Life of a Minister
Life of a Minister
Impossibility of the Gospel:
I was at a John Piper conference a couple of weeks ago and John MacArthur was there. He gave a great illustration of absolutely how crazy sounding this whole Gospel message is.
1 Corinth 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…
We are to preach a foolish sounding message. We are to teach and preach to others something that sounds impossible.
1 Corinth 1:26-27
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
We are nothing special; in fact we are the lowliest of people in the world’s eyes.
1 Corinth 4:13
we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things,
We are fools, we are weak, we have no honor, we may be malnutrition, poor and persecuted.
We are scum in the world, we are the scrapings off a dish that is thrown away or thought of as no better than criminals
2 Corinth 4:1-18
Vs. 3 The We are preaching to people that are dying.
Vs. 4 We are to be light but they cannot see the light because they are blind
Vs. 7 We are compared to clay jars
Clay jars were the cheapest, ugliest, and most replaceable possession that a person would own. In fact they used clay jars to carry out the household waste (that includes toilet waste, they did not have any running water)
Vs. 18 We are to look at things that we cannot see.
The Gospel is truly an impossible message for us to convey with the power of the Holy Spirit. We truly must be in humble submission to Christ at all times so that we may be used effectively.
Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we have nothing to offer this world.
The one thing that I have consistently heard from pastors and other people in full time ministry, if there is anything else you can do then ministry do that.
Reality of the Ministry
Galatians 4:19
My children, again I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you.
As ministers we must truly have a compassionate heart for the saved and the unsaved. Your people will know if you are sincere or not.
One of the most difficult parts of ministry is talking to people that are supposed to be in the process of sanctification (new self on, old self off) but yet having to treat them as if they are unsaved (old self is still on).
Illus.
1. I was preaching on Col 3:1a “Since then you have been raised with Christ”. Right after I finished preaching I had a lady approach me and tell me how I could do youth ministry better. She then proceeded to tell me how God would not be happy with the things that I am doing.
2. The transition from old youth room to new youth room: “He won’t get anything that he wants!”
3. I did a game with food outside “I never want to see you wasting food again”
Why do I tell you these things?
False Impression:
I had the impression that going to work at a church was going to be the wonderful beautiful adventure where everyone seeks God and we are all loving and kind to each other. That’s not true, if you think that is true you are mistaken and will encounter a rude awakening one day just as I did.
However, if you are called into the ministry, there is nothing better in the world that you can do. But please make sure you are called for ministry. I just finished reading biography on Charles Simeon. The first 12 years he was at his church, the people did everything they could to get rid of him.
I truly believe there is no greater reward then studying the Word and having the privilege of preaching and teaching others week in and week out. I am so unworthy of such calling. The sins I have committed in the past make me the most unworthy candidate and yet as we read earlier, God wants to use the foolish things in this world to bring glory to his name.
For the Girls
Be a minister’s wife is a wonderful blessing if you are called into the ministry because if you husband is in the ministry so are you.
1. You must share your husband with everyone
2. If he’s a youth pastor there are times he will be doing fun things without you (especially after you have a baby)
3. People will expect you to be and do all things
4. You will hear your husband criticized many times
However
1. Working side by side with him, watching him grow in the faith is a wonderful thing.
2. Seeing the changed lives, watching the hurting become comforted and filled with joy.
Extra pointers
1. Read as much as you can (Doug Fields, “My First Two Years In Youth Ministry”, “Purpose Driven Youth Ministry”
2. Don’t procrastinate, plan out lessons ahead of time, be very organized
3. Develop Leaders, Ministry rises or falls on leadership
4. Never stop studying
5. Remember your personal Bible study, not everything is a lesson for other people.
6. Pursue humility, I truly believe that is the only way we can become more Christ like. The more I realize my old self is dead and that my new self is being renewed in the knowledge and the image of its creator. No other quality describes Christ better than humility.
7. Develop disciplines now, don’t wait!
Q/A: