High Five Escalator

Lazy Preaching

I came across this on a blog I recently discovered. The article that it came from is also very good, but this last comment really stuck out.

A congregation of suckling infants runs no risk of disturbing the slumbers of a lazy preacher.

Read the rest of the article and you will find some other tidbits of challenge, but may we as pastors truly guard our vocation and fulfill our duty to its fullest.

This thing called "Ministry" (Part 8)

We come to the eighth installment of this series. We have been looking through the emotional book of 1 Corinthians. As we have skipped through this book like a rock skipping on a quiet lake, it has been my intention to see the ways Paul did this thing called ministry. Last week's thought was a bit tough. The more I have thought about it the more I realize that ministry is seeing our humanity in light of Christ's passion.

We are not above temptation and thus we are not above failure. The point I wanted to make last week was to help us as ministers to keep our head out of the clouds or out of the sand. We need to own up to sin in our lives and confess them. We need to avoid the situations that could lead to sin, thus avoid temptation's lure. We need to realize the burden of protecting the name of Christ but at the same time honoring the power of God to grant us an escape from sin's lure as well as the forgiveness when sin gets a foothold in our lives.

Now this week we turn just slightly in another direction that still comes out of 1 Corinthians 10.

Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. (1 Corinthians 10:24)

Ministry is seeking the good of others. By this Scripture does not mean that we only look to find good in others, but that our actions and our responses to people is for their benefit and for their good.

There are many responses to this. Some argue that what is good for them is what I think is good for me. My way is right and that is what is best for these poor people. But Paul has helped us a bit by stating what he did in the verse just prior.

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Paul is very clear that this has nothing to do with my liberty, but everything to do with the certainty that all I do is not causing my fellow believer to stumble or be hurt in their faith. Also, in relationships with unbelievers we are not hindering their ability to have faith in Christ.

This is a hard line to follow. There are times when offense is so hard to detect. Other times it seems so petty and trivial. Then there are the times when individuals are creating points of contention based upon their own ideology and interpretations of Scripture that truly do not have credence.

How does this apply to us today? So many times we wish to live in utter liberty. We have the opportunity to do so. We are not going to miss out on heaven because we failed to read from the right translation or wear the right clothing. We will not be lost for going to a movie theater or driving a Cadillac instead of a Ford (some may think they are the same thing, sorry to burst your bubble). Other believers will sometimes place stipulations upon true Christianity and we are failing to accomplish the greater good due to these distractions.

The same is true with the unsaved. We want to blend in and be accepted. Yet Paul here in 1 Corinthians 10 is equating the opportunity to live in liberty not with living an undercover lifestyle, but finding ways to enter the homes and lives of all people and being able to interact with them so that they will be more easily confronted with the Gospel.

Ministry is Seeking the Good of others. Ministry is not necessarily seeking what I want or find convenient. It is not sticking my finger in people's eyes or trampling on their beliefs simply to make a point. Ministry is me not creating walls, but looking for ways to open doors.

Again Paul adds another guide in this passage. Note what he says in the verses farther down in the passage.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)

We are not to simply allow our desires to "create" some opportunities when our restraint may open more doors. However, we should not dwell on things that are not valid either.

For example, I still believe that drinking alcohol is a dangerous road to follow. But in many Christian circles the prohibition is being less and less emphasized to the point where pastors are now openly stating it to be fine. We know that Scripture does not forbid it but certainly does warn against it, and the end result of being drunk is strongly spoken of as a sin. I have the ability, the law does not forbid it, but it is not expedient. It is not profitable nor does it keep me from opening a door that could lead to certain destruction. It has the power to control. Of course, I will admit, so do many other vices like television, internet, and other recreational tools. But I think we understand the power of the chemicals that are involved when we introduce such things as alcohol to the body.

On the other side of this I think we as God-fearing Christians have created closed doors because we are not willing to rub shoulders with people who do things, say things, and act ways that are due to their being lost. I don't know exactly what would parallel this image that Paul is creating, but if someone wanted to offer us something that stands in violation of a clear testimony to Christ and the forgiveness of sin He offered, and would create a breach in their mind or our separation from the things of this world, then I would say we must cease and desist. We must look to create an opportunity to establish Christ as the foundation or our hearts and lives and not the things of this world.

Do it all to the glory and honor of God. Ministry is seeking what is best for that other person in such a way that brings honor and glory to God. Ministry is others minded while being Godly motivated.

Welcome Back!

This thing called "Ministry" (Part 7)

This particular portion in this series comes out of 1 Corinthians 10. It is not as positive as many of the other things we have looked at up to now. Paul is now full swing into his deliberation of thought into such matters that are concerning him regarding this early church. In truth, they are still affecting the church today.

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul deals with the testimony left to them and us of the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness. The pressure cooker of heat, sand, repetition in diet, new laws, conflicts with enemies, death, and consequences of poor decisions was revealing character flaws in the people.

Note how Paul starts:

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
(1 Corinthians 10:1-6)

Here they had all these great opportunities to behold the wonder of God's presence and protection in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They had seen God provide manna from the sky, and water from a rock.

The next verses (7-10) identify specific things that these people did to test God.

Verse 7 - Idolatry
Verse 8 - Immorality
Verse 9 - Insolence/Insubordination against God
Verse 10 - Murmuring/Grumbling

Verses 6 and 11 are almost like refrains in a horrible song of conflict and God's resolution to purify and refine His people. All of this is recorded for our benefit. It is placed here so that we would not forget how easy it is for us to fall prey to the tempter's snare.

Then.....

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

Where is this going? From the angle Paul is taking this he is making it clear to these believers that there are still viable temptations and struggles that we all face. These are things common, not extreme. The desire to place something in sight that illustrates God, or becomes our god is natural. Idolatry has many potential shapes and sizes.

Immorality? Are we not an immoral country and society? Pornography is accessible everywhere and running rampant in homes and school lockers. It's not just "out there in the world" but also in the lives of those sitting in our pews and in our church offices. Immorality is portrayed as convenient, conducive, expected and actually the new "morality." Turn on your TV to the most "innocent" of shows and it is there or implied. Read the magazines, listen to secular radio. From homosexual agendas to heterosexual indecency, it is there and being shoved in our faces and thoughts. The temptation is there.

I feel that verse 9 is a bit large to address here, but the temptation to forget the Scriptures and live our lives as independent is like taking fire into our bosom and expecting we won't be burned or bitten like the snakes bit them in dessert.

Murmuring! Uh oh! Grumbling, complaining, having an unquiet spirit that is filled with unrest and contention. How could that ever come into our lives right?

This thing called ministry. Ministry is understanding "temptability." We must address this negative reality attached to ministry. As verse 12 stated - Take Heed! You are just as close to failure as the rest of us. Ministry is realizing I am one wrong step away from an avalanche of devastating proportions.

We have read the newspapers, seen the TV reports, and conversed with those who are astounded at the failures of visible figures who were in this thing called Ministry. The blight it leaves and the marks of disgrace it pours out on the testimony of Christ and His purpose and design for the church is hard to recover from.

I was watching a brief segment that Oprah had with Ted Haggard. She and Ted were discussing how the church does not want to own up to its failures and be willing to address the conflicts between the supposed need to be "perfect" and still living with sincere struggles in the Christian life.

Some Oprah Show viewers said they thought Ted was lying; others said he was in denial. One viewer wrote: "I think Ted was open, honest and delightful. This is one of the problems I see with the Christian faith. They insist on being perfect. Perfection is not possible, and the problem is not that Mr. Haggard lied, but he lived in an environment that insisted on his lying."

Later Ted Haggard responded to this comment.

While there were religious pressures to keep quiet, Ted says only he is to blame for his problems. "Sometimes in religious environments there's pressure to perform, and I, particularly, had pressure as the pastor of the church … but I think the fault is my own," he says. "I submitted to that and participated in it. But now, of course, I'm thrilled to be able to speak openly and really be me."

I obviously do not know Ted Haggard and am in no position to judge his true heart, but on the surface he has brought to light some important aspects. The "real me" is that I am temptable. Ministry is realizing that I face the same fears and desires that every person out there faces. I am not perfect. I am not always right. I am not going to be perfect until He that is perfect comes and changes this corruption into incorruption.

I need to realize the burden of ministry is not perfection, but progress. I understand that temptation and sin are not the same, but I also understand that temptation leads to sin. Knowing that I also know that I will fail to do it right 100% of the time, but we also need to understand that some failures lead to things that are never recoverable. I am human, but my humanity is not an excuse to live in denial of that temptation or in abandonment to the sin that comes from it. If I have an interest that could lead to a besetting sin, an area of struggle or conflict, I need to listen to my own preaching and put people and obstacles in place to help keep me from letting temptation turn into sin.

Remember Ministers, we are temptable. We are not perfect. We are not inhuman. We are not uncommon. We are faced with the common things, the normal things, that could lead us to indescribable horror if we let it.

Ministry is a wonderful opportunity for God to use common people like you and me for His indescribable glory and for the advancement of the Gospel. But it is also a wonderful opportunity for the devil to give the gospel a black eye and defraud God of His deserved glory if we allow our unwillingness to get help and open up to trusted advisers and partners in ministry.

May we live supernatural lives for the one who has supernaturally saved us and by His supernatural power which strengthens us in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)

Danger of Temptability.....Now that is Ministry!

"That's My King!"

A friend of mine put me onto this. I had heard this some time ago, but this was just too good not to put into my collection of "hold onto your hat" segments. This is a portion of a message from Dr. S. M. Lockridge. Sit back and just listen to how this man does his best to describe the awesomeness of our Great Big God!

This thing called "Ministry" (Part 6)

For a few posts we have been focusing on what this thing called "ministry" is about. Now, notice I did not say "all about" for that is what the professional writers spend hours amassing great quantities of research and data to produce books do. I on the other hand have been tracking through 1 Corinthians to see how Paul handled ministry to a difficult group of early believers in the pagan city of Corinth. To catch up check out this link.

(Acts 20:24) "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

Paul had his ministry in mind when he addressed these Corinthian believers. His was a ministry commissioned by Christ and contained solely in the Gospel. This gospel now comes to bear in 1 Corinthians 9.

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:19-27)

What is this thing called ministry? To Paul it was Submission and Subjection. Submission to a greater cause than his own, and subjection to greater people than himself.

Submission to a greater cause

The Cause is the Gospel. The cause is the salvation of human souls. The Cause is one that transcends pettiness and programs. The cause is the message of life vs. death and the only way to know life is through Jesus Christ. Paul knew that message. Paul was very ready to propagate this all important proclamation of God's eternal love.

"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Would that I felt that way about the Gospel. Oh, I claim to, I strive to, I want to. But to minister with such passion that I am submitted to nothing more than the Gospel message and that all else takes a back seat to the task of letting everyone around me know that Jesus died for their sins and offers them release and hope for eternity's opportunity. To be a true minister I need to subject myself to the overwhelming emotion and burden of the Gospel message. Not programs, not TV shows, not all the other things that want to trap me and bind me and pull me away from reaching people. Let it be that we are bound to the call of God to share this love story in every facet of life we find ourselves in. Be in Submission to the Gospel message.

Subjection to Greater People

In verses 19-23 (see above), Paul states that there are people at stake here - Jews, those under the Law, those who are without law, weak, all men. Paul grants us his desire to reach those who are without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Paul does everything for the Gospel's sake (v. 23).

He becomes all things to all people. He becomes a Jew to win the Jews, as one without the law to win those who are without the law, weak to win the weak, and whatever it takes to whoever he is near; he does it to convince them, to show them their need of the Savior.

Now, we have Paul's own disclaimers here in these verses. He still is under the law of Christ and God and he acknowledges that his message is never based upon observance of the Mosaic Law or its commandments (v. 20, 21). The message still remains pure and the messenger remains true to the commands of Scripture, but he as the messenger goes to them and reaches them where they are. He finds a way to empathize and even to sympathize. He does not make them conform to something they are not before he shows them how to be accepted and transformed by God.

The societal standards are not the standards Paul used to draw people to Christ. He did not make people good Christians before showing them Christ and letting Christ remedy the areas of need. Paul did not preach reformation programs but instead transformation.

Ministry is transformation of lives, not conformation of traditions and regulations and even expectations. Who will we reach? What groups will we approach? Who makes our list of hopefuls? To Paul, if you lived and breathed, you were fair game. That is ministry. Souls, not classes.

Let's be partakers in the Gospel. Let's aim for what we know to be imperishable. We need to discipline our lives to focus on the eternal and keep our eyes on that goal. Let's not disqualify ourselves by giving attention to temporal or even sinful satisfaction. Let's give our bodies as the sacrifice God can use to reach even into gutter to demonstrate the utter love of God through Jesus Christ.

Now that is Ministry!

Go TarHeels!

I am certainly straying away from my usual fair. But, I am a huge North Carolina TarHeels fan. Our family just painted one of our boy's room in UNC Blue and we are excited for this evening's game against Michigan State.

Although sports is a major thing in our country and probably for some sports it has become a major thing around the world, there is truly nothing like college sports. I do need your prayers, however. I am so surrounded by people who are rooting for the enemy and God knows I need grace not to let them try to discourage me with their banter!

Enjoy the Madness and our family will be rooting for God's favorite team. How do I know? Well as my big brother and I have noticed, God did paint the sky Caroline Blue! Go Heels!

E- Books

A friend of mine put me onto a website that offers books in formats for downloading. The site is called ChristianAudio. Each month you are given an opportunity to download a free book by using a promo code. You have to create an account and they will occasionally send you an email alert, but they do not bombard you with tons of mail like some others.

Obviously you may not like or want to download each month's selection, but it is a really neat site with many old books and some contemporary writers. Check it out. This month's selection is by Leonard Sweet. I have a couple of his books and of course you have to read with discernment. Below is the promo video for this new and FREE book that you can download as MP3 or WMA (Windows).

Thanks again, David F., for putting me onto this.


So Beautiful, by Leonard Sweet from David C. Cook on Vimeo.