Ray Ortlund Photo

Ray Ortlund

Ray Ortlund is the author of the book The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility. He serves as president of Renewal Ministries and a council member of The Gospel Coalition. He founded Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and now serves from Immanuel as Pastor to Pastors.

Men of Exemplary Faith: How Pastors Lead a Church Well

Men of Exemplary Faith

How Pastors Lead a Church Well

If the pastors are not growing and deepening their own faith in Jesus, the consequences will be felt far and wide in the church.

Preach Christ, Embody Christ: How to Set an Example in Love

Preach Christ, Embody Christ

How to Set an Example in Love

The love of a godly pastor is gracious and patient, gentle and forgiving, persevering and pain-tolerant, shining with the glad sacrifice of Christ.

Pastoring with Your Life: Exemplary Conduct in Little Moments

Pastoring with Your Life

Exemplary Conduct in Little Moments

Good pastors are far more than their words in the pulpit. Their lives, in public and private, confirm and commend the truth that they teach.

Exemplary Speech: How Good Pastors Wield Words

Exemplary Speech

How Good Pastors Wield Words

How can a young pastor set an example in his speech? By speaking with sober-minded balance, dignified gravitas, and self-controlled restraint.

Resilient Together: Recovering What the Gospel Creates

Resilient Together

Recovering What the Gospel Creates

If we deeply believe the sound doctrine we profess, it will produce churches that set us apart from the division and hostility around us.

Let No One Despise You: Wisdom for Young Pastors

Let No One Despise You

Wisdom for Young Pastors

What counsel would you give a younger man for his first years in pastoral ministry? We asked a veteran pastor to encourage a rising generation.

Friend, You Can Be Ready to Die: Two Ways to Prepare Now

Friend, You Can Be Ready to Die

Two Ways to Prepare Now

Because of the risen Jesus, the moment of a Christian’s death is no longer a crisis, but a final release to enjoy Jesus fully and forever.

That They May All Be One? Why Unity Is Still Worth Pursuing

That They May All Be One?

Why Unity Is Still Worth Pursuing

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus prayed “that they may all be one.” So what do we make of all the different denominations within Christianity today?

The Longest Years of Ministry: Courage for Weary Pastors

The Longest Years of Ministry

Courage for Weary Pastors

Over and over, God turns low moments to profound victories. What if this moment in your ministry is about to be one of his great reversals of grace?

Who Helps You Enjoy God? Christian Hedonists in Honest Community

Who Helps You Enjoy God?

Christian Hedonists in Honest Community

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. And God is more glorified in us together than in any of us alone.

The Holiness from Below: A Warning Against Self-Righteousness

The Holiness from Below

A Warning Against Self-Righteousness

Holiness withers when we make it, not Christ, our primary focus. But holiness thrives when we are captured most, and most often, by him.

The Healer of Bruised Reeds: How Jesus Changes the World

The Healer of Bruised Reeds

How Jesus Changes the World

The world wins people through aggression and intimidation. Jesus wins the world through humility and gentleness.

The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way: Three Sentences That Shaped My Ministry

The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way

Three Sentences That Shaped My Ministry

Ministry is hard for a thousand reasons. And it’s worth it for at least one big reason: the glory of God in and through the salvation of sinners.

God Can Redeem Your Family History

God Can Redeem Your Family History

If your family history was harder than most, you may be more prepared than most to love a family well.

Holy Power for Imperfect Preachers

Holy Power for Imperfect Preachers

Pastors who love people with the heart of God are men of God serving in the power of God.

God Calms Our Sexual Insanity: The Seventh Commandment for Today

God Calms Our Sexual Insanity

The Seventh Commandment for Today

The solution to our sexual brokenness is not to give in to our brokenness, but to find healing and purpose in Jesus.

For Low Moments in Ministry: Why Pastors Need Revival

For Low Moments in Ministry

Why Pastors Need Revival

Every pastor experiences dry seasons. In God’s wisdom and mercy, those dry seasons often become gardens of surprising growth.

The Surprising Ministry of Encouragement

The Surprising Ministry of Encouragement

Encouragement is one of the most prominent ministries in the New Testament, and sadly may be one of the most neglected in the church today.

Do Not Trust Your Anger

Do Not Trust Your Anger

You cannot truly follow Christ without feeling anger over sin and injustice. And you cannot truly follow Christ and unleash every angry impulse.

Ministry Is Never Just a Job: Advice for Young Pastors

Ministry Is Never Just a Job

Advice for Young Pastors

Of all men, pastors need soldiers in arms, allies who stand with them, brothers born for the day of adversity.

Your Ministry Will Take a Lifetime: My Counsel for Younger Men

Your Ministry Will Take a Lifetime

My Counsel for Younger Men

Men, if God has not called you to more for now, it may be because you’re not ready yet.

Stop Loving Your Spouse Too Much

Stop Loving Your Spouse Too Much

Every marriage is either Christian or idolatrous. And two married Christians can be idolatrous, without even realizing it.

God Will Renew Your Joy in Ministry: Three Lessons from Decades of Weakness

God Will Renew Your Joy in Ministry

Three Lessons from Decades of Weakness

How can we who lead find joy and renewal and energy along the way? God has consistently strengthened this pastor in at least three ways.

Make It Easy for Your Kids to Love God: Proverbs for a Happy Home

Make It Easy for Your Kids to Love God

Proverbs for a Happy Home

Only God can give our children a love for him, but parents can make it as hard as possible for our kids to resist the happiness we have in him.

Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth

Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth

Letter to a Would-Be Adulterer

Your marriage can tell a powerful story to future generations of God’s faithfulness — or lie about how real, powerful, and reliable he really is.

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