When the People are the Problem
Notes
Transcript
When the People are the Problem
When the People are the Problem
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
Intro.
Ministry… what is it?
How does it operate?
How does it keep going?
WHY does it keep going???
The longer you are saved and the more involved you are in the work of the Lord, you KNOW that ministry is work...
Sometimes I will joke with people who don’t know ministry, and let them know that I don’t have a job, I only show up to church a couple times a week and play solitaire the rest of the time - But - for people who are on the outside looking in, thats their perspective...
but for those who are engaged in ministry… you know that it is a lot of work...
Just stop and think about all that has to happen for everyone to be able to be a part of this service...
The streaming services, the network backbone, the hardware for the switching of camera’s and other input devices...
The recording, and camera controls, the video playback machine -
the service set up -
songs
sermon & scripture slides
Special music
singers
the pianist
the practice...
Offertory
The music practice / mic checks /
all I have to do is download a $.99 cent sermon - but for everyone else, there is a lot that has to be done and prepared for...
Services have to be edited, uploaded, copied and distributed to our shut ins...
but as we work in the ministry...
special music
childrens classes
Adult Connection groups
Youth
Children - Kidz Klub / Kidz Kwire...
Kidtopia… children’s ministries
Ladies ministries
Food bank /
Counseling
Sound / PA
Video / AV
Recording for our outreaches...
Bus Ministry
drivers, captains, workers
Nursery workers
choir
instrumentalist
grounds / maintenance...
School - and let me give a shameless plug out to our teachers - they are doing a fabulous job…The kids in our school have not skipped a beat - it’s different - but our teachers have made themselves available - above and beyond what is expected of them… great job (parents - let me encourage you to let the teachers know how you feel) -
but the ministry is not just activity - it is work...
I tease Bro. Matthew - he has been working around the facilities and with the new building - digging out footings - tease him to protect his hands… :) but he is doing a great job… as are all of our staff!
But it isn’t just work… the ministry is PEOPLE...
and when you have given, and given, and given...
and when you have sacrificed, and sacrificed and sacrificed
… labored and labored and labored… you start realizing that the ministry is people...
and people are a problem… or at least they bring problems...
Right now, for many, your ministry is on hold… and you may not feel like any of this applies, but we are going to assemble again, and when we do, what will our attitudes be towards the people and their problems...
tonight I want to speak to you on the subject...
When the People are the Problem
When the People are the Problem
Pray:
John the baptist has just been beheaded by Herod - and the apostles have been out laboring for the Lord - this is where the story picks up… vs. 29
1. Recognition
29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
the Lord know’s what you are doing for HIM!!!
Our service is not for BBC
Our service and sacrifice is not for the Pastor or staff -
What we do, we do for the Lord -
He listened to them as they told him what they were up to… their labor
RECOGNITION -
2. Rest and Renewal Needed
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
They were so busy, they didn’t take time to take their mandatory - California 15 minute break...
They didn’t take their lunch… they worked right through...
notice - The Lord recognized their labor
The Lord recognized their need for rest and renewal...
vs. 31....
The call for recognition
the call for rest and renewal...
but what happened???
3. Resumed Ministry
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
notice that the only leisure they received was the little bit of time on the boat before ministry began again...
the ministry is about people...
People are not the problem, people are the ministry...
Send them away - vs 36
I’m tired
I’m hungry
I’m weak
I’m weary
I’m worn out...
send them away...
Lord - get rid of them...
You know what we have been doing
you know the work we have done
you know our labor and our effort...
When People Are the Problem...
When is this the reality?
When our attitude is wrong
When we are empty -
you cannot keep laboring in the ministry w/o learning to feed yourself...
church services are not enough
ladies bible studies are not enough
the church of google is not enough...
the 3 min devo is not enough
the 30 second prayer life is not enough...
People are the problem...
is when Jesus is not enough...
God’s word is not refreshing
The Spirit is not replenishing
The problems that people have are real...
The problems of people are draining, discouraging and disheartening somtimes...
But the problems are the problem… the people are not the problems...
Recognition
Rest and renewal
Resumed ministry - it keeps on going...
4. Rowing & Toiling
45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
Between phases of ministry, there always seems to be rowing and toiling...
You do not prepare for service on a platform
You do not prepare for the main event when it is time to serve - it is done between times...
BBC and churches around the nation are in Rowing and Toiling times...
A place of ministry that was once hostile - yet now hospitable...
chapter 7
A world that had rejected but now are receptive
I am unsure of what the reception will be when we are able reunite… but one thing I am positive about - Is that we have been uniquely chosen:
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS...
A time - of economic instability
A time of - health care concern
A time of - frailty and fragileness -
A time where the:
* norm has become abnormal
The for-granted has been recognized
But a time of
* new opportunities,
* new challenges
* new horizons
It’s heart check time....
When we gather once again, it’s going to be different - but the ministry is people....
When people are the problem…
Let’s get our eyes off the problems...
Let’s get our eyes off the issues...
Put our eyes on the Purpose- the mission -
People… let’s reach people…
The Lord saw the people and was moved with compassion -
He did not look at what the problems were - he looked at WHO… THE PEOPLE WERE...