Followers Who Lead

Several years ago there was an email forward going around that claimed to contain the questions from a turn of the century 8th grade final examination. To the average person (and even the above average person) the exam was frightening in its level of difficulty. The point of the email is to marvel at how expectations have fallen over the years.

1 Thessalonians 5.14-22 serves a similar role.

14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, [3] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every
form of evil.

As I ponder those expectations, my response is "what a strong challenge for spiritual leaders." But then I realize that based on vv. 12-13, these are not the expectations for the leaders but for the typical believer. These are things those under leadership should be doing.

The typical believer in our church should be pouring thier lives into others, holding each other accountable and having a stake in the growth of those around them.

Let us be challenged to keep expectations high...for ourselves and for those around us.

How is a Pastor to Relate?

Pal? Regular Guy? All Round Go To Person?

Over the years I have noticed many pastoral expectations. Some want their pastor to be their best friend. I remember a pastor from my home church being enthusiastically being introduced as "a guy if you met him in a paint store you wouldn't even know he was a pastor!" Others see their pastor as someone who is on call for whatever need may arise in thier life -- giving them a ride across town, sitting with an elderly family member or putting up storm shutters at the last minute.

These approaches just always seemed a little empty to me. They remind me of the NFL/United Way commercials where football players walk old ladies across the street and read books to a stadium full of children. Nice, but not exactly a calling.

In 1 Thessalonians 2 Paul paints three pictures of a minister's relationship to his flock. Like a nursing mother, they are gentle, taking care of their children. (v. 7) Like a father, they exhort, encourage and charge their children to walk in a manner worthy of God. (vv. 11-12) And like a brother, they share the same journey. (vv. 1, 9, 14)

Now those are things that are worth spending a life on.

One last way Paul relates in chapter 2. He says the church in Thessalonica is his "hope and joy and crown of boasting" They are his glory and joy. (vv. 19-20)

This Sunday take a good look at your congregation....they are your crown of boasting!

Not sure there is much boast there? What they likely need is a nurturing mother, an exhorting father and an understanding brother.

Undampened Spirits -- 1 Thessalonians 2

These were weary days for the ministry team of Paul, Silas and Timothy. They had already suffered much and been severely mistreated in Philippi.

Preaching brought pain. Preaching brought rejection. Preaching brought discouragement. Preaching brought beatings and prison. While Paul had never heard of Pavlov and his puppies, Paul and company were in danger of being negatively conditioned.

One would understand if Paul became slightly less excited about preaching....or at least kept a low profile for a spell.

But as he walked into Thessalonica, Paul remembers they "had boldness in God to declare to you the gospel". As a result the kingdom was expanded and lives were changed.

It is quite possible you are in some weary days yourself. Your ministry efforts have not gone the way you wanted or felt they should. Your words have at times been rejected, ignored and sometimes opposed. To be honest, your passion for your call seems a little damp.

But let me assure, there are some Thessalonians who await your ministry today. May you find boldness in God today. It will not be in vain!

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.