Mark Labberton

Mark Labberton is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and directs its Ogilvie Institute of Preaching.

Articles by Mark Labberton

Blogging Toward Sunday

A community that faces fear

Matthew 25:15–40

Nov 07, 2011 by Mark Labberton

When I preach, I am absorbed in faces. I'm captured by the sustained opportunity preaching creates to gaze into the faces of those I am seeking to serve as a pastor. In worship, it seems more obvious that others are seeing me. In fact, I am truly seeing them. I see and absorb all kinds of things about people during these moments of proclamation. The most profound observation is also the most obvious: they are a gift.

Living by the Word

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Matthew 25:14–30

Nov 01, 2011 by Mark Labberton

Being a pastor for 30 years has given me the chance to see both the gifts and the weaknesses of people up close. This vantage point sometimes makes mine one of the weirdest vocations as well as a rewarding one. My breath has been taken away by joy and by shame. It's the story of talents and tyrants told again and again.

Blogging Toward Sunday

Freedom and accountability

Oct 31, 2011 by Mark Labberton

Every pastor needs to address the issue of freedom and accountability. It's part of the pastor's role in nurturing a church community: neither a laissez-faire atmosphere nor a judicial one helps people grow as disciples.

Living by the Word

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Matthew 25:1–13

Oct 25, 2011 by Mark Labberton

God grants astonishing freedom to creatures who bear the imago dei. The Arab Spring is only the latest evidence of the human desire for freedom. What's more, and far more awkward in a culture of autonomous freedom like ours, is that the God who gives us freedom also holds us accountable for what we do with this gift.