FACING OUR FRUSTRATIONS

I would be the next Billy Graham. My first church was a small country church with mostly senior adults, but from that pulpit would proceed widely published sermons and multitudes would stream down the aisle to give their lives to Christ.  During that three years and six months, before I moved away from that congregation to an even smaller one, no film crews had come and I had not been invited to speak at the State Pastors’ Conference!  That is not to say there were not any visible ministry results, but there were not many.

You may chide me for my honesty. You may say—that is an egotistical approach to ministry. They say, “Confession is good for the soul.”  Yet, it can be bad for the reputation!  

The truth is that frustration in serving God is a fact we must face.  

The sermon you spent so much time on brings yawns instead of amens.  The service you offer is not celebrated, but criticized. You prayed for growth in the flock, both spiritually and numerically and the results have been people leaving because they say they are “not being fed.” Sunday morning’s anticipation is supplanted by Monday morning’s depression. 

I read about the author J. R. R. Tolkien facing his frustration that his dreams of being a celebrated author were not being attained. He expressed those feelings in writing a short story called, “Leaf by Niggle.” This helped me, and I pray it will encourage you.

 

Niggle spends his entire career attempting to create the mural about which he dreamed: a large, robust, colorful, and fruit-bearing tree that would inspire many. But in the end, the artist is only able to eke out a single leaf. After this, he dies. On the train to heaven, Niggle sees a vague yet familiar image in the distance. He asks the conductor to stop the train. He steps off the train and, as he approaches the object, discovers that it is a tree—his tree—complete and more lovely and fruitful than he ever hoped or imagined. And there, right in the middle of the tree, is his contribution—Niggle’s leaf for the whole world to see. 

It is then that Niggle realizes that his little leaf is a part of something grand, a part of a Greater Work by a Greater Artist for the enjoyment and flourishing of a Greater and Everlasting City. 

I’m told that Tolkien wrote “Leaf by Niggle” as a way of processing his feelings of anticlimax about another work that he had spent years of his life creating. He was convinced that this painstaking project would never be seen, enjoyed, or appreciated by anyone. 

The name of this presumably insignificant work was Lord of the Rings. 

Tolkien’s own story, and the short story that proceeded from it, compels us to again consider Paul and Isaiah. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah, saying, “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

[From Weakness to Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities That Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership, by Scott Sauls, pp. 103-104, Kindle edition]

Follow the Lord with faithfulness, even when you do not see fruitfulness. There is more than meets the eye, and only eternity will reveal fully how God was honored by your obedience though none in this world honored you. Some obscure preacher who served in some small places will be crowned and called to come to the front table and dine with the Master in glory!

It may be you.

FACING OUR INSECURITIES

 

It is quite the paradox—I preach about the grace and mercy of God and yet am often haunted by my sin. I glowingly speak of enjoying the presence of God from the pulpit, yet am fearful as a sinful man before a holy God as I lie in bed.  I quote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Phil. 4:13), while despairing that I am a total failure!  Can you identify?  

Scott Sauls can. Here is what he wrote in “From Weakness to Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities That Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership”:

For me, the presence of God is most palpable when the world is quiet. But the presence of God is not always comforting to me. Sometimes being in the presence of God, or just thinking about God in the middle of the night, is disorienting and disruptive. There are few things like the presence of God that remind me that I am not yet what I am meant to be; that I fall short of the mark; that I am more small than I am significant; that, one hundred years from now, my name will be forgotten by the weary world in which I now live. I will die, and the world will move on. Even in my own church, a hundred years from now, its members will have never heard of me. It is quite possible that not even my own great-great-grandchildren will know my name or care what I accomplished. 

Yes, my heart makes noise. My inner life is a paradox of comfort and accusation, inner rest and inner restlessness, enjoyment of God’s grace and despair at my own lack of grace, awareness of my completion in Christ and knowledge of feeling incomplete. Added to this, and related to my calling to lead, you’ll find a feeling of simultaneous momentum and failure. In the middle of the night especially, God is my refuge on one hand, and the darkness is my companion on the other. In the presence of God and in the quiet, most of my anxieties and worries and self-loathing and guilt rise to the surface. And, if I’m being honest, in the middle of the night, the words of Jesus often fail me. Or, more accurately said, my heart fails the words of Jesus: 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30) 

For me, the yoke sometimes feels hard, and the burden sometimes feels heavy. And the single thing that comes between my heart and the easy yoke and the light burden … is me. (p. 80, Kindle edition).

Surely, this is akin to what Asaph experienced and expressed in Psalm 77.  Read it and reflect on it. He states, “My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled,” (vv. 2b-3a). 

But, the psalmist does not stop there. He remembers more.  He not only remembers his own worthlessness in light of God’s worthiness, but the Lord’s work and wonders on behalf of His people of old. “You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph,” (v. 15).

Has there ever been a people so unworthy of the grace of God as the children of Israel? Still, God miraculously brought them out of bondage. They were descendants of the scoundrel Jacob, and still God came to him by night as insecurity drove away sleep for fear of his brother Esau. Still Jacob fought against God!  But, God broke him and then blessed him!  Sauls highlights this in that chapter of his book. 

When you wrestle with God, it is a fight you cannot win. But, if we will confess we are “Jacob,” the rascal, and cling to the Lord as we surrender, He will cripple us, but then crown us as “Israel,” a prince with power with God. If God so loved Jacob, then surely He loves me! If God used that man, then surely He will use me.

THE EVIL OF ENVY

Scott Sauls in his book, “From Weakness to Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities That Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership,” focuses on the evil of envy in chapter 4. 

He quotes from Bertrand Russell:

“Envy consists in seeing things never in themselves, but only in their relations. If you desire glory, you may envy Napoleon, but Napoleon envied Caesar, Caesar envied Alexander, and Alexander, I daresay, envied Hercules, who never existed.”

Russell was an atheist! Yet, a broken clock is right twice a day!

Sauls’ Biblical basis for the chapter, most significantly, points to the attitude of King Saul to his servant David.  

“Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’ Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward. And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, ‘I will pin David to the wall!’ But David escaped his presence twice.” (1 Sam. ‭18‬:‭6‬-‭11‬‬).

Pastors are not immune from this prideful plague. We look at how God is blessing a church down the road. Our conclusion is that they must be compromising and creating a circus atmosphere. We may not literally hurl a spear, but we throw out a slander. 

A pastor can become so consumed by the evil of envy that it can be destructive of his soul, his family, and the very ministry he seeks to elevate—not to exalt God, but himself.

If such a spirit could seduce an incredible angel named Lucifer—who was not content to be all God made him to be, but rather to be as God, and thus become the Devil, we certainly face this prideful peril.

There are no heights we climb (or aspire to) from which we may not fall.  “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall,” (1 Cor. 10:12). Paul recognized the evil of envy, and submitted to God painfully placing a governor on the throttle of his soul, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” (2 Cor.‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬‬). The thorn did the job, so much so that the Apostle would write from his prison cell:

“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” (Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭18‬‬).

Here is the prescription for peace when the sickness of envy invades  the soul:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”…“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians‬ ‭4‬:6-7, ‭11‬-‭13‬‬).

May God protect and preserve us from the evil of envy. I am not strong enough to overcome it, but the Christ who indwells me will enable me, if I cry out to Him!

RECEIVING CRITICISM

I do not like criticism. 

Sometimes it comes from a conceited blowhard—a know-it-all who builds themselves up by tearing others down. Then, there are those compassionate friends whose desire is to help us, though they must hurt us in doing so. 

If the criticism is a poison pill, spit it out!  If it is real medicine, though bitter, swallow it!

James stated this principle, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬‬).

BE SWIFT TO HEAR. Listen—really listen—to what the critic says. Even in the worst criticism—99% slander—the 1% may be true and thus, helpful. Indeed, 100% is sometimes accurate, and like a surgeon’s scalpel it cuts, but then cures, hurts and then heals, if we submit to the operation.  

BE SLOW TO SPEAK.  I struggle at times with listening—really listening—because I am already thinking of responding. Those initial responses may be improper ones, because I have not heard and reflected fully on what the critic was saying. We need to calm down, concentrate, and comprehend fully what is being said as we commit ourselves to correction where needed.

BE SLOW TO WRATH.  Emotions are powerful. Anger that simmers, steams up as rage, and explodes into wrath if we do not rely on the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬‬).  A bulldog can whip a skunk, but is it worth it?

Put yourself in God’s hands by submitting to Him. He hears and will turn the criticism to good, while dealing with the critic as He sees fit. He can handle them without our help.

ON GUARD

“I would never…” (fill in the blank).  We hear of some scandal of a celebrity pastor—an abuse of power, an adulterous relationship, a theft of funds, and such.  Our reaction is to say, “I would never…”.  The one thing we must not do is say, “I would never…”!  David was a man who brought down a giant with a slingshot, yet was brought down himself by a woman he saw bathing.  David was the one who wrote so many psalms that show such an intimacy with God, and yet decided to cover up his sin by basically committing murder.  He is identified as, “a man after [God’s] own heart,” (1 Sam. 13:14), but surrendered his heart to lust.  If David could fall, so can I…and so can you.

Weigh these words: 

“Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed,” said the apostle, “lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:12–13).

Are you a leader who thinks you are not vulnerable? Are you like the person who looks at the acorn and thinks that such a little thing could never become an oak tree, or a forest, or a forest fire? The sin in our hearts is the acorn. It has the power, if not crushed, to germinate, to become a sprout … and then a tree … and then an entire forest. 

This is in part why Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, warned not only against adultery but against lust in the heart. This is also why he warned not only against murder but against a grudge in the heart. Every adulterous fling begins with a “harmless” thought or glance, and every murderous rampage begins with a seemingly insignificant grudge. 

Wherever our hearts are vulnerable, it is essential to crush the acorn before it becomes a sprout, to dig up the sprout before it grows into a tree, to chop down the tree before it becomes a forest, to plow the forest before it takes over more and more land. God said to Cain, “Sin is crouching at your door … You must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). Master the sin, Cain, lest the sin gain mastery over you. Crush the sin, Cain, lest the sin end up crushing you and those around you. 

As the wise Puritan John Owen said, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” (From Weakness to Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities That Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadrship, Scott Sauls, pp. 34-35, Kindle edition).

Let us humbly confess our weakness and cast ourselves upon the Lord for strength.  Let us go to the cross and ask God’s Spirit to crucify the flesh and enable us to walk in reliance on Him. Be on guard. 

IDOLATRY IN MINISTRY

Satan may attack us overtly, as a roaring lion seeking to devour us.  Peter warns us of that, (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8).  Yet, at other times, he comes as a serpent and assails us subtly.  He is so cunning, (cf. Gen. 3:1a). The devil will take something meant for good to be used for God’s glory and entice us to seeking our own glory.  It becomes a substitute for God—and that is idolatry.  There can be idolatry in ministry.  Scott Saul’s points this out in his book, “From Weakness to Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities That Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership.”  He warns:

If you find your happiness in yourself and your own achievements, you’re bound to be disappointed. Consider how often you’ve let yourself down, for one thing. For another—well, C. S. Lewis was onto something when he said:

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you will get neither.

I learned this the hard way when, for a season, I allowed ministry in a “notable” city among “notable” people to become an idol. I now see how foolish this thinking was. I see how right Francis Schaeffer was when he said that there are no little places and no little people. If Jesus would choose the small, obscure town of Bethlehem as his birthplace and the better-known (but only because of its bad reputation) town of Nazareth—“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)—as his temporal home, and if he could choose to build his kingdom chiefly through people who were not wise or powerful or of noble birth (1 Corinthians 1:26), how dare I act or think or believe otherwise as I minister in his name! (p. 26, Kindle edition). 

May we never seek the spotlight, but strive to shine it upon the only One worthy—our great God and His Son, Jesus Christ! 

A MASTERPIECE OF MINISTRY

Before an artist paints a picture on the canvas, he creates it in his mind. The shape of a sculpture takes form in the sculptor’s thoughts, before a hammer and chisel go to work in his hands. In the same way, God inspires a vision in the hearts of the pastors and the people to guide the church into the future. God wants to paint a masterpiece of ministry in His church. He wants the picture to form in our minds to move us forward together in achieving of the vision.

How do we get such a vision? How can we be sure that it is not just something we’ve dreamed up or borrowed from some other church, but is God’s will for us? What is required for a masterpiece of ministry? Nehemiah has lessons for us—timeless truths that still apply today.

A masterpiece of ministry is determined in part by THE NEED AROUND US.

“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.’ ”  ‬‬(Neh. 1:1-3).

This is THE SITUATION REQUIRING VISION. The people of God were in a bad way. The situation was bleak. God often shows us a need as the initial step in giving us a vision to meet that need. Although this principle transcends time and space, its application will be in time and space—a universal truth that has a local application.

What do I mean by that?

There is a reason God has placed a local church in a particular place. Its ministry is to be specific to the strategic opportunity presented in that spot of soil.

What needs do we see around our church field?

John Wesley said, “I look on all the world as my parish.” Indeed, the church’s mission involves a global mandate, but in reaching to the uttermost parts of the earth, we must not shirk our Jerusalem and Judea and shrink back from our Samaria near by. What particular needs are in your church community, crying out to be addressed? Your church family does not live at its current address by accident.

A masterpiece of ministry is inspired by THE GOD ABOVE US.

“So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: ‘I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘ “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.” ’ Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.’ For I was the king’s cupbearer.” ‬‬ (Neh. 1:4-11).

He is THE SOURCE INSPIRING VISION. Our tendency, oftentimes, when faced with a need, is to run away from it, because we think the need is too great, or we run out and try to fix it, thinking we can handle it. We should do neither, but instead run to God and hear from Him.

There are many things we can do after we pray, but nothing until we pray. The vision that God has for His church is not a product of our best reasoning or the expectation of others—rather, it comes down from above. Acts 16:6-10 gives us an example:

“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Now, the vision we have for what God is calling us to do will not likely be so dramatic in its delivery as that, nevertheless, it will be the Holy Spirit guiding us through Scripture, summoning us to meet the need we have found in His direction and power.

Then, the masterpiece of ministry develops by THE PASSION WITHIN US.

“And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.’ So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.’ Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), ‘How long will your journey be? And when will you return?’ So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Furthermore I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.’ And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.” ‬‬ (Neh. 2:1-8).

This is THE PASSION SUSTAINING VISION. What was in Nehemiah’s heart registered on his face. Even though it was punishable by death for a cupbearer to enter the king’s presence with a sad countenance, he just couldn’t help it. Not only did he disclose the need to the king, but he boldly asked for help to do the job.

He took a deep breath—a whispered prayer—and then he “spilled the beans.” Not for a moment did he waver. There was a fire in his soul—a passion for his God and his people that inspired Nehemiah.

If we are ever going to achieve what God has for us, it will be that a sacred fire burns within. We can’t just go through the motions. It can’t be business as usual. We can’t play church. The Spirit of God must stir us. He will, if we will but open the door and make Him welcome!

Creating a masterpiece of ministry requires a passion fueled by the needs of people and inspired by a vision from God because we will most certainly engage THE ENEMY AGAINST US.

“Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.” (Neh. 2:9-10).

This is THE PROBLEM FACING VISION. Here we have the first, but not the last time, these two are found opposing the work of God. One way we can know we are moving forward in God’s will is that we run head on into the devil! When heaven is at work that’s when it may seem all hell breaks loose.

Satan knows there is only one force that can defeat him, only one power on earth that can set those free whom he holds in fetters of sin, dragging them down to hell. That power is the Lord’s army—the militant, triumphant church of the living God! We may wrongly conclude when facing problems that we are out of God’s will. The fact is that often confirms it. Every God-inspired vision is met with significant opposition.

Let us be cautious about running roughshod over church members who may be slower to catch the vision than those in leadership—being out in front and bringing people along are essential to what leaders do. Just because someone has questions and is wrestling with doubt doesn’t mean we should view them as “tools of Satan.” Yet, having said that—we must move forward in the face of opposition graciously, yet firmly, if the need is there, God’s Word aligns with the way to meet that need, and the Lord has built a passion in us to do so.

Let me expand on that by noting how a masterpiece of ministry comes to the canvas of our community via THE INVESTIGATION BY US.

“So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.” (Neh. 2:11-16).

This is THE LEADERSHIP FORMING VISION. The vision first forms in the heart of one man who will lead the way: Nehemiah. He doesn’t consult with anyone else at first, for he has already heard from God. Instead, Nehemiah investigates the task at hand. He is forming a plan for how to get the job done. Once he gets direction, then he is going to influence some others who will help lead the effort.

John Maxwell has said—and every church leader needs to recognize—“Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Churches can be crippled by failed leadership. “A leader knows the way, shows the way and goes the way,” (Maxwell). He or she will investigate the opportunities, know the resources, and come up with an action plan. He will then inspire others to follow. Getting “buy-in” from the people who will do the work is crucial at this juncture.

A masterpiece of ministry is painted by THE DEDICATION OF US.

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.’ And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?’ So I answered them, and said to them, ‘The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.’ ” ‬‬ (Neh. 2:17-20).

There must be THE LAITY EMBRACING VISION. Nehemiah challenges the people with the vision of building the walls of Jerusalem. They respond by dedicating themselves to the work. Despite the continued negativity of a few, they positively stated their belief in God and dedication to the vision’s fulfillment.

What do we see happening at our church when “the hand of God” is upon us? Can you see a worship experience where a church building is packed, as the people gather in an atmosphere saturated with the presence of God—a place of exuberant praise? Can you picture an evangelistic thrust that brings people to faith in Jesus and then brings them forward every service to confess their new faith? Could you visualize a fellowship that is so warm and winsome that deep friendships are formed that offer encouragement in overflowing measure? Do you dream of a day when people’s lives are genuinely transformed by the Word of God—disciples who mature and have an impact on their home and workplace and school? Have you imagined more people discovering and developing and deploying their spiritual gifts—a breadth and depth of leadership that moves the church forward as member after member becomes a minister? Do you dare conceive of a church where failing marriages are restored and struggling marriages are strengthened—where men become the spiritual leaders of their home and church, so that a generation of children and youth grow up to impact their world as new missionaries and pastors and church leaders?

Then, the church we attend will be a global impact church! That is the indisputable Great Commission our Lord has given and sent the Spirit to enable us to fulfill.

You might scoff and call me a dreamer. That’s okay. Nehemiah was, and look at his statement of faith that became fulfilled to the glory of God, “The God of heaven Himself is the One who will prosper us.”

Amen?

Amen!

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was early in my ministry from a mentor, Dale Fisher.  He told me, “God knows where you are and how to get you where He wants you to be.”  Now, looking back over a half-century of preaching, I can see the reality of that.  If you are going to systematically preach through books of the Bible, it will require you to put down roots—to bloom where you are planted.  It enables you to love those people in your congregation—to get to know them and their needs—and to speak to them directly from the Word.  You feed those sheep rather than looking for a larger flock in greener pastures.  I never went to a church that I viewed as a stepping stone to get somewhere else.  I only left when compelled by God and with a tearful farewell.  Here are some thoughts on this from, “The Whole Counsel of God”:

Closely related to pride is jealousy, and this can be born out of a dissatisfaction with the place where God has called us. Instead of faithfully and thankfully laboring away at preaching through the Bible for a smallish congregation in a smallish town, we can instead look to the capital cities, with their megachurches and high-profile pastors, and think about how we could preach ourselves into contention for a role alongside them. In doing this, we are forgetting that God has us exactly where he wants us and that he is as pleased with us doing our work of feeding our particular flock the fullness of his word as he is with the megachurch pastor proclaiming the gospel to thousands each week. In fact, if we were not preaching the word of God to the members of our flock, they might miss out on it, and so what we are doing is essential in God’s economy. God has marked out some to be famous stadium preachers, so we can peacefully entrust that task to them. He has entrusted others of us with the various flocks and missions we have, so that is where we must concentrate our efforts. (Kindle edition, location 3038).

I realize there are some situations that make it impossible to have a long tenure. We may be fired!  It happens. God may direct us to another place. Yet, we should seek to bloom where we are planted. 

 

 

THE RELEVANCE OF “THE REFORMED PASTOR”

Many years ago I got hold of “The Reformed Pastor,” by Richard Baxter. It was a little paperback that had a powerful impact on me. Pastor, do not read it, unless you want to be brought under conviction—it did that to me!  Here was an old Puritan pastor whose ministry was so impactful to the flock he shepherded. His writing is merely theoretical, but for him these truths were transformational. I was reminded of them as I read an article by Jonathan Threlfall called “Richard Baxter’s Advice to Pastors.”  He summarizes some of the counsel Baxter presented in his book and fleshed out in his ministry. I am providing the link in hope you will read it and take it to heart. My prayer is that you will get hold of the book and that the book will then get hold of you!  Read the article here: https://www.9marks.org/article/richard-baxters-advice-to-pastors

THE PRIORITY OF PRIVATE PRAYER AS A PREACHER

The preacher must give priority to private prayer.  The anointing of God cannot be worked up but must be prayed down  It is not a matter of performance as an actor on a stage, but preaching is an outward expression of the Word of God springing from the inward unction of the work of God.  Spurgeon underscores the essentiality of speaking with God first before we seek to speak to men.  

“If you as ministers are not very prayerful, you are much to be pitied. If, in the future, you shall be called to sustain pastorates, large or small, if you become lax in secret devotion, not only will you need to be pitied, but your people also; and, in addition to that, you shall be blamed, and the day cometh in which you shall be ashamed and confounded.

It may scarcely be needful to commend to you the sweet uses of private devotion, and yet I cannot forbear. To you, as the ambassadors of God, the mercy-seat has a virtue beyond all estimate; the more familiar you are with the court of heaven the better shall you discharge your heavenly trust.

Among all the formative influences which go to make up a man honored of God in the ministry, I know of none more mighty than his own familiarity with the mercy-seat. All that a college course can do, for a student is coarse and external compared with the spiritual and delicate refinement obtained by communion with God. While the unformed minister is revolving upon the wheel of preparation, prayer is the tool of the great potter by which he molds the vessel. All our libraries and studies are mere emptiness compared with our closets. We grow, we wax mighty, we prevail in private-prayer.” (Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, pp. 42-43, Kindle edition)  

 

 

DEMONSTRATION OF OUR DECLARATION

“Practice what you preach.” How many times have you heard that? Saying the way we should live through our communication is a lot easier than showing how we should live by our conduct. Yet, we are disqualified as hypocrites if our walk does not exemplify our talk. People need to see a sermon as well as hear one. The Apostle Paul writes to a young pastor, Timothy, and underscores this truth, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Tim.‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). You might panic at the thought of standing in front of a crowd and preaching a sermon, but I will tell you that after fifty years of ministry, it is more challenging to flesh out the message in daily living.  Yet, this is demanded, no matter how difficult.

“Nearly every pastor we know can give examples of once godly friends who went through theological training with them or worked in churches nearby, but who are no longer in ministry (or, in some cases, not even in the faith) because of sins of a moral or relational kind. Guarding our lives and our teaching is therefore a constant need, one that is captured in the apostle’s advice to Timothy: 

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim. 4:15–16) 

The four imperatives are important: (1) practice these things, (2) immerse yourself in them, (3) keep a close watch, and (4) persist. Basically, Paul is exhorting Timothy to focus on the teachings and duties that Paul has laid out in the previous verses, to take care of his conduct and his teaching. Such exhortations make clear that guarding our lives and our teaching is a constant need that requires vigilance and focus. This can be helped by meeting with others to urge one another on and to keep one another accountable. It might even mean setting rigid boundaries for ourselves that help us avoid drifting in these areas. God’s leaders are to be people who are growing in submission to Scripture. Their daily lives are to reflect and exemplify the Scriptures that they teach. We are to be those with whom there is no hint or appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:21–22).” (Patrick, The Whole Counsel of God, location 2700-2720, Kindle edition)

May God help me and every messenger of God, to be a man of God!

FEEDING YOUR SOUL TO FEED THE SHEEP

Every man of God is a student of the Word of God. A daily feeding of our soul is needed that we might be equipped to feed and lead the flock. It is not enough to study to preach a sermon, but to open God’s Book with an open heart to hear from the Lord. Only as we grow can we elevate others. As I master the contents of Divine Truth, the Spirit uses it to master the communicator by Divine Truth.

The most important thing that I have ever since coming to follow Christ is to regularly ingest and digest “the whole counsel of God.”  Morning by morning has found me going through all the Bible in view of prayerfully applying the Scripture in my daily life. Though I certainly have intentionally focused on a portion of the Word as I prepared to preach and teach, I have found that having an overview of all the Bible has helped me proclaim the truth out of the overflow of the Spirit’s instruction to me. 

“The need is for a rigorous and widespread personal Bible-reading program that is separate from your preparation for the sermon. Such reading enriches your knowledge and understanding of Scripture, and helps you integrate that knowledge with your ministry of the word. It also enriches your biblical, systematic, and gospel theology, and enables you to adequately and intelligently critique the commentators that you read.” (Tim Patrick, The Whole Counsel of God, location 2680, Kindle edition). 

Context is crucial in correctly communicating Biblical content. Of course, there is the immediate context of the paragraph and chapter, but also of the particular book as a whole. But, to get it right goes beyond to the context of the testament and indeed the context of all the Bible. I will not convey the message correctly, unless I have studied the Word comprehensively.

THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE

Because God’s Word is God-breathed, it is sufficient to address every matter that may arise in church life. Paul puts it, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim.‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬‬). So, I have practiced, and have advocated to other pastors, preaching through books of the Bible. The Holy Spirit knows in advance the needs that will arise in the life of the church over the course of the year. When we prayerfully prepare such a sermon series, we will find it amazing how the text for that Lord’s Day had the needful application for that particular season in the life of the church.

However, though it does not surprise God, there will be occasional times in the life of the church that shock us—and the church faces a crisis that demands to be addressed. We should not be so rigid—should I say stubborn—to say that we ought never depart from the plan for one morning worship service. Tim Patrick, in his book, “The Whole Counsel of God,” speaks to this.  

“As much as we would love it if our churches always ran like clockwork, they never do. Sometimes, a congregation is rocked by a significant event that demands a response, and sometimes that response means that we need to change our best-laid plans. These types of events might be internal to the church: perhaps one of our young people is involved in a serious car accident, one of our leaders is caught in an extramarital affair, or one of our Bible study groups openly challenges the pastor’s authority. We do not much like to think about these sorts of things, as they are the worst parts of church life, but, sadly, in a fallen world, they do happen from time to time. Only naive church leaders would think that they could altogether avoid such situations as they tend the people of God. 

Some big events might be external to the congregation. These could include a natural disaster, such as a wildfire or flood in the local area; a controversial piece of legislation passing into law; or even something as monumental as the coordinated terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in the United States.” (Location 2566, Kindle edition)

Indeed, when September 11 happened, I recall our church building full of people looking to me to share a Word from God about this event—which I did. I would return to the preaching calendar and make adjustments by the next week. This will not happen often, but it will sometimes be needed. Yet, even then, a solid exposition of a text will be vital. Scripture is sufficient.

THE WORK OF A WATCHMAN

There are a number of metaphors used to describe the role of the preacher. He is a shepherd who leads and feeds the flock of God. He is an overseer who is responsible to guide and guard the servants of God in their labor. He is an elder who is mature in faith and has wisdom to share and a life to emulate, as he fathers the family of God. He is a farmer who casts the seed, cultivates the soil, and conserves the harvest. The preacher is a builder who makes sure the church is built on a solid foundation of faith in Christ and is cemented together in love, built in such a way as to display the glory of God who indwells them.

There is a common thread that runs through each of these—the man of God has oversight of God’s people. He watches over the flock, the work, the family, the field, and the house of God.

He is a watchman on the wall.

That is the way God describes the work assigned to the prophet Ezekiel, and as such is instructive for those who preach the Word of God to the people of God today. Twice, God stresses His servant’s grave accountability to warn the people as he watches over their souls—here in chapter three and again in chapter thirty three of the book that bears the prophet’s name. While all of us have a work to do for the Lord, we are given different assignments. How can one know if he is designated for the ministry of the Word, gifted and set apart for this duty? Not all are, but some are—I am and you might be.

Let’s examine Ezekiel’s selection to this special service. While the specifics of his experience are not likely to be identical with ours, there are general principles that do apply to each preacher.

He is CALLED, (1:1-2:4).

“In the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], on the fifth [day] of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God. On the fifth [day] of the month-it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile—the word of the Lord came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. And the Lord's hand was on him there.” (1:1-3)

The preacher has a divine calling. He knows what he must do and has no doubt that is his assignment. It is not of his choice, but God’s. Ezekiel did not decide on being a prophet as one of several vocational options. It was God’s call.

Ezekiel’s call was dramatic—a vision of God’s glory, an experience of celestial beings, an audible voice speaking to him. Those were things unique to Ezekiel’s call. But the main point and one that is consistent throughout the Scripture is that it is an unmistakable call, confirmed by God.

Moses had the experience of the burning bush. David had the duty of caring for sheep as a boy and Samuel anointed him to shepherd God’s flock. Isaiah saw the Lord and heard His commission while worshipping in the Temple. Jesus came to Peter, James and John and summoned them to follow Him. Paul was knocked to his feet by Christ, the Light of the World, and raised up to preach the light of the Word.

God still calls. It is not for me to say how God will speak to you, but He will! Sometimes it is a sudden summons, as one flips a light switch, and for others a gradual dawning of understanding as a sunrise. My call was more like the latter. Irrespective of the unique manifestations, there is the universal mandate—the call of God is clear—like the sounding of a trumpet.

His hand rested on Ezekiel and His hand will rest on you, if He has reached out for you to be a watchman. You have this awareness of an unseen hand that is placed on you—the call of God to preach the Word. It isn’t the supernatural signs that indicate the call, but the spiritual sense that is undeniable.

The call is CONFIRMED (2:5-6).

“Whether they listen or refuse [to listen]—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words, though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don't be afraid of their words or be discouraged by [the look on] their faces, for they are a rebellious house.” (2:5-6)

Not only would Ezekiel know that he had been set apart as a watchman, but the people would know. His message and his manner would communicate his call and they would confirm it. They might not want to hear what he had to say, and refuse to accept it, but in their heart of hearts they would know he had been sent by God. When they looked on the wall, they saw a watchman. They recognized it was Ezekiel.

We note this confirmation by God’s people throughout the Sacred Volume. The nation of Israel welcomes Moses as their deliverer. The people of God submit to David as their King. The sons of the prophets affirmed that the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha, as the man of God. James and the other Apostles affirmed the Lord’s call to Paul. The church laid hands on men like Barnabas and Timothy, expressing their conviction of God’s selection for this ministry. This was the attestation of the people of God to the designation of the preacher by God.

I was not called by the church. But, when I announced my call, it was affirmed by them. Several came to me and said how they had seen God at work in me. They commended me to the ministry. They licensed me to preach and later I was ordained as a pastor, then installed by the vote of the congregation after being thoroughly examined as to my call. This confirmation has continued again and again as I have served the Lord through the years.

I have heard those who say they are called to preach, and after listening to them it was obvious they missed something somewhere! I have watched some who said they had this call, but their lifestyle denied it, and eventually moral failure or doctrinal error—sometimes both—manifested the sham.

The one called and confirmed has a work that is CONSUMING (2:7-3:3).

“ ‘And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.’ So I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and there was a written scroll in it.” (2:8-9)

“He said to me: ‘Son of man, eat what you find [here]. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.

‘Son of man,’ he said to me, ‘eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.’ So I ate [it], and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” (3:1-2)

You cannot speak for God unless God has spoken to you. The watchman had a warning to share, and that word had been given to him by God. His authority would be divine, for the source of his message would originate in heaven. He is not like the boy who cried, “Wolf!” when there was none.

The preacher is a man who hungers for truth and feeds his own soul on the sweetness of Scripture. He consumes it as the sustenance of his spiritual vitality and is then consumed with sharing it as his Scriptural ministry. Unless you are constrained to get alone with God and meet Him in His Book, then you are not suited to go before men on His behalf. People don’t need your opinions—they need God’s Word.

Moses alone in the desert hears from God. David alone in the fields with his father’s sheep communes with God, preparing his life work and message. Isaiah is alone in the Temple when God appears to Him. John the Baptist is alone in the wilderness before his public ministry begins. Paul went away into the isolation of Arabia at the outset of his missionary work. We must hear from God in order to speak for God.

There are many demands on the pastor. There are several responsibilities assigned him. But, preeminent over all is prayer and the ministry of the Word. Not even good things must detract from the main thing (see Acts 6:1ff). If he is not responsible in His speaking, then he will never be succeeding. He cannot speak publicly, if he does not spend time with God privately.

Called, confirmed, consuming and the preacher is COMMIITTED (3:4-11).

“But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted. Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.

I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don't be afraid of them or discouraged by [the look on] their faces, even though they are a rebellious house.’ Next He said to me: ‘Son of man, listen carefully to all My words that I speak to you and take [them] to heart.

Go to your people, the exiles, and speak to them. Tell them, “This is what the Lord God says,” whether they listen or refuse [to listen].’” (3:7-11)

The preacher must be courageous. His convictions must be solid and though he will be tempted to quit, he resists the urge to run and keeps sounding the alarm. He longs for the people to heed his voice. But, even if they do not, he knows that he will answer to God for staying at his post.

It was a hard-headed congregation that Ezekiel would serve. But, God assured him he would make his head harder than theirs! Every preacher must have a hard head of conviction and a soft heart of compassion. If he gets those reversed, he will be a washout rather than a watchman.

A soft-headed preacher who is squishy in his convictions, will soon compromise the truth. A hard-hearted preacher will drive the sheep and not lead them. He will hurt them and not heal them. His disposition will undermine His declaration. The preacher needs to remember that God is watching the watchman. He wants hard-headed, soft-hearted men.

Called, confirmed, consuming, committed and COMPELLED—that is the preacher of the Word (3:12-4:17)

“Now at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.’” (3:16-17)

Ezekiel was compelled to speak. He was literally borne away by the Spirit (3:12-15) and bound up in his service (4:1-17). The man of God was carried, captivated—and thus, compelled.

Why would a man preach the Word? Because he cannot do anything else!

Now, don’t read that as a lack of capacity for other vocations. In fact, most are engaged in other lines of secular work—and rather successful in it—when they are called to spiritual service. Tending sheep and mending nets—God’s call doesn’t come to the lazy but comes to the laboring.

But, despite the ability to do other things, the man of God has been set on the wall, given an assignment by God—and is compelled under heaven’s authority to do his job. His call is clear. His call has been confirmed. He is consumed with it and committed to it. Roll all this together and it equals—compulsion.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel were contemporaries. Jeremiah’s congregation was the Jews in Jerusalem and Ezekiel’s was those in Babylon. Both men had difficult duty and were tempted to give up, but they did not, because they could not. There was a fire in their soul that could not be extinguished—a compelling force that had to be released. A preacher must preach! If you can’t do anything else, then do it! God has called you. This is the work of the watchman.

Without Christ, there is no salvation. Run to Him and be saved. Repent of your sins and receive Him as your Lord. Trust Him to make you a new person. Flee the wrath to come.

Oh, Christian! Are you living outside the will of God? Your Father will correct you. His discipline is done in love, but may be painful—for you and for others. Confess your sin. Call out for mercy. Commit your way to His direction.

The blood is off my hands. I pray it will be on your heart, and not on your head. I have sounded the warning, will you heed it?

“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of everyone's blood…” (Acts 20:26)

ATTENTION! THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD!

 

Tim Patrick writes this in “The Whole Counsel of God”:

“One part of the service that deserves particular comment is the up-front reading of the Bible. Imagine the situation. We’ve made sure that the ministry of the word is central and the meeting has been planned meticulously. In the middle of the meeting, the reader of our Bible passage steps up to the lectern. The microphone crackles while he fiddles with it. He begins to read with a deadly serious look on his face. His bespectacled eyes set themselves firmly on the small print of his personal Bible, which is different from the version both in the pews and on the data projector screen. He begins to read the long but exciting text of 1 Samuel 17, concerning David and Goliath. The reading is monotone, dull, sonorous. Eventually he announces the end and sits down, to the relief of those who are still trying to keep awake and keep their eyes on their own Bibles. Your planning has been scuttled at the last possible moment by poor execution of one of the key things the Bible has urged you not to neglect: the public reading of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13).” (Location 2375-2376, Kindle edition)

If there is anything that grinds my gears in a worship service, it is this! Sometimes we may blame a layman that we have entrusted with this sacred duty, but most often it is the preacher I have heard read and he does it like it is a drudgery rather than a delight—something that is required but nothing rewarding. The perception I get is that this is just something he has to get through, and I am already wondering if I will react the same way to his sermon!

There is really no excuse. It is one of the things that I have given attention to as I have stood behind that sacred desk with the precious Word of God in my hands. To show reverence for the Bible, I ask the audience to turn there and stand in respect as I read it. Across the years, I have sought to read it with honor and with the sincerity and intensity that the Scriptures merit. If it is an Old Testament story, I want to convey the drama it contains. Should it be a Gospel account of Jesus, I want the congregation to feel as though they are traveling back in time, gathered with the crowd, watching and listening to Christ, and when a passage from Paul or Peter is read, I want the people to be gripped by it. 

This is the Word of God!  Here is the commandment: “Till I come, give attention to reading,” (1 Tim. 4:13). It is not optional!

THE PRIMACY OF PREACHING

In the book, “The Whole Counsel of God,” the author, Tim Patrick, makes the point in chapter nine that the Word of God is to be central in worship. Practicing what he is preaching, he grounds this exhortation in Scripture, underscoring Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The foundation of doctrine—teaching, instruction, exhortation, application—was central to the church as the apostles gathered the people for worship. From that flowed fellowship with one another, as truths they held in common united them, and inspired them in obedience to Christ’s command to partake of the Lord’s Supper and directed them in their prayers. See Patrick’s diagram shared below.

Patrick points out that the church had abandoned preaching—and no wonder it plunged into heresy. Luther ignited the Protestant Reformation by the truth of Scripture and demanded that preaching be restored to the worship of the church.

In this chapter, the author quotes Kent Hughes,

“God’s word must infuse everything. The careful reading of the word must be central. Hymns and songs must be word-saturated. Prayers must be biblically informed, redolent with biblical reality—often reflecting the very language and structure of Scripture. The preaching of the Word of God must be the Word of God. Such service requires principled, prayerful thought and hard work . . . it must happen in our hearts. Corporate worship must be word-centered if it is to glorify God as it ought.” (Worship by the Book, D. A. Carson ed., p. 159).

Paul commanded, 

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Tim.‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬‬).

His final exhortation to his protege was to, “Preach the Word!” (2 Tim. 4:2a). Let us make sure that when we gather for worship that there is the primacy of preaching. It is why our pulpits are not off to the side, but centrally located. The focus is on the Word of God—not the human instrument, but the Divine message—and all flows from that.

MAPPING OUT YOUR MESSAGES

 When preaching through books of the Bible, first determine the overall message of that book, then look to how the book naturally divides. You can start with chapters and look at topics from the headings, but remember that chapters are constructed typically to give a more uniform reading pattern, and sometimes break up the particular theme and topic. Referring to study Bibles and commentaries in preparing the sermon series will help with this. Typically, they give an overall outline of the book. Then, after breaking them down, take the calendar and insert the individual messages as you determine the title, text, and thrust for each sermon. Here is an example of part of the sermon calendar I worked up as I preached through Luke’s Gospel.

FEED THE FLOCK

In preaching through books of the Bible, we must realize that our aim is not to just get through a book, but to get through to the people. We are not just giving out Scriptural information, but aiming for spiritual transformation.  In feeding the flock, the sheep need a well-balanced diet.  They may be lacking in a particular area, where a weakness needs to be addressed.  How can a good shepherd know unless he is regularly among the sheep in ministering to them.  His pastoral care informs his preaching choice.  Weigh these words:  

“A good preacher should know the flock intimately and have a consciousness of both their immediate circumstances as well as their characterizing values, idols, strengths, and challenges. For example, a church made up of people who are very confident in their salvation as a result of a robust understanding of justification, but who at the same time lack care for one another, might need to hear a series on James. On the other side, a congregation that has a very legalistic approach to being Christian might need to consider Galatians or Romans. 

Just as each week’s sermon ought to be preached with an awareness of these things, so too should the entire preaching program be shaped with them in mind. This highlights for us again that the work of feeding Jesus’s lambs with his word is intensely pastoral and missional, and that it requires the local overseer to be walking closely and sharing life with his people. An internet preacher cannot do this for a congregation, and an internet preaching plan cannot serve them well either.” (The Whole Counsel of God, Tim Patrick and Andrew Reid, Kindle edition, location 791). 

PLANNING YOUR PREACHING

After my conversion to Christ, I began to devour Biblical preaching.  It fed my soul and fueled my spiritual growth. Most every sermon I heard was from great expositors: Stephen Olford and James Boice on Sunday morning and Stuart Briscoe on Sunday afternoon. Additionally, I began to listen to and read books by Bible preachers like W. A. Criswell and John MacArthur.  My wife’s brother, Jim Crayton, was such a solid preacher who influenced me when I was called into the ministry.  

I knew that was the kind of preacher I wanted to be. I just didn’t know how.  So, I enrolled at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute as it was called before becoming a college.  There I sat under the instruction of the late Kenneth Ridings who inspired me to not only preach through books of the Bible, but informed me on the method of doing so.  

For nearly fifty years that was my pattern as I pastored churches. In my first church, Cane River, in Burnsville, I preached through the book of Genesis on Sunday evening, and was working my way through the Gospels on Sunday mornings. My intention was to systematically preach through the entire Bible. Serving there for three and one-half years did not allow me the time to finish!  Yet in the churches I served after that, we also had a Wednesday night service that gave me additional opportunities. In four churches—during which my longest tenure was six and one-half years—I preached through numerous books of the Bible.  Coming to Pole Creek, God privileged me to pastor those dear folk for twenty five years.  My planning for my preaching became much more intentional.

By fall, I would go away for several days all by myself.  It was just the Lord, me, and my Bible.  I had been thinking about what the needs of the church were currently and what the next book of the Bible would be helpful in addressing where we were spiritually.  Was our worship lagging? Maybe I ought to preach from Psalms.  Had our evangelistic zeal waned? God might be leading me to preach though Acts.  Was there some conflict and moral issues needing to be confronted? 1 Corinthians would address those.  Did we need a better understanding of how the church needs to function?  1 and 2 Timothy would hit that head on.  So, prayerfully I would determine the book of the Bible I would preach through each year—or several books, if they were shorter—and I would over the course of a few days, map out the direction of my preaching for the next calendar year.  I would lay out the title, text, and thrust of each message.  Then, I would share it with our worship leaders, so that the services would be planned around that day’s theme—especially music that reinforced the message.  There were times that I even suggested songs that enhanced the exposition.

God blessed this. I could have stayed and followed that pattern on and on until the Lord called me home.  The very practice taught the congregation to reverence God’s Word and the relevance of His Book, as well as what truths the individual sermons brought to them.

Here is how Tim Patrick states it in his book, “The Whole Counsel of God.”

For many of us who are preachers, it may be a good discipline to set aside something like a week or even half a week each year just to plan our preaching programs. Perhaps this could even be a time when we get out of our normal routines altogether so we can really focus on this critical high-level work. A few days away from the office, or at least with regular meetings cancelled and regular lines of communication closed, can make a significant difference to doing good, deep work rather than just quickly cobbling something together without properly thinking and praying through it all. It is always hard to carve out this time, because there is never a shortage of work to do in pastoral ministry, but we would argue that if pastoral ministry is grounded in good ministry of the word, planning this ministry deserves time and attention. Just because it is possible to get by without doing this does not mean that is acceptable or good in the long run. It may also be possible to get by in Christian ministry without visiting church members or without much prayer. But that does not mean either of these practices is faithful or healthy. We give time to the things we value, and if we preachers value our people and the whole Bible, we ought to give time to preparing a balanced diet. (Location 1567, Kindle edition).

PREACHING AND THE GREAT COMMISSION

When Jesus prepared to leave this world, He left the responsibility of continuing His work through the body of Christ—the church, (cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Lk. 24:47-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8) .  It involves on one hand, evangelizing, as we are Gospel heralds calling sinners to salvation. Then, as people believe the Gospel and are saved we are to commanded to the task of “teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that I have commanded you,” (Matt. 28:20, emphasis added). 

While all believers are to participate in that mission, pastors are called to model it to the congregation.  For example, Timothy was charged, “Preach the word!” (2 Tim. 4:2), that is to declare “the whole counsel of God,” (Acts 20:27). It is to be done comprehensively.  “Be ready in season and out of season,” (2 Tim. 4:2), that is with consistency—wherever any occasion presents an opportunity, and if it does not, then create one!  Also, do it convincingly, “Convince,” (2 Tim. 4:2) using persuasion. Such preaching is done correctively, “rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching,” (2 Tim. 4:2)  Do it whether people want to hear it or not, and often they will not, (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3-4)! Yet, we are commanded, “But you be watchful in ALL THINGS, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry,” (2 Tim. 4:5, emphasis added).  Paul stresses that evangelism is crucial in Biblical preaching. 

Tim Patrick in his book, “The Whole Counsel of God,” makes this connection with evangelism and teaching:

We are comfortable knowing that what we tend to think of as preaching is not the only possible way of fulfilling what the New Testament calls for in evangelizing and teaching. Additionally, we think that extensive works of evangelism and Bible teaching could—and should—happen apart from the preacher’s weekly sermons. In fact, theoretically, we believe it could be possible for a church to be faithful to the Bible’s call to evangelize and preach without any pulpit ministry whatsoever. However, we also believe that preaching as we know it has become a great tradition of the church over the centuries precisely because it is an excellent means for both evangelism and teaching. (Location 604, Kindle edition). 

Here is a good diagram that Patrick offers:

 

BRIEF AND TO THE POINT

Perhaps you have heard, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” If that is true, then a lot of preaching is witless. Or there is this, “He who thinks by the inch and speaks by the yard should be given the foot out the door!” Warren Wiersbe put it, “Sermons do not have to be eternal to be immortal.” The mind cannot comprehend more than the seat can endure.  

THE MODEL CHURCH LEADER

In Jeff Iorg’s book, “The Case for Antioch: A Biblical Model for a Transformational Church,” he stresses the pattern of that New Testament church for leadership in chapter 8. I wholeheartedly agree. This is a message I have delivered again and again. Here is a summary of my thoughts. 

You will never find a growing, thriving church that does not have committed competent leadership. While good leaders cannot guarantee success, poor leaders guarantee failure. “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” is an expression I learned from John Maxwell. It is a sobering truth for every officer of the church, whether it be the pastor, a deacon, a teacher, a committee member or some other leader. As you search the pages of Scripture, you will discover that whenever God wanted to do a work, He called out a leader, whether it was Moses, Deborah, David, or Peter. We find the church at Antioch affords us a Biblical blueprint to follow in this area as well.   Antioch was a model missionary church. That church had model members and model leaders.

“Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭22‬-‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Consider THE ROLE OF GOOD LEADERSHIP. There will be edification, education, evangelism, and equipping. 

Good leaders edify. Barnabas was a prominent leader in the church at Antioch. He was sent to edify, that is, to build up the church. As we see him fulfilling that responsibility, edification was the result. We need leaders like that today.  Rather than building up the church, I have seen leaders who insist on tearing down the church. Many churches today are in absolute turmoil because of poor leadership. May we commit ourselves to building up our church family.  

Good leaders educate. Agabus was another man God used. Before the formation of the New Testament, God spoke by direct revelation through the prophets. They were the source of doctrine and educated the church in the truth. There are no prophets like this today. God has given us the complete revelation in the Word of God—all that we need for faith and practice. But the prophetic role is still needful today. We could compare this to teaching in the modern church. Baptists who boast of believing the Book, often don’t read the Book!  We may be a Biblically illiterate people. Entire denominations are dying because of their departure from the Bible and sound doctrine. Let us teach it!  Let us teach it in our homes to our family, let us teach it in our Sunday School classrooms and in our Discipleship groups.  God has promised His Word will not return void.  

Good leadership yields edification and education, but more, there will be evangelism. “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬-‭21‬).

The church at Antioch was founded by evangelists.  While it is true that every member is to be a witness, leaders must set the pace. Paul told the young pastor, Timothy, “do the work of an evangelist.” Philip was a deacon who was a model soul-winner, whether preaching to the masses in Samaria, or witnessing to a man in Gaza. Teachers have a great opportunity for evangelism. When was the last time you presented the Gospel in your classroom?  You might protest, “All my class members are saved.”  How do you know that?  Can you see in their heart?  I give an invitation at the end of my sermon because I dare not assume everyone is saved. Even if the whole class is saved—you should ask, “Where are the prospects? Are we not inviting unchurched people to Sunday School?”  Music can help promote evangelism.  The Gospel needs to be clearly expressed in our songs. We are not just after a beat to get people hyped up, but a message to get souls saved!

Good leaders will also engage in equipping. This is a primary duty of a pastor. He must not be the only “minister.” His ministry is to equip the saints for their ministry. He is like a player-coach. He is called upon to feed the flock, and shepherd the sheep. He was also known as an elder in the early church (Acts 11:29-30). We do not have time today to consider the whole topic of elders—but, suffice it to say, that these were what we would call pastors, and notice there are a plurality. We need plurality due to the enormous responsibility, and the needed accountability of those pastor/teachers in the church. Antioch did not have just one pastor, but multiple elders.

Not only do we see the role of good leadership, but THE RESULTS OF GOOD LEADERSHIP. The center of the Christian church would shift from Jerusalem to Antioch. 

They had growth, “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord,” (v. 21). God’s intent is for His church to grow. Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will BUILD my church…” Christ is the One who builds His church. That is not our responsibility. If I build it, it won’t amount to anything of eternal worth. But, good leaders point to people to the Biblical blueprint for the building of the church. Since Christ is the architect, the leaders are the on-site project managers. Jesus commanded, “Go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my Father’s house may be full.” God wants His house full. There’s still room in most of our church buildings. We need a vision of what Christ wants us to do. It ought to break our heart when one service passes without someone being saved. It shouldn’t surprise us that someone would be saved today, but should surprise us if someone isn’t. 

Good leadership results in growth and in godliness, “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch,” (v. 26b). They called them Christians because they saw Christ in them. The populace used the term as a slur, but the believers embraced it as an honor. Why did they call them “Christians”?  Because the name of Jesus dominated their conversations, directed their conduct, and was displayed in their character. It was all about Christ. As a leader, do others see Jesus in you? Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1).  As leaders, we should be so in step with Jesus, that when people follow us, they will be following after Christ. 

Good leadership results in growth, godliness, and in generosity.  We read in Act 11:28-30 concerning Antioch, “Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”

These were generous people. This infant church at Antioch helped support the mother church. The leadership set the stewardship pattern. Stingy leaders will beget stingy church members.  As pastors and deacons in the church I led, we always believed we should set the example. We asked for and held accountable those who were in leadership to be faithful givers. So, in stewardship campaigns, or capital campaigns, we shared our commitment—not to boast of the amount, but to establish our commitment. Should I, as a leader, not practice what I preach?

How often we hear of some lost person who is hindered from coming to Christ because of the failure of some church leader. They look at a preacher, or a deacon, or a teacher and say, “If that’s what a Christian is, then I don’t want to be one.” As leaders, wherever we go in the community, we represent our Lord and this church. An inconsistent life, will repel people from coming here. Our leaders need to make a fresh commitment today.  All of us are leaders to someone—even if we do not hold an office. Leadership is influence. Every one of you has an influence on someone for good or bad.