The Essence of Ministry

As Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, opens his letter to the Thessalonian church he addresses the minister's call at its simplest and most profound point.

"You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord....." (1 Thessalonians 1:5b-6a).

For all the plethora of strategies, programs and models the church has ever developed none have improved on this approach. Live in such a way that people will have cause to copy you. Live in such a way that when they copy you, they will be copying Christ!

In other words, spend less time adapting your life to relate to people and spend more time adapting your life to Christ. When as ministers we do that publically, transformation occurs. Evangelism happens. Discipleship unfolds.

It means our public ministry is born in our private faith.

The Thanksgiving Pastor

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (ESV)

May it be so in your ministry.

A Thanksgiving Message

Giving Thanks Like Jesus


The Pilgrims provide a great model for our Thanksgiving season. But there is one that is even greater. Let us examine how Jesus gave thanks.

Mark 6:35-44
Mark 8:1-9
John 11:38-44
Mark 14:22-25

1. Notice that Jesus gave thanks on the "unfinished side".

He gave thanks before anything had ever happened. Still had only a handful of food, Lazarus was still dead. Yet He gave thanks.

Now you may say, that is because He knew what was about to happen. Think about the things we know.

Hebrews 13:5

Matthew 7:9-12

Romans 8:28

We have plenty of cause to give thanks on the "unfinished side".

2. Jesus gave thanks at all times.

Jesus stood before massive crowds of hungry people a couple of fries short of a Happy Meal....and He gave thanks.

Where is the strangest place you have ever given thanks?

3. Jesus gave thanks in even the most difficult situations.

In the upper room, knowing exactly what stood before Him, Jesus gave thanks for the very symbols of His upcoming anguish. (The scene that follows in the Garden gives a glimpse into what must have been on His mind in those moments.)

Too often, he state that "God is good....the test results came back negative." The truth is God is good no matter what the test results say!

May we learn to be thankful in even the darkest moments.

Paul summarized the Jesus way of thanksgiving in Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Musing about Mueller (and prayer)

George Mueller (Muller) is remembered as one of history's great men of faith. A German who came to England to do mission work among Jews, became a pastor best known for the establishment of five huge orphanages in Bristol.

I have recently finished reading George Muller, Delighted in God by Roger Steer.

The need for orphanages was profound in 19th century Britain as the child in need could not get placed without a sponsor. Street children rarely had sponsors. But Mueller saw an even greater need.

He would establish the orphanages in manner that had no alternative but to bring glory to God and to prove His power. With that in mind, he would never ask a single person for any support other than God Himself. In fact, he would not schedule any reports or speaking engagements when needs were great for concern he would have to give an honest answer about current situations and appear to be soliciting funds.

As long as he had God, he had no concerns.

I remain theologically perplexed by Mueller at times. I do not understand how our prayers move God. I do not know how he could be so certain that everything he prayed for was in the will of God to provide. Certainly, the provision of meals was an easy prayer, but the great expansions of ministry could not have been so obvious.

But there is something wonderful that in the face of great difficulties Mueller had no other strategy than prayer. Just a plan to take his needs before God and leave them there. Trusting God to do what was best. Oh, we need more of that!

A favorite Mueller story comes from a trans Atlantic voyage that was being delayed by fog. Mueller told the captain that he could not be late for his speaking engagements in America so they should pray for the fog to lift. Mueller prayed and the somewhat rattled captain was about to also pray when Mueller stopped him.

"Do not pray. First, you don't believe He will answer; and second, I believe He has and there is no need whatever for you to pray about it."

The fogged lifted moments later.

May we pray like you believe it. May we pray like we have no other resource.

Note -- My mother's first job out of school was working in the Mueller orphanages in Bristol.

Jezebel and Judas On the Trail of the Preacher

Few names carry darker overtones than Jezebel and Judas. One was the epitome of sinister and ruthless evil. The other history's most despicable traitor.

So when Adolph Bedsole in his book The Pastor in Profile turns his attention to the fact that pastors often have to deal with folks who seem to be at least second cousins to this pair, the reader is tempted to sit back and relax while the boom is lowered on these ne'er do wells who so often hinder our ministries.

Reader beware! Bedsole's conclusion is that every pastor needs a Judas and Jezebel on his trail. It is his perspective that these difficult people keep us on our toes, require us to stay sharp, grow our humility, challenge us to stay pure and push us to our knees.

Having pastored Bedsole's church a few decades after his retirement I heard many of the stories of the Judas and Jezebels of his ministry....and even met a few myself.

His advice continues to ring true today --

1. Watch your step.

2. Leave disciple to the church.

3. Learn how to take it.

4. Keep your own soul.

5. Stay off the defensive.

6. Stay after the lost.

Don't be tripped up by difficult people in your ministry. If I may add my own observation, Elijah's and Jesus' ministry would have been smaller not greater without these two.

Louisiana Baptist Convention Report #2

The morning began with a great run down St. Charles Avenue, but that wasn't really part of the Convention.

My observations from the official proceedings included --

1. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley's teaching from Romans 8 continued to be strong. This morning, he did a fantastic job on the section that we usually run past in the passage (v. 36). Trouble will come, but the trouble is weak compared to Christ!

2. The exhibit hall featured significantly above average food...fresh cinnamon rolls, Krispy Kreme donuts and beignets! New Orleans can't help but be New Orleans.

3. Nobody seemed to have a vibrate or silent setting on their phones. Considering that the majority of the persons in the room were preachers who get really aggravated by cell phone interruptions in church, it was amazing how many phones continued to ring throughout the morning.

4. US Senator David Vitter was recognized from the platform and greeted by strong applause. I am still stumped by this.

5. David Crosby, host pastor for the annual meeting delivered the Convention sermon. Preaching powerfully from 1 John 3, Dr. Crosby reminded us that "words alone can not carry the full freight of the gospel". The aftermath of Katrina has demanded a more complete approach to the proclamation of the gospel that includes both word and deed. When people ask him if the city is back to where it used to be, Dr. Crosby's response is that "we don't ever want to be back to where we used to be!"

Regardless of what our story has been the last few years, shouldn't that be our response too. We don't ever want to go back to where we used to be. May God continue to grow His people and His kingdom in Louisiana.

Louisiana Baptist Convention Report #1

Since it was this year's SBC annual meeting that really first introduced me to the world of Southern Baptist bloggers it seems only appropriate that I take a few moments to reflect on the opening session of my home state's annual meeting.

Some simple observations from tonights proceedings held at the First Baptist Church of New Orleans.

1. FBC New Orleans is a beautiful facility. I attended FBCNO a couple of times back in my seminary days at its old facility in the Garden District, but I am impressed by what I have seen of their "new" campus.

2. LBC Exec. Director, David Hankins introduced a new evangelism emphasis to the convention this year. This is certainly not news as nearly every convention I have ever attended introduced a new evangelism strategy (yet lostness grows and grows....but that is a topic for another post). What is different is the theme of this emphasis is "sharing the blessing of peace." Evangelism as a gift of peace. There is something right about this.

3. The Louisiana College choir and ensemble did a fantastic job. Easily the highlight of the evening. I had heard the ensemble at the SBC in Indy and felt they were far superior to most of the other music (which included the Gaithers, though the Gettys were tough to beat.) I would like to schedule The Voices of Louisiana College for our church in the upcoming months.

4. Much was made about meeting in New Orleans this week. Needs were restated, visions were recast, commitments were renewed. For a person who has lived in this city and loved this city it was quite meaningful. But I also know, the people of my church feel very distant from New Orleans and would like to be even more distant if it were possible.

Why do Southern Baptists struggle with big cities this way? In the last state convention I was part of, the convention ceased to schedule annual meetings in Miami. It was not that the convention leadership did not care about the city, it was just that the rest of the state's response to it largest, most urban city was such that there was fear they would not even have a quorum for business.

At least we still meeting in New Orleans. And for this year at least, people have come.

[Note the SBC has worked hard to avoid returning their annual meeting to this significant city. It was suggested that efforts are being made for the 2012 meeting. I pray that comes to fruition. If the city can host the Superbowl and BCS championships, the people of God ought to be able to show as well!]

A Prayer for Pastors

Heavenly Father,

We ask for the very thing you most desire....that people would know you and love you more. That their lives might be fully given to You and lived for You. May we measure our ministries and our churches by this definition alone.

Show us how we can be useful in that process. Give us the words, the spirit and the deeds that will draw people to You.

Amen

The Pastor in Profile

The Pastor in Profile is one of my favorite books in my ministry library. Part of what makes it special to me is that it was written by a former pastor of my former church. When Adolph Bedsole became the pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Panama City, they had never had a pastor stay longer than two years. He stayed for thirty six.

I became pastor twenty five years after he retired. But his fingerprints remained all over the church and throughout the community. In many ways my job was easier because I followed in his gracious footsteps. Quiet conversations with Bro. Bedsole in my office and in his home were some of the treasures of that season of ministry. I was humbled to be asked to have a part in his funeral.

But the book has more than sentimental value. Published in 1962, it remains full of wonderful, practical wisdom that has held up over the passage of time.

Here are some warnings he gives to young preachers in the opening chapter.

1. Be careful not to have an unduly exalted opinion of yourself.
2. Avoid the assumption of disparaging attitude to other preachers.
3. Don't allow yourself to become a tool of glory seeking "oldsters".
4. Do not look for conflict just to make a point.
5. Beware the desire to "clean out the church."
6. Refrain from the temptation of making dogmatic pronouncements.
7. Guard against become a copycat preacher.
8. Don't swayed by every wind of doctrine.

Examining my own heart as I reread this list has convinced me that I must still be a young preacher.

Next week, I will share highlights from one of my favorite chapters from the book -- Jezebel and Judas on the Trail of the Preacher!

Jeremiah 49 -- False Security

In the midst of the judgments on the nations, I was caught by a particular verse.

Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, that dwells securely, declares the
LORD, that has no gates or bars, that dwells alone. Jeremiah
49:31 ESV

It reminded me of my family growing up. We locked the door of our house only if we were going on vacation....for more than five days. Remarkably, we were never robbed. (Likely because once inside our home, a thief would have been more likely to feel sorry for us than to rob us.) But regardless, it was an incredibly vulnerable way to live. Danger was so close, despite the fact we ignored it.

The people of Jeremiah 49:31 feel safe and at ease. No gates, no bars, no worries. But the judgment of God is coming. I can think of few better descriptions of so much of our world today. The world continually whispers in their ears that they are safe and secure. "You are doing just fine, we all are in fact. Don't worry."

Yet a very real judgment awaits.

It reminds me of the old definition of preaching -- to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. May God use me to do both this week.

Jeremiah 49 -- A Question Answered

I must confess, I find the judgement on the nations in the later chapters of Jeremiah a bit difficult to read. I miss the vivid narrative anchors of the story of the earlier chapters. I search in vain for easily relatable characters.

But obviously, the chapters matter. They address the inevitable question of the survivors of God's judgment on Jerusalem.

What about them?

On the surface, Israel and Judah's behavior seems no worse than any of their surrounding neighbors. Yet they alone have faced severe judgment.

Now, the first truth is that the neighbors had not rejected their covenant relationship with God. Because Israel had more, they were held more accountable. But secondly, these chapters reveal that all the other nations will be held accountable as well. Their rebellion, their false worship, their antagonism against God's people would not be forgotten.

These chapters also remind us that God is LORD of all. Not just Israel, not just Judah. But all the nations stand before God. They are lifted by His hand. They will be brought down by His hand.

Yes, He is LORD of all. Thanks for asking.