragement to Husbands

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they...

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Ben Francis

Jul 126 min read

Give us Preachers, not Shepherds!

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do...

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Ben Francis

Jul 26 min read

How God Decorates our Lives

“Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision.” Maybe you’ve heard that said, or maybe you’ve said it yourself. And it's right. It...

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Pastor Ben's Reading List: A Guide for Christians, Bible Students, Pastors, Parents, and More.

Ben Francis

Mar 278 min read

Pastor Ben's Reading List: A Guide for Christians, Bible Students, Pastors, Parents, and More.

I’ve put this list of resources together for Christians, Church ministry leaders, Sunday School teachers and small groups leaders,...

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What Are Pastors Doing During the Week? 10 Things...

Ben Francis

Mar 187 min read

What Are Pastors Doing During the Week? 10 Things...

I often get a lot of questions about how I spend my time as a Pastor. People are understandably curious about what I do. Some people are...

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What's Happening when the Pastor is Preaching?

Ben Francis

Feb 2313 min read

What's Happening when the Pastor is Preaching?

Every single week, 52 weeks per year (and more if you include Sunday nights and Wednesday nights), Pastors rise to speak the Word of God...

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Our Responsibilities in Baptizing Our Children

Ben Francis

Jan 268 min read

Our Responsibilities in Baptizing Our Children

In Matthew 19:13-14, we read these words, “Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples...

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How Should Christians Practice Santa Claus?

Ben Francis

Nov 20, 202313 min read

How Should Christians Practice Santa Claus?

Christians, Christmas, and Santa Claus. And Elf on the Shelf, the Easter Bunny, and More… SHHHHHHHHH! Don’t tell the kids…but, Santa...

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The Priority of Sunday Christian Worship

Ben Francis

Nov 13, 20237 min read

The Priority of Sunday Christian Worship

Is Sunday morning Church important? With the rising list of activities and committments facing us today, is gathering with our Church...

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How do We Actually Experience God’s Sovereignty?

Ben Francis

Sep 5, 202310 min read

How do We Actually Experience God’s Sovereignty?

Sovereignty: God’s absolute and unquestioned control over every single detail of creation, including our lives and choices. So, how do we...

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The Unique Grief of Miscarriage and the hope and help of Jesus Christ.

Ben Francis

Jul 20, 202315 min read

The Unique Grief of Miscarriage and the hope and help of Jesus Christ.

We recently lost our daughter to miscarriage. It happened somewhere in the 10-14 week range of the pregnancy. My dear friend summed up...

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An Open Letter to the Person County Library, and Person County Government from her Pastor-Shepherds.

Ben Francis

Jul 10, 20239 min read

An Open Letter to the Person County Library, and Person County Government from her Pastor-Shepherds.

An Open Letter to the Person County Library, and Person County Government from her Local Pastor-Shepherds. On behalf of the members of...

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Raising Kids in a Screen-Saturated World

Ben Francis

May 23, 20234 min read

Raising Kids in a Screen-Saturated World

A Review I am thankful for Eliza Huie and the folks at the Biblical Counseling Coalition. They are producing some great work in really...

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Ben Francis

Apr 28, 20238 min read

What Does it Mean to Be Pastored?

Life in the Local Church Belonging to a local Church of the Lord Jesus Christ entails all sorts of things: Membership, fellowship,...

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A Lament for the Hard Things: The Joy of Pastoral Ministry; A Follow-Up…

Ben Francis

Apr 15, 20238 min read

A Lament for the Hard Things: The Joy of Pastoral Ministry; A Follow-Up…

When I sat down to write the previous post, “A Lament for the Hard Things,” my goal was to share a tangible illustration of what I had...

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Ben Francis

Apr 11, 20235 min read

A Lament for the Hard Things…

This painting hangs in my study reminding me of days like today. Like the man in the painting, pastoral ministry calls men to come in...

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Ben Francis

Apr 4, 20238 min read

What's Shaping My Life?

This question lodged itself in my mind during our Sunday morning Bible study. "Are Christians in danger of living in a delusion?" We were...

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Ben Francis

Mar 31, 20235 min read

What I'm Reading - March 23'

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” -George R.R. Martin Theology Powerful...

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An Ongoing Struggle: The fight for Life in a Post-Roe Culture.

Ben Francis

Mar 3, 202312 min read

An Ongoing Struggle: The fight for Life in a Post-Roe Culture.

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at a Pro-Life event for our local Pregnancy Support Center. The full text of my address is...

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