This was not without its challenges; but we had a great day in the Lord. It has been refreshing (as I've probably said before) to witness some of the things I have envisioned for our congregation come to fruition. For the laymen's understanding, the experience is akin to witnessing your child become responsible and make wise decisions without your stern direction at every turn. It is God's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
My experience has been quite challenging yet quite rewarding. Pastoring is hard work! Yes, it comes natural when you're called to do it. But it is hard work! Those who've said it is not hard work, I will not say they are doing something wrong; but will simply argue they are in the minority. Most would contend.....pastoring is hard work! However, it is the most rewarding experience in the world. Going from a congregation I started to a congregation over a century and a quarter old is about as contrastingly distinctive as it comes. But it has been good for me. I'm learning a lot, about patience, vision, preaching, inclusion (nothing to do with Carlton Pearson!), balance, Pastoring everyone, and so much more.
I am really excited about the meeting we had today with those involved in Worship service. We have been looking on ways to improve our worship experience, and also to flow better in our services. I envision planning our services, as do some congregations now. Shout out to Derrick Garrett. This guy, who is also one of our Deacons in Training, has been a Godsend. Joining our church about a year ago, he come from a congregation who worked monthly in planning their services. Glad to have him as our Director of Worship & Fine Arts.
This past Lord's Day, I also announced our congregation's very first Media Director, Erikka Murphy. This is a major milestone in our congregation; and it is necessary if we plan to do effective ministry in the 21st century. Erikka, one of our recent college graduates, will help us bring interactive media to our services, including mid-week; and also assist us in the process of the audio and visual recordings of our weekly Sunday services. Please pray for us. This is a huge step; and a necessary challenge for a 141 year old congregation.
I continued our series through 1st Peter. Here is my outline...
This Joy That I Have
1 Peter 1:6-9
Big Idea: Believers rejoice in the midst of suffering
I. There is a Joy that comes through Faith (Verses 6-8)
a. The Ground of Faith
b. The Growth of Faith
1. Tests and trials are temporary 'for a little while'
2. Tests and trials are tailored 'if necessary'
c. The Goal of Faith
1. God wants our faith to grow in value—“greater than gold.” Verse
7
2. God desire our faith to grow in validity—“proved genuine.” Verse
7
II. THERE IS A JOY THAT COMES THROUGH HOPE (Verses 7b & 9)
a. The Hope of Comparison
b. The Hope of Completion
1. We have
certainty of Christ’s return.
a.“Praise”—Christ
will say “well-done.”
b.“Honor”—Christ
will give us honorable positions of authority.
c.“Glory”—Christ
will give us glorious bodies and place us in glorious offices.
2. We have the assurance
of salvation’s results, verse 9
III. THERE IS A JOY THAT COMES THROUGH LOVE (Verse 8)
a. There is the Joy of Loving
b. There is the Joy of Being Loved
1 comment:
Well said Brother Pastor/Son. It is one of the greatest joys to see God's people growing right before your eyes. To pastor and to preach is, to use the words of Dr. C.E. Mclain, "agony and ecstasy." It is joy and sorrow. But, as you said, there is noting more rewarding and I would not take anything for my journey.
As it realtes to pastoring being hard work, I will take it a step farther and say that anybody who doesn't think that being a pastor is hard work has never spent a day in the shoes of a pastor. It is like people,after hearing that you are a preacher/pastor asking you "do you work." That is an insult. There is no greater and more diffucult work than to have the responsiblility to "watch for the souls of men."
And I encourage you to stay on the wall and continue to preach and follow the vision that God places before you and, yes, continue the principle of "inclusion" (not CP's of course...lol). One of the many challenges for those of us in the pastorate is to "serve this present age" while at the same time safeguarding those traditions that were instrumental in "bringing us over." And, yes, it is a challenge to reach the toddlers, teenagers, young adults, and senior adults all at the same time :), but, thanks be to God, we have the help and power of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide,direct and empower us. At the very first church that I served as pastor the theme that I presented to them for my first year there was: "Appreciate the past, Take advantage of the present, Prepare for the future." Can't remember the scripture I used (it's been a long time).
God bless you brother pastor and "preach on, pray on and pastor on."
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