I was raised in a pastor’s home, and have pastored at various levels. I have also been on the pew side of the pulpit. In all of these phases of church life I have learned a few things that I think are beneficial to experiencing the best God has to offer in the Church. Some of these lessons are primarily for leaders. I talk about these with other pastors and leaders in conversations. But some of the things I have learned are things that many pastors would like to say to their people, but perhaps don’t because they don’t want to sound self-serving. It is Pastor Appreciation Month, so I am putting some focus on what it means to be a God-honoring, pastor-supporting, and believer-edifying parishioner. How can I be a better part of my church? It has been joked about that Sunday is the only day a preacher works… and for only an hour at that. We may chuckle, and a few people may even believe that. But anyone who is familiar with pastoral work knows that this is not the case if a pastor is ‘worth his salt.’ While a good pastor is basically on call 24-7 and serving over 60 hours a week, Sunday morning is the most obvious work he will do, and it is at times the most physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. The preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is literally heart-to-heart combat with the forces of darkness. The enemy doesn’t want the Gospel to be preached because he knows how powerful it is. So he fights all week, and especially on Sunday. Here are some things you can avoid in order to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem on Sundays. DO NOT – (Here are some things to avoid on Sunday mornings at church.) FIND FAULT WITH THE SERMON – A pastor will often say thousands of words in a given sermon. He will probably misspeak from time to time. He may end a sentence in a preposition. He may ask you to turn to the wrong passage (“Turn with me to John 6:13” when he meant John 3:16). Some people hear these mistakes and can’t wait for the sermon to be done in order to correct him. In fact, they won’t hear anything else he says because they are caught up in the mistake. Then they pounce on him before he even makes it off of the platform. This is not good practice. Pointing out inconsequential errors in a sermon shows that you are focused more on mistakes than the message. The fact that you can find fault with someone’s words does not make you awesome, even if you believe fault-finding to be your spiritual gift. FIND FAULT WITH THE CHURCH – This goes beyond the sermon. Do not approach you pastor and tell him how difficult it was finding a parking spot. Don’t tell him that one of the ushers didn’t smile at you. Don’t point out the grammatical mistakes in the bulletin. Don’t tell him that the soap dispenser is empty in the bathroom, or a light bulb is flickering in the closet. These things may need to be addressed… but not on Sunday morning. Again… you don’t get any extra crowns in Heaven for recognizing flaws. If the soap is out… here’s a thought… go get some more soap. If the usher did not meet your expectations, give the pastor a call on Tuesday… or… maybe ask the usher how he is doing and if you can pray with him. SMOTHER THE PASTOR – In most churches there is a time after the worship service to shake hands with the pastor. Some people hit the door so they can hit the buffet. Others give a wave and smile as they go by him. And then there are those who settle into a conversation with the preacher about everything going on in their life. Sometimes it even turns into a counseling session. This is not good practice. Most preachers are glad to say, “Hello”, thank you for being a part of the service, and wish you God’s blessing. But you may not realize how draining it is to deliver the eternal truth of God. If done right, it is a battle. So when you are done, you aren’t prepared to give someone advice on how to handle a mother-in-law who is overbearing at family events. It’s not to say it isn’t important. But it doesn’t have to be fixed in that moment. Again… set up a time later in the week to talk with him, and let the other 20 brothers and sisters get a chance to thank the pastor for being faithful to the Word. So there are three simple things you can avoid doing in order to have a better experience at church, and be a blessing to your pastor. The writer of Hebrews gives us this admonition... "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17) Not only during Pastor Appreciation month, but every day we should seek to be the best part of the body of Christ we can be. TOMORROW WE WILL LOOK AT 3 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE DOING ON SUNDAY TO SHOW YOUR PASTOR HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE HIM. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. This is an absolutely free resource. If you would like to support us, you can give via the above link.
Last night I went with some friends to see the movie "I'm Not Ashamed." It is about the faith journey of Rachel Scott, one of the victims of the Columbine school shooting in 1999. She had a chance to renounce Christ and live, but she held true to her faith and the shooters killed her for it.
Over 20 million people have heard her story... her testimomy. She has made a huge and lasting impact on a generation. But that impacg follows a difficult path of struggling with her relatjonship with God. She was not always a strong Christian. There were times when she was hot and cold in her faith. She sort of had one foot in the world, and one foot in with Jesus. During those times it was not even clear to her friends that she was a Christian. They would even say, "Oh... you are one of those Christians? I didn't know." This exchange impacted me, and I wondered how many times my life has not backed up what I wanted my faith to be. Living a double life is hard work. We can't successfully be a Christian and a sinner. Eventually one lifestyle has to go. We hurt ourselves and our friends when we straddle the fence. God doesn't save us to be ambiguous with our faith. He transforms us so we can be authentic with our friends. Authenticity is not about living a defeated life. It is about living a disciple life. Psalm 40 deals with the power of having a new true change for Christ... "I waited patiently for the LORD And He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. How happy is the man who has put his trust in the Lord and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies!" So the question is, Is there a new song inside of you that clearly points to Jesus? Do people have to guess that you are a Christian? Could they guess it? Are you living a life that causes people to put their trust in Christ, or would they be surprised to find that that you've put you trust in Christ? It is Sunday morning where I am. Christians all over social media have their Church face ready to go. It looks good for sure. Worship team members getting their praise on. Pastors tweeting out sermon teasers. Caring believers encouraging their lost friends to come to church with them. Those who haven't been in a while are posting that they are going back to church to get some peace, or joy in their life. On Sunday morning, Facebook becomes Faithbook. That's good, because on Monday, it will once again become a political and cultural battlefield. Sunday is basically considered the Lord's Day, in the Christian community. It is almost like the sabbath for the Jews, but not quite. So many Christians will not work on Sunday, some won't buy things. They generally take a slower pace and focus on God... and football. Granted, there are some believers who are still fired up about the election, and will not miss an opportunity to link to an offbeat click-bait blog to trash one candidate or another. But generally, Sunday is like a ceasefire. This election has become the most caustic in history. Many friendships have been strained, and some ruined. For most of the week, social media is a website of landmines. It is filled with truth and lies about people and ideas. It actually gets nasty at times, though most of the time it is just an exercise in passionate persuasion... which can be good, and is important. But at the same time, there is a lot of fear and hate, which comes out in ugly terms directed at those running for office as well as their supporters. There is name calling. From 'moron' to 'spawn of Satan'... and some even calling Trump or Clinton 'Satan' himself, there is no lack of vitriol. But as I scroll through my newsfeed. I wonder... What if Hillary Clinton showed up to church today where my Trump-supporting friends worship? What would their response be? If they saw her walk in, would they call her Satan? Would their eyes narrow? Would they instantly post about how much of a hypocrite she is? Would they walk up to her and ask her about the emails, or why she kills people who disagree with her, or why she wants to kill babies? Would their heart turn cold? Would they immediately pray that God uses the sermon to save her evil un-American soul today? Or would they smile at her, walk up, introduce themselves, and invite her to sit with them? Would they tell her they are glad to see her? Would they pray that God would bless her during the service? Would they see her as a child of God by design and creation, even if they see her as a lost person because of her beliefs and actions? If she stepped to the altar, would they step up to ask her about her specific need, or would they try to cast demons out of her? Would they invite her to lunch after church? Would they be embarrassed to be seen with her? I could ask the same questions about my friends who oppose Trump. Would they call him an adulterous racist when he walked in the door? Or would they be glad that he put himself in a position to hear the delivering Gospel of Jesus Christ? The election is important. But people are more important. I'm not suggesting that Christians cannot love a candidate while using strong terms to hold them accountable. I do it. I'm sure you do as well. What I am suggesting is that we need to ultimately value what ultimately matters. I'm not beating you down for opposing sin, or calling out sin in high places. But we need to be able to oppose the sin without demonizing the sinner... the sinner who may just show up in your church some Sunday. I'm sure you would embrace and show the genuine love of Christ to a prostitute or drug addict if they walked into your church today. But what about the candidate you just called 'Satan' on Facebook yesterday afternoon? "First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4 This is an absolutely free resource. If you would like to support us, you can give via the above link.
I watched the final 2016 Presidential debate last night. Many are asking who won. All I know is that with both candidates we as a people lose. There is much I could say about the candidates and the culture. It is a mess. It is worse than a mess. We are not just in decline. We are in despair. We are so desperate, many have decided to vote for the person they believe to be the 'lesser of two evils.' This is largely an example of mental gymnastics to justify something they would never do in any other area of life. No one is going to take their diseased child to the second worst doctor they can find. People don't eat at the second worst restaurant in town. People do not get online, research car dealers, and then pick the one that has a rating that is second from the bottom. But things are so bad right now, that they are willing to vote into the highest office of the land a person they truly believe to be one of the worst choices ever. It has become popular to say, "We aren't voting for a pastor. We are voting for a President. Our founding fathers would have scoffed at this notion. There were spiritual standards one needed to meet in order to hold office. This is because they knew that if a person did not have the proper character traits and integrity, they would destroy the good upon which this nation was built. Our form of government can only work with a moral people. So it would make sense that an immoral person cannot rule effectively in our system. Let me just share with you what God has to say about the relationship between righteousness and a successful nation. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34) "When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan." (Proverbs 29:2) If you are quiet, above the yelling and attacking, you can hear a horrible groaning coming from every corner of our nation. Worldviews and lifestyles have consequences. A Godly person is a better leader... even if they are not a Christian. A reprobate is never a better leader, though God is supreme and can use them against their will. We shouldn't put God in a position where He has to use a leader against their will. Because He often won't. He will usually let us be led by our horrible choices. When we make choices of leaders in accordance with what we know God will bless, we give ourselves a better chance to succeed as a nation. Here is the rest of the Proverbs 29 passage. One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly— beyond recovery. When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth. By justice a king brings stability to a land, but a man who demands “contributions” demolishes it. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. An evil man is caught by sin, but the righteous one sings and rejoices. The righteous person knows the rights of the poor, but the wicked one does not understand these concerns. Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution. Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person, but the upright care about him.[e] A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check. If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked. The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. A king who judges the poor with fairness— his throne will be established forever. A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother. When the wicked increase, rebellion increases, but the righteous will see their downfall. Discipline your son, and it will bring you peace of mind and give you delight. Without revelation people run wild, but one who listens to instruction will be happy. A slave cannot be disciplined by words; though he understands, he doesn’t respond. Do you see a man who speaks too soon? There is more hope for a fool than for him. A slave pampered from his youth will become arrogant[j] later on. An angry man stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered man[k] increases rebellion. A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor. To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself; he hears the curse but will not testify. The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected. Many seek a ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the Lord. An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked. Sounds like God values pastor types in leadership more than he values successful lawyers and business people. This doesn't mean that the President must be ordained in a denomination and have a church he preaches to every week. But it means that we must have someone who is upright and not someone who is a reprobate. If we choose a wicked person to lead us, we are actually asking for more wickedness. With unrighteousness comes destruction. With righteousness comes blessing. We are at a crossroads. Let us choose well. Always go with righteousness... even if it is not being offered as one of your choices. This is an absolutely free resource. If you would like to support us, you can give via the above link.
(This is a flashback Morning Devotional for Pastor Appreciation Month) On Sundays I like to remember the primary reason we gather together. It is to worship God in a corporate setting, drawing from the praise and passion of the redeemed. But obviously this is not an entirely vertical experience. God has encouraged us to incorporate earthly elements into our worship gathering. We are told to sing, and clap, and even dance. We are told to give and encourage one another. These are all good acts of worship and edification, and are done in various ways according to culture and preference. But probably the most important thing done in a worship service on Sunday morning is the opening of God’s Word among the people. The reading and preaching of Scripture is one of the oldest and most profitable expressions of worship and community. There is a reason for this. God’s Word will not return void. As it goes forth it brings power and wisdom. The preacher is primarily the one who shares truth from the Word on any given Sunday, though there are others who engage this ministry as well. From the earliest days of the Church we find the leaders devoting themselves to studying the writings of God’s prophets so they can pour that truth into those who come to worship. It is much easier to worship a God you know. Each sermon will strike each person a little differently. There is likely nothing a pastor does that is more important than preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you go to church, do not simply see it as an opportunity to refuel or retreat, but to revive by the truth of God. The preacher, if he has done his job and drawn close to God, is prepared to speak life into you. The apostle Paul gave these words to a young pastor named Timothy… “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5) The preaching of the Word is the best chance of revival in every worship service. Sometimes we get caught up in the music, or the testimonies, or prayer, etc., and the preaching never happens. This is not necessarily bad. Often times it is the result of good preaching in the church. After these services you will sometimes hear people say, “The Holy Spirit came down during the worship music. It just continued, and we never even got to the preaching. That was an awesome service.” I think people mean well by that. But perhaps the statement reveals more about the value of preaching than one may see at first glance. We are impressed by a service that does not have preaching. Maybe that tells us how integral preaching is to our worship. Most people get a feeling from the music that they don’t get from the preaching. That’s okay. It may be easier to engage in the music than it is the preaching. But I don’t know too many Christian who go to a church where there is no preaching. And I don’t know any strong Christians who do not place a hugh value on the preaching element of the worship service. Today you will likely be refueled or restored by the preaching of the Word. But I hope you are revived, because that is the primary work of the Word of God. It is life and gives life. Moses said this to the children of Israel as they started to cross over into their inheritance. He was speaking of the Word of the Lord… “Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47) [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] I hope you enjoy the song below performed by my friend, Steve Ladd. This is an absolutely free resource. If you would like to support us, you can give via the above link.
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AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
March 2019
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