Patheos Featured Writers

Mark Roberts
Columnist

The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo above.)

Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After “I Believe” (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014.

Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling: Everyday Conversations About Work, Life, and God, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His “Daily Reflections” can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up.

Mark blogs daily at Mark D. Roberts: Reflections on Christ, Culture and Church.

Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column “Lyrical Poetry.” Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide.

Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.

Works by Mark Roberts
How to Make Your Job So Much More Than Just a Job
Mark Roberts | November 26, 2018
...
A Simple "Thank You" That Makes a Big Difference
Mark Roberts | November 22, 2018
...
Grace Will Find You Out
Mark Roberts | November 20, 2018
...
Unflinching Hospitality
Mark Roberts | October 25, 2018
...
Eugene Peterson When Nobody Was Looking
Mark Roberts | October 23, 2018
...
The Sweet Taste of Friendship
Mark Roberts | October 06, 2018
...
How Can I Really Love My Real Neighbors?
Mark Roberts | June 14, 2018
...
Why I Don't Like Work-Life Balance Either
Mark Roberts | May 14, 2018
...
...
Work, Justice, and Rest - A Biblical Basis
Mark Roberts | April 21, 2018
...
Should After-Hours Email Be Illegal?
Mark Roberts | April 06, 2018
...
Discovering Your True Business
Mark Roberts | December 27, 2017
...
The Miraculous Christmas Smile
Mark Roberts | December 23, 2017
...
The Little Lord Jesus, No Crying She Makes?
Mark Roberts | December 22, 2017
...
...
...
Beyond Sexual Harassment: Dignity
Mark Roberts | December 18, 2017
...
Where is God When I Hate My Job?
Mark Roberts | December 14, 2017
...
Experiencing the Presence of God in Your Work
Mark Roberts | December 11, 2017
...
Can Your Work Make a Difference in Your Faith?
Mark Roberts | December 06, 2017
...
Should You Take a Nap at Work?
Mark Roberts | December 06, 2017
...
Why I Love Advent
Mark Roberts | November 30, 2017
...
How I Learned About Advent
Mark Roberts | November 29, 2017
...
Advent Basics: When? What? Colors?
Mark Roberts | November 28, 2017
...
...
How to Ruin Your Holiday Celebrations
Mark Roberts | November 24, 2017
...
Is Gratitude a Leadership Weapon?
Mark Roberts | November 22, 2017
...
Can Gratitude Improve Your Leadership?
Mark Roberts | November 20, 2017
...
...
Ash Wednesday: Practice and Meaning
Mark Roberts | February 28, 2017
...
The Future of Not Working?
Mark Roberts | February 27, 2017
...
Lent Begins This Week on Ash Wednesday
Mark Roberts | February 27, 2017
...
...
How to Build the Perfect Team
Mark Roberts | March 02, 2016
...
Finding Jesus at Work in The Atlantic
Mark Roberts | February 18, 2016
...
What is Success, Really?
Mark Roberts | January 20, 2016
...
...
Why Do We Love a Good Fire in the Fireplace?
Mark Roberts | January 16, 2016
...
Leaders Need a Great Heart
Mark Roberts | December 04, 2015
...
Advent Devotion: Waiting for the Shepherd
Mark Roberts | November 29, 2015
...
God of Peaches
Mark Roberts | April 22, 2015
...
The Curious Meaning of "God"
Mark Roberts | April 08, 2015
...
First Impressions of God
Mark Roberts | April 06, 2015
...
...
Servant Leadership on Maundy Thursday
Mark Roberts | April 02, 2015
...
“I’m Ba-a-ack”
Mark Roberts | April 01, 2015
...
Does Place Really Matter? If So, Why?
Mark Roberts | December 11, 2014
...
Does Place Really Matter?
Mark Roberts | December 05, 2014
...
Ch-Ch-Changes
Mark Roberts | December 02, 2014
...
The First Sunday of Advent: Waiting for the Shepherd
Mark Roberts | November 30, 2014
...
...
The Advent of Advent
Mark Roberts | November 28, 2014
...
Enjoying Your Thanksgiving Dinner Twice
Mark Roberts | November 27, 2014
...
Be Sure to Thank People Too!
Mark Roberts | November 25, 2014
...
A Brief History of Thanksgiving
Mark Roberts | November 24, 2014
...
Don't Overlook the Heart of Thanksgiving
Mark Roberts | November 23, 2014
...
Can You Vandalize Vandalism? Imagine Lennon's Wall
Mark Roberts | November 20, 2014
...
Nespresso Rocks!
Mark Roberts | November 18, 2014
...
...
The Pastor as Father: Several Surprises
Mark Roberts | March 07, 2012
What kind of "father" are you?...
The Danger of "Clergyism"
Mark Roberts | February 08, 2012
The church will never become what God intends it to be until God's people embrace their......
My last installment in the Pastor's Workshop showed that pastoring is always personal.......
Pastoring is Always Personal
Mark Roberts | November 30, 2011
The seventh part of Mark D. Roberts' "Master Class for Pastors" explains how pastoral......
Nine Stereotypes for Pastors
Mark Roberts | November 03, 2011
The sixth installment in a "Master Class for Pastors" considers the expectations that......
What are the cultural barriers to your effectiveness as a pastor?...
If all of God's people are called into his ministry, why shouldn't seminaries at least......
The very language you use to describe your church can encourage a healthy missional......
A Master Class for Pastors: The Impact of Thanksgiving
Mark Roberts | September 20, 2011
How communicating gratitude can change everything....
A Master Class for Pastors: Who Are Your Partners?
Mark Roberts | September 06, 2011
Are you struggling as a pastor because you're trying to do it alone?...
A Master Class for Pastors
Mark Roberts | August 09, 2011
Want to be a better pastor? Why not learn from the master....
Are you ready to be a fool for Christ? It may just change your ministry....
Our church's story of foolish worship....
Taking a Good Vacation from the Pastorate
Mark Roberts | June 28, 2011
What if you can't stop being a preacher?...
Is it possible that you might be a better preacher when you're spiritually dry?...
How can you preach when you're exhausted?...
What relationships are essential for every pastor?...
The Peculiar Task of Preaching on Easter
Mark Roberts | April 13, 2011
Easter preaching is unusual. Why? What difference does this make for preachers?...
Pastoring is a lonely business. But pastors don't have to be -- and shouldn't be -- as......
The Loneliness of Pastoring, Part 2
Mark Roberts | March 16, 2011
Does the professionalization of ministry lead to pastoral loneliness?...
The Loneliness of Pastoring, Part 1
Mark Roberts | March 02, 2011
A pastor's suicide points to how deeply lonely the pastoring experience can be....
3-D Preaching: The Technology of the Word
Mark Roberts | February 16, 2011
When does the use of cutting-edge technology serve more to undermine than enhance the......
The Groundhog Day Preacher
Mark Roberts | February 02, 2011
Improving your preaching takes daily and consistent work. Here's one approach....
Leading a Church in Challenging Financial Times
Mark Roberts | January 19, 2011
Financial turmoil can split a church . . . or hone its mission, motivate its laypeople,......
Exegeting Your Congregation
Mark Roberts | January 05, 2011
One of the most important tools of an effective preacher is a thorough understanding of......
Preaching on Christmas
Mark Roberts | December 22, 2010
How do you approach one of the toughest sermons of the year?...
Preaching the Neglected Christmas Story
Mark Roberts | December 08, 2010
We preach about the Magi from Matthew, or about shepherds and angels from Luke. But what......
Can Thanksgiving Transform Your Ministry?
Mark Roberts | November 24, 2010
Pastors, like all Christians, are called to give thanks at all times. But can......
Introducing "The Pastor's Workshop"
Mark Roberts | November 10, 2010
Pastors need a place where they can be themselves, where they can experiment, where they......
An Ironic Ending
Mark Roberts | February 24, 2010
At the empty tomb, God used ordinary people -- not heralds, not heroes, not kings -- to......
A Day of Dust, Ashes and Hope
Mark Roberts | February 18, 2010
The central meaning of Ash Wednesday is in our fragility and mortality, our desperate......
Out of the Deepest Pit: A Thursday Work Meditation
Mark Roberts | December 31, 2009
Even when all you can do is cry out in despair or shout in rage, keep talking with God....
A Mighty God, a "Little Town"
Mark Roberts | December 24, 2009
That God became human in the "Little Town of Bethlehem" shows the upside-down way in......
Taking Up Our Cross
Mark Roberts | December 10, 2009
The way to true life passes through death. How do we live this out in the workplace...
Making Time to Remember
Mark Roberts | November 25, 2009
Set aside time to remember Gods goodness True Thanksgiving will follow...
God's Inconvenient Truths
Mark Roberts | November 20, 2009
What if God is telling you something that you do not want to hear...
Who Touched Me?
Mark Roberts | November 13, 2009
A woman sought healing from Jesus Why did she reach out to him in secret...
Focusing on Your Primary Purpose
Mark Roberts | October 30, 2009
Christians are called to focus not on crowds and the will of men but on their calling......
Remembering the Sabbath
Mark Roberts | July 10, 2009
Why is the call to remember the Sabbath the one commandment we ignore without qualms?...
Close Ad