Paul Tautges's articles Evangelical Cultivating a Church Culture Open to Constructive Critique There are two equally dangerous extremes that local congregations may fall into as they relate to criticism. The first is a culture of criticism where nearly everything and everyone is viewed with suspicion and negativity. Self-righteous criticism becomes the defining character trait of the church. The second is an uncritical culture where no one dares […] Written by Paul Tautges January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical Four Gracious Critiques of “The Five Love Languages” Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages has sold over 13 million copies over the past thirty years, making it one of the most popular Christianized self-help books ever. But how biblical is its message? How consistent is its counsel with the message of the cross and Jesus’s call to self-denial? Over the years, I’ve counseled and […] Written by Paul Tautges January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical Heavy Trials Test Our Strength and Endurance A few weeks ago, we had our first real snowstorm of the season. One of our neighbors said it was the most damaging snowfall they experienced on their property in the 37 years they’ve lived there. Our generator ran for three days, and we’re still picking up branches here and there on our property. Twenty-four […] Written by Paul Tautges January 6, 2021January 6, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical How My Newest Book was Conceived Nine Years Ago Here is the Introduction to my newest book, When Disability Hits Home: How God Magnifies His Grace In Our Weakness and Suffering, with contributions of Joni Eareckson Tada. The idea for this book was conceived in April 2011 at The Gospel Coalition conference in Chicago, during two conversations that could only have been providentially arranged […] Written by Paul Tautges January 4, 2021January 4, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical Man’s Chief Care, Highest Virtue, and Only Happiness Man need only look back to the origin of existence and he will acknowledge that he owes everything to God. Man’s chief care, his highest virtue, and his only happiness, now and through all eternity, is to present himself as an empty vessel in which God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness. The […] Written by Paul Tautges January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical Favorite Quotes from My All-Time Favorite Book about Humility The copy of Andrew Murray’s classic book, Humility, which sits on my desk as I type this blog post, was purchased and read in 1985, when I was only one-year old in Christ. Immediately its impact was felt. Since that time, I can’t recall how many times I’ve picked it up to reread or to […] Written by Paul Tautges December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical What Is God Doing through the Death of My Spouse? “I can’t claim to be inside God’s head, to know His reasons for everything that goes on. Yes, Scripture says I’m to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). But that doesn’t mean He answers all my questions.” So writes Sue Nicewander Delaney in her new mini-book. Even the big ones. When my husband Jim […] Written by Paul Tautges December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical Death Is Not My Friend, But Jesus Is Coronavirus has brought us back to the basics in shocking ways as we, our loved ones, and the world face the reality of our mortality. In the wake of this pandemic, our merciful God has recently healed several of my personal friends and family of serious medical problems. While I’ve been truly grateful for that, […] Written by Paul Tautges December 28, 2020December 28, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical What Child Is This? One of my favorite Christmas carols is What Child Is This? Written around 1865 by the Englishman William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898), this carol says so much about our wonderful Savior. What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherd’s watch are keeping? This, […] Written by Paul Tautges December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical NUGGETS When Christmas Isn’t Merry and Bright – Christmas is not joyous for everyone. For some, the Christmas season brings grief or stress or numbness, which no amount of eggnog or carol singing can overcome. Family tensions, tragic memories, personal sin or even the shortening of daylight hours can make Christmas one of the most difficult […] Written by Paul Tautges December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical A Groundbreaking Resource: The Family Disability Toolkit It’s been more than three years in the making and, therefore, I am thrilled to introduce to you a brand new resource. Nothing like it has ever been published before! It’s the Family Disability Toolkit from Shepherd Press and Joni & Friends International Disability Ministry. In December 2017, about sixty biblical counseling leaders met in […] Written by Paul Tautges December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Evangelical Old and New Testament Foundations for Coping with Criticism Last month, one of the books I read is Pastors and Their Critics: A Guide to Coping with Criticism in Ministry by Joel Beeke and Nick Thompson. This book ministered to me personally, encouraging me to remember the biblical pattern of criticism, reminding me of times when I responded properly, and convicted me about times […] Written by Paul Tautges December 15, 2020December 15, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked Loading Load more
Evangelical Cultivating a Church Culture Open to Constructive Critique There are two equally dangerous extremes that local congregations may fall into as they relate to criticism. The first is a culture of criticism where nearly everything and everyone is viewed with suspicion and negativity. Self-righteous criticism becomes the defining character trait of the church. The second is an uncritical culture where no one dares […] Written by Paul Tautges January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical Four Gracious Critiques of “The Five Love Languages” Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages has sold over 13 million copies over the past thirty years, making it one of the most popular Christianized self-help books ever. But how biblical is its message? How consistent is its counsel with the message of the cross and Jesus’s call to self-denial? Over the years, I’ve counseled and […] Written by Paul Tautges January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical Heavy Trials Test Our Strength and Endurance A few weeks ago, we had our first real snowstorm of the season. One of our neighbors said it was the most damaging snowfall they experienced on their property in the 37 years they’ve lived there. Our generator ran for three days, and we’re still picking up branches here and there on our property. Twenty-four […] Written by Paul Tautges January 6, 2021January 6, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical How My Newest Book was Conceived Nine Years Ago Here is the Introduction to my newest book, When Disability Hits Home: How God Magnifies His Grace In Our Weakness and Suffering, with contributions of Joni Eareckson Tada. The idea for this book was conceived in April 2011 at The Gospel Coalition conference in Chicago, during two conversations that could only have been providentially arranged […] Written by Paul Tautges January 4, 2021January 4, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical Man’s Chief Care, Highest Virtue, and Only Happiness Man need only look back to the origin of existence and he will acknowledge that he owes everything to God. Man’s chief care, his highest virtue, and his only happiness, now and through all eternity, is to present himself as an empty vessel in which God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness. The […] Written by Paul Tautges January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical Favorite Quotes from My All-Time Favorite Book about Humility The copy of Andrew Murray’s classic book, Humility, which sits on my desk as I type this blog post, was purchased and read in 1985, when I was only one-year old in Christ. Immediately its impact was felt. Since that time, I can’t recall how many times I’ve picked it up to reread or to […] Written by Paul Tautges December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical What Is God Doing through the Death of My Spouse? “I can’t claim to be inside God’s head, to know His reasons for everything that goes on. Yes, Scripture says I’m to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). But that doesn’t mean He answers all my questions.” So writes Sue Nicewander Delaney in her new mini-book. Even the big ones. When my husband Jim […] Written by Paul Tautges December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical Death Is Not My Friend, But Jesus Is Coronavirus has brought us back to the basics in shocking ways as we, our loved ones, and the world face the reality of our mortality. In the wake of this pandemic, our merciful God has recently healed several of my personal friends and family of serious medical problems. While I’ve been truly grateful for that, […] Written by Paul Tautges December 28, 2020December 28, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical What Child Is This? One of my favorite Christmas carols is What Child Is This? Written around 1865 by the Englishman William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898), this carol says so much about our wonderful Savior. What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherd’s watch are keeping? This, […] Written by Paul Tautges December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical NUGGETS When Christmas Isn’t Merry and Bright – Christmas is not joyous for everyone. For some, the Christmas season brings grief or stress or numbness, which no amount of eggnog or carol singing can overcome. Family tensions, tragic memories, personal sin or even the shortening of daylight hours can make Christmas one of the most difficult […] Written by Paul Tautges December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical A Groundbreaking Resource: The Family Disability Toolkit It’s been more than three years in the making and, therefore, I am thrilled to introduce to you a brand new resource. Nothing like it has ever been published before! It’s the Family Disability Toolkit from Shepherd Press and Joni & Friends International Disability Ministry. In December 2017, about sixty biblical counseling leaders met in […] Written by Paul Tautges December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Evangelical Old and New Testament Foundations for Coping with Criticism Last month, one of the books I read is Pastors and Their Critics: A Guide to Coping with Criticism in Ministry by Joel Beeke and Nick Thompson. This book ministered to me personally, encouraging me to remember the biblical pattern of criticism, reminding me of times when I responded properly, and convicted me about times […] Written by Paul Tautges December 15, 2020December 15, 2020 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
