In the work of gospel ministry, churches and pastors use many teaching tools to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to those they reach. It is so encouraging to see all of the tools that have been given to us to proclaim the Gospel to people from literally every walk of life. Yesterday, I was reminded of one of these great tools that has been given to the local church for the proclamation of the Gospel: baptism.
Baptism takes many forms within churches today. I recognize there is even disagreement as to the role that baptism plays in the life of a person.[1]Understanding Four Views on Baptismis a good resource I’ve found to share the prominent views of baptism. I hold to the view of baptism commonly known as “Believer’s Baptism” by immersion. This view sees baptism as an external symbol that points to an inward decision that has been made by a person.[2]Acts 8:35-38; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 16:29-33
For the time I’ve been in ministry, I have viewed the act of baptism as a time of celebration (and it is!). Over the years, I’ve come to see that baptism is a great teaching tool to be used by the local church about some of our core beliefs as Christians.
Baptism teaches what we believe about Jesus
The act of baptism shows that a person has put their faith in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This picture is painted beautifully as the candidate comes into the water, is placed under the water, and is brought up out of the water. This is a great teaching point to show those gathered to witness that this person has placed their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Baptism teaches about what has happened within the person
The act of baptism also shows those witnessing the work the Holy Spirit has done within the person’s heart. As the person is placed under the water, they are acknowledging they were dead in their sins.[3]Ephesians 2:1 As the person is brought forth from the water, they are showing they have been raised to walk a new life by faith in Jesus Christ.[4]Romans 6:4
Baptism teaches about discipleship
The act of baptism also teaches about discipleship. This is the newest aspect of baptism that I’m seeing more clearly. Jesus commands His Church to go and make disciples.[5]Matthew 28:18-20 This means that, as we introduce someone to faith in Christ, we also come alongside them and share with them what He has shown us. Making disciples is about helping others grow in their faith in Jesus Christ.
Our church had a great privilege this past Sunday to use baptism as a teaching tool about discipleship. I got to baptize a father in his 40s. After I baptized him, his two sons were baptized – by their father. To my knowledge, this had not been done before in our church. I took a quick moment to share that a part of baptism is the one doing the baptizing commits to the one being baptized to come alongside them and help them grow in their faith. I shared about how parents are the primary disciple-makers of their children. Because of this truth, we had the father do the baptizing of his children with me standing beside them to show that together, we will work to disciple these young men.
Paul wrote Galatians to a group of churches in the area of Galatia to help them understand the freedom they have in Christ. There were false teachers who were coming into these churches telling them they needed something more than Jesus to be right with God. Paul shows clearly through this letter that all we need has been provided to us by the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
As you are finding Galatians 4, I want to talk a little about passion.
What is passion?
Passion is one of those words that we know when we see it, but it may be a little harder to give a clear definition for it. Back in the old days, when you wanted to know what a word meant, you would go to the dictionary. When you look to the dictionary to find the clear meaning of passion, you find they have a hard time summing it up as well. One of the best definitions that I came across was “an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction.”
Passion is the word that has often been used to define the sufferings that Jesus went through from the Last Supper with His disciples to His death on the cross. I can’t think of a better word to describe those events. It was Jesus’ passion for God’s plan of salvation that carried Him through everything He endured. He knew that as difficult as it was, the end result (the only path back to God) was completely worth it.
Passion is not a bad thing necessarily. Passion is a drive the Lord has placed within each human being which draws them to something.
In our world, we see people all around us living out of a passion for something or someone. It doesn’t take long to find out what a person is passionate about. It will come up in almost every conversation you have with them. If you were to see a copy of their bank statements, you would be able to see what they are passionate about. If you were to examine a person’s free time, you would quickly find out what they are passionate about.
Jesus said in the middle of His famous Sermon on the Mount: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21 CSB).
What are you passionate about?
If someone were writing your biography, what would they write about is your passion in life? It could be a number of things:
Your family
A hobby
Your job
Your reputation
As I ask that question, you may be thinking, “I really am not sure as to what I am passionate about.” You may enjoy a lot of things, but you have trouble nailing down one particular thing that you would say you are passionate about.
I would share with you something that I’ve learned over my short years: If you don’t choose a passion for yourself, someone will choose one for you.
The culture that we live in today is filled with people and things that want to grab your passion. Billions of dollars are spent every year trying to grab someone’s devotion to them or their products. We are the ones who ultimately determine what our passions will be. We will either actively choose something to be passionate about, or we will hand that power to someone else.
In Galatians 4, Paul writes to the churches in Galatia about this very thing. He writes about how these false teachers were coming in and trying to move the churches’ passion away from where it should be.
17 They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. 18 But it is always good to be pursued in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
Galatians 4:17–20 (CSB)
As Paul writes these words, he speaks about passion. In verses 17-18, he uses the word “pursue.” This word carries the same meaning as passion. In the first century, this word meant “to have a deep concern for or devotion to someone or something.” Do you see how it is tied to the idea of passion?
Paul writes about these false teachers who were coming into their churches and trying to move the people’s passion away from Jesus to other things. These false teachers would not leave Jesus out. They just wanted the people to put other things on the same level as Jesus — primarily the Law of Moses. That doesn’t go over well. Jesus is called the Holy One because there is no one or nothing like Him. He stands apart and above all other things.
As Paul writes to these Galatian churches that he cares about so much, I see two clear things that Paul points out for these Christians (and us, too) to be passionate about.
Be passionate about conforming to the image of Christ
In verse 19, Paul writes about suffering labor pains for them until Christ is formed in them. Paul is talking about a process that is called sanctification. A person experiences three stages in salvation.
Justification = When a person trusts in Jesus as Savior and Lord, they are made fully right with God. Their sins are forgiven, and they are brought into the family of God.
Sanctification = The work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life to conform them to the image of Christ. This process is the changing of desires to align with what God wants and not our sinful flesh. This process takes the rest of our time here on earth.
Glorification = When Christians take their last breath, they are ushered into the presence of Jesus in heaven. At that point, there is no more struggle with sin, sickness, or anything else that was an effect of the Fall in the Garden of Eden.
When Paul talks about being conformed to the image of Christ, he speaks about the process the Holy Spirit is working in the life of every Christian to make them more like Jesus. Paul writes about this topic on many occasions.
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:28–30 (CSB)
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (CSB)
What is the message that God is trying to get to us through His word? Here’s one key point about the Bible: if something is repeated, you should pay special attention to it.
What Paul is saying to the Galatian Christians (and us) is we need to be passionate about seeing more of Christ in us than ourselves.
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB)
With each passing day, we should look less and less like we used to before we trusted Christ and more like Jesus. A Christian is a disciple of Jesus. A disciple’s primary passion should be to look as much like their master as possible.
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:40 (CSB)
How to be passionate about conforming to the image of Christ
While it would be awesome to have a little checklist that we could mark off and be assured that we would be conformed to the image of Christ, the only checklist that we have been given is not so easy nor does it look exactly the same for all people.
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 (CSB)
Being conformed to the image of Christ is about denying what our sinful selves want to do and doing what the Lord wants us to do. Any person who is doing this will tell you that it is not easy work. It takes complete dependence on the Holy Spirit who lives within us now for this to happen.
We learn what the Lord wants us to do by studying His Word, through prayer, and through obeying what He says.
Through the study of the Bible (both privately in devotions and together in the gathering with others), the Lord reveals His heart and plans to us. Nothing the Lord wants to do will ever contradict His Word.
Through the communication of prayer, we speak to God and hear from Him. Prayer is not a time for us to bring our wishlist to God and dump it on Him. It is the sweet time of fellowship where we get to spend time with the living God of the universe.
Through obedience, the Lord teaches and molds us into the image of Christ. There will be times when the full answer of what God wants to do in and through your life will come on the other side of obedience — just ask Abraham.
Paul desired for the Galatian Christians to be passionate about conforming to the image of Christ. I would ask this question of you and myself: is conforming to the image of Christ a passion in our lives, or is it just a side project? Can it be said of us that we long above all other things to be more like Christ, or do others see it as nothing more than a hobby in our lives that has no real impact?
If we do have a passion to be more Christlike, it will awaken within us another passion as well, and Paul shares this also in verse 19.
Be passionate about others knowing Christ
In verse 19, Paul talks about suffering for the Galatians to know Christ. He used the imagery of a woman going through labor pains. I’ve been told that may be the greatest pain a person can go through in this life. While I’ve never done it, I have seen it firsthand, and I don’t desire to experience that.
If we are becoming more like Christ, we will see a growing passion arise in our lives for others to come to know Him as well. Many people have used the saying before, “Evangelism is one beggar showing another beggar where the bread is.” This is true. The more our passion grows to be like our Savior, the more a passion for others to experience Him grows in our hearts.
One way that you can know that you are conforming to the image of Christ is by the passion you have to see others come to know Jesus. Does people’s state before a holy God bother you? You may feel bad or troubled by it, but that is not passion.
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
Charles Spurgeon
Can that be said of us? Is there a burning passion within our hearts to see others come to know Jesus as He truly is? When was the last time that you prayed for someone to come to faith in Christ? When was the last time you took the time to share with someone the good news of Jesus? We may be tempted to offer excuses such as “I didn’t have time…” or “I didn’t want to come across as pushy.” What our silence communicates oftentimes is that we do not think it is that important.
Conclusion
Human beings are God’s greatest creations. There is no other creation that God has loved so much. It was for us that He gave His one and only Son as the atoning sacrifice so that we could be brought back to Him. Within each of us, God has placed a passion. We get to choose what that passion will be directed to. As I said before, if we do not do it, someone else will do it for us.
Today, my prayer is that each one of us would crave a passion to be more like Jesus. That starts by placing our faith and trust in Him. If you haven’t done that, I would encourage you to do that today. There is no other way for your sins to be forgiven and receive the abundant life He has for you. After that is done, we spend time with Him through Bible study, prayer, and obeying what He tells us to do. As we do that, we will begin to see a passion for His will in our lives above all else. Part of God’s will for every Christian is to share with others how they can experience this wonderful gift that you have.
May God give us one pure and holy passion for Him.
This past weekend, middle school and high school students from our church joined together with others from across our state for a Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) in a nearby city. It was exciting to hear about what took place as over 460 people from 45 different churches gathered together for worship, encouragement, and training. This was the first year that two of my own sons would be a part of this.
As I thought about this weekend, I was taken back to the days when the Lord had me in student ministry. Those were some exciting times. You were always on your toes as changes came quickly. Trying to help teens grasp their faith and be used by the Lord for His glory… good times.
I can remember taking groups to Youth Evangelism Conferences as well. It was a good time to gather students together and have them hear the gospel clearly outside of the usual avenues that one usually had. I do remember feeling that there was always something missing to the YEC’s that we were involved with. The preaching was typically good. The musical worship was good. Yet there was still something that seemed to be missing from the whole deal.
I must commend the student ministry leadership at the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). I think they have found the missing piece I have been looking for all those years.
While the students and leaders that attended YEC in Jefferson City this year had the opportunity to hear some good preaching and musical worship, it didn’t stop there. They had breakout sessions and training where students learned more about sharing their faith with those they encounter on a daily basis. One of the things that had me most excited was that on Monday, those who had experienced all this goodness at YEC were given the opportunity to break into groups and put it into action. They would go out in the neighborhoods of the area they were in and do what they had been talking about.
Where is the time and place to train and deploy the upcoming missionaries?
While I always seemed to have a good time taking students and other leaders to YEC in the past, the missing piece was that we never had the opportunity to put what we heard to work immediately. Those conferences were more like “Youth Evangelistic Crusades,” where the gospel was shared very clearly, and you brought as many people who did not follow Jesus to hear what was said from the stage. Don’t get me wrong, I believe there is a time and place for that, but where is the time and place to train and deploy the upcoming missionaries? I know that our student ministries within local churches should be doing that, but where is it written that we cannot do that on a bigger scale?
This past weekend, the MBC showed it could be done. I’m already hearing about conversations of students involved this weekend, pondering ways they can put into practice what they were doing at this event. PRAISE THE LORD!!! I am thankful for our Pastor of Student Ministries (Ben Clay) and the other adults who supported and walked alongside these students this past weekend. I am excited to see what spark just might have been lit within our students.
As we begin a new year, I want to start a series of messages called A Generous Life. Our generous God has called His followers to live a generous life. We may hear and even agree with that, but how do we do that? That is what I want to look at we begin 2023.
We have just come out of a season where we were encouraged to count our blessings. Thanksgiving and Christmas are times when we remember just how generous God has been to us. We take those moments to remember the blessings that He has placed in our lives.
As a new year dawns, it is an opportunity to take inventory of the blessings that we have received and to see how we can best steward those blessings.
Today, I want to look at Paul’s farewell words to the Ephesians elders found in Acts 20. Paul is getting ready to head to Jerusalem for what might be the last time. He knows that some in that city want him dead. He had been warned numerous times that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem, but he knew that the Holy Spirit was leading him to go there.
As Paul gathers these dearly loved saints one time (maybe for the last time), he shares with them some truths about the blessings that God gives His children.
I. God has blessed His children with an inheritance
Paul talks a little about this inheritance in verse 32. He says that it is an inheritance that is shared among all who are sanctified. This is speaking about any person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ alone.
An inheritance is a treasure kept for someone until an appropriate time. We often think about inheritances as something we may get when a loved one passes away. It can also be considered something held for a child until they are of age and can manage it well.
Peter talks about this inheritance in 1 Peter 1:3-4.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3-4 CSB
This inheritance is a treasure that God has set aside and is kept in heaven for us. It cannot decrease in value. No one can take it away from us.
Because we have this great inheritance being guarded in heaven for us, we do not need to covet the treasures of this world. Every single treasure in this life can decrease in value or be stolen from us. This is why Paul said he didn’t covet anyone’s silver or gold in verse 33.
There is nothing wrong with possessions or things in this world until attaining them becomes the desire of our hearts. Think about this: you could gain all the treasures in the world, but when you take your final breath, they become someone else’s property.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Matthew 6:33 CSB
Do you have your “stuff,” or does it have you?
Understanding that our treasure is in heaven is a key to living a generous life. You begin to realize that the “stuff” you have here may be to help others with – a tool for ministry.
II. God has blessed His children with abilities
In Acts 20:34, Paul shares another truth about God’s blessings. He talks about how he had been given the ability to work and support the ministry given to him.
Do we realize the talents and abilities we possess have been given to us by God for a purpose? We talk about this many times, but I’m not sure we get it. We say, “that person has so much God-given talent.”
Every single talent or ability that we possess was woven into the fabric of our being by our Creator. He knew what we would need to do what He has called us to do. Not everyone has the same set of gifts in this area. That is because not everyone is called to do the same thing. Just because our talents are not the same as others does not mean they are any less important.
Are you putting the talents/abilities God has given you to work as He desires?
God has given the talents and abilities to His children so they may be stewarded well. That means we use them the way God intends them to be used.
We must discover what these gifts are that God has given to us and how He wants us to use them. If we are not doing that, we abuse God’s precious gifts and hurt others.
Paul had other talents besides preaching and traveling. He was apparently a good tent-maker. He was willing to use those talents to provide the funding for the ministry God had given to him. Paul was willing to put all the talents God had given him to work for His glory.
The Bible has something strong to say about those who refuse to do this: In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10 CSB).
III. God has blessed His children with the opportunity to serve
Paul’s concluding remarks to the Ephesian elders were to take advantage of the opportunity to serve others in Jesus’ name (Acts 20:35).
Paul even quotes Jesus’ words, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
My, how that statement flies in the face of our culture today. Our culture today says to look out for #1. Get yours. You can’t help everyone.
I remember the story of a man walking along the beach one day. He would come across a starfish, pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. When asked what he was doing, the man replied, “I’m helping these starfish by putting them back into the water.” The person who asked said, “There is no way that you could help every one of them.” The man replied, “You might be right, but I helped that one… and that one… and that one.”
A generous life does not come about by chance.
With the resources that God gifts us, He will also bless us with opportunities to use those resources in service. We must make a conscious effort to recognize and give in those moments. We won’t just accidentally do it. We must be ready and alert for the opportunities.
Conclusion
Paul knew that God had blessed His children in so many ways. He wanted to make sure that if this were the last time he would see these Ephesians, they were aware of the blessings they had.
The same message applies to each of us today as we hear these words: we have been blessed to bless others. The blessings that God pours on us are not just for our benefit. Will they do us well and meet our needs? YES! But we often find that a portion of the blessing God gives us is to be passed on to others.
Our God is a generous God. He is calling His people to be generous as well. As this year unfolds, let us recognize the blessings that God has given to us. Let us enjoy them. But let us also understand what God wants us to do with them. Let’s reflect our generous God to those around us by being generous as well.
Preaching is one of the most important tasks that is found on this planet. It is the preaching of God’s Word (the Bible) that God uses as an important way of getting the gospel to those who need to hear it. Is all preaching the same? I would say certainly not.
There is many ways of preaching that are in our world today. I truly believe that expository preaching — preaching that allows the text to guide the sermon — is the best manner of preaching available to us. It is easy to put our own thoughts into Bible, but if we are going to be faithful to the text, allowing the text to guide the sermon is best.
The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17 CSB
Being a pastor is one of the toughest things that a person can be called to do… rewarding but at times, tough. I have had the privilege of serving the Lord and His church in a pastoral role since 1998. I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that this is what I am supposed to do – preach the Word and lead God’s people.
As October has been designated as Pastor Appreciation Month, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to show a little appreciation to some of the pastors that God has/is using in my life and the life of my family. When a man is in the trenches of ministry, appreciation is not always easily found. I certainly would not want these men of God to go through this month without knowing that I am forever grateful for them.
Joey Savell
I would have to start with the man that I will always consider as my first pastor, Joey Savell. Joey has been in ministry since 1974. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor at Pineview Baptist Church in Harvest, Alabama.
It was under the ministry of Joey that I was first discipled in the Lord. Though we came from very different sides of the tracks, Joey saw something within me that was worth taking under his wing and pouring into. This man has been in my corner since the beginning of my ministry journey. I will forever be grateful to this man for the passion that he has for Jesus and people coming to know Him in a real and personal way.
Dr. Stan Lewis
The next pastor that I would like to show my appreciation to is Dr. Stan Lewis. I was first introduced to Dr. Lewis as a seminary professor while I was working on my MDiv through NOBTS. He was a great teacher in the classroom, but I would soon find out that there was much more to this man.
Dr. Lewis brought me to FBC Birmingham, Alabama as a Pastor of Student Ministry at a time when I was really struggling. He was very open and honest that the position would not be easy as the church had been through the wringer prior to both of our arrivals. He helped me to see what patience in ministry looks like. It was also this man that God used to steer my ministry course from student ministry towards being a Lead Pastor. His encouragement and friendship have been something that I have cherished since we met.
Brad Kerr
The next pastor I would like to show some appreciation to is Brad Kerr. Brad serves on the pastoral staff team at FBC Fulton alongside me. He oversees the music ministry, children’s ministry, and so much more.
Brad has a passion for Christ like few that I have met before. This guy really wants to do all things for the glory of His Lord, Jesus. His passion to lead his family to be disciple-making disciples is so encouraging. It was Brad and his family that took us in when we first moved to Fulton and a “Snowmageddon” came our way on our first weekend.
Ben Clay
The final pastor that I would like to express appreciation to in this post is the one and only, Ben Clay. Ben serves as the Associate Pastor of Students and Outreach at FBC Fulton alongside me. Ben has a passion for people (especially students) to know the Lord. He is a hard-worker and faithful in the preaching of God’s Word whether it is with students or in the pulpit on a Sunday morning. I am very honored to call this guy a teammate in ministry here in Fulton. I appreciate his quirky humor and the passion for people to know the Lord in a personal way that he brings to the table.
If the Lord has blessed you with some faithful pastors, then I would strongly encourage you to take the time to show your appreciation. It might be a little note, but gift cards and gifts are also nice – just saying. The ones that God calls out and who serve faithfully are definitely worthy of double honor. I would also encourage you to not just express your appreciation once a year. You may never know how much of a blessing a simple “thank you for what you do” might be throughout the year.
If you were to listen to what is being said about the church in today’s society, what you hear might cause worry to arise very quickly. There are many that say that “the church” is on life-support and in danger of becoming completely irrelevant. I am one that does not agree with this assessment.
I do believe that there are some things that need to be addressed and even “tweaked,” but to say that the church is about to close up shop – nope. That will not happen (see Matthew 16:18). There might be some particular groups that cease to exist, but the church will be around until Christ returns.
J.D. Greear has written a book in which he shares what he thinks is the key to many churches seeing a renewal take place. This new book is called Above All: The Gospel is the Source of the Church’s Renewal, and it is available through B&H Publishing.
In this book, Greear shares that he does not believe that the church – the true and obedient church – is not going anywhere either. Greear shares that if churches will have the gospel of Jesus Christ in its proper place (above all other things), then the church will be doing what it should.
The part of this book that I liked the most was the last third of the book where Greear began to put what he has been talking about into practical terms with how the gospel should be above our culture, preferences, and even politics. This was where the book became really practical.
Recommendation
I would definitely recommend that any person that wants to see their church grow healthier to take the time to read Above All. It will encourage you and remind you of where the gospel should be in our daily lives and our churches.
So much has happened with our family over the past couple of months. It is hard to keep up with it all at times. A new chapter has begun in the life of the Stephens family as we moved to Fulton, Missouri to begin serving as the Lead Pastor at FBC Fulton, MO. This is a transition that our family has been praying about for a little while.
There has been a burden for the Midwest of the USA for a couple of years now. We have prayed over this area and even visited different places in the Midwest to see what God was up to. We had no clue that God would pull our family up out of the deep South and call us to this place, but we are excited about the opportunities.
Around October 2018, God began to put a vision on my heart about what the church should be like and the direction it should go. I shared that vision with some leaders of the church that we were serving with. It was agreed that these were good things, just not sure that it was the direction they were wanting to go at the time. What we have found in our “new home” is that God had been working on FBC Fulton to go in much the same direction as we were feeling led.
We miss many of those that we have been serving with over the past few years, but God continues to reaffirm that here in Fulton, MO is exactly where He wants us, and that is the place that we want to be. We are looking forward to what God is going to do both here at FBC Fulton and back where we came from at Bethany Baptist Church. We know that God has a mighty plan. If we will follow that, we will get to be part of something that can only be explained as His work.
I think that is one of the best terms to use when it comes to leadership. When we lead as a “Lone Ranger,” it has the tendency to become more about our own agenda. I truly believe that there is so much more that can be accomplished by a good team than any one individual, especially when it comes to ministry.
We can read different verses in the Bible that tell us that about the importance of teamwork (see Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). These are good words that remind us that not one of us has everything that we need to live the Christian life by ourselves. But I wonder do we miss the “other” teamwork that is needed?
When I read Colossians 1:28-29 this morning, something stood out to me like a neon sign…
We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.
While we may think about teamwork as bringing others into the equation with their gifts, talents, and abilities, we may lose sight of the greater team. We were first invited to be part of a team… God’s team – where He is the leader and in control.
For ministry to truly happen as it should, it must be led by the Holy Spirit. The question arises: are we working with the Holy Spirit in the work of ministry, or are we trying to do it all in our own strength?
We need to guard against just doing things – even good things – in our own strength. This is God’s show and His work has to be done in His strength and leading. He has graciously invited us to be part and has said that He would use us. That is the only way that we will see God’s fingerprints on the ministry that is done.
Those words are some that scare me to death. Debt is one thing that causes great stress in many people’s lives today. It is proving more difficult each year to come out of college without having a mound of debt from student loans. I do not know many people who can buy a car or house without going into debt, but these are some needed things by many to function in this life.
The Bible speaks a great deal about debt. Many times there is the idea or thought of how to reduce or even eliminate debt in our lives. Proverbs 22:7 reminds us that the borrower is slave to the lender. As followers of Jesus, we are to be slave to no one except our Savior.
Today, I read something about another viewpoint of debt. It came from Reading Romans with John Stott. In this particular devotion, Stott was looking at Romans 1:14-15. He writes this…
Paul’s words “I am obligated” should properly be translated “I am a debtor.” There are two possible ways of getting into debt. The first is to borrow money from someone; the second is to be given money for someone by a third party. If a friend of yours had given me money to give to you, I would be in your debt until I handed it over. Your friend had put me in your debt.
It is in this second sense that Paul is in debt. He has not borrowed anything from the Romans which he must repay. Rather, Jesus Christ has entrusted him with the gospel for them. It is Jesus Christ who has made Paul a debtor by committing the gospel to his trust.
Paul was in debt to the Romans. As apostle to the Gentiles he was particularly in debt to the Gentile world. It was because of his sense of debt to them that he could write: “That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.”
I had always been told that debt is bad and something that we should work to get out of at all costs. Debt is something that we should work to be free from. Not all debt is a bad thing though. Not all debt comes to us because we have made bad choices. It might be because we’ve made the best choice.
I love this example of debt as being one that holds and delivers for a third party. Just as Paul had been indebted to share the gospel with Gentiles, so we have been indebted to share the gospel with those around us. The only way to get out of this debt is to share the gospel with those around us. It is in these moments that both those we share with and we ourselves can find freedom from debt.
I have been accused of being a Bible collector at times. I have about 6 or 7 different English translations in print and many more via Logos and the Bible app. What can I say, I like God’s word and want to see it from different angles.
One of my favorite print Bible at this time is my CSB Pastor’s Bible. I really like the translation, the single column layout, but one of the best tools are the articles found at the end of the Bible. These are articles from various people to help encourage pastors in their duties.
One of those articles is from Charles Spurgeon. The article was titled “Glorifying God in Your Ministry.” This article spoke to my heart greatly today. Here’s some of what it said:
Whether souls are converted or not, if Jesus Christ be faithfully preached, the minister has not labored in vain because he is a sweet aroma to God as well in them that perish as in them that are saved…
It is ours to sow even in stony places, where no fruit rewards our toil, but still we are bound to look for a harvest and mourn if it does not appear in due time…
In too many cases awe-inspiring truths are avoided under the false belief that they are not practical, while the very fact that they are revealed proves that the Lord thinks them to be of value…
There is a task that we have been given: share the gospel. It is just that simple. It is not always easy, but it is that simple. We are not that it will always be fruitful. There may be seasons (even prolonged ones) of drought.
The main question is: are we being faithful to the task?
I will try not to spoil anything about Star Wars: The Last Jedi with this post.
Our family went on an impromptu adventure last Thursday as we went and seen Star Wars: The Last Jedi as it opened in a local theater… in 3D (oh yeah!). It was truly a great night as our family has been waiting for this movie to release along with many other people.
One thing that has surprised me is the static that has been filling the internet about this movie. There is no middle ground apparently with moviegoers. Either they loved it, or they hated it. I would have to say that my opinion would fall in line with the former. I thought it was pretty good myself.
What I see from most people that did not like this movie goes a little something like this…
It did not answer the things that I thought it should.
Maybe it was one of the plot lines that have been talked about since the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens… maybe it was something else. Whatever the case, there are a lot of people who are unhappy because this latest movie did not do what they wanted.
Maybe it’s just me, but do the writers/producers/directors have the freedom to make a movie of their choosing? When did “the customer is always right” take over as Emperor and make everyone bow down to its wishes?
It is this idea that “if the public is not happy with something or if something doesn’t go just the way that I think it should, then it’s wrong/bad/false/rubbish” that is getting me all worked up. Maybe that is because I see it popping up in Christian churches across our land.
Have you seen it, too? There are those who will throw everything the Bible has to say out the window because it doesn’t line up with “their view of truth”. They follow the example of Thomas Jefferson and began removing what they do not like, and making a new “religion” that could not be further from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When did we become the deciding element that dictates what is good/right/true? I know that in my flesh, there is nothing that could even begin to hold that position. I do not get to tell the writers/producers/directors what or what not to do with their movie… and I do not get to say what is Christianity. The latter is taken care of by God’s word (the Bible) which is inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself.
The Holy Spirit is trustworthy. You can build your life on what He says because it is truth. The whole of life belongs to God anyway (Colossians 1:16; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6). What reason do we really and justly have to come before God and say, “You didn’t do what I wanted so I’m going my way… You were wrong!”
May we come back to reality and realize that just because something doesn’t go our way, it does not mean that it is wrong. Maybe what is wrong is what is found in our hearts and minds. May we run to the Father who will share truth with us abundantly.
I had been hearing about this Bible that was coming out in October 2017 called the Pastor’s Bible from Holman Publishers. This is a style of Bible that has been called “the Minister’s Bible” in the past with other translations. I finally got me a copy, and after a couple of months, I am ready to share my thoughts.
Translation
It is important that a person have a copy of God’s word in a translation that they can understand. This was one of the heartbeats of those involved in the Protestant Reformation. They wanted to get God’s word into the language and hands of the common people so that they could experience the life-changing power of the Bible.
While there are many good English translations on the market, I have come to really appreciate the Christian Standard translation (CSB). I believe that it was more than an update to the Holman Christian Standard (which was not the greatest). The CSB is a translation that tries to bring the original languages into today’s English. I really think that the CSB might be best English translation since the 1984 NIV in that it not only tries to be true to the original languages, but it brings the text in a way that is easy to read.
Check out more about the CSB at their website by clicking here.
Features
Single-column text. This was one of my favorite features of this Bible. Having the text in a single column makes it much easier to read and keep your place while preaching/teaching.
All black text. I know that some people like the words of Christ in red, but I think by keeping all the text the same it keeps the focus that all of the Bible is important and God’s word.
Very readable font. The font is a 10-point Serif that is very clear for reading.
Two formats. It comes in either genuine leather (brown) or deluxe leathertouch (black). I went with the deluxe leathertouch because of price (typically about $40 cheaper). The leathertouch feels nice and is holding up well so far.
Special Features
Tips and sample sermon outlines for weddings and funerals. These come in handy especially to a younger pastor who is looking for helps in these areas. The tips for what to do in these events have helped me out greatly in the past. There are samples of traditional and contemporary wedding services. There are also samples of funeral sermons for different situations.
Articles on various duties of the pastor’s life. These articles serve to help a minister in giving tips on preaching, leading, and other areas of the pastor’s life. Some of the contributors are Jim Henry, Matt Chandler, Eric Geiger, Jared Wilson, Tony Merida, Keith Getty, Robert Smith Jr, Daniel Im, and many more.
Pastoral Care references. There is a two-page reference of verses to turn to when dealing with different situations in ministry.
Conclusion
The CSB Pastors Bible is one of my favorite bibles that I own. It has just about everything you would want in a bible as a pastor. It is not bulky, but it comes packed with many resources for today’s pastor.
With Christmas just around the corner, I would recommend that you pick up one of these as a great gift for you pastor this season. He will no doubt get much use out of this Bible.
I am using this month like many others to recognize and show my appreciation for the “pastors” that God has brought into our lives. These are the specialized ones that comes into our lives and shepherd us towards what God is wanting to do in us.
In this post, I want to take time to appreciate a man named Dan Perez. Many know him as “Dan the Man” because that is what he is.
Dan Perez was one of my first Sunday School teachers as a teenager. I really think that Dan lost some bet in a youth workers’ meeting when you look at the teens that he was tasked with keeping an eye on in the youth group. Actually, when you spend any amount of time with Dan, you will quickly see that he has a heart for people to know Christ.
Dan Perez has been one that God has used to guide me in great ways. He was so much more than just someone to lead a lesson on Sunday mornings. He took time with his class. He had us in his house. He would get to know us personally and use that knowledge to point us in a good direction.
I am will forever be grateful to Dan (and his sweet wife, Nina) for the ways that they have and are pouring into my life and the life of my family.
October has been set aside as “Pastor Appreciation Month.” I have always thought that this was a little silly. It is like the joke that goes around the church where I serve as pastor: “we got to appreciate you a little.”
When it comes to showing appreciation to your pastor, I think that it would be good to understand who those “pastors” are. Just because a person holds a position in a church, it does not mean that they have been a pastor. Just because a person does not hold the title of “Pastor” (of any kind) that does not mean that he or she is not serving in that role.
During this month, I want to take some time to recognize some of the people who have been “Pastor” to me. These are people that the Lord has placed in my life over the years to help me become what God desires.
In this post, I want to talk about my appreciation for the man I consider my first pastor: Joey Savell.
Joey was the youth pastor that God used in great ways to disciple me as a teenager. When I had been burnt by “church as usual”, this guy was leading a ministry that was reaching out to students both close to God and very far from Him. I am so grateful that he was obedient to the Lord (even when it cost him MANY of confrontations in deacons’ meetings).
Joey has been there for me ever since God called me into the ministry in the summer of 1996. He took me under his wing and gave me opportunities to learn and grow in my faith and calling. He has always been one that I could call up and share my heart with. He has definitely been given the gift of “telling it like it is.” It has been good when I have needed a voice that was going to shoot me straight that I could call on this man.
The apostle Paul never was married, he did play a parent role (spiritually speaking) in a few people’s lives. Just as Timothy and Titus are referred to as Paul’s sons in the ministry, Joey has served as a father in the ministry to me and other people throughout the years. Thank you for all that you do, Joey!
I have been one that likes music for as long as I can remember. Different genres of music can be found on my playlists and radios: rock, rap, country, swing, folk, etc.
I have been accused a few times in the past of being born in the wrong generation because of my music taste. I’m on the tail end of Generation X (born in 1979). While my childhood was in the 1980s, and my teen years in the 1990s, if I had my choice of music, it would probably be the classic rock of the 1960s & 70s.
In 1965, a group known as The Byrds released their hit song “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The song would go on to be #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by end of that year. This song is taken just about word for word from the English version of Ecclesiastes 3.
In this passage from the Bible, we see King Solomon sharing some of the wisdom that God had granted to him as he recognized the reality of seasons. King Solomon saw that there was a time and place for everything under the sun. There were even seasons in life.
Contrary to what we may experience where I live, there are typically four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Around here (north Mississippi), we see most of these seasons regularly. Each season gives way to the next and moves on again.
Some people see seasons in life. They could think of spring as the childhood years of life where children are born and grow at speeds like no other time in their lives. Summer might be those adolescent years where you are carefree and enjoying life. Autumn would come with adulthood as one seeks to settle down and begin to reap the harvest of what was sown in prior years. Winter would represent the elder years of our lives where we begin to slow down and rest more.
I can see that picture playing out easily. I believe that there are many who share that picture of how the seasons may look in life. I think this because I hear people say that it’s time for a younger group to pick things up and do them because they’ve done their time. These would be those who see themselves as in the winter season.
The problem with this picture is that it is a linear picture of the seasons that plays through one time. In this picture, the seasons play through one time and then they are done. What we see in nature is that the seasons are not so linear but rather circular. They pass from one to the other and then start again.
I have seen this circular picture of seasons in life many times. I can remember many springtimes where God started a new work in my life (salvation, called to ministry, marriage, parenthood). I have experienced the other seasons many times as well.
The one thing that the circular view of the seasons of life shows us is that no matter what season that you are in a new season is around the corner. As long as we are here on the earth and there is breath in our lungs, a new season will be coming. It may seem like certain seasons are longer than others, but the next season always comes.
With this in mind, it is important that we as Christians not get trapped into the thought that “we are done” and just waiting on the bus to take us to heaven. If God were truly finished with His work in us, we would not be here on this earth. We would be with Him in heaven enjoying the eternal rest prepared for us from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). The fact that we are still here on this earth proves that God is not done with us. We may find ourselves experiencing a winter season of rest, but we need to be on the lookout for the spring that is around the corner. It may be something completely new that the Lord has never done before in or with us.
Let us make sure that we are not checking out before we are supposed to. Seasons come and seasons go, but we can be sure that God is working through each of them.
Pastoral Theology is a book that seeks to build a theological framework for pastoral ministry that is “biblically derived, historically informed, doctrinally sound, missionary engaged, and contextually relevant.” The book is divided into three sections: Trinitarian Foundation, Doctrinal Formulation, and Practical Facilitation which have three chapters in each section. There is a section at the end that shows where different Bible references were used throughout the book.
Thoughts
The work of pastoral ministry is one that is not for the faint of heart. There are so many expectations and demands on the one who chooses to follow the Lord’s calling and serve the local church. Akin and Pace have put together a great work that will help any aspiring pastor to understand what God has called him to and have a solid theological foundation as he serves the Lord.
While Pastoral Theology may be seen by many as a textbook of sorts, the authors have done a fantastic job in writing in a way that it does not seem academic. The authors use a practical approach to help equip pastors to see that the work that they have been called to is one that must be rooted in a solid theology. I love how the book is soaked with Bible references and not just popular thoughts of what a pastor should be doing today.
Recommendation
I would agree with many of the persons that are noted at the beginning of the book giving small reviews that Pastoral Theology is a book that every person aspiring to do the work of a pastor should have not only on their bookshelf but in close reach to help and remind what they are to do and why they should be doing it.
I am no musician. I do have a guitar that I attempt to strum a little now and then. One thing that has always been a regular routine is that when I take the guitar out of its case and before I start playing it, I have to tune it up.
It is interesting that no matter if you play the notes or chords correctly or if you have the correct rhythm, if the instrument is not in tune, then it doesn’t sound right… it is just noise that irritates.
I think Paul said it this way:
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 CSB)
Not only do our instruments need tuning, but our lives do as well. Check out this song by Austin Stone Worship, and may it help you tune your life to the proper “key” today in order to be the disciple of Jesus that we should.
This week my wife and I had the opportunity to attend the SEND Conference that was hosted by the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. It was a great time as my wife and I got away and experienced God in a mighty way. I thought that I would share a couple of things that stood out to me from this week.
Great Host
The SEND Conference was hosted by First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida. I had heard many great things about this church, and this week just solidified what I thought. This church has so many things going on, but they gave their campus over for a week so that people from all over the world could worship together and be encouraged.
Diversity
One of the first things that we noticed about the SEND Conference was the diversity of people that were present. There were people from all generations present. There were people from different languages, cultures, and ethnicities present.
This was a breath of fresh air. Sadly, the Southern Baptist Convention has been seen as a denomination of old white people by many. I know that there were people of younger generations and other ethnicities in our denomination, but it is easy to see the stereotype when you look into some of our meetings.
The SEND Conference was a picture of heaven, at least according to Revelation 7:9-10. There were men and women, boys and girls, various languages and ethnicities… it was a beautiful sight. It really showed me that there is a future for the Southern Baptist Convention.
Amazing Worship
The musical worship for the SEND Conference was led by the Austin Stone worship team. Oh my goodness… I have heard some of their music before, but I have never seen them lead worship before. It was something special.
The one thing that I appreciated most about the worship team was that they were not just up front playing music for others to sing along to. They truly took a pastoral role and led each person in the room to the throne of grace. They took time to explain lyrics and used both older hymns of the faith and contemporary songs. It was truly something for all present.
Gospel and Great Commission Focus
The main thing of the SEND Conference was undoubtedly the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His church. While there were multiple sessions and many different breakout sessions, each and every one had the gospel and the Great Commission at the heart of them. I loved how each of the breakouts and main session speakers clearly tied things back to the gospel and did not have to stretch it to make it happen. They showed that the gospel truly does apply to any topic.
Meeting New People
I always like to meet new people and hear their stories. This week provided a great opportunity to meet people from all over and hear about what God is doing in and through their lives. It was also good to see a few people that I haven't seen in a while. It was so good to refresh the connection.
I will be grateful for some time to the North American Mission Board for contacting and providing complimentary tickets to the conference in Orlando. It was a much needed break from the norm and time to refocus. I am definitely looking forward to 2020 when they will do it again in Atlanta.
I recently shared a message with the church I serve as pastor on Matthew 25:31-46. In this passage, Jesus tells about an event that will take place in the future. It is a wonderful event for those who have faithfully followed Christ. It is also a traumatic event for those who haven’t.
Jesus says that those who are welcomed into heaven are not just those who say that they are followers but show it by their actions. He gives some pretty specific ways that people either demonstrate their faith or don’t.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. (Matthew 25:35-36)
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. (Matthew 25:42-43)
Jesus said that the demonstration of our faith will determine whether we are in or out. This is not to be mistaken as salvation by merits. The Bible is clear that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). But that faith is also one that will show itself to be true through actions in our lives (James 2:14-26).
I had wondered why this was the only place where this was talked about in such detail… that is until I read Job 31.
In Job 31, one can see this man who was having a “rough week” making a final appeal about why the trouble he was experiencing was not a result of sin in his life. In his appeal, Job exclaims…
if I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused eyes if the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep… (Job 31:16-20)
The sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler (Job 31:32)
After reading this chapter, my mind was blown. There it was in plain sight. The ways in which Jesus said that true faith is demonstrated was done by Job in his life.
I found this scene that Jesus talks about in Matthew 25 very sobering. We can talk a big game about believing in Jesus and being associated with Him. The truth is (from His mouth) the proof is in the fruit.