MAKE DISCIPLES

As pastors we are where we are because someone discipled us. I was a young Christian, when Dale Fisher—our student pastor—took me and two other men, including my brother-in-law, John Crayton, and discipled us.  This was a formative time. In the fifty years that have followed, I have sought to do likewise. This is at the core of the Great Commission our Lord assigned us. Jared Wilson hits this same note:

It is important for pastors to prioritize those more mature in their faith, under the assumption that newer believers can benefit from discipling relationships with those just a bit further along than them. Ideally, anyone who’s been a Christian for more than a couple of years should be capable of working with a new believer to go through a book on sound doctrine or the spiritual disciplines or discuss parts of Scripture. But more mature believers need one further along than themselves to speak into their lives. Typically, those qualified in church leadership are among the few who fit that bill. In your eagerness to shepherd new believers along their spiritual journey, don’t neglect more established Christians who could benefit from your time. They will likely slip through the cracks. 

At the same time, if you can manage it, discipling a new or immature believer can be an extremely rewarding experience for both of you. In your case, it can be refreshing and encouraging to see the faith with new eyes. The eagerness and wonder of new believers can supply great energy for seasoned pastors and add a special relatability and intuition to their preaching. 

In some cases, you may want to meet with more than one man for discipleship at a time, perhaps in twos or threes, or even in a men’s discipleship group. Aside from preaching, this was my favorite part of pastoral ministry. In my last church, I met one-on-one with two men about once a month. One was a more immature believer, and the other was more mature and a potential elder candidate. My approach with each was different. But I also led a men’s discipleship group twice a month on Monday nights. In that venue, we had about twelve men going through book discussions and having confessional conversations. These were my discipling priorities, and the fruit was in these men’s ability both to love their neighbors well and to disciple other men accordingly.” (Gospel-Driven Ministry, p. 152, Kindle edition)

A PROPHETIC MINISTRY

 

Churches are often listed as non-profit organizations. Sadly, many have become “non-prophet” organizations. Can we find a prophet in the pulpit? James 5:10 exhorts, “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.” 

First, a word of clarification. Many times we think of a prophet as a foretelling the future, when the emphasis in Scripture is “forth-telling” the truth. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, we find those who unveiled God’s program for the end of the age.  These were a select few who were gifted for a specific season. Yet, much of what the prophets proclaimed confronted the contemporary spiritual state of the people. The preacher has a prophetic ministry in this sense today—not to reveal new truth, but to apply the already revealed truth to our age. 

Thus, the primary duty of a prophetic ministry is SPEAKING. James said, “My brethren, take the prophets, WHO SPOKE in the name of the Lord, as an example…”[emphasis added]. What good is a preacher who does not proclaim the Word of the Lord?  We are to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help us God!  We are not entertainers, but expositors. 

As prophets of old, we are to speak with exegetical authority, evangelical urgency, emotional fervency, and eschatological clarity. The prophetic ministry has an authority that is exegetical—that is, it is grounded on the Rock of the eternal Word of God and not the shifting sands of current culture. It has an urgency that is evangelical—a matter of life and death, heaven or hell as we call people to decision. It has a fervency which is expressed emotionally—so there is not a dull recitation, but a passionate proclamation.  Further, there will be a clarity resting in the revealed eschatological program of God for the consummation of the age.

In speaking, we must be prepared for SUFFERING. Again, we consider James 5:10,  “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of SUFFERING...”[emphasis added]. You can be a church celebrity if you engagingly tell the people what they want to hear. Yet, a prophetic ministry will not bring applause from most, as it comforts them with sin and calls them to repentance. 

The Word of God, thus clearly preached will be as popular as scales to a fat person or a mirror to an ugly one! Still, there are some who will purpose to get in shape and enhance their appearance because of the truth of the scales and the mirrors. But, whether people accept it or are angered by it, the preacher is to proclaim it. The prophetic preacher must be prepared for suffering, however, because the mob will rise against him.

Finally, James stresses the need for SUSTAINING. “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and PATIENCE,” [emphasis added]. If the preacher embraces his call to prophetic ministry, he has his eye on eternity. It is not short term success that seeks human applause, but the long goal of faithfulness and fruitfulness that secures heaven’s approval that is our focus. This will sustain us in the suffering that comes from our speaking.

It is easy to quit in the face of angry church members. It is more comfortable to back down and trim the truth to suit the desires of the congregation. It is easy to say, “Woe is me,” when the people arise against our message of, “Woe be to you,” and become bitter and harsh. Yet, we can sustain our calling; the prophets did it and God will enable us.

One of my Fruitland professors, the late William W. Willingham used to encourage us with this song, and I hope it will do so for you.

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ. (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

LEADING YOURSELF

In his excellent book, “Gospel-Driven Ministry,” Jared Wilson stresses that pastors are leaders and effective leadership begins with leading ourselves. 

He writes:

You cannot effectively lead others if you do not conscientiously lead yourself. The pastor who is subject to his week, who routinely has ministry “happen” to him, is not evidencing the fruit of self-control or the spirit of discipline. 

Pastors should take inventory of their weekly schedules. Does it reveal that we say yes (or no) to too much? Does it show that we are disorganized people, always playing catch-up? 

Do you devote time not just to study God’s Word, but to read books—theology, spirituality, history, biography, even fiction and poetry? Do you stretch yourself in your reading, working different mental and emotional muscles? Do you go to conferences or access other resources for pastors that might challenge and inspire you? It’s a cliché, of course, but it’s a cliché because it’s true: leaders are learners. 

In your personal relationships, do you stew, grumble, and internally process to the exclusion of other’s needs to talk and listen? Would your wife or closest friends say you’re great with communication? Do you manage your household well? 

The answers to these questions help reveal the quality of your self-leadership. Even more telling is your commitment to the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, fasting, service, and generosity. For the same reason we should dismiss the gluttonous preacher who rails against others’ lack of self-control; the pastor who does not show personal discipline and commitment should not expect others to follow his leadership. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” Paul says (1 Cor 11:1 ESV). To be a good leader, one must be a good follower. To be a gospel-driven leader, one must first be an attentive follower of the heart of Jesus. (pp. 147-148, Kindle edition)

 

 

 

SHEPHERDING THE LEAST OF THE LAMBS

Jesus always had time for those the world considered “the least”—the grieving mother, desperate father, small children, the demonized and ostracized. Are we too busy with church work, that we neglect the work of the church? Weigh these words of Jared Wilson seriously, for it is assured that God takes these matters seriously, and our ministry will be evaluated in eternity accordingly.

TALK AND TEMPER

Preachers are proclaimers. As teachers, we are tasked to talk. Yet, James warns about the trouble with talk and temper for “every man,” and that includes preachers! We are not exempt from these Biblical principles.

BE SWIFT TO LISTEN—“be swift to hear.”  Sometimes those who are called to use their mouths, are not so eager to employ their ears. It has been suggested that the reason God gave us only one mouth and two ears was that we should listen more than we talk. A preacher who has heard from the Master and the members will be more effective in speaking. In so doing, we will not speak over the people’s heads, but straight to their hearts.  He has heard their hopes and heeds their hurts. The good shepherd has spent time with the sheep and gives them a diet suited to their needs.

BE SLOW TO SPEAK—“slow to speak.”  One thing that hinders me in listening is when I am thinking about what I am going to say next instead of carefully hearing what the people are saying. Sometimes, I have foolishly answered prematurely and they were headed a different direction in the discussion—if I had waited before speaking. My words that go from my mouth are like squeezing the toothpaste tube—once they are out of my lips, there is not putting them back. James reminds us of the power of the tongue—to bring healing or hurt, (cf. 3:1-12. 

BE SLOW TO ANGER—“slow to wrath.”  We should all be thankful that the wrath of God is restrained!  If a perfect God chooses to be slow to anger, how much more do I as a sinful, self-centered human need to keep anger in check by the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about how the fruit of the Spirit enables us to be slow to anger: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law,” (Gal.‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬‬). To be full of the Spirit rather than full of myself should be my aim.

This text closes with the reminder, “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  I can recall a few times (thankfully not many) when I have “blown my top” in either a private conversation or public communication—and when the dust settled, it left destruction and debris to try to clean up.