SERMON OUTLINE: The Holy Spirit and the Believer

I.        Read the text, Acts 2:1-13

II.     The coming of the Holy Spirit

A.     The disciples receive the Holy Spirit

B.     The promise is for “all mankind” or “he who believes as the Scripture said”

John 7:37-39 “...If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

C.     The greater fulfillment of Acts 1:8

1.       Disciples received

2.       Jews received (Acts 2:37-39)

3.       Samaritans received (Acts 8:14-17)

4.       Gentiles received (Acts 10:44-47, 11:15-18)

D.     When? At the time of repentance and belief.

Ephesians 1:12-13 “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”

III.   Evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life

A.     Not works

B.     Not a charismatic experience

C.     Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such things there is no law.”

IV.  The enabling ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life

A.     Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

B.     The Bible and the Holy Spirit

1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man whish is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, no the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

C.     Witnessing and the Holy Spirit will empower us for witnessing (Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

V.     In order to be filled

A.     The Spirit and the Word of God Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16

Ephesians 5:18-19 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

B.     Quench not, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 this sin involves no doing that which the Holy Spirit would have us do. It is putting out a fire

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”

C.     Grieve not, Ephesians 4:30 this sin involves doing that which the Holy Spirit would not have us do

Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

D.     Confession and repentance

1 John 1:7-9 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This confession is absolutely vital, for while Christ’s blood will cleanse us from all sins, it will not cleanse us from a single excuse.

God does not demand golden vessels, nor does he require silver ones, but he must have clean ones. Thus the union with the Spirit is so strong that nothing can break it, but the communion with the Spirit is so fragile that the smallest sin can shatter it. (Willmington’s, p. 659)

Dr. H. L. Willmington, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1981.

SERMON OUTLINE: The Qualifications for Christian Witness

I.        Introduction

When he was the pastor of the Methodist church in Scarborough, William Sangster had an eccentric member who tried to be a zealous Christian. Unfortunately, the man was mentally deficient and usually did the wrong thing. While working as a barber the man lathered up a customer for a shave, came at him with the poised razor, and asked, "Are you prepared to meet your God?"  The frightened man fled with the lather on his face! 

W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers,  p. 215.

II.     Read the text, Acts 1:8, 22

III.   Definition and support of two key terms

A.     Apostle: one commissioned and sent. This term has more to do with the connection between the person and the sender than the person and the recipient. The men described with this word are representatives of their monarch and his authority. In a legal sense, the apostle is lawfully charged to represent the person and cause of another. The apostles had an encounter with the risen Lord and received their commission from Him personally. They are related to the OT prophets, whose office, on the basis of their commission, was to prepare the way for the One who was to come.

B.     Witness: From a legal standpoint, a witness is someone who can and does speak from personal experience about actions in which he either took part in, or which happened to him, or about persons and relations known to him. But a witness can also be viewed from a general standpoint, as a witness to facts, truths, and views, making known and confessing convictions. It signifies the proclamation of views or truths of which cannot be submitted to empirical investigation, but that the person has either personal knowledge, or is fully convinced of. This is the proclamation of things past and things future by faith.

IV.  What will uniquely qualify each of us to be a witness for Christ

A.     Being fully convinced by faith

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-14 “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

B.     Being fully convinced of the apostles’ message

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 John 1:1-5 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

C.     Being rightly related to Jesus Christ

John 15:18-20 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

SERMON OUTLINE: The Holy Spirit working through the church in outreach

I.        Read the text, Acts 1:1-11

II.     Principles of interpretation

A.     Plot: This set of verses is devoted to “lay it out” for the reader, and at the same time “get something going.” He is telling us about what started the spread of the gospel from “Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, and to the remotest part of the world.” He is also telling us of something very critical to come, namely, the Holy Spirit. Might he also be getting ready to shatter the apostle’s view of what kingdom really meant?

B.     Characters: In this passage the characters of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the apostles are introduced.

1.      The apostles are introduced with a sense of anticipation

a.       “is it at this time?”

b.      “wait”

c.       “it is not for you to know”

d.      “when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”

2.      Jesus is shown very flatly, with a very direct, consistently focused, attitude. It really is as if He is almost gone and is intent on giving the apostles exactly what they need before He goes.

3.      The Father and the Holy Spirit are in control, but not developed as characters here

C.     Narrative time: Luke is telling this portion of the story chronologically, but also thematically.

1.      verses 1-3: resurrection proofs, appearances, and instructions – no details, just facts. A forty day period is condensed into 3 verses. Teachings about things concerning the kingdom of God – probably very important, not even divulged to the reader.

2.      verses 4-8: last instructions, to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. This is likely one conversation just before He ascended that is revealed in 5 verses, but was possibly a reiteration of things previously discussed by Jesus with the apostles. This topic has come up in the gospels.

3.      verses 9-11: ascension, Jesus leaves the earth with an anticipated return. This makes room for the Holy Spirit to come. He had said in the gospels that He had to go so the Spirit could come.

D.     Supporting texts

1.      Luke 24:49

2.      John 7:38-39

3.      John 14:16-17

4.      John 15:26-27

5.      John 16:5-7

III.   The Holy Spirit desires to work through the church providing power for a mighty work

A.     The power of the Holy Spirit working through the church can be illustrated by the power generation of a dam such as the Hoover dam. Before water from Lake Mead reaches the turbines, it enters the intake towers and enters four gradually narrowing penstocks which funnel the water down towards the powerhouse. The intakes provide a maximum hydraulic head (water pressure) of 590 ft (180 m) as the water reaches a speed of about 85 mph (140 km/h). The entire flow of the Colorado River passes through the turbines. Hoover Dam generates 2080 megawatts. (Wikipedia)

B.     Allow Him to determine decisions

1.      Acts 15:28, council at Jerusalem

2.      This all-important decision made at the Jerusalem Council concerning circumcision is a beautiful example of the teamwork between a local church and the Holy Spirit. Those assemblies governed by congregational vote often pride themselves on their democratic policies. But the real goal can only be achieved through a democratic-theocratic combined team effort.

C.     Realize He will condemn or bless the church’s efforts

1.      “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...”

2.      Churches are often overly concerned about improving their image in the eyes of the younger generation, society, the business world, academic circles, etc. But the real concern should be directed toward that One who alone is properly qualified to improve and correct, namely, the Holy Spirit.

D.     He directs the church’s outreach

1.      Acts 8:29

2.      Acts 13:2,4

3.      Acts 16:6,7,10

4.      Revelation 22:17

IV.  The spread of the gospel from Jerusalem outward

A.     Earthquake and Tsunami

B.     Application and implementation

1.      prayer – genuine prayer and responsiveness

2.      encouragement

3.      visitation

False Worship 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33

From the inception of the Jewish nation beginning when Abram “went forth as the Lord had spoken to him…when he departed from Haran” (Gen. 12:4), God has been both identifying, warning against, and disciplining his covenant people with regard to false worship. God through Joshua recounts the nation’s history and says of the beginning, “From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. Then I took Abraham from beyond the River…” (Joshua 24:2-3). In fact, the Bible is replete with examples of and warnings against false worship practices found among the covenant people of God. One such example comes from the life and time of Manasseh, a wicked king leading the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In 2 Chronicles 33 and the parallel account of 2 Kings 21, the Bible reveals some important truths about false worship. Through the chronicling of Manasseh’s wickedness, God identifies at least three underlying beliefs that promote false worship, three attitudes prevalent in false worship, and the damaging results of false worship in the lives of His people.

In giving an account of Manasseh’s false worship practices, God reasserts His authority over the nation and in so doing brings a telling accusation against His people. God has the right to judge His people because He has authority over them and they have bucked His authority by disobedience and rejecting worship of the Lord God only. 2 Kings 21:4 states “He built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 2 Kings 21:7-8 states “Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. And I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.” 

But God’s account of their disobedience goes beyond the matter of authority and reveals an underlying belief problem in the hearts of the people. Not only is God calling them to account for their actions, but He is also saying to them, “You show by your actions that first, you believe obedience to my law is irrelevant (“if only they will observe to do according to…”). Second, you believe that my presence in your midst is not adequate (“In Jerusalem I will put My name”). Third, you believe that my covenant promises are not sufficient” (“I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers…”). 

God’s account of their idolatry also reveals at least three attitudes prevalent in false worship. First, those engaged in false worship will have an attitude of self-seeking pleasure. Manasseh had erected an Asherah to coincide with his worship of Baal. The Canaanite practice of ritual fornication is insinuated. Second, those engaged in false worship will have an attitude of self-protecting manipulation. Manasseh was seeking to manipulate events in his life and possibly/probably people in his life with astrology, witchcraft, and divination. Third, those engaged in false worship will have an attitude of self-proving extreme dedication. Manasseh went so far as to sacrifice his own children/child to prove how dedicated he was to getting the attention of an Amorite god.

Warnings against and the results of disobedience and idolatry are well documented throughout the Bible. In the account of Manasseh, three effects of false worship were evident in his kingdom. First, unrighteousness was rampant during Manasseh’s reign. “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations...” 2 Kings 21:2. “...Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.” 2 Kings 21:9. Second, injustice was rampant during Manasseh’s reign. “Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another...” 2 Kings 21:16. The final result of idolatrous false worship is calamity. “...Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah...” 2 Kings 21:12.

To gain a full grasp of how this account might apply to the church, we must realize the people in Judah were still worshiping God in form and fashion. But they were also worshiping many other gods, therein participating in religious syncretism, or combining and reconciling different religious thoughts such that there is no distinction in the minds or practices of the worshipers. God through His prophet Amos rebukes Israel for the very attitude that Judah had in Manasseh’s day. “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like and ever-flowing stream. Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus, says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.” Amos 5:21-27. This proves the point of religious syncretism. They worshiped God, and a host of other gods too. The church is full of false worship today. And we serve the same just God, who judged the sin of His covenant people some 2600 years ago. I believe the church is due to either repent of false worship, or to face calamity. It is 1 Peter 4:17 which states, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 

Music in Church: Differing Tastes, or Differing Theology

A few Sundays ago during a discussion in Sunday school, an old debate surfaced about the style of acceptable music within a church’s worship service. I generally don’t contribute much in these discussions, and not because I don’t have an opinion. Let me preface my thoughts with a series of statements and observations:

• Acceptable music expresses truth in a fitting and pleasing manner.
• Music used in worship created the foundational theological understanding for most of us. When this music, as in many traditional hymns, teaches good theology, it is music worth singing.
• Praise and worship music, recently composed, is predominantly contemporary in style.
• Much of the contemporary music is weak in theology.
• Some of the praise and worship songs from the 90’s are not worth singing
• Some of the modern hymns of this decade are not worth singing
• Some of the songs in our pew hymn books written long ago are not worth singing

 A song I like, “Thank You,” expresses praise to God: 

For all that You’ve done I will praise You,

For all that You’re going to do.

For all that You’ve promised and all that You are,

Is all that has carried me through.

Jesus I thank You.

This song is not wrong, but you have to have a theological understanding of why God is worthy of praise to understand what you are singing about. As I sang this, I knew precisely what it meant; some may not have quite known what it was about. People exposed to only this music don’t have the opportunity I had growing up to have theological underpinnings in music. From my vantage point, this is not so good.

Some contemporary music from the 1990’s teaches sound theology. This is music worth singing. Rita Baloche from the Maranatha singers wrote one of my favorite songs of all time in 1997, “You are Worthy”.

My name is carved in the palm of Your hand;

It is written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Even though my soul was destined to be damned,

Lord, You ransomed me with your life…

This song was enough to have two lost Taiwanese students asking questions like “Who is the Lamb?” “What is the book of life?” “Why is my soul destined to damnation?” “What was the ransom?” It is enough truth to bring tears of gratefulness to my eyes as I rethink and realize all God and His Son Jesus went through to bring me salvation. The past 7 years has ushered in a new group of musicians who borrow from the contemporary style of the 1990’s, but issue the Theology of the ages. This is music worth singing.

So what kind of music is acceptable? Sadly, this question has soured in our mouths as the debate has become preferential and generational in nature. It should be neither a preferential nor a generational issue within the church. In other words, those under 35 years old should not be at odds with those over 55 years old and vice versa. And those in the 20 year span between should not be caught in between. The <35 camp doesn’t like the old hymns. The >55 camp doesn’t like contemporary style. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, “I don’t like that music” spoken in the debate from both sides. Are our tastes the deciding factor in the value and propriety in music? No, they aren’t. In fact, we are distracted often by style and fail to realize the virtue or the vileness of a song. 

For you lovers of the contemporary music, haters of the old hymns, let me give you this thought from John Piper in reference to C.S. Lewis, “He has made me wary of chronological snobbery. That is, he showed me that newness is no virtue and oldness no vice. Truth and beauty and goodness are not determined by when they exist. Nothing is inferior for being old, and nothing is valuable for being modern. This has freed me from the tyranny of novelty and opened for me the wisdom of the ages.” (Don’t Waste Your Life, p.19)

The converse could be said to you lovers of the old style, haters of the new and contemporary. Old is not always good, valuable, or right, and new is not necessarily bad, inferior, or wrong. The fact is we aren’t singing the same hymns or songs or using the same music styles that our church fathers were singing in the 1700’s and even further back to David’s Psalms. Things have changed, even in the worship styles of you older folks.

We tend to look at things in a rather linear fashion, i.e. the far left, the far right, and somewhere in between. This may work with politics, but it does not work with doctrine. Doctrine is either sound, or it is wrong. There is no “truth continuum” where middle ground is to be found. To say otherwise would be to buy into the humanistic philosophy that plagues our world today. There is absolutely an absolute truth. All music, past and present and future is either right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. This is something each of us should be able to determine as we hear words coming from music. Cull the bad music. Only certain music is worth singing. You may be saying right now, “Jeremy, this is the real world. Things don’t really work that way.” I’d say to you in response, God has a value system in which He uses words such as “fully”, “completely”, and “wholly”. We cannot afford to dwell in some non-existent middle ground in regards to theology. The middle ground is worse than the wrong because it leads men into sin while thinking they’re o.k.

           

What about the modern music that isn’t wrong, but not so good. Am I on the fence? I don’t think I am. Once right or wrong has been determined, then appropriate or inappropriate needs to be determined. I wouldn’t advocate singing the camp song, “Father Abraham” in a Sunday morning service. There might be songs that we set aside for camp and home etc., which still are good, but we’re not going to sing them in a church service.

           

Pure, orderly expression of truth can be found in both old and new styles of worship music. The determinate is the truth of the message followed closely by appropriateness of the words and music. I challenge each of you to set aside generational disunity, any personal preferences or tastes, and focus on the right or wrong of songs. Truth doesn’t change. If we sift our music with both sieves of truth and propriety, some of both old and new will be graded out. And enough will be left of both old and new to use in our worship. Not one should be exclusive, and not one should be excluded.

Roaring Lions and Dew

I was recently reminded of a lesson I learned two years ago in the summer of 2010, and I thought I would edit and post something I wrote at that time. Honestly, I’m not so certain I have fully learned this lesson… 

During projects, the unforeseen occasionally happens, and I inevitably do not please a customer despite great effort. For the past 6 months I have been involved in what would seem to be a straightforward project, but it has been wrought with problem after problem. The project should have been completed 5 months ago. I've seen this type of project before, one that should be relatively simple and easy to finish, but ends up derailed by problems with various causes. Without attributing evil to God, somehow I think these problems are God’s tools for the shaping of my character, but I'll save that thought for another day.

To make a very long story as short as it should be, factors outside of my control made it impossible to renumber 374 lecture hall seats before students flood the room next Monday. I was very professionally grilled about not fulfilling the project requirements and told my temporary solution was not acceptable. I was very anxious about this and spent all of the night trying to fabricate a solution. But the grim reality is that no matter what I wish, say, or do; no matter what the customer wishes, says, or does, the renumbering of the seats is not going to happen by the customer's very legitimate project completion date.

Through prayer, I believe I was led to Proverbs 19:12, "The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass." I deeply wanted my customer to be able to say, "Great job." Of course that would have been said 5 months ago if at all, certainly not this late in the game. One application I believe God was trying to remind me of through that verse finally dawned on me. The praise of men doesn’t last very long at all. Like dew, it is gone by 9:30 AM, even sooner on the dry summer days. Why should I even crave it? That customer won't even think about this project next week. (He'll think about it the next time he is going to get chairs... good or bad) But isn't his roar and displeasure about the same? Yes. The roar is not pleasant, it scares me, and I don't like it. But it is gone soon after it is uttered.

Neither the roar of the lion nor the dew on the grass last very long. And neither should have any bearing on my outlook. In other words, I should not be anxious about this; I believe I have done my best. I need to realize my failures, faults, and mistakes, while at the same time try to accommodate others, correct problems, and please my customers. I cannot do a whole lot about the rest. After that lesson, I was able to peacefully approach my customer with God’s assurance that the roar of my customer wouldn't last too long, or be too awful, and He still loves me.

But the lingering question still haunts the people-pleaser in me, “What if the lion tears me to pieces...?” Well, I hope in the resurrection. Being torn to pieces might not be so bad after all.

So tell us what happened! That's not the point, nor should it matter to you.

Isaiah 2:22 "Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; for why should he be esteemed?"

Pastoral Paradigm: Shaping a Love for the Church and a Love for Shepherding

            I have been very blessed to have had parents and grandparents who genuinely sought after God, and modeled that for me in life. I was also very blessed to have been in churches which didn’t burn my love for the body of Christ. I didn’t always notice that, but no doubt even the parts I didn’t notice had a profound impact on me. We were involved in the life of our church and men and women within the church were involved in my life as well. The churches were small enough for me to spend personal time with both the pastor and the youth pastors. I experienced involved Sunday school teachers, youth workers, and other men and women who poured their lives into serving Christ and others. God used all of these people before I left home to instill in me a love for the church, and a desire and respect for shepherding, for all of them were involved in shepherding my heart.

            At this point in my life in 2012, that involvement in church, and the church’s involvement in my life comprise roughly one half of my life. Many might define this as a “sheltered” experience. In the latter half of my life, I’ve encountered broken and split churches, ruined pastorates, what seems like a surge of scandal within the church, and numerous people who’ve had such bad experiences with church that they have sworn it off, though they still desire a vibrant Christian experience. I’ve encountered many people my parent’s age and younger who are not in church because they’ve been so hurt by the people of the church.

            I believe my sheltered experience, which was also a time of self absorption at which time I knew nothing about real life problems, the people who shepherded my heart during that time, and the people whom I’ve encountered the last half of my life with real problems have all been used by God to shape within me a love for the church and a love for shepherding. Let me explain.

I was able to reap the benefit of being very sheltered by loving parents and at the same time reap the benefit of people who were involved in shepherding hurting people. I remember a scene from the movie “We Were Soldiers” in which Lt. Col. Hal Moore and news reporter Joe Galloway were kneeling over some dead soldiers. During their conversation in this scene, Lt. Col. Hal Moore asked Joe Galloway, “…Why are you here?” Joe Galloway responded, “’Cause I knew these dead boys would be here, sir.” I realize I was only a small reason for those Sunday school teachers, and youth workers, and youth pastors, and pastors to be involved in church. They were there because they knew the people who needed Christ would be there. They were there because they knew hurting people would be there. They were there to shepherd others. I didn’t get that then. I thought they were there just for me.

Later I was faced with the reality many people experience in church, or out of church I might say. My respect for those shepherds has ever increased. I’m not making this point to compare Christians nor to indicate that I think less of the hurting ones who’ve left church, or more of the shepherds. But I am making this point to say that God gives the church some shepherds for the others. And the shepherds may sometimes become the others. And this still doesn’t explain why some have been hurt by the shepherds or the church. But maybe this explains why I still believe God’s program involves a broken church, and I’m not ready to chunk it just yet when I’ve been hurt by it. I have a fondness for true shepherds in God’s flock. And I have a fondness for God’s flock, even when I’ve been hurt by it.