tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74208333082377216422024-02-22T01:37:59.666-08:00AK PastorThe thoughts and reflections of one who is passionate about Jesus and struggles with sin just like everyone else.AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.comBlogger1157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-47174803210897161962022-04-04T16:32:00.000-07:002022-04-04T16:32:00.165-07:00The Church Has Two Missions: Narrow and Broad<div class="content" id="main-content" style="background-color: ; color: #252525; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">What is the mission of the church? Answering that requires defining what we mean by the “church.” Theologians make distinctions between the universal and local church, the invisible and visible church, the institutional and organic church, or the gathered and scattered church. For our immediate purposes, I’m not interested in any of these distinctions.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The distinction we need is similar to an old Presbyterian division between the elders’ “joint” and “several” power. They say elders are authorized to do some things together or “jointly,” like excommunicate; and other things independently or “severally,” like teach. I don’t expect to revive the language of “joint” versus “several,” but that is the distinction we need for thinking about the church’s mission. Why? Because ascertaining what the mission of the church is requires us to ascertain whom God authorized to do what. To rephrase “joint” and “several,” then, I think we can say that God authorizes a <em>church-as-organized-collective</em> one way and a <em>church-as-its-members </em>another way.<a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/the-church-has-two-missions-narrow-and-broad/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">[1]</a></p><span class="featured-image auto-insert alignright" style="float: right; margin: 5px -3em 1.5em 2em; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><img alt="" class="auto-insert alignright" height="250" loading="lazy" src="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/architecture-2583231_1280-270x250.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="270" /></span><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><strong>THE NARROW & BROAD MISSION</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Broadly, Christ authorizes a church-as-its-members with a kingly authority to represent him as God-imaging sons and citizens, whether gathered together or scattered apart. That’s not to deny there is also something priestly about a church-as-its-members. We’re priest-kings, after all. But I do mean to put the accent on the kingly authority of ruling here.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Narrowly, God authorizes a church-as-organized-collective with a distinct priestly authority to publicly separate sinners from the world and to reconcile them to himself and his people through [re-]naming and teaching.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Very plainly, then, what is the mission of the church? The narrow mission of a church-as-organized collective is to make disciples and citizens of Christ’s kingdom. The broad mission of a church-as-its-members is to be disciples and citizens of Christ’s kingdom. The narrow employs judge-like or priestly words of formal separation, identification, and instruction. The broad rules and lives as sons of the king, representing the heavenly Father in all of life’s words and deeds. The narrow protects the holy place where God dwells, which is his temple, the church. The broad pushes God’s witness into new territory, expanding where his rule is acknowledged. For illustration purposes, we might say the narrow mission is to be an embassy, while the broad mission is to be an ambassador.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM.png" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-25033" height="336" sizes="(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" src="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-1024x473.png" srcset="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-1024x473.png 1024w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-300x139.png 300w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-768x355.png 768w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-500x231.png 500w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-610x282.png 610w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-320x148.png 320w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-640x296.png 640w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM-1280x591.png 1280w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-9.38.19-PM.png 1840w" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="728" /></a></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">In the congregationalist conception, seeing how the two sides of the ledger work together is quite simple. Every church member, by virtue of his or her salvation, is a priest-king. Therefore every member is put to work mediating God’s judgments with the gathered church and ruling on God’s behalf whether gathered or scattered. To ask a member of a congregationalist church about the mission of the church requires specifying which hat you mean for him or her to wear: the whole-church-together hat or the church-member hat? In the presbyterian or episcopalian conception, the priestly and kingly roles work together similarly, but a greater place is given to the church officers in the “Narrow mission” column for acting on behalf of the whole church. That’s why I some advocates of the broad mission might look at the “narrow” column and regard that as the mission of the officers.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><strong>WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Why is it important to maintain the distinction between the church’s broad and narrow mission? First—believe it or not—for the sake of clarity. It satisfies our conflicting intuitions. When someone asks me, “What’s the mission of the church?” or “Is caring for creation church work?” or “Does the church’s work center on words or both words and deeds?” or “Is the church’s mission to care for the poor?” I need to know whether the questioner means the church as a corporate actor or the church as its individual members.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Second, the distinction protects the pastoral and programmatic priority the church-as-organized-collective should give to the narrow mission since that is its job. Several friends run a website that states in one place, “Christian churches must work for justice and peace in their neighborhoods through service.” If by that they mean that my church, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, “must” hire staff members to do political engagement or mercy ministry, then I vehemently disagree. That would bind where Scripture does not bind. If they mean that the members of Capitol Hill Baptist “must” seek justice and peace through serving others, each according to their callings and stewardships, then I entirely agree. At the moment of this writing, in fact, I am teaching a Sunday School class called Christians and Government in which I am teaching just that.<a href="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/51d8mZX9CL._SX326_BO1204203200_.jpg" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-25035 size-full" height="499" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px" src="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/51d8mZX9CL._SX326_BO1204203200_.jpg" srcset="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/51d8mZX9CL._SX326_BO1204203200_.jpg 328w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/51d8mZX9CL._SX326_BO1204203200_-197x300.jpg 197w, https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/51d8mZX9CL._SX326_BO1204203200_-320x487.jpg 320w" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 15px 25px; max-width: 100%;" width="328" /></a></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Third, maintaining a broad mission for the church severally is critical for <em>obeying</em> everything Jesus commanded his followers to do. It is critical for cultivating “integral” (a useful word I learned from Christopher Wright)<a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/the-church-has-two-missions-narrow-and-broad/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">[2]</a> Christian lives and for warding off hypocrisy and nominalism. It keeps us from imposing a false line between the secular and the sacred for the Christian. My loving, feeding, teaching, and evangelizing my children is all of one piece.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Fourth, maintaining a narrow mission focused on adjudicatory words for the church jointly is critical for identifying the saints, equipping the saints, maintaining the existence of the local church, and maintaining the line between the church and the world. The individual Christian or church member is not authorized to do everything the whole church is, and the individual Christian needs the whole church to do its specially-sanctioned work in order for the individual to identify as a Christian and to live the Christian life that God intends.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Fifth, keeping one eye on the narrow mission keeps us eschatalogically honest. Christ has come, but the curse remains. We cannot “transform” or “redeem” anything from which the curse has not been lifted. At its worst, transformationism is a kind of disillusionment-promising prosperity gospel. Yes, the kings of the earth will bring their glory into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:24), as so many transformationalists today point out. But is this verse talking about Genghis Kahn, Margaret Thatcher, and Donald Trump, or about the sons of the kingdom, the saints? Either way, why not encourage Christians in their vocations through the many passages commending faith and working unto Christ, rather than speculating on one verse from apocalyptic literature? The church’s goal is not to transform the world, but to live together as a transformed world, and to invite the nations in word and deed to the Transformer.<a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/the-church-has-two-missions-narrow-and-broad/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">[3]</a></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Sixth, by the same token, the distinct narrow mission reminds us to calibrate everything in our broad vocation according to the eternal possibilities of heaven or hell, destinies with much biblical support. And it gives urgency to our evangelistic witness in word and deed.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Seventh, the narrow mission of the church jointly both shapes and “brands” the whole Christian life. The average church member should not think that evangelizing their neighbor comes before caring for their own children or building good houses or being honest lawyers. But it does mean their parenting, lawyering, and building should be performed for Christ and one’s witness to Christ, as if everything we did had a fish bumper sticker on it.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Eighth, maintaining the distinction both preserves the existence of the local church and properly situates the individual Christian to a church. No one would try to blur the distinction between the law school’s mission and the lawyer’s mission. Each needs the other. Many Christians today, however, underestimate the role and distinct authority of the local church. They fail to see that the individual Christian life should equal the church member’s life and should be lived in submission to the church’s affirmation, oversight, and discipleship. When a believer harbors these mistaken assumptions, a broad mission won’t require otherwise, even if making disciples is “prioritized.” One can fulfill a broad mission apart from membership in a local church so long as one finds fellowship (with Christian friends on the golf course or at the gym?), good teaching (favorite podcast preachers?), songs of praise (car karaoke with Christian radio and my wife?), the Lord’s Supper (with a friend over dinner or at the annual Christian conference?), and doing good to all people (occasionally volunteering at the local soup kitchen or voting in elections?). The only thing that formally requires believers to join a local church as a matter of obedience—above and beyond pragmatic considerations—is the fact that the church-as-organized-collective possesses an authority the individual Christian does not possess. Take away that distinct authority and mission, and at best the local church becomes optional. If submission to the local church is a “good” not “necessary” thing, we also have to say the existence of the local church itself is a good, not necessary thing. Lest all this sounds hyperbolic, those advocating for an undifferentiated broad mission should realize that a decent-sized swath of less careful American “Christians” adopt precisely this optional approach to “church.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">On the other hand, too many so-called Christians today have learned that “church” and even “Christianity” is a one-day-a-week affair, and so nominal Christianity abounds both in the state-churches of Europe and the revivalistic and seeker churches of America. And when that’s the case the narrow definition alone will more likely appeal to them. “Leave me alone. I was baptized and prayed a prayer!”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">All this is why I want to keep these two missions or jobs distinct, and then to insist that both the church-as-organized-collective and church-as-its-individual-members each do their God-assigned jobs. We need both the narrow and broad definition of the church’s mission, and we need to maintain them distinctly. Losing the broad definition tempts the Christian to separate Sunday from the rest of the week. Losing the narrow definition tempts us to let go of the local church and to downplay the significance of verbal witness and to blur the line between regenerate and unregenerate. And both errors will lead to Christian nominalism, ethical complacency, and eventually the death of churches.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><strong>Editor’s note: Taken from <a href="http://www.zondervan.com/four-views-on-the-church-s-mission" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;"><em>Four Views on the Church’s Mission</em></a> by Jasons S. Sexton, general editor.<br />Copyright © 2017 by Jason Sexton, Jonathan Leeman, Christopher J. H. Wright, John<br />Franke, Peter Leithart. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><strong>For a conversation on this topic with Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman, check out <a href="https://www.9marks.org/interview/episode-25-on-the-mission-of-the-church/" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">Episode 25 of Pastors’ Talk</a>.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">* * * * *</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><strong>FOOTNOTES:</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/the-church-has-two-missions-narrow-and-broad/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">[1]</a> Notice, then, I am not making the institutional/organic distinction of Abraham Kuyper. Both sides of my distinction involve authority or an institutional element. I as an individual Christian represent Christ on Monday to Saturday at home and at work because I am a baptized, Lord’s Supper-receiving member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church. The so-called institutional church is right there with me at the dinner table or in the office all week by virtue of my participation in the ordinances.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/the-church-has-two-missions-narrow-and-broad/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">[2]</a> Stott and Wright, <em>Christian Mission</em>, 47-48, 54.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/the-church-has-two-missions-narrow-and-broad/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="color: #0095da; text-decoration-line: none;">[3]</a> See John C. Nugent, <em>Endangered Gospel: How Fixing the World Is Killing the Church </em>(Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2016), 192, 194.</p></div><div class="author-bottom-list" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><strong class="mobile-hide"><div class="terms">By <a href="https://www.9marks.org/by-author/jonathan-leeman/" rel="tag" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">Jonathan Leeman</a></div></strong></div>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-28484367499599257582022-03-29T16:29:00.002-07:002022-04-29T07:21:52.512-07:00How Church Discipline Aims at Heaven<p>This is a helpful article on church discipline from <a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/how-church-discipline-aims-at-heaven/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article&mc_cid=9e4b1f8dce&mc_eid=86e5f427f4" target="_blank">9Marks </a>. . . </p><p>The church of Jesus Christ lives in the overlap of the old age and the new—the “already/not yet,” as it’s often called. We are at the same time living in the kingdom of God and seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), but we are also longing to be with Christ personally and reign with him eternally. We find this tension throughout the New Testament:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The believer is saved in Christ (Eph. 2:8), but yet to be saved (Rom. 5:9);</li><li>The believer is adopted in Christ (Rom. 8:15), but yet to be adopted (Rom. 8:23);</li><li>The believer is redeemed in Christ (Eph. 1:7), but yet to be redeemed (Eph. 4:30);</li><li>The believer is sanctified in Christ (1 Cor. 1:2), but yet to be sanctified (1 Thess. 5:23–24).</li><li>The believer is raised with Christ (Eph. 2:6), but yet to be raised (1 Cor. 15:52).</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhugtq8fTgQ0JkL-ZHevxucrs5CQPlasJ4FB4iHgUpIyx6vpCnVhhwq1HJYJmxXQiFGlDxSOWv8B1YU5Uzyw7cMQ4QlPDLtfZakx0xFn35hvYAhTZDhGfBjyrRBj-R6S3Zmxi4emgbWEfkEXmsm76w0ZZ7rmwrRVGmjFG-m7uW8SssJOombLDf_H9I_g/s360/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="360" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhugtq8fTgQ0JkL-ZHevxucrs5CQPlasJ4FB4iHgUpIyx6vpCnVhhwq1HJYJmxXQiFGlDxSOWv8B1YU5Uzyw7cMQ4QlPDLtfZakx0xFn35hvYAhTZDhGfBjyrRBj-R6S3Zmxi4emgbWEfkEXmsm76w0ZZ7rmwrRVGmjFG-m7uW8SssJOombLDf_H9I_g/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Churches must live in light of this tension. As the community of the new creation that still lives in the old order, our job as Christians is to build up the church and prepare her for the appearing of Christ so that no one is ashamed at his appearing (1 Jn. 2:28). One primary way we do this might surprise you: we practice church discipline (cf. Matt 18:15–18, 1 Cor. 5:1–13, 2 Thess. 3:14–15, Titus 3:10). We practice church discipline for the sake of the church’s holiness, to honor God, and to prepare one another to meet the Lord (Eph. 5:26–27, 1 Thess. 5:23–24, Jude 24–25).</p><p>You’re probably familiar with 1 Corinthians 5, one of the New Testament’s most important texts on church discipline. In this passage, Paul indicates that a member of the church is living in an incestuous relationship with his father’s wife. To add to the scandal, the church is seemingly tolerating the situation. Paul instead urges them to deal with the matter decisively and immediately.</p><p>But have you ever noticed the overarching goal in Paul’s counsel to discipline? By refusing to associate or fellowship with the man living sin (5:11), the church effectively hands the man over to Satan for the “destruction of his flesh in order that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (5:5) In other words, Paul hopes that confronting this man’s sin today will lead him to repent so that on the final day he’ll be among those who truly know Christ and receive his mercy.</p><p>Church discipline is an advance warning to the erring brother of the inevitable end-time judgment against his sin. It aims at “saving his soul” and restoring him to repentance. In other words, church discipline aims at heaven.</p><p>Consider these three ways discipline aims at heaven.</p><p>1. Church discipline prepares us for the Lord’s appearing.</p><p>The goal of church ministry is to present God’s people holy and blameless before her Lord (Col. 1:28). The church is both saved and awaiting her ultimate salvation. So in the present, she is called to work out her salvation (Phil. 2:12). Believers must put off the old self, renew their minds, and put on Christ-like virtues (Eph. 4:22–24). The church must continuously grow to reflect the Lord they claim to know and follow. Moreover, they’re assured that when he appears they will be entirely like him (1 Jn. 3:1–3).</p><p>Therefore, when a believer isn’t living consistently according to his profession, the church has both the obligation and the opportunity to confront that person to help them live according to Christ’s commands. The vast majority of time this process happens through a single conversation. One believer confronts another about a sin; the confronted believer receives that rebuke with gladness and repents. Occasionally, however, such conversations about serious sin aren’t received well. Jesus outlines the process of what to do in those situations in Matthew 18.</p><p>This whole process—whether it ends after a single conversation or a congregational vote—ensures that God’s people will be prepared for the Lord’s return. When we practice church discipline, we’re preparing both the disciplined person and ourselves for the Lord’s appearing.</p><p>2. Church discipline fosters pure worship of God.</p><p>The church cannot worship God while living in sin. Scripture warns us that if we live in sin, God will not hear our prayers (Ps. 66:18). Our offerings will not be acceptable if we have unresolved issues with a brother (Matt. 5:24). A husband’s prayers may go unheard if he doesn’t treat his wife well (1 Pet. 3:7).</p><p>The standard here, of course, is not perfection. Every Christian is a sinner, and every church is full of sinners. But the standard should be holiness, a posture that takes sin seriously and doesn’t tolerate it either due to misguided compassion or ignorance. Simply put, a church cannot worship God rightly if she is not living righteously. Pure and honourable worship of God takes place insofar as the church pursues Christ, and a faithful practice of church discipline fosters pure worship.</p><p>The church’s worship on earth is a foretaste of our worship in heaven when God’s people will gather to worship her God in all purity and unity.</p><p>3. Church discipline exalts Christ.</p><p>Christ is the head of the Church. He is her source and her sustainer. She exists to please her Lord and master, to the praise of his glorious name. Christ offered himself as a sacrifice so that we may take on his righteousness and live righteously.</p><p>Believers therefore exalt Christ by pursuing holiness. When believers covenant together to follow Christ, they commit to helping one another grow in holiness and, in so doing, they honor his name. Through discipline the church holds its members accountable to live on earth as citizens of heaven.</p><p>When we think of church discipline, it’s easy for us to detach it from our future hope. We only think of the cost and the difficulty in the here-and-now. We don’t think about the future. But we must guard against that temptation. As we commit to helping each other grow in holiness by gently and graciously confronting sin in one another, we’re looking toward heaven. We practice discipline so that the church of Jesus Christ may be presented holy and blameless before her master. We practice church discipline because we long to see erring brothers and sisters restored, because we long to see them in heaven.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;">By </span><a href="https://www.9marks.org/by-author/chopo-mwanza/" rel="tag" style="background-color: white; color: #0095da; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: none;">Chopo Mwanza</a></p><p><br /></p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-11260215335420090892022-03-14T10:54:00.000-07:002022-03-14T10:54:43.830-07:00Four Lessons on Bad Ecclesiology from the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_FIjZm6ntARS4NljmztPD8EGFC4neG1r8vVXDJzUe4k_x5O8gzkitdZ3v8RuqMQBwa1oDxwOa0fzUroQ8OoW801RdDMeGa_QrUFt_Kb5VVDsc-EtvQZymN2iIMhLdjRthXueRva0VSk8LlmCQxHEx8Elff3ODJjO9EjFn0P5nXcR0YOjtk9WJZAE_rw=s320" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_FIjZm6ntARS4NljmztPD8EGFC4neG1r8vVXDJzUe4k_x5O8gzkitdZ3v8RuqMQBwa1oDxwOa0fzUroQ8OoW801RdDMeGa_QrUFt_Kb5VVDsc-EtvQZymN2iIMhLdjRthXueRva0VSk8LlmCQxHEx8Elff3ODJjO9EjFn0P5nXcR0YOjtk9WJZAE_rw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div> I am not blogging on this site as much anymore, posting more on our church's Facebook page. I do and will continue to post articles are are more geared toward ministry leaders. Many have listened to the the recent podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. I found it fascinating, insightful, helpful, and revealing in many ways. Here are four lessons on bad ecclesiology by Jonathan Leeman.<br /><p></p><p>Now that everyone has stopped talking about Mike Cosper’s podcast series on the rise and fall of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church, published by Christianity Today, I thought it was high time to wade in. Leave it to 9Marks for a Pony Express delivery of hot takes.</p><p>Cosper’s podcast reminds me of Blue Like Jazz. Like Don Miller’s iconic 2003 book, it’s well-crafted and cool. More than that, both products caught the cultural winds at just the right moment, accelerating their popularity. A sailboat might be well-made, but it still needs wind. And Cosper and Miller found fortuitous weather conditions.</p><p>Blue Like Jazz caught the postmodern, anti-consumeristic, and anti-megachurch gales that the Gen-X kids who grew up in 1980s and 90s youth-groups felt around the turn of the millennium. He embodied their vibe and expressed their misgivings better than anyone. Cosper has caught recent gusts of growing existential angst over complementarianism and Calvinism, abuse and authority, engendered by everything from the #MeToo movement to anti-Trump exasperation. Driscoll’s message and leadership style, after all, are the Platonic ideal of what today’s climate can’t stand. No one else thought to do this in a dramatized podcast form, but now that Cosper’s done it, it feels like it was inevitable, as with Emerson’s poet whose genius lay in holding up a mirror to the world around him.</p><p>FOUR LESSONS</p><p>My goal here is not to review the series—what I liked, what I didn’t like—but to offer four lessons that I think are a little more timeless, and lessons that point to the worst inevitabilities of bad ecclesiology.</p><p>1. We’re too easily seduced by numbers and giftedness.</p><p>With a story about the rise and fall of something, everyone wants to know who the good guys and bad guys are. There’s one bad guy I want to usher more clearly into the light, because I suspect many listeners overlooked him: pragmatism.</p><p>Pragmatism is a results-driven orientation, especially results that can be measured, like dollars in the plate or bodies in the pew. It throws overboard almost everything else the Bible says about being a church in pursuit of those numeric goals. Little by little, churches value leaders more for their giftedness than their faithfulness, their charisma more than their character.</p><p>The members, too, change. We begin acting more like an audience than a body. More like consumers than a family. Our desires for our church change. Our expectations morph. And our commitments to each other grow thin.</p><p>The ironic thing is, Driscoll rose up in the Young, Restless, & Reformed world, a world that is supposedly theologically driven and knows you should spit when you say “pragmatism.” Driscoll himself called church consumerism “a sin” (Vintage Church, 252). But a dynamic young leader drawing big crowds and reaching new groups makes us lose our heads. He exposes how much pragmatism remains in us, since pragmatism, in the final analysis, means living by sight and not by faith. Sight says, “Look at those polling numbers! Tell everyone it’s a movement of God.” Faith says, “But is he wise? Is he building with materials that will stand the test of time?”</p><p>Cosper was correct early in the series to encourage listeners to consider themselves, like Paul laying responsibility at the feet of churches choosing ear-scratching preachers (2 Tim. 4:3). I’m not looking to lay specific blame on specific people or organizations. I’m not even saying we should completely disregard giftedness or drawing power. I am saying we should all double down on prioritizing finding leaders who are faithful to the Bible, who have exemplary character, and whose general patterns of life and speech leave you thinking, “That looks like wisdom. It feels wholesome.”</p><p>What do you value in your leaders? What are you looking for in your next pastor? Are you prioritizing the right things?</p><p>2. Character was the problem, not complementarianism.</p><p>The podcast series gave a lot of airtime to Driscoll’s version of complementarianism. Cosper didn’t say—and I don’t think Cosper personally believes—that complementarianism leads to abuse. Yet that was the conclusion for some, or at least the lingering question.</p><p>If we asked the apostle Paul to listen to the series, I don’t think he would invite us to debate the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:12. I think he would turn the page, put his finger down on chapter 3, and say, “Anyone read this?” Paul spills more ink on an elder’s character than his job description, in part because good character is crucial to the job description.</p><p>Yet I don’t want to let us complementarians off the hook either. We cannot commend the goodness of authority while failing to mention that those under authority are in a more vulnerable position (at least on earth; vulnerabilities switch before God’s judgment seat in heaven). An authority figure with good character brings life, growth, strength, joy, and vitality. But an authority figure with bad character abuses, breaks, crushes, destroys, exploits, fleeces. Bad character turns any gift of authority—parental, governmental, pastoral, etc.—into something putrid and wicked. It will turn the office into something God never designed it to be.</p><p>Which is to say, I think Paul would listen to Cosper’s Mars Hill story, point also to 1 Timothy 2:12, and remark, “No, that’s not what I meant in those verses.” Then he would go on to explain why a man’s authority in the home and church should be a source of joy and flourishing for women and men. Drawing from Jesus, he would explain that people of good character use their authority to place themselves in the position of greatest vulnerability. They put themselves at risk of the greatest pain (see Mark 10:45).</p><p>3. Nobody cares about church polity until things go south.</p><p>Yet the Mars Hill story doesn’t just feature pragmatism and character problems. It also features structural problems.</p><p>When an organization is growing and prosperous, nobody cares much about its governing structures or polity. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” People only care when things fall apart. Then they clamor, “Who has the power of discipline here? And who should be holding whom accountable.”</p><p>Discipline and accountability are the first things people wonder about when leaders fail. Why didn’t Driscoll keep himself accountable? Why didn’t the elders? Why didn’t an outside board? And so it goes.</p><p>As with nations and their governments, the most crucial piece of church polity is who possesses the power of accountability and discipline. The “highest” authority is the authority which can fire, eject, or execute you. Insofar as the government can execute you, they can do anything else, like raise your taxes. Discipline is authority’s teeth.</p><p>Who holds the power of discipline in an independent, elder-ruled church like Mars Hill? The elders. They are the highest authority. Indeed, they are the only authority.</p><p>Not so in congregational, presbyterian, or episcopalian-structured churches (lower-case to refer to systems of government, not denominations). Congregationalists push the authority to excommunicate down from the elders to the whole congregation. Presbyterian and episcopalians push it up to the presbytery, general assembly, or bishop.</p><p>For my part, not only do I think the downward push to the congregation is more biblical, but if the history of governments has anything to teach us, pushing power downward always does more to keep it in check. See the Federalist Papers. Not only that, by pushing accountability upward to bishops or presbyteries, you’re pushing it outward to people in other churches, those with far less first-hand knowledge of a church than its own members.</p><p>Yet never mind my quarrel with the presbyterians and episcopalians—good hearted friends—for now. We mostly agree that independent, elder-ruled churches concentrate all authority in a church’s own session in a way that’s unbiblical and unsafe, and all the more so when one elder concentrates the lion’s share of that authority in himself.</p><p>But now ask yourself: which form of church polity do pragmatists love most? You guessed it—independent pastor or elder rule. This structure is easy and efficient. You can make decisions quickly. And you don’t have to bother with outside bodies or even your own congregation. If your church asks, you can point them to Hebrews 13:17’s call to submit to pastors. Furthermore, tell them you’re prioritizing the mission, not the bureaucracy. Never mind the possibility that those authority structures might in fact prepare people for the mission.</p><p>Adopting a congregationalist, presbyterian, or episcopal church structure, on the other hand, requires a fairly developed set of ecclesiological convictions, and most folks don’t have those these days. Their inconveniences require an extra level of biblical (for the congregationalists and presbyterians) or at least historical (for the episcopalians) conviction. Yet evangelicalism and its seminaries haven’t been passing out such convictions these days. And they haven’t at least since the days of Billy Graham rallies, if not revivals going back all the way to George Whitefield. Who cares about polity differences as long as people are getting saved, right?! Polity is not essential for salvation. Therefore, it can’t be important.</p><p>Not surprisingly, the independent pastor or elder-ruled church structure has come to characterize the evangelical landscape for the last 70 years—from the Crystal Cathedral, to Willow Creek, to Saddleback, to the independent Bible churches I grew up in, to Mars Hill, to most hip church plants, to so many fundamentalist churches who work desperately to be biblical. Even those SBC megachurches which claim to be congregational are so in a rubber-stamping sort of way.</p><p>We’ve not considered the possibility that—as Mark Dever often observes—a middle lane exists somewhere in between “essential for salvation” and “completely unimportant.” Yet the sad tale of Mars Hill Church, which crushed the faith of so many, demonstrates why a middle lane is important. Polity is not essential for salvation, but it’s essential for helping the saved walk lovingly and peaceably together. It’s essential for passing the gospel to the next generation. It’s essential, finally, for biblical obedience. Driscoll’s self-manufactured structures failed his congregation and the city of Seattle in all three ways.</p><p>4. Elders don’t have the authority to discipline, but to teach.</p><p>If the final authority of discipline belongs somewhere else—not with the elders all by themselves—what authority do elders have? If Driscoll abused his, what’s the right way? It’s hard to understand the wrong unless you place it side by side with the right.</p><p>Pastoral or elder authority is the authority to teach, to set an example of godliness, to give oversight in the direction of the church, and to lead the congregation to use its authority, like me teaching my daughter to drive. Yet here’s the crucial piece, and I’m going to sound more decidedly congregational now: elders, like husbands, lack the power of discipline. (And I’m using the word “discipline” here narrowly, not as rebuking or warning, but as the final act of excommunication.)</p><p>The Bible gives parents, governments, and congregations the power of discipline insofar as it gives all three an enforcement mechanism for ensuring their decisions are obeyed. It gives parents “the rod,” governments “the sword,” and congregations “the keys” for excommunication. But scan your eyes across the pages Scripture. Can you think of any passage that gives husbands such an enforcement mechanism? You’d better say no. And what about elders—where their rule is linked to excommunication as explicitly and decisively as the congregation’s (see Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:2,4-5; 2 Cor. 2:6; Gal. 1:9)? I cannot think of one.</p><p>What’s going on here? Philosophers distinguish between the authority of command (which possess an enforcement mechanism) and the authority of counsel (which doesn’t). Parents, governments, and churches possess the former. Husbands and pastors the latter. An authority of counsel is true authority because God does lay a moral burden on wives and church members to submit, and there is an eschatological enforcement mechanism—teeth. But it’s in God’s hands, not ours. Husbands and pastors are like middle managers who are in charge of their department but cannot actually fire anyone. They’re required to use more winsome tactics if they want their department members to follow.</p><p>In other words, the fact that husbands and elders possess no enforcement mechanism changes the nature of how their authority must be exercised. It forces a man to be patient, long-suffering, tender, and consistent. It requires him to live with his wife and church in an understanding way. It requires him to woo and be winsome. He must work for growth over the long run, not forced outcomes and decisions in the short run, which is why Paul tells Timothy to teach “with all patience.” What good is a forced decision or forced love from a wife or a member of the new covenant? A husband and an elder want the flowers of loving decisions growing naturally from loving hearts.</p><p>To put it another way, an authority of counsel requires husbands and elders to honor those they lead as positionally equal. While a police officer or the parent of a young child will sometimes override the agency of those they lead for purposes of protection and instruction, respectively, a husband or elder can never do that. They must always appeal to a person’s own agency. They possess a variety of authority particularly suited to partnership and collegiality. Their leadership requires collaboration, involvement, and consent from the ones they lead.</p><p>My guess is that many husbands and elders at Mars Hill Church did lead this way, because they were reading their Bibles and God is gracious to teach his people in spite of bad leadership. Yet too many stories in Cosper’s narration about Driscoll featured something different—leading, as it were, by slamming a fist on the table; leading with fear and forms of coercion; leading by diminishing people and not empowering them.</p><p>When an elder or pastor treats all authority as one thing, and fails to realize that God has established different kinds of authority, he begins to exercise his authority coercively. It becomes characterized by demands, not invitations. Combine that with underlying character issues, and you have a recipe for disaster.</p><p>WHY THE FALL OF MARS HILL WAS NOT SURPRISING</p><p>Let me sum up the ecclesiological angle on the rise and fall of Mars Hill in a way that might sound a little arrogant, but I hope is not: the rise and fall of Mars Hill were not surprising. There’s a reason that, for over two decades, 9Marks has been insisting that churches look to the Bible for their ecclesiology and polity, like Protestants did for centuries, at least up to our great-grandparent’s generation. And have you noticed that so many of today’s church scandals have occurred in independent, elder-ruled churches?</p><p>Good ecclesiology is not just an academic enterprise for the folks who want to cross their theological “t”s and dot their polity “i”s. Ecclesiology is the social outworking of the gospel. Polity is the shape the gospel gives to our relationships with each other. It shapes your understanding of who you are and how you relate to everyone else calling themselves a Christian. It empowers and constrains. It trains and it disciplines. It pushes us down the path of gospel righteousness while putting up guardrails along the sides.</p><p>The trouble is, too many evangelicals have decided that the Bible doesn’t address how to build, grow, lead, and live as local churches. That’s one reason we’ve become pragmatists. In effect, we supplant God’s wisdom with our own. Which is when things start to fall apart. Accountability breaks down, as does discipline. Authority and leadership assume ungodly shapes and sizes. Men demand what they shouldn’t. Women respond in kind. We redefine sin and make our peace treaties with it. Love becomes whatever the culture tells us it, not what Jesus says it is. On and on I could go.</p><p>I said at the beginning of this article that the sails of Cosper’s series caught the winds of a growing existential angst over complementarianism and Calvinism, abuse and authority. After all, so many celebrity pastors have fallen. So many reports of abuse and coverup. #MeToo has grown into #ChurchToo. Politics and protests have divided churches. Christian friends, rocked by all these political divisions and moral scandals, have “deconstructed” their faith. I don’t believe every social-media-led charge of scandal has been right or just. Not at all. False accusations will accompany the true, and always have. Still, my 9Marksy response to all the Twitter and Facebook fireworks through a decade of political, moral, and deconstructing turmoil, of which Cosper’s podcast series provides only one illustration, is: what else did you expect?</p><p>We’ve reaped what we’ve sown. A house full of undisciplined children will leave a mess behind. Progressive Christians argue all the failures and abuses should cause us to rethink our doctrines—from our views on men and women to our views on the atonement. Conservative Christians, in response, get understandably defensive, but then don’t offer another explanation because pragmatism blinds us, too. And my point is not that bad polity and pragmatism are the source of all our woes. Yet at the risk of being the man with a hammer for whom everything looks like a nail, here is 9Marks, once again, waving the ecclesiology flag, pleading with folks, have you considered your polity? Your ecclesiology? And, inside that, the character of your leaders and members both?</p><p>On the one hand, biblically faithful churches and leaders will stumble and stray. Let’s admit it. Just last week I learned of another pastor acquaintance of an otherwise biblically faithful church who stumbled. Lord, preserve us each of us. On the other hand, we make it worse for ourselves when we build our churches on human wisdom.</p><p>Good ecclesiology and a more biblical complementarianism offer the best correction to what happened at Mars Hill and what is happening in so many evangelical churches.</p><p>Churches and leaders should worry less about bare numbers and more about biblical faithfulness, knowing that faithfulness produces the greatest numbers over time. They should cultivate leaders of good character and congregations who live and love as families.</p><p>Congregationalism requires elders to train and equip their members toward maturity by modelling Christ-like lives, lest those congregations wield the keys foolishly. Faithful elders, faithful church. Unfaithful elders, unfaithful church. Congregational rule should also temper and checks authoritarian elder leadership. And elder authority, when understood rightly, is an inviting, winsome, patient, and beautiful picture of one who stands at the door and knocks, bears the heavier yoke, and even lays down his life for the sheep.</p><p>By Jonathan Leeman</p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-22489037134753753942022-01-25T17:45:00.000-08:002022-01-25T17:45:08.622-08:00How to Survive the First 5 Years of Church Planting<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/survive-five-years-planting/" target="_blank">TGC</a> . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih19ptC2vpLEK_UvmDb2I_R0yRuWTzMFyN6Yede_vS-dxhbTaGKPAery9uoQtGAlYoY9En2AnKBC2F0TWBxSrHaE4pbi4vzCOrZVVqr9OfR_OV8ZVNEqn3D_a8caUszeORMVNQc4LxnzgaNpeQE_35Q_AMSq92F9IhvA2d1R9Hbxu9AbaNj2FTR-D6xw=s2196" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="2196" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih19ptC2vpLEK_UvmDb2I_R0yRuWTzMFyN6Yede_vS-dxhbTaGKPAery9uoQtGAlYoY9En2AnKBC2F0TWBxSrHaE4pbi4vzCOrZVVqr9OfR_OV8ZVNEqn3D_a8caUszeORMVNQc4LxnzgaNpeQE_35Q_AMSq92F9IhvA2d1R9Hbxu9AbaNj2FTR-D6xw=w400-h221" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Five years ago today, Cross Community Church was born. Almost anyone who has been involved in church planting knows the significance of that five-year mark. In an age of short pastoral tenures and ministry burnout, I don’t take a single day for granted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We’re a generation in desperate need of healthy churches led by healthy shepherds, and the habits we establish in the first five years of ministry can make or break us for decades to come. In light of this great need, I want to offer 10 keys for surviving, by God’s grace, the first five years of church planting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>1. Vibrant Devotional Life</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">More than dynamic, engaging exegesis, the very best gift you can give your church is a heart fully alive and satisfied in Jesus Christ, burning with passion for the glory of his name. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pastor, seek the Lord daily. Seek him in his Word. Seek him in prayer. Seek him in fasting, silence, and solitude. As George Muller once remarked of his own devotional life, make it your “first great and primary business” every day to have a soul that is “happy in the Lord.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>2. Healthy Home</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In year one, I heard Ray Ortlund say: “A minister’s marriage is as important as his preaching of the gospel, because the minister’s marriage is a preaching of the gospel.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Marriage is the gospel in motion. When we fail to attend to our first ministry (the family), we disqualify ourselves from our second ministry (the church). Pastors, make it a goal for your family to love Christ’s church because you’re a pastor. It requires great intentionality, but give your best time and energy to your home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>3. Faithful Friends</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jesus had friends. Paul had friends. Charles Spurgeon had friends. But sadly, too many pastors have too few friends—or none at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pastor, you need friends who encourage you, challenge you, and hold you accountable. You need friends who are thoroughly unimpressed with you, and with whom you can spend three hours without talking about “ministry.” Church planting can be a lonely, discouraging journey—you won’t survive long without friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>4. Regular Rest</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Without question, church planting requires a willingness to work hard. But we must realize that a need for rest doesn’t make us lazy, it makes us human.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pastor, guard your day off. Turn off your phone, take a nap, eat good food, watch a movie, read a good book, or indulge in a hobby. And most of all, make sure you feel zero guilt. In Christ, we labor from our rest, not for our rest. Remember the principle of sabbath, and keep it very holy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>5. Discipline and Boundaries</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Develop a sustainable rule of life and follow it. The early days of a new church can be unpredictable and chaotic, and if you don’t take control of your schedule, then everyone else will. Sit down with your spouse and key leaders, on a consistent basis, to discuss your schedule and obligations. Know your limits and be willing to say “no.” Honor the commitments you make, and don’t take on more than you can sustain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>6. Leadership Development</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">“Lone ranger” ministry isn’t just unhealthy, it’s unbiblical. Sadly, many church planters unwittingly make themselves the central focus of the church and a barrier to congregational health by failing to appoint other elders and leaders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pastor, you simply cannot thrive in ministry by carrying the burden alone. Raise up leaders, recognize them, and celebrate them. Be willing to delegate significant responsibility, and invite others to share the burden of major decisions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>7. Guarded Study Time</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The relentless demands of church planting make protected study time a challenge. Almost no one will demand that you protect this time, so you will have to preserve it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Build study time into your calendar and resolve to keep it uninterrupted. Communicate that time slot to other leaders, to your congregation, and to your family. An effective ministry of the Word requires adequate time to prepare.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>8. Intentional Simplicity</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Desiring to make an immediate difference, new church plants tend to be magnets for busyness—and it’s one of the biggest threats to the health of a young church. If you’re not careful, you’ll quickly become overextended across a landscape of half-baked ministry initiatives. Before planting, work with your team to develop a clear framework for determining which types of ministry initiatives will, and will not, make the cut during the first five years—and stick to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>9. Healthy Membership Process</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One of the best ways to set a trajectory for church health is by developing a strong membership process. Ideally, this class or series of meetings will be an environment in which you explain the church’s beliefs, governance, mission, vision, values, and strategy, and you teach the biblical foundations for membership. Conduct interviews in which prospective members can articulate their understanding of the gospel and their personal testimony. When appropriate, recommend other faithful churches, and joyfully send the Lord’s people to advance his kingdom elsewhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>10. Perseverance and Endurance</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At times, church planting can feel impossible and paralyzing. The relentless attacks of the Enemy are distracting and discouraging. People will “ghost” you and leave. Some will slander you, your family, your motives, and the church you’re doing your best to lead. You’ll grow tired and weary. You may lose some close friends. There will be days when you’ll fail and be tempted to give up. Pastor, don’t. He who called you is faithful, and he will see you through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As my dad once wrote to me in a letter, “When you stand alone, you never stand alone, for God stands with you.” You’re not alone, so stay the course. For me, it’s five years down and, Lord willing, 35 to go. By God’s grace and in the strength of his Spirit, let’s minister long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Taylor Burgess serves as lead pastor of Cross Community Church in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Emily, and their three young boys. He is a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is pursuing a DMin in expository preaching. You can follow him on Twitter.</div><div><br /></div></div></div><p></p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-59772327794774621962021-12-31T23:09:00.000-08:002021-12-31T23:09:11.048-08:00Pastors Should Have Friends in Church. Do They?<div class="content_container" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Charter; max-width: 1000px; min-height: 180px; padding: 51px 90px 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">I was told by a leader at the seminary I went to during a chapel that pastors should not have friends in the church they pastor. It did not sit well with me at the time and never has. It has been challenging at times as all relationships can be. Here is a good article from <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pastors-friends-church/">TGC</a>. . . </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidgXCzTK8EB_nM_Hz29sZvAmnkvMemJQqbLwq_gOxL14OIh6_6fxFhKKm8n_-Tt2MxfEDWs343Ie451YY5HOETuSnDr8pBl8D3L9LTO6zYHNk907Vl2xwrYaBsZ6hfoaspTk3TGNvPVb8ajculk6BGUYImw-8oWivaCmQirQtkj8a1dCCOy3mfqwN97A=s2198" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2198" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidgXCzTK8EB_nM_Hz29sZvAmnkvMemJQqbLwq_gOxL14OIh6_6fxFhKKm8n_-Tt2MxfEDWs343Ie451YY5HOETuSnDr8pBl8D3L9LTO6zYHNk907Vl2xwrYaBsZ6hfoaspTk3TGNvPVb8ajculk6BGUYImw-8oWivaCmQirQtkj8a1dCCOy3mfqwN97A=w400-h221" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before podcasts and blogs there was radio, and Paul Harvey was one of its iconic voices. Harvey brought an idyllic voice and a distinct delivery to his listeners for nearly 60 years. Each episode featured a mixture of news, commentary, and human-interest stories that not only informed but entertained.</span></span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Of particular interest to me were his five-minute broadcasts called “<a href="http://www.paulharveyarchives.com/trots/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">The Rest of the Story</a>.” These small historical vignettes often offered a surprise ending, and he would close with his trademark “And now you know—the rest of the story.”</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">These words came to mind as my wife and I reflected on my article, “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/yes-pastors-should-have-friends-church/&source=gmail&ust=1638909821932000&usg=AOvVaw1AARQKPPJ1Rv-GYItN-8Xz" href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/yes-pastors-should-have-friends-church/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Yes, Pastors Should Have Friends in the Church</a>.” I believe and stand by what I wrote, but now — for the rest of the story.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Pastoral Ministry Can Be Lonely</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Yes, pastors and their wives should have close friends within the church, but this doesn’t mean they will. Such a sentence is hard to write; it is an even harder reality to face. Friendships within the church are so often difficult for pastors and their families. The loneliness is even enough to drive some to despair.</span></p><blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px -90px 10px 84px; padding-top: 25px; width: 365px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Friendships within the church are so often difficult for pastors and their families.</span></p><div class="blockquote-share" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="s-options" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><a class="blockquote_tw" data-quote="Friendships within the church are so often difficult for pastors and their families." style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> </a><a class="blockquote_fb" data-quote="Friendships within the church are so often difficult for pastors and their families." style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-facebook" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></a></span></div></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">It is difficult to separate the person from the position. While specific reasons may vary, the root of loneliness often results from the inability (often unintentionally) of pastors and congregants to separate the person from the position. This reality manifests in the life of the <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pastors-wife-discouragement/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">pastor’s wife</a> as well.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Every random encounter, lunch appointment, coffee meeting, and extracurricular event falls under the umbrella of the pastor-member relationship. Most of these encounters inevitably lead to conversations circling back to the church—its business, its programs, its politics. Such conversations then become brick and mortar for Jericho-like walls, hindering the development of genuine friendship.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Let’s not confuse church talk, however, with discussing the chosen, adopted, forgiven, and gathered people who have been lavished with God’s grace and united together in Christ. There is a difference between discussing the business of the church and discussing Jesus and his bride. Solely discussing the institution, while necessary at times, can be spiritually draining and can alienate us from the possibility of genuine friendship by establishing a person-position dichotomy.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">For members of a congregation, the pastor may be seen as a professional expected to fill a position, not a person to be truly seen (much less befriended). Conversations about Jesus and his work in people, on the other hand, provide life-giving energy, foster spiritual intimacy, and deepen the unity we share in Christ. Conversations centered on these truths provide the foundation for friendship established on the person of Christ, not the profession of the pastor.</span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Close Friendships Aren’t Certain</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Friendships come with various levels of intimacy. Some will only scratch the surface, while others will flourish as a result of common interests, shared desires, and mutual trust. While every level of friendship is important, few will provide the depth so many of us seek.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">The church a pastor is called to serve may not meet his or his family’s longing for deep friendship, but this doesn’t mean his congregation doesn’t care. Nor does this mean friendships cannot exist within the church. Your church family may simply be unable to meet your personal longings for friendship. Should this occur, we as pastors must be careful not to project our frustrations as their failures.</span></p><blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px 84px 10px -90px; padding-top: 25px; width: 365px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Your church family may simply be unable to meet your personal longings for friendship.</span></p><div class="blockquote-share" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="s-options" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><a class="blockquote_tw" data-quote="Your church family may simply be unable to meet your personal longings for friendship." style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> </a><a class="blockquote_fb" data-quote="Your church family may simply be unable to meet your personal longings for friendship." style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-facebook" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></a></span></div></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Rather, may we give God thanks for the friendships he <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">has</em> provided. May we ask the Lord to provide the desires of our heart, but recognize he may not answer in the way we expect.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Perhaps he desires for us to acknowledge the relationships he’s graciously provided so that they may be intentionally nurtured, fostered, and developed. Perhaps our desire for close friendships will not be met through one or two persons, but rather <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/discipled-church/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">through the collective membership of the body</a>.</span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">Jesus Sticks Closer</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">As the author of Proverbs writes, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Prov.%2018%3A24/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Prov. 18:24</a>). Jesus is this friend. He is the one who knows and is able to meet our deepest longings. Plain and simple, Jesus is enough.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">God will always provide exactly what we need, when we need it. Let’s fight against our tendency to build relational walls that stand in the way of receiving his blessing. Let’s not expect the church to provide the intimacy and validation only Jesus can provide. After all, it is our vertical relationship with him that enables friendships with others to flourish.</span></p></div><div class="article_author_bio" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font-family: Charter; margin: 24px 0px 48px; padding: 26px; width: 1091px;"><div class="row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: -24.5px; margin-right: -24.5px;"><div class="col-12 col-md-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 16.6667%; max-width: 16.6667%; padding-left: 24.5px; padding-right: 24.5px; position: relative; width: 181.328px;"><a class="author_img_wrap" href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/jeremy-todd/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-image: url("https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/09142741/DSC_4007.jpeg"); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-radius: 50%; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: 12.5px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding-bottom: 132.328px; position: relative; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms; width: 132.328px;"></a></div><div class="col-md-10 col-12 align-self-center" style="align-self: center; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 83.3333%; max-width: 83.3333%; padding-left: 24.5px; padding-right: 24.5px; position: relative; width: 906.656px;"><p class="p1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jeremy Todd</span> (DEd, Southern Seminary) is the </span></p><p class="p1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="box-sizing: border-box;">teaching pastor </span>at <a href="https://www.hpcc.com/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">Harvest Pointe Community Church</a> </span></p><p class="p1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">in Charles Town, West Virginia. </span></p><p class="p1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;">He is married to Leslie, and they have one son.</span></p></div></div></div>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-20918263841711619762021-12-16T18:47:00.002-08:002022-04-29T07:27:31.309-07:00When Members Leave: How Pastors Can Guard Their Hearts<div class="content_container" style="background-color: ; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; max-width: 900px; min-height: 180px; padding: 51px 90px 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Over the years I have experienced both pain and numbness to people leaving. Here is some helpful advice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHZugfLADRUtBIfJsHRXl3RtH3ZH_YFP5uUH-9dX0f-FL4oubuZ29Z-rQDqQN7x36tSpwcscHlK8tFvyAjrnGf_vlARv-fajqsIkzeYDSVnsrsg8BlXLAZj38g5Fe2tc3b3Nd6HLyvitEvpfEGPRVe8Y1c_92s1pl5-HFz8q1ZqKTeQeD9cKKXmd0iCg=s1072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1072" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHZugfLADRUtBIfJsHRXl3RtH3ZH_YFP5uUH-9dX0f-FL4oubuZ29Z-rQDqQN7x36tSpwcscHlK8tFvyAjrnGf_vlARv-fajqsIkzeYDSVnsrsg8BlXLAZj38g5Fe2tc3b3Nd6HLyvitEvpfEGPRVe8Y1c_92s1pl5-HFz8q1ZqKTeQeD9cKKXmd0iCg=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">After the presbytery of local pastors interviewed me for ordination, each member offered a word of counsel. Always preach the Word. Be a holy man. Someone else told me, “Don’t get close to your people.” While no one corrected him, the Holy Spirit set off alarm bells in my heart. His comment exposed his own raw nerves and wounds that cut deeply into his life, leaving him cynical about pastoral ministry. At the time, I was young, a long way from spiritual maturity, and hadn’t served as a lead pastor. But I knew I couldn’t shepherd people without having them in my heart.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">One paradigm will not fit every church-and-pastor relationship. Personalities, interests, and styles, coupled with doctrine, methods, and change, sometimes unsettle the church atmosphere. Yet the Lord gives the appropriate prescription for each. It’s found in the ample “one another” passages, reminding us of the battle to maintain harmony and faithfulness in the local church. We’re all called to faithfully love, accept, encourage, and show kindness to one another (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%2013%3A35/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">John 13:35</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%2015%3A7/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Rom. 15:7</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Thess.%205%3A11/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Thess. 5:11</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%204%3A32/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Eph. 4:32</a>).</p><blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px -90px 10px 84px; padding-top: 25px; width: 365px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 0px;">I could not shepherd people without having them in my heart.</p><div class="blockquote-share" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="s-options" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="blockquote_tw" data-quote="
I could not shepherd people without having them in my heart.
" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> </a><a class="blockquote_fb" data-quote="
I could not shepherd people without having them in my heart.
" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-facebook" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></a></span></div></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Amid this, the Devil throws strained attitudes, <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/church-dont-let-coronavirus-divide/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">disharmony</a>, apathy, discontent, and a host of fiery darts (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%206%3A10%E2%80%9320/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Eph. 6:10–20</a>). Add the world’s influence, social media’s massive footprint among members to foment greener-pasture sentiments, low views of the church, even lower views of pastoral ministry, and the <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cant-livestream-church/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">dangerous substitution of “online church,”</a> and a recipe for discouragement is served. In this kind of atmosphere, Jesus Christ calls pastors to shepherd the flock (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts%2020%3A28/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Acts 20:28</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Pet.%205%3A2/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Pet. 5:2</a>). He added no caveats to “shepherd.”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Over the years, I’ve experienced painful times of members departing. Some disagreed theologically. Others left simply because a friend left. Some preferred other churches’ ministries. Still others changed jobs and relocated elsewhere. Whatever the reason, people I loved and served, whose fellowship I enjoyed, with whom I had laughed and cried, left. At times they left in rapid succession; other times a dribble here and there. How could I keep giving my heart to people who might not stay?</p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Regain Equilibrium</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">When members leave, it’s easy to feel you’ve been spun in a centrifuge. You’re dizzy, wondering, hurting, at a loss. Yet Jesus called you to shepherd the flock he purchased by his own blood (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts%2020%3A28/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Acts 20:28</a>). Shepherding calls for close contact, ground-level exposure to the flock. You cannot shepherd them without being close to them. Yet being close to them may mean being hurt once again. Vulnerability accompanies pastoral ministry. Yes, you will be hurt—again. Sometimes it’s your closest friends who abandon you—I know about that personally and so does Jesus.</p><blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px 84px 10px -90px; padding-top: 25px; width: 365px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 0px;">How could I keep giving my heart to pastor people who may not stay?</p><div class="blockquote-share" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="s-options" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="blockquote_tw" data-quote="How could I keep giving my heart to pastor people who may not stay?" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> </a><a class="blockquote_fb" data-quote="How could I keep giving my heart to pastor people who may not stay?" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-facebook" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></a></span></div></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">How do you regain equilibrium? When the seventy put their joy in ministry success, Jesus told them not to rejoice in it, “but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Find your joy in Jesus, not in your ministry (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Luke%2010%3A17%E2%80%9320/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Luke 10:17–20</a>). If your joy is fixed on him, then even fickleness in the flock, although hurtful, will not daunt your courage to continue pastoring those under your charge. Keep your heart warmed on him.</p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s the Lord’s Ministry; Don’t Lose Heart</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">While we often use the personal pronoun “my” to refer to our ministries, they really belong to our Lord. Although Paul witnessed the pain of departures and opposition, he also spoke of ministry as being received from the Lord. He didn’t create it. Jesus did. For that reason, he could write, “We do not lose heart” (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%204%3A1%E2%80%936/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 4:1–6</a>).</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">He did not lose heart because, despite difficulties and struggles, he knew God finds pleasure in the preaching of Jesus Christ’s gospel. In other words, Paul realized (maybe he struggled to reach this point) that ministry was not about him or his performance or even his comfort. It was about preaching Christ faithfully, then relying on the Lord to work and accomplish his redemptive purposes.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">But what happens when some who’ve received the Word through our ministries leave? It may be through painful exits of those we’ve loved and invested our lives in that the Lord has a work to accomplish in us.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">One rash of departures showed me how much I wanted the congregation’s approval instead of the Lord’s. I needed that radical, inward change in disposition to endure long term in ministry. He may deepen dependence on him. He may teach us to love unconditionally. He may strip away vestiges of self-importance we didn’t realize lurked under the surface. He may order suffering so that we more faithfully empathize with those we shepherd.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">It’s his ministry. Don’t lose heart. The Good Shepherd knows you.</p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Serve the Flock Entrusted to You</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">The remaining members who didn’t leave need your attentive shepherding. You can become easily distracted by departures. Your mind can become paralyzed, absorbed with those who left, and unconsciously miss out on the joy of pastoring. The congregation suffers, too, from a less-than-focused pastor. When the multitudes left, Jesus did not blink (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%206/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">John 6</a>). Even some numbered as his disciples left, grumbling in the process. Jesus relied on the Father’s sovereign purposes, even in the departures (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%206%3A65/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">John 6:65</a>). Without hesitation or complaint, he kept shepherding those who remained.</p><blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px -90px 10px 84px; padding-top: 25px; width: 365px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 0px;">A rash of departures showed me how much I wanted the congregation’s approval instead of the Lord’s.</p><div class="blockquote-share" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="s-options" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="blockquote_tw" data-quote="
A rash of departures showed me how much I wanted the congregation’s approval instead of the Lord’s.
" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> </a><a class="blockquote_fb" data-quote="
A rash of departures showed me how much I wanted the congregation’s approval instead of the Lord’s.
" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-facebook" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "font awesome 5 brands"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span></a></span></div></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">I don’t minimize the pain of people leaving the church. Years ago, during a three-year period about 65 percent of our congregation left. It was hard. But I learned good lessons, and out of it, grew closer to those who remained. We picked up the pieces and moved ahead, much stronger in Christ, humbler about ministry, and more confident in the wise providence of the Lord. I learned to keep pastoring, keep giving myself to others in service, and keep trusting the Lord with the pains along the way.</p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "gotham a", "gotham b", sans-serif; line-height: 1.0625; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overlook Offenses</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Just as we encourage our congregation members to be quick to overlook offenses, we must overlook them too (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Prov.%2019%3A11/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Prov. 19:11</a>). Bitterness over those wounding you—intentionally or not—will only intensify. Instead, in love, you can cover the sins done to you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Pet.%204%3A8/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #72abbf; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Pet. 4:8</a>). As you do so, pray—not with imprecatory pleas but with grace.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">I grew close to a brother who, along with his family, attended our church the day we began. He became a leader, encourager, and friend. He was the first church member to visit the hospital right after our fourth child’s birth. One day he came in to tell me he was leaving. His reason: “You know I like to be around successful things; and this is not successful. I’m leaving.”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">That was it. Ten years brushed off in a moment. God gave me the grace to forgive him and keep praying for him. In subsequent years, I’ve had opportunities to minister to his family. He’s reached out to encourage me. He had no biblical reason to leave. But he did. With that, I learned not to dwell on the past but press on with grace and kindness.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">None of these practices comes naturally. Instead, they overflow from learning to find our deepest satisfaction in Jesus. While much joy can be found in serving our church members, he far exceeds what a church member can give us. We can easily expect more from them than God intends us to receive.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Shepherd the flock. Keep them in your heart. All the while, find that Jesus is enough.</p></div><div class="article_author_bio" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin: 24px 0px 48px; padding: 26px; width: 965px;"><div class="row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: -24.5px; margin-right: -24.5px;"><div class="col-12 col-md-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 16.6667%; max-width: 16.6667%; padding-left: 24.5px; padding-right: 24.5px; position: relative; width: 160.328px;"><a class="author_img_wrap" href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/phil-a-newton/" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; background-image: url("https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/19074548/phil-300x201.jpg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: 12.5px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding-bottom: 111.328px; position: relative; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms; width: 111.328px;"></a></div><div class="col-md-10 col-12 align-self-center" style="align-self: center !important; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 83.3333%; max-width: 83.3333%; padding-left: 24.5px; padding-right: 24.5px; position: relative; width: 801.656px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; margin: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 800;">Phil A. Newton</span> (PhD, <a href="http://www.sebts.edu/" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary</a>) planted and has served as senior pastor of <a href="http://www.southwoodsbc.org/" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">South Woods Baptist Church</a> in Memphis, Tennessee, since 1987. Phil and his wife, Karen, have five children and six grandchildren. He is the author of several books, including <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/40-Questions-About-Pastoral-Ministry/dp/0825446562/?tag=thegospcoal-20" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">40 Questions About Pastoral Ministry</a></em>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mentoring-Church-Pastors-Congregations-Cultivate/dp/0825444640/?tag=thegospcoal-20" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Mentoring Church: How Pastors and Congregations Cultivate Leaders</em></a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Conduct-Gospel-Centered-Funerals-Challenges-Shepherding/dp/0310517184/?tag=thegospcoal-20" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Conduct Gospel-Centered Funerals</em></a> (with Brian Croft), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elders-Life-Church-Rediscovering-Leadership/dp/0825442729/?tag=thegospcoal-20" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Elders in the Life of the Church</em></a> (with Matt Schmucker), and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Venture-All-God-Writings-Spirituality/dp/1601781539/?tag=thegospcoal-20" rel="noopener" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Venture All for God: Piety in the Writings of John Bunyan</em></a> (with Roger Duke and Drew Harris). He is an adjunct professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.</p></div></div></div>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-32475331828755923072021-12-14T14:37:00.000-08:002021-12-14T14:37:53.436-08:00Driscoll, Schaeffer, and Packer on the Size of Your Church and the Idolatry of Your Heart<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Must read for every driven ministry leader from <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/driscoll-schaeffer-and-packer-on-the-size-of-your-church-and-the-idolatry-of-your-heart/" target="_blank">Justin Taylor</a> at TGC. I have just finished The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Well worth listening to by every ministry leader also . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8uX8xRSeCcHtLxwt9NOUiqnAq-4J-iv4JXQvRfr-RkvD8E9Ymq36cri6E7bWNDjYHs0X9UbgFpB7-GIxo6MKefOxZ9uISEOocGzcijlaRyKx4wGkn5OAf1I6XdmqX0aSlRZ7PodmoIpP6sIAWCO7n0bYOc5d3dnQ6wGkN7H7RXSWViD5Z29t6hPWGUQ=s1075" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1075" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8uX8xRSeCcHtLxwt9NOUiqnAq-4J-iv4JXQvRfr-RkvD8E9Ymq36cri6E7bWNDjYHs0X9UbgFpB7-GIxo6MKefOxZ9uISEOocGzcijlaRyKx4wGkn5OAf1I6XdmqX0aSlRZ7PodmoIpP6sIAWCO7n0bYOc5d3dnQ6wGkN7H7RXSWViD5Z29t6hPWGUQ=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Mark Driscoll, from a <a href="http://mikeyanderson.com/hello-name-mike-im-recovering-true-believer" style="backface-visibility: hidden; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">sermon</a> in 2006, eight years before he abandoned the church discipline process from his elders, resigned the church after ostensibly hearing from God, and eventually saw Mars Hill Church dissolve completely:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I’m a guy who is highly competitive.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Every year, I want the church to grow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I want my knowledge to grow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I want my influence to grow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I want our staff to grow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I want our church plants to grow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I want everything—because I want to win.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I don’t want to just be where I’m at.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I don’t want anything to be where it’s at.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">And so for me it is success and drivenness and it is productivity and it is victory that drives me constantly.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I—that’s my own little idol and it works well in a church because no one would ever yell at you for being a Christian who produces results.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">So I found the perfect place to hide.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">And I was thinking about it this week.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">What if the church stopped growing?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">What if we shrunk?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">What if everything fell apart?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">What if half the staff left?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Would I still worship Jesus or would I be a total despairing mess?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I don’t know.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">By God’s grace, I won’t have to find out, but you never know.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Francis Schaeffer:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">As there are no little people in God’s sight, so there are no little places. . . . Nowhere more than in America are Christians caught in the twentieth-century syndrome of size. Size will show success. If I am consecrated, there will necessarily be large quantities of people, dollars, etc.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">This is not so.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Not only does God not say that size and spiritual power go together, but He even reverses this (especially in the teaching of Jesus) and tells us to be deliberately careful not to choose a place too big for us. We all tend to emphasize big works and big places, but all such emphasis is of the flesh. To think in such terms is simply to hearken back to the old, unconverted, egoist, self-centered <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Me</em>. This attitude, taken from the world, is more dangerous to the Christian than fleshly amusement or practice. It is the flesh.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">—Francis Schaeffer, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">No Little People </em>(Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1974), 18.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">J. I. Packer:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">I have found that churches, pastors, seminaries, and parachurch agencies throughout North America are mostly playing the numbers game—that is, defining success in terms of numbers of heads counted or added to those that were there before.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Church-growth theorists, evangelists, pastors, missionaries, news reporters, and others all speak as if</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 80px;">(1) numerical increase is what matters most;</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 80px;">(2) numerical increase will surely come if our techniques and procedures are right;</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 80px;">(3) numerical increase validates ministries as nothing else does;</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 80px;">(4) numerical increase must be everyone’s main goal.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">He detects four “unhappy consequences” of these assumptions:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">First, big and growing churches are viewed as far more significant than others.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Second, parachurch specialists who pull in large numbers are venerated, while hard-working pastors are treated as near-nonentities.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Third, lively laymen and clergy too are constantly being creamed off from the churches to run parachurch ministries, in which, just because they specialize on a relatively narrow front, quicker and more striking results can be expected.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Fourth, many ministers of not-so-bouncy temperament and not-so-flashy gifts return to secular employment in disillusionment and bitterness, concluding that the pastoral life of steady service is a game not worth playing.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">Packer then offers his assessment:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">In all of this I seem to see a great deal of unmortified pride, either massaged, indulged, and gratified, or wounded, nursed, and mollycoddled. Where quantifiable success is god, pride always grows strong and spreads through the soul as cancer sometimes gallops through the body.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Shrinking spiritual stature and growing moral weakness thence result, and in pastoral leaders, especially those who have become sure they are succeeding, the various forms of abuse and exploitation that follow can be horrific.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">Orienting all Christian action to visible success as its goal, a move which to many moderns seems supremely sensible and businesslike, is thus more a weakness in the church than its strength; it is a seedbed both of unspiritual vainglory for the self-rated succeeders and of unspiritual despair for the self-rated failures, and a source of shallowness and superficiality all round.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 40px;">The way of health and humility is for us to admit to ourselves that in the final analysis we do not and cannot know the measure of our success the way God sees it. Wisdom says: leave success ratings to God, and live your Christianity as a religion of faithfulness rather than an idolatry of achievement.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">—J. I. Packer, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Faithfulness-Wisdom-Nehemiah-Insights/dp/1581342462?tag=bettwowor0e-20" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom from the Book of Nehemiah</a></em> (Wheaton: Crossway, 1995), 207–209.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; font-family: Charter; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px;">(Packer says that he would like to see Kent and Barbara Hughes’ book, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Liberating-Ministry-Success-Syndrome-Hughes/dp/1581349742?tag=bettwowor0e-20" style="backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #272727; outline: none; transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome</a></em>, “made required reading for every pastoral aspirant.”)</p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-5434897295975876512021-12-08T11:19:00.000-08:002021-12-08T11:19:01.243-08:009 Things You Should Know About Sermons<p>I have not posted in a while as most of my posting has been on my church's FB page but I find often material that is broader than just for my church and other Christians and helpful for leaders so here is one today I found by <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-sermons/" target="_blank">Joe Carter </a>on TGC. . . </p><p>Tomorrow marks the 400th anniversary of the first recorded sermon on American soil and the first printed here. Since there were no ordained ministers to come to Plymouth colony aboard the English ship Fortune, a deacon named Robert Cushman delivered to the Puritan group a sermon on 1 Corinthians 10:24.</p><p>In honor of this anniversary, here are nine things you should know about sermons.</p><p><b>1. Defining what a sermon is can be surprisingly difficult.</b></p><p>The Cambridge Dictionary defines a sermon as “part of a Christian church ceremony in which a minister gives a talk on a religious or moral subject, often based on something written in the Bible.” Such definitions provide a useful starting point but exclude much of what has constituted a sermon throughout church history. A more useful, though still too narrow, definition was proposed by Austin Phelps in his 1895 book The Theory of Preaching. Phelps says, “A sermon is an oral address to the popular mind, upon religious truth, as contained in the Christian Scriptures, and elaborately treated as a view to persuasion.” W. E. Sangster adds the helpful clarification that “an address is man talking to men; a sermon is a man speaking from God” [emphasis in original].</p><p><b>2. Homilies can be sermons, but not all sermons are homilies—and both are related to homiletics.</b></p><p>A sermon is the work produced or created by the art of preaching, which is called homiletics; homiletics includes both the composition of sermons and their delivery; a person who practices homiletics is known as a homilist or preacher; a homily is similar to a sermon but is typically shorter and more devotional; sermon studies is the interdisciplinary field that explores the historical, literary, and social aspects of sermons.</p><p><b>3. Sermons are found in the Bible, even though the word “sermon” is not.</b></p><p>Determining what constitutes a sermon in the Bible is made more difficult since the word “sermon” is not used (in English it is derived from an Old French word meaning “discourse”). The best-known sermon in the Bible—the Sermon on the Mount—was not called that by the biblical author (Matthew) and only picked up that moniker later in church history. Identifying sermons in the Bible therefore requires looking for occurrences of preaching. Using this standard, the longest sermon series is by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. The book with the most sermons mentioned is likely Acts, which refers to 19 sermons by Peter, Stephen, Philip, James, and Paul.</p><p><b>4. Expositional and topical are the dominant forms of modern sermons.</b></p><p>Throughout history, sermons have been used for a variety of purposes and taken on a variety of forms. But the two primary categories today are topical sermons and expositional sermons. Topical sermons are those in which the preaching is centered on a specific topic rather than a specific biblical text.</p><p>An expository sermon, as Mark Dever explains, is based on preaching in which the main point of the biblical text being considered becomes the main point of the sermon being preached. A topical sermon can also be expository. Topical expository sermons, Timothy S. Warren notes, ground their message in two or more different texts or units in their individual contexts that share a common subject. And as Tim Keller points out, “all expository preaching is partially topical. Then again, any topical sermon that is faithful to the Scripture will have to consist of several ‘mini expositions’ of various texts.”</p><p><b>5. There was a “golden age of sermons” in the modern West.</b></p><p>Some scholars in the field of sermon studies have identified the period from 1689 to 1901 as the “golden age” of sermons. During this period, printed copies of sermons were one of the most dominant forms of literature. Throughout the 18th century, about six pages of sermons were printed for every one page of fiction. The “sermon event” (the experience of a congregation hearing a preacher) was one of the dominant forms of public discourse. According to the Oxford Handbook of the British Sermon 1689-1901, “In total, a quarter of a billion potential sermon events [within the British Empire] between 1689 and 1901 is probably an underestimate.”</p><p><b>6. Catholic sermons are shortest while black Protestant sermons are longest.</b></p><p>Pew Research performed a computational analysis of nearly 50,000 sermons posted online between April 7 and June 1, 2019, a period that included Easter. The study found that the median sermon sampled from congregational websites is 37 minutes long. Catholic sermons are the shortest, at a median of just 14 minutes, compared with 25 minutes for sermons in mainline Protestant congregations and 39 minutes in evangelical Protestant congregations. At 54 minutes, historically black Protestant churches had the longest sermons—more than triple the length of the median Catholic homily.</p><p><b>7. In America, evangelical sermons are more likely to mention “sin” and “eternal hell” than other traditions.</b></p><p>The Pew Research study from 2019 also found certain words and phrases are used more frequently in the sermons of some Christian groups than others. Some words—such as “know,” “God,” and “Jesus”—were found in sermons at 98 percent or more of churches in all four major Christian traditions included in the analysis. But evangelicals were more likely to use words such as “eternal hell,” “lose . . . salvation,” “trespass . . . sin,” and “home . . . heaven” than other groups. Words used most distinctly in historically black Protestant congregations included “powerful hand” and “hallelujah . . . come.” The latter phrase appeared in some form in the sermons of 22 percent of all historically black Protestant churches across the study period.</p><p><b>8. Black Protestants in America say inspiring sermons are more important than denominational affiliation.</b></p><p>An overwhelming majority (77 percent) of black Americans say inspiring sermons would be a very important factor when looking for a new house of worship. In comparison, that is more than double the number who say staying in their current denomination would be very important if they were looking for a new congregation, and three times more than the number who say it is very important for leaders to share their race or ethnicity (14 percent) or that most people attending share their race or ethnicity (13 percent).</p><p><b>9. U.S. churchgoers are mostly satisfied with the sermons they hear.</b></p><p>A survey taken by Pew Research in 2019 found that 90 percent of Christians who attend worship services at least a few times a year are satisfied with the sermons they hear. Six in ten evangelical Protestants (61 percent) say they are “very satisfied” with the sermons they hear, almost twice as many as those who say they’re “somewhat satisfied” (32 percent).</p><p>Joe Carter is an editor for The Gospel Coalition, author of The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents, the editor of the NIV Lifehacks Bible, and coauthor of How to Argue Like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History’s Greatest Communicator. He also serves as an associate pastor at McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter.</p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-68557044281021294712021-06-28T15:46:00.000-07:002021-06-28T15:46:22.432-07:0030 Reasons Why It Is a Great Thing to Be a Pastor<p> I have not posted in a while for a number of reasons but was encouraged by this blog post by John Piper on why it is great to be a pastor. Piper is always thoughtful and inspiring to me at least . . . </p><p><img class="full-img blog-header-img" src="https://static.crossway.org/articles/images/30-reasons-great-to-be-pastor.jpg" style="background-color:; border: none; color: #514d47; display: block; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; height: auto; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 700px; word-spacing: 0.35px;" /></p><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">1. God is the greatest Reality in the universe. And pastors swim in that sea with ever-replenished joy.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Isa.%2045%3A5/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Isa. 45:5</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%2011%3A33%E2%80%9336/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 11:33–36</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">2. Jesus is the greatest Savior, Master, and Friend that ever was or ever will be. And pastors contemplate and commend him every day.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%2015%3A13/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John 15:13</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Phil.%202%3A10%E2%80%9311/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Phil. 2:10–11</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%2015%3A15/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John 15:15</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Tim.%202%3A8/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Tim. 2:8</a>).</p></blockquote><div class="product-placement list-item clear" style="background-color: ; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #514d47; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px; padding: 0px; width: 700px; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><div class="product-placement-image" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(250, 250, 250); border-right: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 349px;"><a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/the-supremacy-of-god-in-preaching-hccase/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; width: 348px;"><img alt="The Supremacy of God in Preaching" src="https://static.crossway.org/studio-files/media/6f39fbe94c2aa0038dacb515011f68af675f38f4.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></a></div><div class="post-excerpt" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.4rem; letter-spacing: 0.03rem; line-height: 2.4rem; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5rem; padding: 2.5rem; width: 349px; word-spacing: 0.03rem;"><h2 style="font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/the-supremacy-of-god-in-preaching-hccase/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">The Supremacy of God in Preaching</a></h2><h3 style="color: #555555; font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 500; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.crossway.org/authors/john-piper/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">John Piper</a></em></h3><p class="copy-excerpt" style="margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px;">In this revised and expanded edition, long-time author and teacher John Piper draws from the preaching ministry of Jonathan Edwards to encourage pastors and leaders to gladly preach the cross, for the glory of God, to a people hungry for God and his word. Includes four extra chapters not included in the original edition.</p></div></div><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">3. The Holy Spirit is the greatest Helper in the world. And pastors are driven to have his fullness constantly.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever . . . . It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%2014%3A16%3B%2016%3A7/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John 14:16; 16:7</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Gal.%203%3A5/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Gal. 3:5</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%205%3A18/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Eph. 5:18</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">4. The Bible is the greatest book there is. And pastors delight to meditate on it day and night.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ps.%2012%3A6/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ps. 12:6</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ps.1%3A1%E2%80%932/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ps.1:1–2</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">The rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ps.%2019%3A9%E2%80%9311/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ps. 19:9–11</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">5. The gospel is the greatest news ever sent. And pastors revel in believing it and telling it every day.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%204%3A3%E2%80%934/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 4:3–4</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%203%3A8/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Eph. 3:8</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%201%3A14%E2%80%9315/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 1:14–15</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">6. Corporate worship is the great overflow of life together in treasuring Christ. And pastors soar with the sacred privilege of feeling that weekly wonder and fanning that flame.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Col.%203%3A16/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Col. 3:16</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ps.%2035%3A18/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ps. 35:18</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">7. Faith is the great experience of union with Christ and the embrace of all God is for us in him. And pastors aim at this with every word, since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Gal.%202%3A20/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Gal. 2:20</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Phil.%201%3A25/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Phil. 1:25</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">8. Hope in future grace is the great furnace of gospel obedience. And pastors fuel it daily with the promises of God.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%204%3A20/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 4:20</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">You had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Heb.%2010%3A34/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Heb. 10:34</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Heb.%2013%3A5%E2%80%936/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Heb. 13:5–6</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">9. Joy is the great impulse of gladness in pain and pleasure that makes its source in God look great. And pastors renounce all joy-destroying abuse and live for the holy joy of their flock.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Phil.%204%3A4/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Phil. 4:4</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Phil.%203%3A8/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Phil. 3:8</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%201%3A24/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 1:24</a>). As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%206%3A10/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 6:10</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">10. Love is the greatest act. And pastors make it the great aim of all their acts.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%2013%3A13/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 13:13</a>). The aim of our charge is love (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Tim.%201%3A5/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Tim. 1:5</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%2013%3A8/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 13:8</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Let all that you do be done in love (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%2016%3A14/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 16:14</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">11. Holiness is great likeness to the thrice-holy God. And pastors daily kill their own sins for the sake of their own holiness and the holiness of others.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Pet.%201%3A15%E2%80%9316/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Pet. 1:15–16</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%208%3A13/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 8:13</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%207%3A1/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 7:1</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">12. Suffering is a great seminary. And pastors must attend it for the sake of their people.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. . . . It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ps.%20119%3A67%2C%2071/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ps. 119:67, 71</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%201%3A6/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 1:6</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">13. Explaining great truth is a path to great understanding— in the pastor! And pastors are charged to explain the greatest things relentlessly.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">It is more blessed to give than to receive (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts%2020%3A35/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Acts 20:35</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">“You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” . . . And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%2014%3A16%E2%80%9317%2C%2020/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 14:16–17, 20</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%204%3A11%E2%80%9312/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Eph. 4:11–12</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">14. Heralding the greatest realities is a great privilege. And pastors are the heralds of the living God.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach [herald!] the word (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Tim.%204%3A1%E2%80%932/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Tim. 4:1–2</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%205%3A20/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 5:20</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">15. Humanly impossible aims throw us on a great Helper. And all the spiritual aims of a pastor are impossible.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Luke%2018%3A26%E2%80%9327/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Luke 18:26–27</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Tim.%202%3A24%E2%80%9326/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Tim. 2:24–26</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">16. Heaven is a great destiny. And pastors aim in everything to help people get there.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%205%3A12/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 5:12</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Phil.%203%3A20%E2%80%9321/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Phil. 3:20–21</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Tim.%202%3A10/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Tim. 2:10</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">17. Hell is a great danger. And pastors aim in everything to help people escape it.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%2010%3A28/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 10:28</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%209%3A22/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 9:22</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Thess.%201%3A10/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Thess. 1:10</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">18. Prayer is a path to the great presence and power of God. And pastors pray for their own souls and their flocks without ceasing.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%206%3A17%E2%80%9318/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Eph. 6:17–18</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ps.%2050%3A15/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Ps. 50:15</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%2010%3A1/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 10:1</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">19. The new birth is a great miracle. And pastors are the ever-amazed midwives of God.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%203%3A8/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John 3:8</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%203%3A6%E2%80%937/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 3:6–7</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. . . . And this word is the good news that was preached to you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Pet.%201%3A23%E2%80%9325/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Pet. 1:23–25</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">20. Communion is the greatest supper. And pastors hold the sacred emblems in their very hands.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Luke%2022%3A15/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Luke 22:15</a>).</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%2010%3A16/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 10:16</a>).</p><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">21. Baptism is the greatest emblem of death and life. And pastors enact this drama on behalf of Christ.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%206%3A3%E2%80%934/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 6:3–4</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%2028%3A19/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 28:19</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">22. Funerals offer a great vista of eternity. And pastors stand there full of hope with wide-eyed people.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%205%3A6%E2%80%938/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 5:6–8</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%2015%3A54%E2%80%9357/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 15:54–57</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">23. Weddings are God’s great, life-long joining together of man and woman. And pastors put this drama on display for all to understand.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">They are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%2019%3A6/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 19:6</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%205%3A22%E2%80%9325/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Eph. 5:22–25</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">24. Hospital visits are a sacred imparting of great hope. And pastors mediate this holy transaction with their voice and hands.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/James%205%3A14%E2%80%9315/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">James 5:14–15</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Spirit you may abound in hope (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Rom.%2015%3A13/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rom. 15:13</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts%2028%3A8/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Acts 28:8</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">25. The devil is a great enemy. And pastors make holy war every day.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Pet.%205%3A8%E2%80%939/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Pet. 5:8–9</a>).</p></blockquote><blockquote class="pull-quote" style="background-color: ; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0.35px; line-height: 3.5rem; margin: 3rem 0px; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 3rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">I pray that every seed I ever sowed would be even this day bearing fruit.</p><div class="social" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"><ul class="nav" style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="display: inline-block; margin: 3rem 1rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="facebook share-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=521982281335043&href=https%3A//www.crossway.org/articles/30-reasons-why-it-is-a-great-thing-to-be-a-pastor/&quote=%0AI%20pray%20that%20every%20seed%20I%20ever%20sowed%20would%20be%20even%20this%20day%20bearing%20fruit.%0A" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 8px 17px; background: url("https://d33n9snnr16ctp.cloudfront.net/static/images/facebook.1a09576d54ad.svg?000d57916ec9") 0% 0% / 8px 17px no-repeat; color: #72abbf; display: block; height: 1.7rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; width: 0.8rem;" target="_blank"></a></li><li style="display: inline-block; margin: 3rem 1rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="twitter share-link" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//www.crossway.org/articles/30-reasons-why-it-is-a-great-thing-to-be-a-pastor/&text=%0AI%20pray%20that%20every%20seed%20I%20ever%20sowed%20would%20be%20even%20this%20day%20bearing%20fruit.%0A" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 22px 17px; background: url("https://d33n9snnr16ctp.cloudfront.net/static/images/twitter.3085528adc3c.svg?000d57916ec9") 0% 0% / 22px 17px no-repeat; color: #72abbf; display: block; height: 1.7rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; width: 2.2rem;" target="_blank"></a></li></ul></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/James%204%3A7/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">James 4:7</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">26. Wise, biblical counsel is greater than much fine gold. And pastors make many rich.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Prov.%2025%3A11/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Prov. 25:11</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Prov.%2016%3A16/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Prov. 16:16</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Col.%201%3A28/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Col. 1:28</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">27. World missions is the greatest enterprise in the world. And pastors preach and pray and agitate till all their people are goers or senders.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%2024%3A14/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 24:14</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%209%3A37%E2%80%9338/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Matt. 9:37–38</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">28. Loving money is the great root of countless evils. And pastors sever it in their souls and seek its cheerful death in all their flock.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Tim.%206%3A9%E2%80%9310/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Tim. 6:9–10</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Tim.%206%3A6%E2%80%938/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1 Tim. 6:6–8</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%209%3A7/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 9:7</a>).</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Heb.%2013%3A5/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Heb. 13:5</a>).</p><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">29. Leadership in holy paths is the great need of all the sheep. And pastors wear this mantle humbly under the Great Shepherd.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Heb.%2013%3A17/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Heb. 13:17</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Heb.%2013%3A20%E2%80%9321/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Heb. 13:20–21</a>).</p></blockquote><h2 style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 3rem 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">30. Lowly servanthood is high greatness. And pastors rejoice to say: He must increase, and I must decrease.</h2><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">Whoever would be great among you must be your servant (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Mark%2010%3A43/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mark 10:43</a>).</p><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">He must increase, but I must decrease (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%203%3A30/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John 3:30</a>).</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">It is a great thing to be a pastor. This is my song of praise and thankfulness that, in great mercy, I was counted worthy to be entrusted with this office for so long. I pray that every seed I ever sowed would be even this day bearing fruit.</p><blockquote style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3rem; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;">The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Mark%204%3A26%E2%80%9327/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mark 4:26–27</a>)</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;">This is finally a tribute to the supremacy of God. He is great, not the preacher. But because he is, it is a great thing to be a pastor.</p><p style="background-color: ; color: #514d47; font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This article is adapted from</em> <a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/the-supremacy-of-god-in-preaching-hccase/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">The Supremacy of God in Preaching</a> <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">by John Piper.</em></p><hr class="clear" style="background-color: ; border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; clear: both; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 2.5rem 0px; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;" /><div class="blog-post-author clear" style="background-color: ; clear: both; color: #514d47; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.35px; margin: 0px; min-height: 15rem; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.35px;"><img alt="John Piper" class="left" src="https://static.crossway.org/authors/small/232.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; margin: 0px 4.25rem 3.5rem 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 12.5rem;" /><div class="author-bio" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-family: "Sentinel A", "Sentinel B", "Gentium Plus", Ezra, Georgia, Times, serif; margin: 1rem 0px 3rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">John Piper</span> is founder and lead teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He served for thirty-three years as the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than fifty books, including <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Desiring God</em>; <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Don’t Waste Your Life</em>; and <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Reading the Bible Supernaturally</em>.</p></div></div>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-60803417849503128752021-06-11T09:17:00.001-07:002021-06-11T09:17:18.411-07:00Pastor to Write Down their Thoughts and Relfections<div data-block="true" data-editor="24n25" data-offset-key="fhch9-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fhch9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; white-space: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDlv-uOH6hUp6XZB5zR7AZLdtzLTt2TGaY2hEwi4RioAUMg_TuJOSBxf1XndMzcftpS1D2bHUqoesRZhTDmi2i_z8YV41Lbj656MUmYn0wXje5gggkJK047QwiLN4EO04vF6Cw3IKujcH/s1000/Writing-Journal-e1578929835576.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDlv-uOH6hUp6XZB5zR7AZLdtzLTt2TGaY2hEwi4RioAUMg_TuJOSBxf1XndMzcftpS1D2bHUqoesRZhTDmi2i_z8YV41Lbj656MUmYn0wXje5gggkJK047QwiLN4EO04vF6Cw3IKujcH/s320/Writing-Journal-e1578929835576.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Perhaps no person ever lived who so habitually and carefully committed his thoughts, on almost every subject, to writing, as the elder President Edwards. His ordinary studies were pursued pen in hand, and with his notebooks before him; and he not only often stopped in his daily rides by the wayside, but frequently rose even at midnight to commit to paper any important thought that had occurred to him.<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">From the introduction of Charity and it's Fruit by jonathan Edwards.</span></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christian, especially </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Christian</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> leaders, we would do well to be more reflective on life and how it </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">related</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to God and the gospel and even commit it to paper. I am not the best at this, but I do write down my personal thoughts and reflections as I read Scripture and books. Having moved to Logos Bible Software a couple of years ago when BibleWorks closed has helped to make all of my notes and thoughts located in one spot that is integrated by themes, words, and biblical texts.</span></span></div></div></div>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-41935622401679518602020-12-14T10:17:00.001-08:002020-12-14T10:17:02.053-08:007 Qualities Pastors Need to Grow a Small Town Church<p>Being a small town pastor, I found<a href="https://travisstephens.me/7-qualities-pastors-need-to-grow-a-small-town-church/" target="_blank"> this post </a>encouraging . . . <br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCGMkqxn9qxOUIxR1loDc9a4-pTna2Ow1cbHEmLuaAMW95ZklcFU0tdCpBz_1TPSb3HdbF34WYfMSqMqBsGdZ4urch9wNw_lF430gCjZz9IQJ2kWNGnVFcJ0qDYxHMZuzPJQyr_g31McR/s1120/7QualitiesPastorsNeed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1120" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCGMkqxn9qxOUIxR1loDc9a4-pTna2Ow1cbHEmLuaAMW95ZklcFU0tdCpBz_1TPSb3HdbF34WYfMSqMqBsGdZ4urch9wNw_lF430gCjZz9IQJ2kWNGnVFcJ0qDYxHMZuzPJQyr_g31McR/w400-h225/7QualitiesPastorsNeed.png" width="400" /></a></div>Now I know not every pastor is interested in growing the church they serve. It’s not that they don’t want to see the church grow; it’s just not a main priority or focus for them. They’re content with leading a healthy small church, and there’s nothing wrong with that.<p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">But, I also know that there are some pastors who have the desire to see their church grow numerically, and there’s nothing wrong with that either as long as that desire comes from a place of wanting to see God’s Kingdom grow and not their own. We need more of these pastors in small town rural America.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">I’m hoping some of you reading this have that mentality and have the qualities it takes to grow a small town church. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">Here are some of the qualities you’re going to need.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Start with Vision. Worry about Everything Else Later.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">I understand that you have very limited resources but now is not the time to worry about that. With the right vision and the ability to cast that vision, you’ll see the resources come.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dream Bigger than You Think is Possible.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">I was telling my church’s story to a pastor recently, and when he heard it, he said he needed to ask God’s forgiveness for thinking too small. My church grew to 700 people in attendance each weekend in a town of 2,000 people. His church was in a town of 18,000. If you pastor a small town church, you need to dream bigger.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">See Opportunities, Not Obstacles.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">Instead of thinking about what you don’t have, start looking at what you do have. You may not have enough leaders, but you’d be amazed at what a handful of people can accomplish when they’re working together. You may not have very much money, but you can use what you have to bring more people into the church, which brings more resources into the church. Change your attitude.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Be Willing to Take Some Risks.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">You have to be willing to fail in order to succeed. Sometimes you’re going to have ideas, ideas that just don’t work. That’s ok because you’re learning. If you sit around waiting for a guarantee, you’ll never make a decision.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Stop Waiting for Everyone to Agree.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">One of the biggest issues in many rural small town churches is this idea of being congregationally led. It’s not even a Biblical concept. While you’re waiting for everyone to agree on something, the church is dying. If you can’t change your form of government, find a way around it. </p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Be Able to Handle Criticism.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">Every leader has their critics. If you pastor in a small town, you better believe you’re going to have them. Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s ok. You didn’t get into ministry because you wanted to be liked. You got into ministry because you wanted to see lives changed. Some of you have forgotten that.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Have Faith that God Can.</strong></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;">Nothing worthwhile is possible without God. Our belief in God’s power to do something amazing in our churches is essential to our success. When you have faith that God is in the midst of everything you’re doing to reach people, you can have confidence that God will see you through.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Playfair Display";">Which one of these traits are you lacking? Are there any you would add? Leave a comment and let us know. Also, if you’re a pastor that believes God is wanting more for your church, but you don’t know where to start <a href="https://travisstephens.me/contact-us/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e73be; display: inline-block; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">contact me</a> about a possible coaching relationship. I’d love to help.</em></strong></p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-37242771427974590492020-12-09T09:49:00.001-08:002020-12-09T09:49:00.694-08:00The Crisis of Character<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">December 3, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXh9rR-pM7Ck8W6n64ec5XcuxtoO_XJRVzYhoz5l23gcCx6pDxhkZB_0ZzeD1IEIrVGgVQJQJgxSQVj1HswZItcf3wGJT3lCEzTlqO824MYzu04pNaLoXo5lnXRTGW8Q69yz8MwktNrRI/s1200/Character_ben-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXh9rR-pM7Ck8W6n64ec5XcuxtoO_XJRVzYhoz5l23gcCx6pDxhkZB_0ZzeD1IEIrVGgVQJQJgxSQVj1HswZItcf3wGJT3lCEzTlqO824MYzu04pNaLoXo5lnXRTGW8Q69yz8MwktNrRI/w400-h267/Character_ben-white.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br />It was the senior pastor owning up to an affair with the wife of the worship pastor, and then the worship pastor and the wife of the senior pastor deciding that they would simply join in and the four have an “open” marriage with each other sexually – and then attempting to get other couples in the church to join them – that pushed me over the edge. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Whether it’s long-term, senior leaders having decades of moral misconduct revealed in the end, or younger leaders leading a lifestyle as sexually trendy as their hair and clothes, there is a growing crisis in character surfacing within Christian leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Hear my heart—I am painfully aware of the sin that plagues my own walk with Christ. I have to drink as deeply from the well of grace as anyone. But I am sensing something different afoot. Namely, the calculated pursuit of a shadow life that betrays the most foundational dynamics of Christian morality, flowing from some warped view of entitlement fueled by cheap grace. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">So, whatever happened to character?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">I have my ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">One is that an increasing number of young leaders are entering into self-created positions of leadership, largely through church planting, before they have been adequately discipled, mentored vocationally, or have time to mature in terms of character. When I planted Mecklenburg Community Church, I was 30 years old, had both an M.Div. and Ph.D., and had served in various forms of ministry leadership for a decade, including parachurch college ministry, church youth ministry and a seminary pastorate. Countless men and women had poured into me and worked at shaving off rough spots, and exposing areas of my inner world that needed developing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Today, church planting networks will facilitate church plants from people barely out of college, with little or no experience, and often fresh from their initial embrace of Jesus; meaning they have simply not had enough time to significantly grow in matters of spiritual maturity or character.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">But I’m afraid of a second reason that transcends age and experience, brought to mind from the first of several interactions I had with the late British pastor and leader John Stott. I was invited to a breakfast meeting while a student in seminary. Stott had been touring various American seminaries, and someone asked him for his observations about what he had been observing amid schools developing the next generation of leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">He did not suggest anything about witnessing a diminishing state of orthodoxy, a lack of biblical preaching, or lowering standards of academic excellence. Instead, he said two things that still stand out to me to this day: First, he said he wanted to tell everyone to “cheer up.” Seminaries all seemed so serious, so gloomy, so joyless. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Coming from a Brit that was, um… well… ouch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">But then he said that there seemed to be a real lack of spiritual formation; that the seminaries did not seem to be doing much to help people know how to grow spiritually or to care for their lives spiritually.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">This is an important point. Most people think that those who go to seminary will have an experience akin to a three-year monastic mountaintop experience that will forever put them over the spiritual finish line.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">No.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">It’s become an academic degree, increasingly catering to the academy itself, that often leaves students more spiritually dry at the end than when they began. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">And that, I believe, is the true issue at hand: <i>spiritual formation</i>. Whether young or old, ministry preparation seems more intent on vocational skill than deepened relationship with the One for whom we are wanting to <i>employ</i> vocational skill. We value charisma over character, hipness over holiness and success over spirituality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">What makes it worse is that ministry leadership is often hazardous to the soul. I wrote about this in my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-They-Didnt-Teach-Seminary/dp/0801013887" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">What They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary</span></a> (still one of my favorite books I have ever written). When you are in ministry, it is easy to confuse doing <i>things</i> for God with spending <i>time</i> with God; to confuse <i>activity</i> with <i>intimacy</i>; to mistake the trappings of spirituality for being spiritual. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Then another dynamic comes into play. You are constantly being put on a spiritual pedestal and treated as if you are the fourth member of the Trinity. In truth, those who follow you have no idea whether you have spent any time alone with God in reflection and prayer over the last six weeks; they do not know what you are viewing online; they do not know whether you treat your wife with tenderness and dignity. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">They just afford you a high level of spirituality. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Here’s where it gets really toxic: you can begin to bask in this spiritual adulation and start to believe your own press. Soon the estimation of others about your spiritual life becomes your own. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">This is why most train wrecks in ministry are not as sudden and “out of the blue” as they seem. Most leaders who end up in a moral ditch had been veering off the road for some time. Their empty spiritual life simply became manifest, or caught up with them, or took its toll.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">So what can be done?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">If one were to advance a spiritual growth track for leadership, I would be sure to include what I consider to be the most important character trait for anyone in Christian leadership after the most basic, foundational set of moral understandings. And that trait is a servant’s heart. It is what marked Jesus and should mark those who follow in His name.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Just consider these words of Ruth Harms Calkins, first brought to my attention by Chuck Swindoll in his classic book, <i>Improving Your Serve</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 17.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">You know, Lord, how I serve You <br />With great emotional fervor<br />In the limelight.<br />You know how eagerly I speak for You<br />At a women’s club.<br />You know how I effervesce when I promote<br />A fellowship group.<br />You know my genuine enthusiasm<br />At a Bible study.<br />But how would I react, I wonder<br />If You pointed to a basin of water<br />And asked me to wash the calloused feet<br />Of a bent and wrinkled old woman<br />Day after day<br />Month after month<br />In a room where nobody saw<br />And nobody knew.</span></i><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">The answer to that question?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">It depends on your character.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Oh, for a generation of leaders who would pick up the basin and towel in exchange for platform and notoriety.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: europa, serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">James Emery White<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">7 Likes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: inherit, serif; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">Share</span><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-87203223507921973852020-12-07T09:42:00.002-08:002020-12-07T09:42:17.212-08:003 Lessons from a Recent Pastoral Transition<div class="content" id="main-content" style="caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Helpful article for young pastors. . . . </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">“So are you the youth pastor or the college pastor?”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Whenever I meet someone new and they learn I’m a pastor, this is the question I get asked the most. The question makes sense! I serve in a church with three language congregations—English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese—and in a cultural context where age tends to be valued highly. As a thirty-something young man, I don’t fit the typical senior pastor profile. Then again, the story of how I became a senior pastor wasn’t very typical, either.</p><span class="featured-image auto-insert alignright" style="float: right; margin: 5px -3em 1.5em 2em; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><img alt="" class="auto-insert alignright" height="250" loading="lazy" src="https://www.9marks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/photo-1506728629982-6a8511abd2da-270x250.jpeg" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px;" width="270" /></span><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In the summer 2015, I was finishing seminary in Kentucky when our former pastor in California called us. He’d been serving as the senior pastor for over 20 years and was thinking about the future. His proposal: come back and serve at the church, and he would slowly transition the senior pastor position to me. My wife and I were very humbled by the proposal, and after much prayer and counsel, we decided to say yes.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">We initially planned for a 3–5 year transition, but the Lord had other plans. In 2017, our senior pastor received an amazing opportunity to serve overseas that more or less required him to leave immediately. As a result, with fifteen whole months of pastoral experience, the church called me to replace him as the English congregational pastor. They called me to be the senior pastor a year later.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">God has been incredibly gracious throughout this transition. I won’t pretend that I have all the answers or that my ministry has been mistake-free. Nevertheless, in the hope that the grace I’ve received would benefit others, I offer a few of the lessons I have learned through this transition.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><strong>1. To the Incoming Pastor: Own Your Incompetence</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">A friend of mine gave me this counsel when I first entered pastoral ministry. As pastors, we rightly recognize the sacred duty we’ve been entrusted with (1 Tim 3:1–7). Nevertheless, the weight of that responsibility can tempt us to fake it until we make it, to pretend like we have it all together. In a Chinese cultural context, the temptation to hide weakness and save face can be especially strong.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">As I stepped into the senior pastor role, I wanted to prove that the trust the church gave to me wasn’t in vain. But the truth is that no one—including me!—is competent in himself to steward the mysteries of Christ (2 Cor 2:10). More than this, it’s the risen Christ, not any pastor, who is the cornerstone of the church (Eph 2:20). By remembering this, I’m set free from the pressure to perform and may instead freely admit that I’m inexperienced, flawed, and weak. I’m free to ask for help, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor 12:9).</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Pastor, if you find yourself in a position like mine, remember: own your incompetence, and point the church to Christ.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><strong>2. To the Transitioning Church: Offer Real Opportunities</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Churches are sometimes reluctant to give too much responsibility to new pastors. In an immigrant context, youth and inexperience are often seen as liabilities. Many immigrant churches, therefore, prefer to bring in an older, more seasoned pastor to shepherd the flock. However, if shepherds are expected to progress in their ministry (1 Tim 4:15), they must start somewhere. I can think of nothing better for an inexperienced pastor’s growth in ministry than a church who comes alongside him in love and support.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Even before I became senior pastor, I had real opportunities to shepherd (1 Pet 5:2). I preached from the Sunday pulpit, I met with members, and I taught in various settings. Along the way, the church encouraged me and my family, and graciously endured my rookie mistakes and missteps. In doing this, our church taught me that they didn’t ultimately trust in my abilities or experience, but in Christ (2 Cor 4:7).</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">So church, if you find yourself in a position like ours, remember: offer real opportunities, and continue to point the church to Christ.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><strong>3. To the Outgoing Pastor: Open Your Hands</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">The idea of turning over the sacred responsibility of shepherding a local church to a young, inexperienced pastor can seem unthinkable, especially in an immigrant context. As a result, an outgoing senior pastor may be tempted to cling tightly to his position and resist helping another pastor take his place. He may subtly communicate to the church that he doesn’t quite trust the new pastor, resulting in the new pastor facing an uphill battle from the start.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Thankfully, I never felt any of this from our senior pastor. I could write multiple articles expressing my gratitude and admiration for him. With respect to this transition, it’s his mentorship and affirmation that stand out. He met with me every week and helped me grow as a pastor. He invited me to ask questions, and even to disagree with him. He encouraged me, and always sought to build me up in the eyes of the church. When he left, he turned everything over and kept nothing for himself. He modelled for me the truth: the church isn’t about any pastor, but about Christ (Eph 3:21).</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Pastor, if you find yourself in a position where you can share of yourself to empower another pastor, remember: open your hands, and point the church to Christ.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><strong>CONCLUSION</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Transitions aren’t easy, and your cultural context may present your church with unique challenges. Yet transitions also remind us that the church fundamentally belongs to Christ. He alone is her Savior. He gave himself up in love for her (Eph 5:25). A pastor, therefore, is but an instrument of grace used by Christ to shepherd his flock toward himself.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">That’s why we ought to remember our leaders, those who spoke the Word of God to us. That’s why we ought to consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Yet in all this, when leaders transition as they one day must, we must also remember: Jesus Christ is the same—yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:7–8).</p></div><div class="author-bottom-list" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><strong class="mobile-hide"><div class="terms">By <a href="https://www.9marks.org/by-author/erick-loh/" rel="tag" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Erick Loh</a></div></strong></div>AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-15773288271682669502020-04-02T12:37:00.001-07:002020-04-02T12:37:13.834-07:00Free Course: Old Testament Theology with Tremper Longman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XcLoF6qhNjOZ6h8DDMqUquhUAEGob26_8fEPaBKZIE3RKL8C8CB-efIlnf_YuzkWwLgLIIXZ8uxWi7UmoPJoiIh1-8WPi71_tIo14pTWI9dSJo2zgC6yRpO_lwVpl-OrliAhtwdx6UaN/s1600/product-old-testament-theology-artwork-1000pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XcLoF6qhNjOZ6h8DDMqUquhUAEGob26_8fEPaBKZIE3RKL8C8CB-efIlnf_YuzkWwLgLIIXZ8uxWi7UmoPJoiIh1-8WPi71_tIo14pTWI9dSJo2zgC6yRpO_lwVpl-OrliAhtwdx6UaN/s320/product-old-testament-theology-artwork-1000pxw.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Here is a chance to get a free Old Testament Theology course with Old Testament Scholar, Tremper Longman. Ge it free and get it now! The link is <a href="https://credohouse.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de2aa8a4&id=fa802df4a8&e=9ea550d961">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-35851525011443330942020-03-31T10:46:00.003-07:002020-03-31T10:46:55.326-07:00Sage Advice from John Piper On Commentaries <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Logos has a sale on commentary sets this month and I was considering updating or upgrading </span><span style="background-color: white;">The New International Greek Testament Commentary set. The only one I am missing in this series is Romans by Longnecker so I started googling, as I normally do when looking for commentaries, the best commentaries on Romans and found this intriguing comment by John Piper on why he finds Henry Alford commentaries so helpful and returns to so often:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Of all the commentaries on all the books of the New Testament, the one that I come back to most often is Henry Alford, </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 19.44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hac/romans-1.html" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">The Greek New Testament</a></em><span style="background-color: white;">. Henry Alford died in the 1870s, I think, and wrote a commentary on all the books of the New Testament based on the Greek. I find him most helpful, not because of his theology, but because of his relentless attention to grammatical and logical detail. He tends to wrestle with the things that I understand least. And that is where I need help. It seems to me that most commentaries are 90% obvious — like you are reading there what you would have seen on your own. It is the 10% we need help with, and Alford regularly is helpful.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have referred to Alford's commentaries in the past but he is not on my go to list. I will need to change this pattern going forward. Sage advice from a great thinker and preacher. I decided against getting Longnecker's commentary on Romans even though it was 60% off for me.</span></span></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-75521272104429105772020-02-17T16:57:00.000-08:002020-02-17T16:57:23.412-08:00The Necessity of the Corporate Body of Christ in following Christ as Individuals.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That man is mistaken who desires his own separate growth. For what would it profit a leg or an arm if it grew to an enormous size, or for the mouth to be stretched wider? It would merely be afflicted with a harmful tumour. So if we wish to be considered in Christ, let no man be anything for himself, but let us all be whatever we are for others. This is accomplished by love; and where love does not reign, there is no edification of the Church, but a mere scattering. ~ John Calvin</span></div>
<br /></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-91390714968494913672020-02-04T10:19:00.002-08:002020-02-04T10:19:34.959-08:00The Danger of Reading the Bible Casually<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exod 34:6-7)</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w5rkNRlVO7k2mh0MKgWyYwsRa1dNvCs9WVZPcI0_UTDh94NdPJ7uc0W_zjh5IPY3VWLscnVoryac35JCm1i_ThVhDu0Qo_YtWNkcup3dq5xXbxOpB8MVMS_CSajwlK1QEApD4s4Qshao/s1600/whats-in-a-name_image-640x478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w5rkNRlVO7k2mh0MKgWyYwsRa1dNvCs9WVZPcI0_UTDh94NdPJ7uc0W_zjh5IPY3VWLscnVoryac35JCm1i_ThVhDu0Qo_YtWNkcup3dq5xXbxOpB8MVMS_CSajwlK1QEApD4s4Qshao/s320/whats-in-a-name_image-640x478.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
Here is what one commentator writes about 'generational sins:'</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
God then issued a corrective against the natural human tendency to accept grace on the assumption that because an infinite God can produce an infinite amount of grace, sin has no significant consequence. This corrective is introduced simply by the normal Hebrew word for “and,” which the NIV justifiably translates “yet” but which is not a strong adversative word. Perhaps an even more revealing, even if tendentious, translation would be something like: “[Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin] and at the same time not letting anybody off [i.e., making sure that the guilty get what they deserve].”</div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
In connection with the wording “he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation,” see comments on 20:5–6. As already suggested there,<i><u> this wording means something quite different from what it might seem to mean to the casual reader.</u></i> It does not mean that God would punish children and grandchildren for something their ancestors did but that they themselves did not do. Rather, it describes God’s just punishment of a given type of sin in each new generation as that sin continues to be repeated down through the generations. In other words, God here reminded his people that they could not rightly think something like “we can probably get away with doing this in our generation because God punished an earlier generation for doing it, so the punishment for it has already been given, and we don’t have to worry about it.” Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, vol. 2, <i><u>The New American Commentary</u></i>, 717.</div>
<br /></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-53598834297520146862020-01-13T17:23:00.000-08:002020-01-13T17:23:56.644-08:00The Significance of the Indicative and Imperative Moods or Becoming What you Already Are<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: , "applecoloremojiui";">"The Christian indicative statement is not 'This is what you ought to be.' The Christian imperative is not 'Now be as much like this as possible.' Instead, the indicative is 'You are already thus; your true life is this.' And the imperative is 'Enter upon your possession.' In the familiar epigram so often used to describe the Christian position, it is a matter of 'Become what you already are'; and that is a strikingly different approach from 'Try to be a bit better than you are.' ...And trust in human effort implies all that Christianity denies. It assumes the ability of human nature to struggle upwards by itself; whereas the Christian formula, 'Become what you are,' sees in God a divine gift, and calls human nature to accept it. It says membership in the Christian Church, in the Body of Christ, has already possessed you of the life of Christ. To be a baptized member of the Church is to be a limb of the Christ who has passed through the grave and gate of death into life. Believe this, trust him, and begin to enter on your possession."- C.F.D. Moule; "Reach and Grasp", Theology Today xii (1955-6): 484-90; here 485-86.</span></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-34679596912625897532019-10-11T07:58:00.001-07:002019-10-11T07:58:40.967-07:005 Ways Thinking “Work-Life Integration” Has Helped Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A great post by <a href="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/">Eric Geiger</a>, especially if you are a type A personality and are always working. This fall I started working out early to mid afternoon because there is no one at the gym at that time and do not have to wait for the weight machines or turn around and someone is using my weights (I do circuit training).<br />
<img alt="" class="attachment-post-image size-post-image wp-post-image" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://ericgeiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/chair-chilling-girl-6344.jpg" srcset="https://ericgeiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/chair-chilling-girl-6344.jpg 640w, https://ericgeiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/chair-chilling-girl-6344-300x200.jpg 300w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 680px;" width="640" /><br />
<header class="entry-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: "Droid Serif", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<time class="entry-time" datetime="2019-10-08T04:00:34-05:00" itemprop="datePublished" style="box-sizing: border-box;">October 8, 2019</time> By <span class="entry-author" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="entry-author-link" href="https://ericgeiger.com/author/egeiger/" itemprop="url" rel="author" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Eric Geiger</a></span></div>
</header><br />
<div class="entry-content" itemprop="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<div class="at-above-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
</div>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 10px 0px;">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_share at300b" fb:share:layout="button_count" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: left; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: underline; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; width: auto;"></a><br />
<div class="fb-share-button fb_iframe_widget" data-href="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/" data-layout="button_count" fb-iframe-plugin-query="app_id=172525162793917&container_width=0&href=https%3A%2F%2Fericgeiger.com%2F2019%2F10%2F5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me%2F&layout=button_count&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 25px; position: relative;">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_share at300b" fb:share:layout="button_count" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: left; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: underline; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; width: auto;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 20px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 69px;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f743fa68d58bc" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/v2.6/plugins/share_button.php?app_id=172525162793917&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D44%23cb%3Df15d41bcb4be34c%26domain%3Dericgeiger.com%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fericgeiger.com%252Ff37024785d5edac%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=0&href=https%3A%2F%2Fericgeiger.com%2F2019%2F10%2F5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me%2F&layout=button_count&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; max-width: 100%; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 69px;" title="fb:share_button Facebook Social Plugin" width="1000px"></iframe></span></a></div>
<a class="addthis_button_tweet at300b" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: left; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; min-width: 83px; padding: 0px 2px; text-decoration-line: underline; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; width: auto;"><div class="tweet_iframe_widget" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 25px; width: 62px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="twitter-share-button twitter-share-button-rendered twitter-tweet-button" data-url="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/tweet_button.e3a0e1b01ae601b6c9cf798a93ab7e69.en.html#dnt=false&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fericgeiger.com%2F2019%2F10%2F5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me%2F&size=m&text=5%20Ways%20Thinking%20%E2%80%9CWork-Life%20Integration%E2%80%9D%20Has%20Helped%20Me%C2%A0&time=1570804869254&type=share&url=https%3A%2F%2Fericgeiger.com%2F2019%2F10%2F5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me%2F" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; max-width: 100%; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 61px;" title="Twitter Tweet Button"></iframe></span></div>
</a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit at300b" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: left; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px 2px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: underline; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; width: auto;"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style addthis_nonzero" href="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/#" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 25px; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration-line: none !important; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: top;"></a><a class="atc_s addthis_button_compact" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background: url("data:image/png; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif !important; font-size: 11px; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 5px; min-width: 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 5px 0px 20px; transition: none 0s ease 0s;">Share<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></a><a class="addthis_button_expanded" href="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/#" style="background: url("data:image/png; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; color: #333333; display: block !important; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s; width: 34px !important;" target="_blank" title="More">2</a><a class="addthis_button_email at300b" href="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/#" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; float: left; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px 2px; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; width: auto;" target="_blank" title="Email"><span class="at-icon-wrapper" style="background-color: #848484; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; overflow: hidden; width: 16px;"><svg alt="Email" aria-labelledby="at-svg-email-1" class="at-icon at-icon-email" role="img" style="height: 16px; width: 16px;" title="Email" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><g fill-rule="evenodd"></g><path d="M27 22.757c0 1.24-.988 2.243-2.19 2.243H7.19C5.98 25 5 23.994 5 22.757V13.67c0-.556.39-.773.855-.496l8.78 5.238c.782.467 1.95.467 2.73 0l8.78-5.238c.472-.28.855-.063.855.495v9.087z"></path><path d="M27 9.243C27 8.006 26.02 7 24.81 7H7.19C5.988 7 5 8.004 5 9.243v.465c0 .554.385 1.232.857 1.514l9.61 5.733c.267.16.8.16 1.067 0l9.61-5.733c.473-.283.856-.96.856-1.514v-.465z"></path></g></svg></span></a><a class="addthis_button_print at300b" href="https://ericgeiger.com/2019/10/5-ways-thinking-work-life-integration-has-helped-me/#" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d4d89; cursor: pointer; float: left; line-height: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px 2px; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; width: auto;" title="Print"><span class="at-icon-wrapper" style="background-color: #738a8d; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; overflow: hidden; width: 16px;"><svg alt="Print" aria-labelledby="at-svg-print-2" class="at-icon at-icon-print" role="img" style="height: 16px; width: 16px;" title="Print" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M24.67 10.62h-2.86V7.49H10.82v3.12H7.95c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v7.66h3.77v1.31L15 24.66h6.81v-5.44h3.77v-7.7c-.01-.5-.41-.9-.91-.9zM11.88 8.56h8.86v2.06h-8.86V8.56zm10.98 9.18h-1.05v-2.1h-1.06v7.96H16.4c-1.58 0-.82-3.74-.82-3.74s-3.65.89-3.69-.78v-3.43h-1.06v2.06H9.77v-3.58h13.09v3.61zm.75-4.91c-.4 0-.72-.32-.72-.72s.32-.72.72-.72c.4 0 .72.32.72.72s-.32.72-.72.72zm-4.12 2.96h-6.1v1.06h6.1v-1.06zm-6.11 3.15h6.1v-1.06h-6.1v1.06z"></path></g></svg></span></a><br />
<div class="atclear" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
In recent years some consultants and counselors have encouraged people to stop thinking “work-life balance” and start thinking “work-life integration.” While some say this is semantics, others believe the language represents a fundamental shift in thinking with “work-life balance” as a view of your life as having disparate parts (work and life) and “integration” as viewing your life a singular whole. It has been a helpful distinction for me. Here is why…</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I never could get the balance right, which I realize is really a statement about my own struggles. On my worst days, I feel I am not doing enough. Not doing enough as a leader. Not doing enough as a pastor. Not doing enough as a husband. Not doing enough as a father. I say “on my worst days,” because those feelings are contrary to the message of the gospel – the message I believe and teach. The message that Christ has accomplished my forgiveness and approval for me is the message I need to liberate me from my striving. My default struggle can easily be amplified in a ministry or leadership role because ministry roles and leadership roles are never done. There is always something else to do, someone else to meet with, some problem to solve, or some opportunity to pursue. Also, there is always more time I can spend with my kids or investments I can put into my marriage. When I sought “balance,” I felt guilty when I “worked” during the evening because that was “family time,” and I would have felt guilty if exercised during the day because that is “work” time. Which is one reason I gained 30 pounds as a ministry leader in my early 30s (pounds that have not been lost).</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Thankfully, my view changed over time as I watched other leaders I respected. I noticed something different in ministry leaders I believed to be the healthiest. They did not view their lives through the typical 9-5 lens. They woke up extremely early to work on sermons. Yet they unashamedly exercised in the middle of the day. They enjoyed walks or lunches with their spouses. And yet at times had dinners with others in the evenings. Instead of viewing their days as two distinct parts, the healthy leaders had a view of their whole life and set their rhythms and schedules to serve both their roles and their families. At the same time, I read stories of ministry spouses feeling neglected and heard many ministry leaders lament the difficulties of exercising with their brutal schedules. So, I stopped viewing my day as two parts (work and family) and started viewing it as one whole.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Disclaimer Alert:</span> This approach requires understanding and support from your supervisor(s) AND should only be attempted if you enjoy work. If you default to being lazy, I don’t suggest asking for this privilege. No one has ever accused me of being lazy (I am so messed up that I feel I have to note that), and this approach has given me freedom with a clear conscience in the following five practical ways.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Can exercise during the day (with a clear conscience)</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
At one point I would have felt guilty doing so, but now I view this as stewarding my health in order to serve others more effectively.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Can answer emails after the kids go to bed (with a clear conscience)</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I always have answered emails after the kids go to bed, but now I do so without guilt. I don’t feel I am “letting work infringe on life” because I don’t view my week that way.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Can read for a sermon on vacation (with a clear conscience)</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I used to ban myself from books that could be considered “work” in nature because it was “rest time,” but I enjoy reading books about the Bible, theology, and leadership – so I go for it.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Can start work early (with a clear conscience)</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I wake up early. When I viewed my day as “work-life balance,” that was when I was supposed to exercise because “work” was to start later. But I am often most ready to study early in the morning and exercise later in the day helps give me a second wind.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Can spend some extra time with Kaye during the week (with a clear conscience)</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If I have several night appointments during the week, I will go to lunch with Kaye during the week or go for a walk with her. I evaluate the week as a whole and try, by God’s grace, to ensure my family gets plenty of me.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Work-life integration has been a better approach for me than work-life balance.</div>
</div>
</div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-2236499960444954772019-09-16T10:13:00.000-07:002019-09-16T10:13:05.793-07:00When Your Identity is Wrapped Up into Your Ministry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
This issue can often make or break someone in ministry, from <a href="https://edstetzer.com/2019/09/when-your-identity-is-wrapped-up-into-your-ministry/">Ed Stetzer</a> . . . <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY10jpzr35dxF0XFzACPnSUeOZS-G2owGA6Rdp-7ZdRRSM-GRSFAveLTdbRWW_KrqXl3nXsU_funuI45HGGPLNFM9GNBz1YLmp1BTmDJFhHs-mWbn_CZOgWcjhgDurfphx08y0eJYweP5u/s1600/85225-1-610x342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="610" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY10jpzr35dxF0XFzACPnSUeOZS-G2owGA6Rdp-7ZdRRSM-GRSFAveLTdbRWW_KrqXl3nXsU_funuI45HGGPLNFM9GNBz1YLmp1BTmDJFhHs-mWbn_CZOgWcjhgDurfphx08y0eJYweP5u/s320/85225-1-610x342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My identity has too often been tied to the successes or failures of the ministries that I lead—and too frequently in unhealthy ways.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
It’s easy to find yourself counting heads at church on a Sunday or eyeing up the funds that were raised on any given week, wishing that more was accomplished. I remember times when I mistakenly thought, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">If I can just get over 200 people this week, then I’ll finally be at peace. </em>Evaluating our leadership capacities can take some ugly turns when done numerically based on factors that are, quite frankly, completely outside of our control.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
I’m a highly driven person; quite honestly, it’s that drivenness that has in part helped me be a successful church planter and revitalizer for many years. What’s unhealthy is not the ambition itself, but the ways I let longings for success overtake my heart and mind. Ambitious people become demoralized not when we dream big, set goals, or vision cast but when the realization of these things we fantasize about become essential to our happiness and well-being.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
At issue here are some fundamental questions that Christians everywhere—not just in the church—have to answer: What does it look like for followers of Christ to live and work with a <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">healthy </em>sense of ambition? Furthermore, how should we approach failure in light of that?</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">God wants YOU</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Let me start by saying this: It is possible to be ambitious and driven while also being an enthusiastic Christ-follower at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
God has given each of us gifts. Some of us are gifted with patient spirits, others of us can’t help but forge ahead. Some of us are good at managing large staffs of people, others of us are content to follow others and take direction.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Regardless of how these inclinations and abilities manifest themselves in everyday life, if you glean nothing else from this article, hear this: whoever you are, whatever you do, God wants to use <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">you</em>. Yes, you. He wants to show you how to use your you-ness the way he always intended and teach you to leverage your skills and abilities for the building of his kingdom.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Don’t worry about what you’ve been given; think instead about the giver himself and meditate on all the good works that he has prepared in advance for you to do.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">His goals, not ours</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
As I’ve said before, it can be easy for my ambition to get the better of me; I’m wired to want to beat numbers, do better, and track improvements over a period of time.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Often, I think it’s easy for pastors to start thinking numerically about their congregations. We create measures for success that, quite honestly, are not representative of God’s own measures of success for our ministries.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
More often than not, the most dangerous part about all this comes when we try to compare our success to that of other pastors and ministry leaders in our communities. When we do this, not only are we trying to ‘beat’ our own numbers, but their numbers as well. This kind of thinking is a slippery slope down the wrong road—it’s most definitely an example of ambition gone bad.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
God has called us to live in unity as the body of Christ. Focusing on ways to one-up each other’s ministries is not how we’ve been instructed to go about that.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
How do we fix this? Well, I think it starts by looking at our ministries the way that Paul did. We see throughout Acts and Paul’s letters to churches that his ambition is centered around not what he wants to accomplish, but what <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">God </em>has called him to do. In Acts 16, Paul tries to preach in the province of Asia and the Holy Spirit actually prevents him from doing so.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Reading passages like this, it’s clear who is in control of Paul’s ministry: hint, it’s not Paul. Those of us who preach, teach, or lead in the church truly delude ourselves if we think that we are somehow solely responsible for the present, past, or future successes of our ministries.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Our posture should be one of surrender to God who holds all the cards—and parishioners we serve—in his hands. Any ambition we have should start and end with the knowledge of his sovereignty over all the things we so tightly cling to.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
At the end of the day, it’s not about <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">our </em>goals, it’s about <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">his. </em>It’s not about what kind of success <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">we </em>imagine, but what <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">he </em>has willed for us to accomplish.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
It’s not about <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">our </em>name being made great, but about <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">him </em>being brought glory<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">. </em>Ambition channeled for the glory of God is the only form Christ-followers can ever really strive for and still stand on solid ground.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">So, what about failure?</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
In ministry, there are always ups and downs. In churches particularly, bad Sundays sometimes happen—attendance is low and sermons don’t turn out exactly as we’d originally hoped. This isn’t something to stew over for days or blame yourself about; it’s something to surrender to God.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Self-reflection and occasional critique are important, don’t get me wrong. What’s not helpful is when we allow an obsession with perfection and dreams of worldly success to prevent us from appreciating the ways that God really is at work in our midst.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
The truth is that we don’t see the big picture. We serve a God who is sovereign over all things. It’s only through his strength and provision that we are able to accomplish anything of eternal significance in this life.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
As the Psalmist reminds us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (Ps.127:1).</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5b5e5e; font-family: "Noticia Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px;">
Pastors and ministry leaders: trust that he who began a good work in you and in your organizations will bring it to completion in his good timing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-86671598232389403872019-09-13T10:09:00.001-07:002019-09-13T10:09:43.168-07:00Preachers, Show Them in the Bible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible">John Piper </a>has been helpful to me in so many ways over the last twenty-plus years in my thinking, my affections for Jesus, and in my ministry. . .<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk8z6nDZDPMc6nXBpi5xNBE7WPB8oqcdD_NSxTFBFAkZKjjrhAArgiZjx6IDlQbuwWxxnCq3nMh_LXdiJuINX4SOuXqv95p6xIpbbpCvLDk3yjvaCQqexQMbN74QwbetnigTe6_yWge7r/s1600/6.1.HOME_.CC.MisUsedBibleVerses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="642" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk8z6nDZDPMc6nXBpi5xNBE7WPB8oqcdD_NSxTFBFAkZKjjrhAArgiZjx6IDlQbuwWxxnCq3nMh_LXdiJuINX4SOuXqv95p6xIpbbpCvLDk3yjvaCQqexQMbN74QwbetnigTe6_yWge7r/s320/6.1.HOME_.CC.MisUsedBibleVerses.jpg" width="320" /></a>Expository exultation involves rigorous attention to the very words of the biblical text as a means of radically penetrating into the reality the text aims to communicate.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am pleading against a widespread kind of preaching that is Bible-based but not Bible-saturated. I am pleading against the reading of a text followed by preaching that makes its points — sometimes very good points actually found in the text — without showing people the very words and phrases from which the points are taken. I am pleading against preaching that fails to help people see <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">how</em> the text actually takes us to the reality that is all-important.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What are the underlying reasons for this conviction that a preacher should show the people from the very words of the text how they can see for themselves the reality he is heralding? I will discuss only two here.</div>
<h2 data-linkify="true" id="1-only-the-word-of-god-has-authority" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 33.75px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
1. Only the Word of God Has Authority<div class="linkified-heading" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -41.5px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 700px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible#1-only-the-word-of-god-has-authority" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
</h2>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
First, the authority of preaching lies in the manifest correspondence between what the preacher is trying to communicate with his words and what the biblical authors are trying to communicate through the inspired words of Scripture. The key word here is <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">manifest</em>. The correspondence between the points of the sermon and the meaning of the words of Scripture should <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">show</em>.</div>
<blockquote class="resource__pullquote js-pullquote-values" data-link="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible" data-title="“The words of God are the best means of displaying the glory of God.”" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 26px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 42.9px; margin: 5px 0px 30px 30px; max-width: 700px; padding: 24px 0px; position: relative; quotes: none; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
“The words of God are the best means of displaying the glory of God.”<br />
<div class="icon-container" style="border: 0px; bottom: -11px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; left: 150px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px; position: absolute; transform: translate(-50%); vertical-align: baseline; width: 60px;">
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"></a><br />
<div class="svg" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"><svg class="svg-twitter" height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#333333" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M19,4.83999195 C18.8731929,4.99666575 18.739174,5.1662929 18.5997463,5.3488734 C18.4597175,5.53145389 18.313679,5.70108104 18.1610297,5.85775484 C18.0083804,6.01381182 17.8431104,6.17048562 17.6652199,6.32715943 C17.4873293,6.48383323 17.3094387,6.62755369 17.1315482,6.75770397 L17.1315482,6.87551774 C17.1315482,6.90142443 17.137558,6.94028447 17.1501786,6.99271468 C17.1634002,7.04514489 17.16941,7.08400492 17.16941,7.10991162 L17.16941,7.26658542 C17.16941,8.4928355 16.940436,9.75239419 16.483089,11.0440278 C16.0251411,12.3356615 15.3514407,13.4903597 14.4619879,14.5075058 C13.5719342,15.5252687 12.4727388,16.3672362 11.1631999,17.0321746 C9.85366098,17.6977299 8.3602217,18.0172457 6.68228106,17.991339 C6.14800841,18.0172457 5.63356816,17.9851708 5.13775834,17.8932637 C4.64194852,17.8019734 4.15214851,17.6915616 3.66956028,17.5607945 C3.18637107,17.4306442 2.72842309,17.254232 2.29631732,17.0321746 C1.86421155,16.8107341 1.43210577,16.5825084 1,16.3474977 C1.07632466,16.3215911 1.15264933,16.314806 1.22897399,16.3277593 C1.30469767,16.3407127 1.38102234,16.3474977 1.457347,16.3474977 C1.53367166,16.3474977 1.60999633,16.353666 1.68632099,16.3672362 C1.76264565,16.3801895 1.83897032,16.3734044 1.91529498,16.3474977 C2.34740075,16.3734044 2.76688591,16.3407127 3.17375046,16.2494224 C3.580615,16.1581322 3.97425795,16.0538886 4.35588127,15.9366916 C4.73690361,15.8188779 5.10590631,15.6492507 5.46168742,15.4278102 C5.81746853,15.2057528 6.16062903,14.9904806 6.49116891,14.7819934 C6.08490535,14.7295632 5.69667123,14.645058 5.32826951,14.5272442 C4.95986778,14.4100473 4.6227171,14.2274668 4.31741845,13.9795027 C4.01272078,13.7315387 3.75189476,13.4576679 3.53614237,13.1572737 C3.31978899,12.8574963 3.14790825,12.4985035 3.02110113,12.0809123 C3.07218457,12.1333425 3.12927782,12.1592492 3.19238089,12.1592492 C3.25608494,12.1592492 3.31978899,12.1660343 3.38349304,12.1789877 C3.44659611,12.191941 3.50429034,12.191941 3.5547728,12.1789877 C3.60585623,12.1660343 3.65693967,12.1722026 3.70742212,12.1987261 C3.80898801,12.1722026 3.89793329,12.1660343 3.97425795,12.1789877 C4.05058262,12.191941 4.13351808,12.1851559 4.22246336,12.1592492 C4.31140863,12.1333425 4.39374311,12.1203892 4.47006778,12.1203892 C4.54639244,12.1203892 4.6227171,12.0938657 4.69904177,12.0420523 C4.266936,11.9637154 3.87269206,11.8070416 3.51691095,11.5720309 C3.16112985,11.3370202 2.84922039,11.0631494 2.58238456,10.7504186 C2.31554873,10.437071 2.10580615,10.0719101 1.95315682,9.65431885 C1.8005075,9.23672765 1.72418283,8.80618311 1.72418283,8.36268522 L1.72418283,8.34294678 C1.72418283,8.35590013 1.72418283,8.34973187 1.72418283,8.32320835 L1.72418283,8.30408675 C1.72418283,8.31704009 1.72418283,8.31025501 1.72418283,8.28434831 C1.85159093,8.38859191 1.98500885,8.46076055 2.12503756,8.49962059 C2.26446529,8.53848062 2.40449401,8.58412575 2.54452272,8.63655596 C2.68395045,8.68898617 2.82397917,8.72167795 2.96400788,8.73463129 C3.10343561,8.74758464 3.25007512,8.76732307 3.40212347,8.79322976 C3.14790825,8.58412575 2.92554506,8.37563856 2.73503389,8.16715137 C2.54452272,7.95804736 2.37264198,7.71008331 2.21999265,7.42325922 C2.06794431,7.13643513 1.95315682,6.84899422 1.87683216,6.56217013 C1.8005075,6.27534604 1.76264565,5.94904509 1.76264565,5.5838841 C1.76264565,5.45311699 1.77526627,5.29644319 1.8005075,5.11386269 C1.8263497,4.9312822 1.85760075,4.76844013 1.89606357,4.62471968 C1.93452639,4.48099922 1.98500885,4.32432542 2.0487129,4.15469827 C2.11241695,3.98507112 2.18213081,3.84813575 2.25845548,3.74389215 C2.71580248,4.29225046 3.22423291,4.80730017 3.78374679,5.29027493 C4.34326066,5.77263286 4.94724717,6.17727071 5.59510534,6.50357166 C6.24356449,6.82987261 6.92387566,7.09695827 7.63543788,7.30606228 C8.34760108,7.51454947 9.08500551,7.63174641 9.84765116,7.65826993 C9.84765116,7.60583972 9.84104037,7.54045616 9.82841975,7.46211926 C9.81579914,7.38439919 9.80257754,7.31223054 9.78995693,7.24684699 C9.77733632,7.18208026 9.7713265,7.10991162 9.7713265,7.03157471 L9.7713265,6.83604087 C9.7713265,6.28829939 9.86628159,5.79237129 10.0573937,5.3488734 C10.2479049,4.9053755 10.5087309,4.50073765 10.8386698,4.13557666 C11.1692097,3.76979884 11.5634536,3.4959281 12.0214016,3.31334761 C12.4787486,3.13076711 12.9619378,3.02652352 13.4703683,3 C13.7245835,3.02652352 13.9787987,3.0592153 14.2330139,3.09807533 C14.4872291,3.13693537 14.7288237,3.21527227 14.9577977,3.33308604 C15.1861707,3.45028298 15.4025241,3.58105009 15.6056559,3.72415372 C15.8093887,3.86787418 15.9872792,4.04428641 16.1399285,4.2527736 C16.3430603,4.1744367 16.5467931,4.10905314 16.7499249,4.05723976 C16.9536576,4.00480955 17.1567894,3.93942599 17.3599212,3.86108909 C17.563654,3.78336902 17.7541651,3.69824703 17.9320557,3.60695678 C18.1099462,3.51566653 18.2878368,3.40463785 18.4663283,3.27448757 C18.4152449,3.53540497 18.3323094,3.7568455 18.2181229,3.93942599 C18.1039364,4.12200649 17.9831391,4.31137207 17.855731,4.50752274 C17.7289239,4.70305658 17.5762746,4.86589864 17.398384,4.99666575 C17.2204935,5.12681604 17.0426029,5.27053649 16.8641114,5.4272103 C17.0426029,5.37478009 17.2265033,5.33592005 17.4176154,5.30939653 C17.6081266,5.28348984 17.792628,5.23784472 17.9705185,5.17246116 C18.1484091,5.1070776 18.3196888,5.04847914 18.4849588,4.99666575 C18.6502287,4.94423554 18.8221094,4.87885199 19,4.80051508 L19,4.83999195" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"><span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px , 0px , 0px , 0px); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Tweet</span></a><a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-facebook-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Share this quote on Facebook"><div class="svg" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<svg class="svg-facebook" height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#333333" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M11.5113801,4.85631128 C11.4250798,4.9027115 11.3513532,4.96637692 11.2902,5.04784708 C11.2284754,5.1287777 11.1793243,5.22751305 11.1427467,5.3435136 C11.1055976,5.45951415 11.0873088,5.58738453 11,5.72658519 L11,7.57234282 L14.4444444,7.57234282 L14.4444444,10.1847832 L11,10.1847832 L11,18 L8,18 L8,10.1847832 L5,10.1847832 L5,7.57234282 L8,7.57234282 L8,6.00552606 C8,5.34351349 7.97592873,4.96044201 8.1725332,4.47270015 C8.36913767,3.98549783 8.64004034,3.55602602 8.98409817,3.18428471 C9.32872752,2.81308294 9.73451,2.52281179 10.2014456,2.31347126 C10.6689528,2.10467027 11.185611,2 11.7514204,2 L14.4444444,2 L14.4444444,4.78617141 L11.7514204,4.78617141 C11.6771222,4.78617141 11.5976803,4.80991106 11.5113801,4.85631128 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></div>
<span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px , 0px , 0px , 0px); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Share on Facebook</span></a></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A preacher who does not care if his people believe what he says about the greatest matters in the world is a charlatan. He is playing language games in one of the most sacred places in the world. I assume most preachers who believe that the Bible is the word of God are not charlatans. That is, they take very seriously the calling to say things that people should believe. They want to be believed. They expect their people to believe what they say.</div>
<h3 data-linkify="true" id="my-first-sermon-at-bethlehem" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 30.36px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
My First Sermon at Bethlehem<div class="linkified-heading" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -40px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 700px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible#my-first-sermon-at-bethlehem" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
</h3>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The basis for this astonishing expectation is the divine inspiration and complete truthfulness of Scripture. The Christian preacher aims to speak the word of God. He wants to be believed because he is saying what God wants said. In <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-wisdom-of-men-and-the-power-of-god" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">the first sermon I preached as pastor</a> at Bethlehem Baptist Church, at age thirty-four, I said,</div>
<blockquote style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 22.4px; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px 30px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The source of my authority in this pulpit is not . . . my wisdom; nor is it a private revelation granted to me beyond the revelation of Scripture. My words have authority only insofar as they are the repetition, unfolding, and proper application of the words of Scripture. I have authority only when I stand under authority. . . . My deep conviction about preaching is that a pastor must show the people that what he is saying was already said or implied in the Bible. If it cannot be shown, it has no special authority.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My heart aches for the pastor who increases his own burden by trying to come up with ideas to preach to his people. As for me, I have nothing of abiding worth to say to you. But God does. And of that word, I hope and pray that I never tire of speaking. The life of the church depends on it.</div>
<h3 data-linkify="true" id="tell-us-what-god-has-to-say" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 30.36px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
Tell Us What God Has to Say<div class="linkified-heading inactive" style="animation: 0.1s linear 0s 1 normal forwards running deactivate-linkified-heading; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -40px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 690px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible#tell-us-what-god-has-to-say" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
</h3>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In that sermon, I quoted W.A. Criswell (1909–2002), who pastored First Baptist Dallas for forty years. I said then, and I believe today, that his words are an admonition to pastors that I think is right on the money, and I take it as a great challenge:</div>
<blockquote style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 22.4px; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px 30px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When a man goes to church, he often hears a preacher in the pulpit rehash everything that he has read in the editorials, the newspapers, and the magazines. On the TV commentaries, he hears that same stuff over again, yawns, and goes out and plays golf on Sunday. When a man comes to church, actually what he is saying to you is this, “Preacher, I know what the TV commentator has to say; I hear him every day. I know what the editorial writer has to say; I read it every day. I know what the magazines have to say; I read them every week. Preacher, what I want to know is, does God have anything to say? If God has anything to say, tell us what it is.” (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Preach-that-Bible-Literally-True/dp/B0006BYTFU?tag=desigod06-20" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why I Preach That the Bible Is Literally True</em></a>)</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This means that if the preaching is to claim authority to be believed, it needs to correspond to what the Scripture teaches. But here’s the catch: The desire of the Christian preacher is not that the resting place of the people’s confidence shift from the Scripture to the preacher. He wants them to believe what he says. He wants to have authority in that sense. But he wants the authority to remain in the Scripture itself, not in him and his words.</div>
<blockquote class="resource__pullquote js-pullquote-values" data-link="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible" data-title="“My heart aches for the pastor who increases his own burden by trying to come up with ideas to preach to his people.”" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 26px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 42.9px; margin: 5px 0px 30px 30px; max-width: 700px; padding: 24px 0px; position: relative; quotes: none; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
“My heart aches for the pastor who increases his own burden by trying to come up with ideas to preach to his people.”<br />
<div class="icon-container" style="border: 0px; bottom: -11px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; left: 150px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px; position: absolute; transform: translate(-50%); vertical-align: baseline; width: 60px;">
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"></a><br />
<div class="svg" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"><svg class="svg-twitter" height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#333333" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M19,4.83999195 C18.8731929,4.99666575 18.739174,5.1662929 18.5997463,5.3488734 C18.4597175,5.53145389 18.313679,5.70108104 18.1610297,5.85775484 C18.0083804,6.01381182 17.8431104,6.17048562 17.6652199,6.32715943 C17.4873293,6.48383323 17.3094387,6.62755369 17.1315482,6.75770397 L17.1315482,6.87551774 C17.1315482,6.90142443 17.137558,6.94028447 17.1501786,6.99271468 C17.1634002,7.04514489 17.16941,7.08400492 17.16941,7.10991162 L17.16941,7.26658542 C17.16941,8.4928355 16.940436,9.75239419 16.483089,11.0440278 C16.0251411,12.3356615 15.3514407,13.4903597 14.4619879,14.5075058 C13.5719342,15.5252687 12.4727388,16.3672362 11.1631999,17.0321746 C9.85366098,17.6977299 8.3602217,18.0172457 6.68228106,17.991339 C6.14800841,18.0172457 5.63356816,17.9851708 5.13775834,17.8932637 C4.64194852,17.8019734 4.15214851,17.6915616 3.66956028,17.5607945 C3.18637107,17.4306442 2.72842309,17.254232 2.29631732,17.0321746 C1.86421155,16.8107341 1.43210577,16.5825084 1,16.3474977 C1.07632466,16.3215911 1.15264933,16.314806 1.22897399,16.3277593 C1.30469767,16.3407127 1.38102234,16.3474977 1.457347,16.3474977 C1.53367166,16.3474977 1.60999633,16.353666 1.68632099,16.3672362 C1.76264565,16.3801895 1.83897032,16.3734044 1.91529498,16.3474977 C2.34740075,16.3734044 2.76688591,16.3407127 3.17375046,16.2494224 C3.580615,16.1581322 3.97425795,16.0538886 4.35588127,15.9366916 C4.73690361,15.8188779 5.10590631,15.6492507 5.46168742,15.4278102 C5.81746853,15.2057528 6.16062903,14.9904806 6.49116891,14.7819934 C6.08490535,14.7295632 5.69667123,14.645058 5.32826951,14.5272442 C4.95986778,14.4100473 4.6227171,14.2274668 4.31741845,13.9795027 C4.01272078,13.7315387 3.75189476,13.4576679 3.53614237,13.1572737 C3.31978899,12.8574963 3.14790825,12.4985035 3.02110113,12.0809123 C3.07218457,12.1333425 3.12927782,12.1592492 3.19238089,12.1592492 C3.25608494,12.1592492 3.31978899,12.1660343 3.38349304,12.1789877 C3.44659611,12.191941 3.50429034,12.191941 3.5547728,12.1789877 C3.60585623,12.1660343 3.65693967,12.1722026 3.70742212,12.1987261 C3.80898801,12.1722026 3.89793329,12.1660343 3.97425795,12.1789877 C4.05058262,12.191941 4.13351808,12.1851559 4.22246336,12.1592492 C4.31140863,12.1333425 4.39374311,12.1203892 4.47006778,12.1203892 C4.54639244,12.1203892 4.6227171,12.0938657 4.69904177,12.0420523 C4.266936,11.9637154 3.87269206,11.8070416 3.51691095,11.5720309 C3.16112985,11.3370202 2.84922039,11.0631494 2.58238456,10.7504186 C2.31554873,10.437071 2.10580615,10.0719101 1.95315682,9.65431885 C1.8005075,9.23672765 1.72418283,8.80618311 1.72418283,8.36268522 L1.72418283,8.34294678 C1.72418283,8.35590013 1.72418283,8.34973187 1.72418283,8.32320835 L1.72418283,8.30408675 C1.72418283,8.31704009 1.72418283,8.31025501 1.72418283,8.28434831 C1.85159093,8.38859191 1.98500885,8.46076055 2.12503756,8.49962059 C2.26446529,8.53848062 2.40449401,8.58412575 2.54452272,8.63655596 C2.68395045,8.68898617 2.82397917,8.72167795 2.96400788,8.73463129 C3.10343561,8.74758464 3.25007512,8.76732307 3.40212347,8.79322976 C3.14790825,8.58412575 2.92554506,8.37563856 2.73503389,8.16715137 C2.54452272,7.95804736 2.37264198,7.71008331 2.21999265,7.42325922 C2.06794431,7.13643513 1.95315682,6.84899422 1.87683216,6.56217013 C1.8005075,6.27534604 1.76264565,5.94904509 1.76264565,5.5838841 C1.76264565,5.45311699 1.77526627,5.29644319 1.8005075,5.11386269 C1.8263497,4.9312822 1.85760075,4.76844013 1.89606357,4.62471968 C1.93452639,4.48099922 1.98500885,4.32432542 2.0487129,4.15469827 C2.11241695,3.98507112 2.18213081,3.84813575 2.25845548,3.74389215 C2.71580248,4.29225046 3.22423291,4.80730017 3.78374679,5.29027493 C4.34326066,5.77263286 4.94724717,6.17727071 5.59510534,6.50357166 C6.24356449,6.82987261 6.92387566,7.09695827 7.63543788,7.30606228 C8.34760108,7.51454947 9.08500551,7.63174641 9.84765116,7.65826993 C9.84765116,7.60583972 9.84104037,7.54045616 9.82841975,7.46211926 C9.81579914,7.38439919 9.80257754,7.31223054 9.78995693,7.24684699 C9.77733632,7.18208026 9.7713265,7.10991162 9.7713265,7.03157471 L9.7713265,6.83604087 C9.7713265,6.28829939 9.86628159,5.79237129 10.0573937,5.3488734 C10.2479049,4.9053755 10.5087309,4.50073765 10.8386698,4.13557666 C11.1692097,3.76979884 11.5634536,3.4959281 12.0214016,3.31334761 C12.4787486,3.13076711 12.9619378,3.02652352 13.4703683,3 C13.7245835,3.02652352 13.9787987,3.0592153 14.2330139,3.09807533 C14.4872291,3.13693537 14.7288237,3.21527227 14.9577977,3.33308604 C15.1861707,3.45028298 15.4025241,3.58105009 15.6056559,3.72415372 C15.8093887,3.86787418 15.9872792,4.04428641 16.1399285,4.2527736 C16.3430603,4.1744367 16.5467931,4.10905314 16.7499249,4.05723976 C16.9536576,4.00480955 17.1567894,3.93942599 17.3599212,3.86108909 C17.563654,3.78336902 17.7541651,3.69824703 17.9320557,3.60695678 C18.1099462,3.51566653 18.2878368,3.40463785 18.4663283,3.27448757 C18.4152449,3.53540497 18.3323094,3.7568455 18.2181229,3.93942599 C18.1039364,4.12200649 17.9831391,4.31137207 17.855731,4.50752274 C17.7289239,4.70305658 17.5762746,4.86589864 17.398384,4.99666575 C17.2204935,5.12681604 17.0426029,5.27053649 16.8641114,5.4272103 C17.0426029,5.37478009 17.2265033,5.33592005 17.4176154,5.30939653 C17.6081266,5.28348984 17.792628,5.23784472 17.9705185,5.17246116 C18.1484091,5.1070776 18.3196888,5.04847914 18.4849588,4.99666575 C18.6502287,4.94423554 18.8221094,4.87885199 19,4.80051508 L19,4.83999195" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"><span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px , 0px , 0px , 0px); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Tweet</span></a><a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-facebook-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Share this quote on Facebook"><div class="svg" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<svg class="svg-facebook" height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#333333" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M11.5113801,4.85631128 C11.4250798,4.9027115 11.3513532,4.96637692 11.2902,5.04784708 C11.2284754,5.1287777 11.1793243,5.22751305 11.1427467,5.3435136 C11.1055976,5.45951415 11.0873088,5.58738453 11,5.72658519 L11,7.57234282 L14.4444444,7.57234282 L14.4444444,10.1847832 L11,10.1847832 L11,18 L8,18 L8,10.1847832 L5,10.1847832 L5,7.57234282 L8,7.57234282 L8,6.00552606 C8,5.34351349 7.97592873,4.96044201 8.1725332,4.47270015 C8.36913767,3.98549783 8.64004034,3.55602602 8.98409817,3.18428471 C9.32872752,2.81308294 9.73451,2.52281179 10.2014456,2.31347126 C10.6689528,2.10467027 11.185611,2 11.7514204,2 L14.4444444,2 L14.4444444,4.78617141 L11.7514204,4.78617141 C11.6771222,4.78617141 11.5976803,4.80991106 11.5113801,4.85631128 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></div>
<span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px , 0px , 0px , 0px); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Share on Facebook</span></a></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This implies, therefore, that the message must not only correspond to the meaning of Scripture but also <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">show</em> that it does. The authority of preaching lies in the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">manifest</em> correspondence between what the preacher is trying to communicate with his words and what the biblical authors are trying to communicate through the inspired words of Scripture. If this were not so, then on what basis would the people believe that the meaning of the sermon is the same as the meaning of the Bible? They may discover on their own that it is, without any help from the preacher. But why would the preacher want to make it hard for the people to see the correspondence?</div>
<h3 data-linkify="true" id="three-reasons-preachers-often-fail" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 30.36px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
Three Reasons Preachers Often Fail<div class="linkified-heading inactive" style="animation: 0.1s linear 0s 1 normal forwards running deactivate-linkified-heading; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -40px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 690px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible#three-reasons-preachers-often-fail" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
</h3>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It seems to me that a failure to <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">show</em> the people that the meaning of the sermon is there in the wording of Scripture is probably owing to incompetence, laziness, or presumption. <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Presumption</em> that his words have enough authority on their own. <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Laziness</em> because it is hard work not only to see what the text means but also to construct compelling explanations that show that the biblical text actually has this meaning. <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Incompetence</em> because the preacher simply lacks the ability to show how the meaning of the message actually corresponds to the meaning of Scripture. These are traits that a preacher should not have.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The tragedy that happens over time in a church where the preacher does not give rigorous attention to the words of Scripture to help the people penetrate into the reality it communicates is that the word of God ceases to exercise its power, and the people lose their interest in the Scriptures.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When this happens, everything in the church shifts away from a joyful orientation on the Scriptures. The people cease to be a Bible-guided people. Without the saturation of Scripture, they become increasingly vulnerable to the winds of false teaching, and more subtly, the conditioning of unbelieving society. Their expectations become worldly, and they pressure the leadership of the church to make more and more concessions to what pleases unspiritual people. The preacher may wonder what the problem is, but he does not have to look far. He has not valued the word of God highly enough to make its glorious realities the content of his message while showing the people from the very words of the text how they can see these realities for themselves — and be thrilled.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
That is the first reason for the conviction that the preacher should show his people from the very words of the text how they can see for themselves the reality he is heralding. It maintains the authority of Scripture as the manifest foundation for all that is preached.</div>
<h2 data-linkify="true" id="2-only-the-word-of-god-awakens-life" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 33.75px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
2. Only the Word of God Awakens Life<div class="linkified-heading" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -41.5px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 700px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible#2-only-the-word-of-god-awakens-life" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
</h2>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The second reason that a preacher should show the people from the very words of the text how they can see for themselves the reality he is heralding is that preaching aims to awaken and strengthen faith in Christ, which the Scriptures themselves are designed to do with greater effectiveness than any message of man that mutes their words and meaning.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The essence of saving faith is seeing the supreme beauty of Christ in the gospel and embracing him as Savior, and Lord, and the greatest treasure in the universe. I say this because, among other reasons, it is implied in <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="2 Cor 4.4" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Cor%204.4" style="-space: nowrap; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 4:4</a>: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” There is a spiritual <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">light</em> that shines through the gospel, and it is the light of <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the glory of Christ</em>.</div>
<blockquote class="resource__pullquote js-pullquote-values" data-link="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible" data-title="“As for me, I have nothing of abiding worth to say to you. But God does.”" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 26px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 42.9px; margin: 5px 0px 30px 30px; max-width: 700px; padding: 24px 0px; position: relative; quotes: none; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
“As for me, I have nothing of abiding worth to say to you. But God does.”<br />
<div class="icon-container" style="border: 0px; bottom: -11px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; left: 150px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px; position: absolute; transform: translate(-50%); vertical-align: baseline; width: 60px;">
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"></a><br />
<div class="svg" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"><svg class="svg-twitter" height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#333333" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M19,4.83999195 C18.8731929,4.99666575 18.739174,5.1662929 18.5997463,5.3488734 C18.4597175,5.53145389 18.313679,5.70108104 18.1610297,5.85775484 C18.0083804,6.01381182 17.8431104,6.17048562 17.6652199,6.32715943 C17.4873293,6.48383323 17.3094387,6.62755369 17.1315482,6.75770397 L17.1315482,6.87551774 C17.1315482,6.90142443 17.137558,6.94028447 17.1501786,6.99271468 C17.1634002,7.04514489 17.16941,7.08400492 17.16941,7.10991162 L17.16941,7.26658542 C17.16941,8.4928355 16.940436,9.75239419 16.483089,11.0440278 C16.0251411,12.3356615 15.3514407,13.4903597 14.4619879,14.5075058 C13.5719342,15.5252687 12.4727388,16.3672362 11.1631999,17.0321746 C9.85366098,17.6977299 8.3602217,18.0172457 6.68228106,17.991339 C6.14800841,18.0172457 5.63356816,17.9851708 5.13775834,17.8932637 C4.64194852,17.8019734 4.15214851,17.6915616 3.66956028,17.5607945 C3.18637107,17.4306442 2.72842309,17.254232 2.29631732,17.0321746 C1.86421155,16.8107341 1.43210577,16.5825084 1,16.3474977 C1.07632466,16.3215911 1.15264933,16.314806 1.22897399,16.3277593 C1.30469767,16.3407127 1.38102234,16.3474977 1.457347,16.3474977 C1.53367166,16.3474977 1.60999633,16.353666 1.68632099,16.3672362 C1.76264565,16.3801895 1.83897032,16.3734044 1.91529498,16.3474977 C2.34740075,16.3734044 2.76688591,16.3407127 3.17375046,16.2494224 C3.580615,16.1581322 3.97425795,16.0538886 4.35588127,15.9366916 C4.73690361,15.8188779 5.10590631,15.6492507 5.46168742,15.4278102 C5.81746853,15.2057528 6.16062903,14.9904806 6.49116891,14.7819934 C6.08490535,14.7295632 5.69667123,14.645058 5.32826951,14.5272442 C4.95986778,14.4100473 4.6227171,14.2274668 4.31741845,13.9795027 C4.01272078,13.7315387 3.75189476,13.4576679 3.53614237,13.1572737 C3.31978899,12.8574963 3.14790825,12.4985035 3.02110113,12.0809123 C3.07218457,12.1333425 3.12927782,12.1592492 3.19238089,12.1592492 C3.25608494,12.1592492 3.31978899,12.1660343 3.38349304,12.1789877 C3.44659611,12.191941 3.50429034,12.191941 3.5547728,12.1789877 C3.60585623,12.1660343 3.65693967,12.1722026 3.70742212,12.1987261 C3.80898801,12.1722026 3.89793329,12.1660343 3.97425795,12.1789877 C4.05058262,12.191941 4.13351808,12.1851559 4.22246336,12.1592492 C4.31140863,12.1333425 4.39374311,12.1203892 4.47006778,12.1203892 C4.54639244,12.1203892 4.6227171,12.0938657 4.69904177,12.0420523 C4.266936,11.9637154 3.87269206,11.8070416 3.51691095,11.5720309 C3.16112985,11.3370202 2.84922039,11.0631494 2.58238456,10.7504186 C2.31554873,10.437071 2.10580615,10.0719101 1.95315682,9.65431885 C1.8005075,9.23672765 1.72418283,8.80618311 1.72418283,8.36268522 L1.72418283,8.34294678 C1.72418283,8.35590013 1.72418283,8.34973187 1.72418283,8.32320835 L1.72418283,8.30408675 C1.72418283,8.31704009 1.72418283,8.31025501 1.72418283,8.28434831 C1.85159093,8.38859191 1.98500885,8.46076055 2.12503756,8.49962059 C2.26446529,8.53848062 2.40449401,8.58412575 2.54452272,8.63655596 C2.68395045,8.68898617 2.82397917,8.72167795 2.96400788,8.73463129 C3.10343561,8.74758464 3.25007512,8.76732307 3.40212347,8.79322976 C3.14790825,8.58412575 2.92554506,8.37563856 2.73503389,8.16715137 C2.54452272,7.95804736 2.37264198,7.71008331 2.21999265,7.42325922 C2.06794431,7.13643513 1.95315682,6.84899422 1.87683216,6.56217013 C1.8005075,6.27534604 1.76264565,5.94904509 1.76264565,5.5838841 C1.76264565,5.45311699 1.77526627,5.29644319 1.8005075,5.11386269 C1.8263497,4.9312822 1.85760075,4.76844013 1.89606357,4.62471968 C1.93452639,4.48099922 1.98500885,4.32432542 2.0487129,4.15469827 C2.11241695,3.98507112 2.18213081,3.84813575 2.25845548,3.74389215 C2.71580248,4.29225046 3.22423291,4.80730017 3.78374679,5.29027493 C4.34326066,5.77263286 4.94724717,6.17727071 5.59510534,6.50357166 C6.24356449,6.82987261 6.92387566,7.09695827 7.63543788,7.30606228 C8.34760108,7.51454947 9.08500551,7.63174641 9.84765116,7.65826993 C9.84765116,7.60583972 9.84104037,7.54045616 9.82841975,7.46211926 C9.81579914,7.38439919 9.80257754,7.31223054 9.78995693,7.24684699 C9.77733632,7.18208026 9.7713265,7.10991162 9.7713265,7.03157471 L9.7713265,6.83604087 C9.7713265,6.28829939 9.86628159,5.79237129 10.0573937,5.3488734 C10.2479049,4.9053755 10.5087309,4.50073765 10.8386698,4.13557666 C11.1692097,3.76979884 11.5634536,3.4959281 12.0214016,3.31334761 C12.4787486,3.13076711 12.9619378,3.02652352 13.4703683,3 C13.7245835,3.02652352 13.9787987,3.0592153 14.2330139,3.09807533 C14.4872291,3.13693537 14.7288237,3.21527227 14.9577977,3.33308604 C15.1861707,3.45028298 15.4025241,3.58105009 15.6056559,3.72415372 C15.8093887,3.86787418 15.9872792,4.04428641 16.1399285,4.2527736 C16.3430603,4.1744367 16.5467931,4.10905314 16.7499249,4.05723976 C16.9536576,4.00480955 17.1567894,3.93942599 17.3599212,3.86108909 C17.563654,3.78336902 17.7541651,3.69824703 17.9320557,3.60695678 C18.1099462,3.51566653 18.2878368,3.40463785 18.4663283,3.27448757 C18.4152449,3.53540497 18.3323094,3.7568455 18.2181229,3.93942599 C18.1039364,4.12200649 17.9831391,4.31137207 17.855731,4.50752274 C17.7289239,4.70305658 17.5762746,4.86589864 17.398384,4.99666575 C17.2204935,5.12681604 17.0426029,5.27053649 16.8641114,5.4272103 C17.0426029,5.37478009 17.2265033,5.33592005 17.4176154,5.30939653 C17.6081266,5.28348984 17.792628,5.23784472 17.9705185,5.17246116 C18.1484091,5.1070776 18.3196888,5.04847914 18.4849588,4.99666575 C18.6502287,4.94423554 18.8221094,4.87885199 19,4.80051508 L19,4.83999195" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-twitter-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Tweet this quote"><span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px , 0px , 0px , 0px); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Tweet</span></a><a class="resource__pullquote__icon js-quote-facebook-badge" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: normal; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 30px;" title="Share this quote on Facebook"><div class="svg" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<svg class="svg-facebook" height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#333333" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M11.5113801,4.85631128 C11.4250798,4.9027115 11.3513532,4.96637692 11.2902,5.04784708 C11.2284754,5.1287777 11.1793243,5.22751305 11.1427467,5.3435136 C11.1055976,5.45951415 11.0873088,5.58738453 11,5.72658519 L11,7.57234282 L14.4444444,7.57234282 L14.4444444,10.1847832 L11,10.1847832 L11,18 L8,18 L8,10.1847832 L5,10.1847832 L5,7.57234282 L8,7.57234282 L8,6.00552606 C8,5.34351349 7.97592873,4.96044201 8.1725332,4.47270015 C8.36913767,3.98549783 8.64004034,3.55602602 8.98409817,3.18428471 C9.32872752,2.81308294 9.73451,2.52281179 10.2014456,2.31347126 C10.6689528,2.10467027 11.185611,2 11.7514204,2 L14.4444444,2 L14.4444444,4.78617141 L11.7514204,4.78617141 C11.6771222,4.78617141 11.5976803,4.80991106 11.5113801,4.85631128 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></div>
<span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px , 0px , 0px , 0px); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Share on Facebook</span></a></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Satan keeps unbelievers from seeing this glory. That is why they can’t believe. This is the light and the glory of Christ that a person must see in order to believe and be saved. It is seen with the eyes of the heart (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Eph 1.18" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph%201.18" style="-space: nowrap; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:18</a>), when the Holy Spirit lifts the veil from our minds (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="2 Cor 3.16" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Cor%203.16" style="-space: nowrap; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: dashed; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 3:16</a>). The utterly decisive question preachers must answer is this: How will I preach so as to become an instrument of this miracle? How will I preach so as to awaken faith through a sight of the glory of Christ?</div>
<h3 data-linkify="true" id="nothing-more-compelling" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Balto Web", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 30.36px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
Nothing More Compelling<div class="linkified-heading inactive" style="animation: 0.1s linear 0s 1 normal forwards running deactivate-linkified-heading; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -40px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 690px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/preachers-show-them-in-the-bible#nothing-more-compelling" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:sketch="http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ns" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" sketch:type="MSPage" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff" sketch:type="MSArtboardGroup"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z" sketch:type="MSShapeGroup"></path></g></g></svg></a></div>
</h3>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My answer is that God has given the church a divinely inspired book, which is <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the consummation of God’s demonstration of the beauty and worth of Christ</em>. It is God’s own complete portrait of the glory of his Son — the meaning of his work from eternity to eternity, and its implications for human life. This divine portrait of Christ is the God-ordained means of creating saving faith. The words of God are the best means of displaying the glory of God.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Therefore, preaching that we hope God will use to create saving faith will not assume that there is a more compelling portrait of the glory of Christ that a preacher can create while sidelining or muting the portrait of Scripture in the words of Scripture. Instead, the aim of the preacher will be to rivet people’s attention on the words of Scripture and through them to reveal the reality of the glory of all that God is for us in Jesus.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Merriweather Web", Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Scripture is the divine word where the glory shines. Our aim is to focus people’s attention on that word in such a way that they see for themselves the glory. And believe.</div>
</div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-24633236434921398362019-08-12T08:00:00.001-07:002019-08-12T08:00:59.265-07:00Community 101: Finding vs. Building<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
If you find that it is difficult to find community, a helfpul post by <a href="https://www.churchandculture.org/blog/2019/8/12/community-101-finding-vs-building">James Emory White</a> . . . <br />
One of the great myths of relational life is that community is something found. In this fairy tale, community is simply out there – somewhere – waiting to be discovered like Prince Charming finding Cinderella. All you have to do is find the right person, join the right group, get the right job, or become involved with the right church. It’s kind of an “Over the Rainbow” thing; it’s not here, so it must be “over” there.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
This is why so many people go from relationship to relationship, city to city, job to job, church to church, looking for the community that they think is just around the corner if they can only find the right people and the right place. The idea is that real community exists somewhere, and we simply must tap into it. It’s not something you have to work at; in fact, if you have to work at it, then you know it’s not real community.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
This mindset runs rampant in our day. If you have to work at community in a marriage, you must not be right for each other. If you have to work on community where you are employed, you’ve got a bad boss, bad co-workers or a bad structure. If you have to work at community in a neighborhood, you just picked the wrong subdivision. If you have to work on things with people in a church, well, there are obviously just problems with the church, or its leadership, or yep, its “community.”</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
I cannot stress enough how soundly unrealistic, much less unbiblical, this is. Community is not something you find; it is something you build. What you long for isn’t about finding the right mate, the right job, the right neighborhood, the right church—it’s about making <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">your</em> marriage, <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">your</em> workplace, <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">your</em> neighborhood and <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">your</em> church the community God intended. Community is not something discovered, it is something <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">forged</em>. I don’t mean to suggest that any and all relationships are designed for, say, marriage. Or that there aren’t dysfunctional communities you should flee from. My point is that all relationships of worth are products of labor.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
This is why the Bible talks about people needing to form and make communities, not just come together as a community, or to “experience” community. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
It’s why principles are given – at length – for how to work through conflict. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
It’s why communication skills are detailed and issues like anger are meant to be dealt with. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
It’s why the dynamics of successfully living with someone in the context of a marriage, or family, is explored in depth. As the author of Hebrews put it so plainly: “So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet... run for it! Work at getting along with each other...” (Hebrews 12:12-14, Msg).</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
But that raises a problem. You probably don’t know how to work in such a way as to create community. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Don’t worry; you’re not alone.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Benedictine oblate Kathleen Norris once wrote how several monks told her that one of the biggest problems monasteries face is people who come to them “having no sense of what it means to live communally.” They have been “schooled in individualism” and often had families that were so disjointed that even sitting down and having a meal together was a rarity. As a result, “they find it extremely difficult to adjust” to life in community. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Monks called into monastic life feeling unprepared for relational life? </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Welcome to our world. We spend years in school to prepare for a career without having to take a single class on getting along with a coworker. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
We spend months planning a wedding, meeting with caterers and photographers and wedding directors, and never once have to explore what’s involved in communicating with our spouse. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
We go through prenatal classes, decorate the nursery, and set up the college fund, and never even think about how we’re going to interact with our kids when they’re teenagers. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Add in our flaming depravity and things really get sketchy. Running alongside our longing for community is a deep current of anti-community behavior. We are filled with anger and envy, pride and competition. We do not naturally extend grace or forgiveness. We seldom take the high road, and we usually assume the worst of others. </div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
What is missing from most of our visions is a picture of community. It’s like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box. One of our family traditions is putting together a jigsaw puzzle on New Year’s Eve. We lay out the pieces on our kitchen table and invite anyone and everyone to put it together. Of course, the picture on the box is always front and center. Why? Without a sense of what we’re trying to produce, we’re just putting pieces together in random, haphazard ways, hoping something good comes out in the end.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
So what is the picture on the community box?</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
The Bible calls it <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">shalom</em>.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
More on that in the next post.</div>
<div class="" style="color: #666666; font-family: europa; letter-spacing: 0.56px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
James Emery White</div>
</div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-1453288202825118582019-07-31T12:21:00.000-07:002019-07-31T12:21:35.040-07:00Spurgeon on Jesus in the Garden of Gesthemane<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "quattrocento sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">"May we not conceive that as in a garden Adam’s self-indulgence ruined us, so in another garden the agonies of the second Adam should restore us. Gethsemane supplies the medicine for the ills which followed upon the forbidden fruit of Eden. No flowers which bloomed upon the banks of the four-fold river were ever so precious to our race as the bitter herbs which grew hard by the black and sullen stream of Kedron." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "quattrocento sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Charles Spurgeon </span></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-75169301799583109832019-07-24T07:17:00.000-07:002019-07-24T07:17:47.213-07:005 Things to Do Before Leaving Your Church: The Pastor Edition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Excellent article from <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabiti-anyabwile/5-things-to-do-before-leaving-your-church-the-pastor-edition/">TGC</a>. As a pastor who loves the church, I have built enough trust with our elders that they know I will discuss with them and help them with my transition if and when I leave.<br />
<br />
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
In my <a href="http://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/thabitianyabwile/2013/11/18/5-things-to-do-before-leaving-your-church/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">last post on leaving well when you’re a member of a church</a> several respondents pointed out that pastors often leave churches in very poor way. Sadly, they’re correct. We’ve all heard the horror stories about pastors who announce their departure after the morning service and U-Haul arrives first thing Monday morning. Or, we’re familiar with the all-too-painful accounts of pastors who apparently take a scorched earth approach to leaving, destroying everything they touch before they leave. We can add to that those pastors who leave by splitting the church. The pain abounds.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
It’s hard on everyone when a pastor leaves–usually. Sometimes congregations are happy to see a man go and seem to do everything they can to ensure it happens. The story is told of the irate pastor who stood before the unhappy congregation and announced in no uncertain terms that he was leaving. Today would be his last Sunday at that church with those people. Then the congregation spontaneously and in union broke out in song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
We don’t want to be that guy or that church. So, in response to those concerns, I want to offer five things pastors should do before they leave their local churches. The aim would be much the same as the goal of members who leave: to leave in as healthy and Christ-honoring a way possible.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">1. Talk with Your Fellow Leaders When You Begin to Think Seriously about Leaving</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Most of the problems begin right here. Far too many pastors either lack sufficient trust with their leaders or fear man to such an extent that they don’t talk about their interest in leaving until it’s a done deal. That’s devastating for a church’s leadership and for the church as a whole. Showing up with a decision to leave without having allowed the leadership to speak into your life is tantamount to serving divorce papers to a totally unsuspecting spouse.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
So, if a pastor wishes to be faithful to his charge and humbly submissive to others in leadership with him, he should share his desires with the leadership well before he has made a decision to leave. This is tricky and requires some thoughtfulness with regard to timing. The pastor shouldn’t “think out loud” about a possibility he’s not seriously considering, otherwise he’ll make his fellow leaders uncertain when he doesn’t need to. Better to not share comments about leaving when you’re frustrated or when you’re having the occasional bout of “what ifs.” Instead, at the point that you think leaving could be a serious possibility, then talk with your fellow leaders about the possibility. Perhaps meet with them individually first so that their initial reactions, often emotional and sad, aren’t first offered in a group meeting of the elders. Prepare them for the group conversation by allowing them to process individually. Give them a general heads up on your thinking and take any initial questions or reactions they may have.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">2. Be Genuinely Open to Counsel and Correction</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
I tend to stay away from the sometimes mystical and authoritative language of “call.” Far too many pastors have led congregations in unhealthy directions or abandoned a pastorate because they “felt called” to do so. Sometimes people use the language of “call” or “calling” as a way to circumvent any hard thinking and testing of motives. We speak as if a “call” ends all debates because the decision was really in God’s realm and will. When, truthfully, God extends and affirms calls through His people and leaders in prayer together (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts%2013/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Acts 13</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Tim.%204%3A14/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Tim. 4:14</a>).</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Rather than making a highly subjective and privatized decision in the pseudo-spiritual language of “calling,” pastors should <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">actively seek</em> the counsel and correction of others. Don’t just take advice; go after it. They should be willing to hear hard things about their hearts and motives. They should be willing to accept the challenge of those who think they should stay, especially their fellow leaders who most likely know them best. They should be willing to lay out their potential plans–as far as they know them–so that their fellow leaders can shepherd them through their thinking. This would be a good time to receive counsel and correction about how they’re leading their families, since wives and children will undoubtedly be affected. These talks should take place over months of meetings, not a meeting or two. The meetings should involve significant prayer rather than fleshly reactions.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Then <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">heed</em> or take the counsel and correction. Don’t dismiss it. Receive it. Make yourself accountable to the leaders by stating your agreements where you can and by explaining why you won’t or can’t take counsel where you can’t. Not everyone will agree about everything in situations like this. But where there’s disagreement and the pastor wishes to take a direction the other leaders advise against, he should humbly explain his reasons and hear again the elders’ admonishment or affirmation. Here’s the place and time to be ruthless with your motives and desires.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">3. Resolve Any Conflicts Before Leaving the Church</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
According to a <a href="http://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/thabitianyabwile/2011/05/28/dont-make-your-pastor-a-statistic/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">couple of surveys</a> I’ve seen, the number one reason pastors leave churches is conflict. They feel embattled about a direction they wish to take. They are constant recipients of criticisms. Sometimes their wife and children bear the brunt of unloving and un-Christian attacks in the body of Christ. And a great many pastors feel they have no friend in the congregation with whom they can talk about these things. Most pastors feel overworked, under-appreciated and put down by some of the people they serve. Conflict abounds.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
But before a pastor leaves, he should allow plenty of time to mend relationships and settle conflicts in as biblical a manner as possible. In fact, as much as it’s possible, he should plan the timing of his leaving in accord with his being able to restore peace in the ministry. The same things that are required of members who leave are required of pastors. Obey our Lord’s instructions in <a data-reference="Matthew 5.23-24" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.23-24" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Matthew 5:23-24</a> and <a data-reference="Matthew 18.15" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2018.15" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">18:15</a>. Go and be reconciled to the best of your ability.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
If pastors obey the Lord in this before moving on then everybody wins. Lord willing, pastors win their brothers and sisters over and relationships are mended. You may find you don’t have to leave at all and experience renewed joy in the church family you’ve already invested years of life with. Even if you still need or want to leave, you’ll experience freedom from guilt because you’ve “made every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (<a data-reference="Eph. 4.3" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph.%204.3" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Eph. 4:3</a>). The church you leave behind will, by God’s grace, be in better repair for their next pastor. Don’t make the next guy do your work in healing the sheep. Position the next guy to begin smoothly, or at least make his own conflicts and mistakes. And your new church family will be able to receive you without the baggage associated with the previous church.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
One person in the comments section of the last post suggested churches should contact a candidate’s previous church to see if they left in good standing. I think that’s a wonderful idea and am surprised at how many do not check references or complete background checks before calling a pastor. Many have simply inherited unresolved problems from previous pastorates because men have not left well and have not dealt with their relational demons before moving on.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">4. Plan Your Transition and Succession with the Elders</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Don’t just pack up your books and disappear into the night. As much as you’re able think with your fellow leaders about how to address the condition of the various souls in your care, the state of the various ministries and major needs in the transition. The church may feel like it’s stopped with the announcement of your departure and you may feel tempted to disengage, but keep your head in the game. Life continues apace and that means people continue to need shepherding, decisions continue to come before the leaders, and time remains (or should be taken) to get things in order for transition.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Hopefully you’ve been grooming a potential successor as part of your ministry in the church. Hopefully you’ve been sharing the leadership so that others have “stepped up” long before any prospect of your leaving was on the table. And perhaps you have a successor in mind. Talk that through with the leaders. Give them your honest assessment of a prospective replacement. Resist the urge to simply speak in glowing terms about the next guy because you want everyone to feel good after your difficult announcement. The truth lovingly spoken will make them free. And if there is no successor on the horizon, help the leaders think through their recruitment strategy. Give them counsel from your unique perspective on what they did well when recruiting you and what they could improve. Let them benefit from your watching this process unfold with many of your friends and associates. <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lead</em> through the transition.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">5. Express Your Appreciation to the Church and Say “Goodbye” to Friends and Saints</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Sometimes pastors fall into the trap of thinking they’ve done the church a favor by being their pastor for some season. We can fall into thinking we’ve made all the sacrifices, borne all the difficulties, and exercised all the patience. But, truthfully, the church has put up with us, patiently prayed through our shortcomings and failures, and sacrificed to partner with us in the gospel. It’s been our <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">privilege</em> to shepherd the people of God–no matter how difficult we found the shepherding or how rowdy the sheep. We were not called to pastoral ministry in order to enjoy a life of ease. We were called to get in the pen and <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/brothers-we-should-stink" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">smell like sheep</a>. And we should be happy and grateful for the opportunity to be Christ’s under-shepherds!</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Which means we should be able to step back and express sincere and profound gratitude for God’s people. Paul could do it with Corinth, surely we can do it with out congregations. Before we leave we should make every day an expression of appreciation and thanksgiving. We should do it publicly and privately, in groups at planned functions and in chance encounters in the hallways or grocery stores. We should do this as an act of love and with the hopes that the people would be reminded of God’s grace at work among them and strengthened for the transition ahead.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastors should spend adequate time saying “goodbye” to friends. They should make sure their wives and their children have opportunity to do the same. From the time of your public announcement to the actual date of departure, give yourself plenty of time to have dinners, coffees, small group meetings and the like to make the rounds and relay personal appreciation with people. Weep together. Rejoice together. Pray together. Be together so that being apart might be softened in time to come.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">CONCLUSION</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Well, there’s much more that could be said. A thousand details need to be attended and without question lots of sticky issues addressed. But in broad strokes, here are some thoughts that I hope churches and pastors find helpful in the sometimes painful process of losing a shepherd.</div>
</div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420833308237721642.post-20665006105546853722019-07-22T16:02:00.000-07:002019-07-24T07:12:02.091-07:008 Shackles Every Pastor Should Shatter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="entry-content" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Great article for young leaders just starting out in ministry from <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/8-shackles-pastor/">TGC</a>.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Before my first pastorate, I had often heard pastors lament the challenges of ministry. I always assumed they were warning me of the cranky congregant or divisive deacon.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
What I didn’t know is the difficult person they were warning me of would not only be in my church, but in my skin.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 15px 15px;">
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Before I became a pastor, I had no idea that the greatest ministry challenge a pastor faces is not a “trouble person,” but a troubled heart—and that heart belongs to him. I didn’t know that the nastiest looks a pastor gets is when he looks at himself, and that his harshest critic is not a voice in the Twittersphere, but the troll that lives within.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Yes, difficult situations bear down on every pastor occasionally, but the cruel ankle weights of unrealistic expectations, unfair comparisons, and other pressures that weigh a minister down most often occur because his own heart has been deceived (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Jer.%2017%3A9/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Jer. 17:9</a>).</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Here are eight lessons I’m learning that are liberating me from myself.</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
1. Be Free from Comparison</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
In an age of podcasts and celebrity pastors, it’s harder than ever to be an average, unimpressive pastor. Pastors everywhere are tempted to be like all-star quarterbacks, calling the plays and throwing the game-winning touchdown. But the role of the pastor is much more like an equipment manager, providing the saints needed service to help them fulfill their missions (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Eph.%204%3A12/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Eph. 4:12</a>).</div>
<blockquote style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-size: 1.75em; line-height: 32px; margin: 1em 2.5em 1.2em; position: relative; quotes: "“" "”" "‘" "’";">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
The role of the pastor is more like an equipment manager than an all-star quarterback.</div>
<div class="blockquote-share" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 0.5; text-align: center;">
<span class="s-options" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-size: 1.4rem; position: relative;"><a class="blockquote_tw" data-quote="The role of the pastor is more like an equipment manager than an all-star quarterback." href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-twitter" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-family: "fontawesome"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1;"></span> </a><a class="blockquote_fb" data-quote="The role of the pastor is more like an equipment manager than an all-star quarterback." href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;"><span class="fa fa-facebook" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-family: "fontawesome"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1;"></span></a></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
People don’t need you to become like the pastor across town; they need you to become like Jesus (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Thess.%204%3A3/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Thess. 4:3</a>). You will serve people best by being the most Christlike version of you, not someone else.</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
2. Be Free from Unbiblical Expectations</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
On top of preaching and shepherding, pastors today feel incredible pressure to be visionary leaders, competent businessmen, professional counselors, cultural commentators, and <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/alpha-male-plant-church/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">many other things</a>.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
But pastor, you haven’t been called to do “all the things.” God has called you to simply give yourself fully and freely to prayer and teaching the Word (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts.%206%3A4/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Acts. 6:4</a>). Excel in what you are uniquely called to do as a pastor: feed Jesus’s sheep (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/John%2021%3A17/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">John 21:17</a>).</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
3. Be Free from Fixing<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span></h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Some pastors are never happier than their saddest congregant, and they often feel personally responsible for every person and problem in the church.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastor, you can’t pull everyone from the clamps of depression, or salvage splitting marriages, or liberate addicts from their sin-shackles, or bring peace into wartime homes. But you can passionately, powerfully, and persistently point them to the One who can (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/2%20Cor.%204%3A5/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">2 Cor. 4:5</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Acts%205%3A42/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Acts 5:42</a>).</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
4. Be Free to Say, ‘I Don’t Know’</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastors often feel they’re supposed to be knowledgeable and up-to-date on the latest news, theological controversies, political conversations, and cultural trends (after all, we went to seminary!).</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastor, you don’t need to be the smartest guy in the room. Your people may actually love to hear you say, “I don’t know,” because it reminds them you’ve been entrusted with only one message: Christ and him crucified (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%202%3A2/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 2:2</a>). You don’t need to have something profound to say at all times on every topic. But know this: when you do speak, they’re listening.</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
5. Be Free to Rest</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Most pastors hate to be seen resting while others are working. They feel guilty when they tell others they’re taking a much-needed vacation, and they feel embarrassed when they have to utter the words, “I can’t; that’s my day off.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastor, you are not omnicompetent. You need to rest. A lively, well-rested pastor can do more for his people in 40 hours than an exhausted one can do in 80. Moreover, your family needs you home. Many men can pastor your church, but only you can be your wife’s husband and your children’s dad. Show your church and your family what it looks like to radically trust the Lord with all things by taking weekly rest (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Ex.%2020%3A8%E2%80%9310/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Ex. 20:8–10</a>; <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Matt.%2011%3A28%E2%80%9330/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Matt. 11:28–30</a>).</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
6. Be Free from Competition</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastors often feel like failures when they see other churches with better music, better childcare, a nicer gathering place, or a sharper website.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Pastor, God is growing a kingdom—not a castle, not communities, not commodities—and an outpouring of grace in any church is an outpouring of grace on every church. Release yourself from a corrupted spirit of competition by celebrating every evidence of grace you see in other churches, and be content in giving yourself to those under your care (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Pet.%205%3A2/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Pet. 5:2</a>).</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
7. Be Free to Surrender</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Many pastors feel intense pressure to grow their churches. Giving statements and weekly attendance reports become like brutal college midterms, empirically and irrefutably revealing what an utter failure they are.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
But pastor, on your best day you cannot grow your church (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/1%20Cor.%203%3A6%E2%80%937/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">1 Cor. 3:6–7</a>). You’ve been called to roll up your sleeves, get on your knees, and focus on seeds. Maybe the greatest thing you can do for your church today is to finally and fully leave the growth up to God.</div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5; margin: 2rem 0px 0.75rem;">
8. Be Free to Be Happy</h3>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
And I mean really, really happy.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
When all the various burdens of ministry accumulate, the weight becomes such that few men can carry it long. Often pastors just put their heads down, keep their hand to the plow, and slog through another season. It’s not surprising <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-are-pastors-leaving-churches-so-they-can-pastor/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">the burnout rate is so high</a>.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Above all, your church needs your joy in Jesus (<a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Heb.%2013%3A17/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Heb. 13:17</a>). A pastor exuberantly happy in God will do far more for his church than an industrious pastor who has sacrificed joy in Jesus for optimal productivity. Slow down and become increasingly satisfied in him.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
May the highest aim of your life, and the greatest prayer of your pastorate, be that of <a class="esv-crossref-link" href="https://www.esv.org/Psalm%2090%3A14/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #72abbf; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;" target="_blank">Psalm 90:14</a>:</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;">
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;">
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<footer style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="article_author_bio" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 0px 2em; padding: 3em; width: 640px;">
<div class="row" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;">
<div class="col-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 16.6667%; max-width: 16.6667%; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 97.6562px;">
<a class="author_img_wrap" href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/christopher-asmus/" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/17150103/Asmus-Pic.jpg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 67.6562px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms; width: 67.6562px;"></a></div>
<div class="col-10" style="box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 83.3333%; margin: 0px; max-width: 83.3333%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 488.328px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #656565;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222325; font-weight: bolder;">Christopher Asmus</span> is lead pastor at <a href="http://verticalstpaul.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #66a343; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.19, 1, 0.22, 1) 50ms;">Vertical Church St. Paul</a>, a new church plant in St. Paul, Minnesota. Christopher and his wife, Alexandria, have two sons, Haddon and McRae.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</footer></div>
AK Pastor Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com0