What I've Learned As a Pastor (Part 3)
From Voice magazine, Nov/Dec 2015. Used by permission. Read Part 1 and Part 2.
We Pastors Need to Learn to Forgive.
Local church ministry often involves seeing people at their worst and unfortunately all of us pastors experience times when rocks and arrows are directed at us. We need to forgive others when we’ve been wronged because it’s commanded in the New Testament and because it honors the Lord when we “take the high road.” And we need to acknowledge there are times in ministry when we pastors do or say the wrong thing and we need to admit “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” All of us need to forgive those who have hurt us in church squabbles and get along with them so the gospel won’t be negatively affected. Unsaved people are watching and need to see how the Gospel has changed us by helping us to truly love and forgive others. Forgiveness is simply the active part of love.
Discussion
Do you think conservative churches would be better off with fewer programs?
Mark Dever suggests fewer programs in the church will make more time for real ministry. Other people might counter that more programs mean structured contact with more people — it really happens.
What is your experience? Please comment in one of more of these areas, if you wish:
(1) Are a wealth of programs good for growing a church numerically, but counter-productive in matters of spiritual depth and actual discipleship?
(2) Are the many programs often the wrong programs, and would an improved direction help?
Discussion
Illegal immigrant gets saved ... now what?
Here’s the scenario:
Gabriela and Alejandro Flores and their three children live in your community with their three children.
The children attend your church’s VBS and several make professions of faith.
Your church’s outreach ministry visits in their home and thanks to the bi-lingual couple who connects with them, both Gabriela and Alejandro make professions of faith themselves,
The couple want to be baptized and unite with your church.
Discussion
Vernon Rosenau Appointed President of Baptist Mid-Missions
Body
“He will step into the role in January, after the retirement of the mission agency’s current president, Dr. Gary Anderson” GARBC
Discussion
What I've Learned As a Pastor (Part 2)
(From Voice magazine, Nov/Dec 2015. Used by permission.)
People Will Fail. God Never Will.
As I said in Part 1, over the years I’ve deliberately surrounded myself with some of the finest people imaginable. Those great folks have given me so much that I’ve often felt overwhelmed with gratitude reflecting on the countless ways I’ve been blessed by others in my life. Yet I also know that people fail (including, and most especially, me). We are all fallen, feeble, frail and broken instruments—but God is great! This truth has helped temper my perfectionistic, unreal, idealistic expectations when I’ve directed them at myself and those around me. I’ve learned to be more patient and forbearing over the years knowing all of us need to receive grace and extend forgiveness each and every day. People are great; people are frustrating. People help us up; people push us down. My actions are good; my actions are bad. In all the variations of our humanity, this one thing is certain: God never changes and He’s always dependable. He will never fail and so we should keep our eyes on Him.
Discussion