Lecture 3 Ministerial Ethics - Who You Are When No One is Watching

Lecture 3 – “Who You Are When No One is Watching”

Recap last lecture – “Priorities”

Question – What are your priorities? Right now.

Question – How do you order your day in light of what you acknowledge your priorities are?

You need to keep your priorities in mind as you make your schedule. As you say yes to things that will take your time.

“Who You Are When No One is Watching”

Genesis 39:7-12 7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

There is a book by this name written by Bill Hybels. I pulled these four points from that book.

Our integrity and inner values define us more than our outward actions or appearances. four key virtues—courage, discipline, vision, and endurance— I believe these are crucial to living a life of strong character.

Key Themes:

i. Courage.

a. Acts 21:10-14 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

i. 15 years earlier, written about in Acts 11:27-29, Agabus had prophesied famine in Jerusalem.

b. Courage is the foundation for making tough decisions, standing for what is right, and confronting fears. It's not the absence of fear but the ability to act despite fear. In a world full of challenges and temptations, courage helps individuals stay true to their values even when it is difficult.

c. The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The personification of courage. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born into an affluent family in 1906 and became a brilliant theologian and pastor. In the early 1930s, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime began rising to power, Bonhoeffer became increasingly concerned about the direction Germany was taking, especially the influence of the Nazi regime on the German Church. The Nazis were attempting to align Christianity with their ideology, including anti-Semitic policies.

i. Courage to Speak Out- In 1933, shortly after Hitler came to power, Bonhoeffer gave a radio address criticizing the Fuhrer principle—the idea that one man could rule by divine mandate. He argued that placing a human leader above the authority of God was dangerous and wrong. The broadcast was cut off mid-speech by the Nazis, but Bonhoeffer’s boldness in publicly opposing the regime was a courageous act, given the increasing control of the Nazis over Germany.

ii. Founding the Confessing Church - As the Nazis took over the German Church, many church leaders complied with Nazi ideology to avoid persecution. However, Bonhoeffer helped form the Confessing Church, a movement of pastors and Christians who opposed the Nazi regime and refused to allow the state to dictate how they practiced their faith. This was an act of great courage, as it directly defied the authority of both the state and the compromised state church.

iii. Return to Germany and Involvement in Resistance - In 1939, Bonhoeffer had the opportunity to stay in the United States, where he could have remained safe. However, he made the courageous decision to return to Germany, believing that he needed to stand with his fellow Germans and Christians in their darkest hour. Upon returning, Bonhoeffer joined the German resistance against Hitler, even becoming involved in a plot to assassinate the dictator. His involvement in the resistance was motivated by his Christian convictions; he believed that failing to act against the atrocities of the Nazi regime would make him complicit in their evil.

iv. Imprisonment and Execution - In April 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested by the Gestapo for his involvement in the resistance. While in prison, he continued to write letters and theological reflections, many of which were later published. His faith and resolve remained strong, and his letters from prison inspired many with their deep spirituality and commitment to justice.On April 9, 1945, just weeks before the end of World War II, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by hanging in the Flossenbürg concentration camp. His last words before his death reportedly were, "This is the end—for me, the beginning of life."

d. Practical Application:

i. Confrontation - Courage to Confront (in love).

1. It’s easy to confront some things while you are preaching.

2. It’s harder to confront them while you are talking in your study.

a. ILLUSTRATION: Talking to my board about paying us.

ii. Commitment - Courage to Commit.

1. - “Ministry is a marriage not a fling.” Joey Swinnea

e. Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”

ii. Discipline.

a. Discipline is essential for maintaining integrity, following through on commitments, and practicing self-control. Hybels highlights the importance of building habits that foster personal growth and consistency in both public and private life. He stresses that Without discipline, it’s easy to compromise values when no one is watching.

b. Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

i. I love the Life Application Study Bible notes on this text:

1. Life Application Notes – “The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control—we can't obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to his (see Joh_15:4-5). We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?”

2. Life Application Notes “Galatians 5:23 Because the God who sent the law also sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of God's law. A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law far better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart.”

c. Practical Application:

i. Use a calendar (or schedule) to be intentional about your spiritual health.

ii. Be intentional about your priorities.

iii. Vision.

a. Vision provides a sense of direction and purpose. It’s about having a clear understanding of who you want to become and where you want to go. According to Hybels, People with strong character live with intentionality, guided by a vision for their life that is rooted in faith and aligned with their values.

b. Davy Lloyd – “Living Intentionally in Light of Eternity.”

c. -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

d. -Lawrence of Arabia – “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”

e. Practical Application:

i. Understand your calling/burden.

ii. Have a written plan.

1. It will help you to keep the main thing the main thing.

2. Develop a plan for your life that includes short-term (1-3 months) and long term (1-3 years) goals that align with your vision.

a. Example: I want to plant a church in Idaho.

i. (ASK CLASS) What would your short term plan be?

ii. Long term?

iii. Revisit that plan.

iv. Endurance.

a. Endurance is the ability to stay committed over the long haul. Hybels talks about the necessity of perseverance, especially when circumstances are tough or when living out one's values seems thankless or difficult. He underscores that Character is built through enduring trials and remaining steadfast in one’s principles.

b. Practical Application:

HOW TO ENDURE IN THE MINISTRY

i. Cultivate a Heart of Service. by finding joy in doing things that may not bring public recognition. Focus on serving God and others, trusting that He sees your faithfulness.

1. David Lamb – “You’ll know if you have a servant’s heart by the way you respond to being treated like one.”

2. Your heart attitude matters.

a. Check yourself.

b. When frustration hits you, ask yourself why?

ii. Develop a Strong Support Group.

1. You are in Bible school with like minded, similar aged people surrounding you!

2. Cultivate friendships…By being a good friend. By listening, helping…

a. This is where accountability can come in.

iii. Prioritize Rest/Sabbath.

1. Regular days off…Regular vacations... Sabbaticals…

iv. Keep a Long-Term Perspective.

1. It’s a marathon not a sprint.

2. We are doing this for eternities sake.

v. Practice Gratitude.

Who You Are When No One's Watching is a call to live with integrity, we need to develop and maintain character through courage, discipline, vision, and endurance. It’s about becoming the kind of person who remains true to their principles, even when it’s difficult, inconvenient, or when no one else is paying attention.