Author: Jojo Agot

Pastor at Victory. Faculty and adviser at Every Nation Leadership Institute (ENLI). MA in Theology and Mission at Every Nation Seminary.

In The Apartment Where I Live, There is this Elderly Lady…

In the apartment where I live, there is this dear elderly lady who waves at me almost every morning before I go to work. If I am within earshot, she would always say, “Good morning Pastor!” I’d smile, beam back my chirpiest good morning, crank my motorcycle, and speed out of the gate.

She knows I am a pastor. I knew she is related to the owner of the apartment where I live but I never really tried to find out her story. One time when I did a dedication service for their family’s computer shop, we exchanged a few sentences over breakfast. She said she liked my exhortation and that she appreciated that I recited the Apostle’s Creed. Continue reading In The Apartment Where I Live, There is this Elderly Lady…

It’s Okay to Cringe at our Preaching Series on Sex

Did you cringe at yesterday’s preaching on sex? I did. And we all should. Here are three reasons why it is okay to cringe at this preaching series:

1. It’s cage fight between the gospel and today’s culture of sensuality. The preaching yesterday made many people squirm on the inside because while we believe the gospel in our hearts, our bodies have a secret liking to the world’s culture of sensuality. I know it was not an easy topic to preach about. I understand Pastor Kix’s struggle to speak truthful words without offending our cultural sensibilities. Some words sounded a bit sleazy to my ears but I think more than the issue of word choices, the preaching was very unsettling because it brought to light the part of our lives that we would rather not surrender to the scrutiny of God’s Word. When the Bible exposes things that we secretly love to keep, it triggers our natural instinct to grab a cover and pretend we are fine. Continue reading It’s Okay to Cringe at our Preaching Series on Sex

Why You Need to Read the Boring Parts of the Bible

Everyone who reads the Bible knows the feeling of getting stuck with ‘boring’ names and measurements in some passages: the genealogies of Genesis 11, 1 Chronicles 1-9, and Matthew 1; the measurements of the ark of the covenant and the temple; the names of people who helped rebuild the wall in Nehemiah’s time; and many more. This begs the question: can we just skip them and get to the exciting parts?

I suggest not. I believe that reading the ‘boring’ passages of the Bible is a spiritually enriching exercise. Three reasons: Continue reading Why You Need to Read the Boring Parts of the Bible

That Awkward Moment When the Church Talks About Sex

It’s here. The topic that I (half) hoped would never appear in the preaching calendar of Victory is finally here. Sex. What does the Bible say about sex? Should the church talk about it? Do you have to be pure (for at least four weeks) to be qualified to talk about it in your discipleship group? Do you need to be married to preach it? How do you talk about it with a straight face in your victory group? Do you worry that if you admit your struggles, your spiritual leadership would be ruined? And what do you do when someone in your group sounds obviously proud (and unrepentant) of his experience? Continue reading That Awkward Moment When the Church Talks About Sex

Praying Cliché Prayers

Convicting words from Lee Eclov’s book Pastoral Graces:

Praying publicly is an occupational hazard for pastors because it is so easy to pray on autopilot. We pray so often for the same things that it is hard to be thoughtful and focused. I’ve stood before the church and said, “Let us pray,” bowed my head, and realized in that instant that I had no idea of what we actually needed to say to God. I wonder if such prayers are not a nuisance to God. They call for His attention but then have nothing to say. Continue reading Praying Cliché Prayers