DON’T BE A “KNOW-IT-ALL”

The context of this text was a conflict in the Corinthian church over whether one could eat meat that may have been offered to idols. Some felt they were free to eat good meat, for they were not sacrificing to pagan gods—indeed they knew there was only one God. Others, recently saved out of that background had a weak conscience and were offended and  might even be tempted back into heathenism. Liberty is not license to bring a brother or sister down. Love is the motivation to lift them up. 

Paul always called on preachers to be true to sound doctrine. But, knowing theology is never enough. Satan knows Scripture and can quote it—for all the good it does him!  

It is but one side of the coin. He said we are to be “speaking the truth in love,” (Eph. 4:15). The Pharisees were orthodox in doctrine, but the love of God was absent from their heart. They branded Christ as being of the Devil and demanded His crucifixion. 

LEARNING CAN BREED EGOTISM. The Apostle essentially says that a “know-it-all,” is actually a “know nothing!”  Leaders are learners. We should pursue knowledge with a humble awareness that there is always more to learn. We will never be omniscient. Yet, there are some so intense about the theological system in their head, that they forget to cultivate love in their hearts. These become Bible bullies who berate and belittle the man and woman in the pew. People leave the assembly driven down instead of lifted up. 

LOVE WILL BRING EDIFICATION. You certainly cannot help the saints to be built up without teaching them Biblical truths, but the learning in your head must flow from the love in your heart. We are not programming computers, but feeding lambs. I have said it many times—a lesson from John Maxwell—“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care!”  Leadership is influence, and you cannot lead people unless you love people. Adrian Rogers commenting on this passage, put it this way, “It is more important to influence people than to impress them,” (Adrian Rogers Legacy Bible, p. 1288).

May we remember that as we stand behind the sacred desk this Lord’s Day!  I have written this in my Bible as a reminder, “The mass of trouble in a congregation is quite unbelievable. And they come to the church, looking to you to help them, hoping for some word to bring them through.”  (A. J. Gossip). 

The ministry of the Word is not about you—it is about loving God and loving people. Don’t be a “bullfrog preacher,”—you hop up, puff up, and hop away!  Remember that one day you will croak! Then, “for every del word men may speak, they will give account of it on the day of judgment,” (Matt. 12:36). 

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #40

Celebrate victories and learn from past failures. It is easy to fall into the trap of, “Woe is me.”  Negativity can be a malignant way of thinking that kills hope—and without hope, it is impossible for a church and her leaders to find a way forward. Victories are often hard won. You make much effort—you pray, perhaps fast, labor, and you see God bless. We are tempted at that point to stop and catch our breath.  DON’T!  It is time to build on that momentum. Spend some significant time celebrating the goodness of God. Rejoice as a congregation. Give Him glory. Seeing a successful ministry effort is a time to give glory to God and pat your workers on the back. Then ask, “What is the next step?” Roll up your sleeves and get back to work!

Even a failure need not be final. See it in the positive light of being a learning experience. This is what I first heard John Maxwell term, “failing forward.”  When you have stumbles—and you will—do not wallow in self-pity or retreat in despair, but fail forward by asking, “What is God teaching us?  What might we have done differently?  Was it a bad idea or just bad timing or poor execution?”  Some of the most helpful lessons I have learned have been taught in the school of hard knocks where the school colors are black and blue. Those scars speak to realities engraved by the stylus of pain on this all too human clay. But, God is doing the writing and He has a future and a hope. If you learn and move on you are smart. If you keep beating your head against the wall by repeating the same flawed effort you are stupid!

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #24

Never stop learning. When a tree ceases to grow, that tree is dead!  That will be true of you. Oh, you might be still walking and doing stuff, but so do the walking dead in zombie movies. That is hardly how you want to be.  Leaders are learners. You can even learn from those you do not totally agree with—remember that everyone may not be as brilliant as you, yet still have something to say. After all, a broken clock is right twice a day!  With some authors and preachers, you must eat the meat, but spit out the bones!  I understand that we are warned of those, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Yet, but a little later, Paul instructs student Timothy, “ “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (‭3:14-15‬). What makes the difference?  In the former case, one judges truth by the world’s distorted lens, while in the latter, we judge truth by the Word’s eternal lens.