|
Sermon
of 01-04-03
The Person in the Pulpit
by Dr. David Farmer, pastor
Scripture; "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto
him." Mark 3:13
Today is part three of our four part series.
Today's and next week's sermon topic may be a little different than what you are used to receiving on Sabbaths. Today's topic is; "The Person in the Pulpit." I'm going to speak on what I understand God expects from His called ministers and what you told me you expect from me as your minister. But before you get too excited, next week I'm speaking on the subject of "The Person in the Pew." We will look at what I understand God expects from you as a member of this local Seventh-day Adventist Church. We will then at what I understand the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination expects from you. And lastly, what I as your pastor expect from you.
Now if you only hear today's topic and not next weeks, then you will have a lopsided view of what it means to be Christian in God's Church during these last days. So please, plan to be here. I mean after all, do you really want me to be talking about you from the pulpit and not know what I'm saying about you? So let's start our last two parts by reading an imaginary advertisement from a local newspaper. It is from a church looking to fill their pastor-less pulpit. The application goes something like this;
"Minister Wanted"
A real challenge for the right man. Opportunity to become better acquainted with people. Limitless benefits! Applicant must offer experience and know-how as:
1) Office Manger
2) Educator
3) Artist
4) Theologian
5) Circus Clown
6) Audio Engineer
7) Politician
8) Salesman
9) Diplomat
10) Writer
11) Missionary
12) Traffic Cop
13) Psychologist
14) Funeral Director
15) Wedding Consultant
16) Master of Ceremonies
17) Sports
18) A Child and Teenager Specialist.
The pastor must know all about problems of birth, schooling, marriage, children, diets, and death. The right man must hold firm views on every subject - but careful not to upset people who disagree with him. He must be able and willing to paint, mow the lawn, trim the hedges, and clean the church when needed. The pastor must be able to smile any and all the time. He will be required to sing every week, but only certain songs that have been approved by the church board. The pastor must be straightforward, but flexible. He must return backbiting and gossip with Christian love and offer instant forgiveness. He must be friendly 24 hours a day. It is mandatory that he be a captivating speaker and intent listener.
His education requirements; preferably beyond a Ph.D. but be able to speak simple, however sound learned. He must be constantly familiar with current events, modern day literature and the novels that the congregation would be reading. He must spend 30 hours a week in his office studying but remain ever available and adaptable to sudden interruptions.
The applicant's wife must be both stunning and plain. She must be smart and clever however not be a know-it-all. She will be required to play the both the piano and organ. Lead in weekly song services or have special music when no one else is available. She must be willing to sub and teach Church School when necessary. Help or teach Sabbath School. She will be required to help in the church kitchen and or baby-sit. She must never become discouraged or listen to gossip from the members, however always be aware of church problems.
The applicant's children must be clean-cut without long hair, beards, mustaches, jewelry, makeup and be an all American model to the other church children. They must always be well behaved in church or church school and attend every church function.
The family car must always be clean and the latest model. Motorcycles and campers will not be permitted.
The pastor must be teachable and accept criticism, visit every member and visitor at least once a month. Budget minded, creative, pleasant, and constantly positive about any situation.
All replies will be kept confidential when possible. Anyone applying must undergo full battery of exams to determine sanity. Please call 5552121 between 9:00 and 9:15 am MF to set up an appointment.
Do you suppose this church is looking for Superman? Or at least a Super Preacher? You know this advertisement would sound ridiculous if it weren't so true. And I speak from experience. And I have a hand full of the Pastoral Evaluation that many of you returned to me this week. And I speak also not so mush as a pastor, but when I too was a member of a local church looking at what we wanted, needed and expected from our new pastor. But at the same time, this imaginary advertisement does help set the stage of the subject we are looking at today and next week.
Over the course of my ministry I have discovered that the office of a pastor is often misunderstood, misconstrued, and misinterpreted. And most of the time, it's the pastor himself who misunderstands it. I have met several pastors who I believe have misused and abused their position. Some think they are to direct and dictate every move his congregation makes. They try to tell their members where to put their money, how and where to spend their time. Some even go as far as telling parents how to raise their children.
But my question is, is that their position? Is this what God has called them to do? Personally, I don't feel it is. I feel and see the calling of a minister in a totally different light. And believe me, some pastor completely disagree with me. But that's Ok.
See folks, I believe God has called His ministers to preach and minister to their congregation. And to do so in the way God has directed in His Word. Not by the way the pastor feels his members should be nurtured. But how does our Lord want His called pastors to minister and lead His flock today?
First question I suppose we need to settled is; I do not believe there is any difference in today
priests, than the priest in Bible times. 1 Peter 1:25 says; "But the word of the Lord endures for ever"
NKJV. Malachi 3:6;
"For I am the LORD, I do not change..."
NKJV. I accept the fact that God's called ministers today have the same responsibility, obligation and duty to lead His people as they did in Bible days. So with that established, let take a peep at how our Bible teaches a minister is to shepherd God's flock.
We are told that the call of a minister is of the highest honor. In the beginning of Hebrews chapter 5, you will find that God is speaking about His priest. But listen to verse 4;
"And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God..." NKJV.
Not only does this verse say is an honor to be called - but we also read that it's God that calls His Priest, not man! No true minister is self-called. Listen to Gospel Workers, pg. 18: "The greatest work, the noblest effort, in which men can engage is to point sinners to the Lamb of God."
I see pastors as the Lords Ambassadors on earth. The position of a pastor is not a profession. It is much, much more. It is of such a high calling that Paul says in 1 Tim. 1:12:
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."
Which by the way, this is also my favorite verse. I thank God everyday for calling me. I sometimes wake up and have to pinch myself to see if this is all a dream!
The Bible says God called Paul, Abraham, King David, the Apostles, and many more. This morning, I stand before you and say; I know God called me too. Don't ask me how or why I know, but I know. And next week I will show you that God has called you too into a special work for Him. Maybe not as a paid clergy, but as a worker for Him.
Please return to Mark 3:13 our opening Scripture. Listen to it this time from the NIV;
"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him."
Jesus called and they came. God has called us to be workers for Him. Every one of us has a special task to perform for God. When we study about the lives of the Apostles we find that were very successful in bringing others to Christ. Why? Because they themselves had been to the Cross. They knew Christ as their personal Saviour. My favorite author says in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pg. 155: "You must be converted. You must receive light before you can give light." In other words, no one can bring someone else to Christ until they themselves have been to the Cross! This applies not only to ministers, but everyone.
Next, I see that a minister must be willing to serve. Listen to 1 Corinthians 4:12 again from the NIV;
"So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. V2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."
These 2 verses simply say that ministers must be a servant, someone who is trustworthy, and be found faithful in all they do. Woodrow Wilson once said: "No man has ever risen to the real stature of Spiritual manhood until he has found it is finer to serve somebody else than it is to serve himself."
Now let me read to you some of the things you did say you would like to see in your ministers. This is from the Pastoral Evaluation list you gave me. Please keep in mind this is complied from the entire district.
You need, want and expect your minister to be: Honest, faithful, preach the entire Gospel of Jesus Christ, someone that visits, one that trains others to visit. Hold Evangelist outreaches, preach the 3 Angels Message, help with the Church School. One that can be trusted to communicate and share personal problems with. One that will share guidance. Start Bible Classes, live up to what he preaches, preaches the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. Be compassionate; help bring unity, one that others can see Christ in. Someone that
preaches Christ and His Righteousness. One that tells of the love of Christ. Preach Bible truths. Work with the young people. Work on Church growth and with the members.
Sounds a lot like the list I read at the beginning of the sermon. I'm thankful no one said mow and keep the church clean! But as I read over the list you gave me, I realized you want and need minister that is much more than just a preacher on Sabbath Morning.
I have here a list from "Plusline". This is an Adventist magazine for helping train others. On the back it a list of what "What Members Want in a Pastor" by Elder James Cress from the General Conference of the Seventh day Adventist Church.
Please listen to what most of the congregations in America say they seek in a new pastor.
1) Will our pastor uplift Jesus Christ in every sermon and make each service alive and interesting - such that we could feel comfortable inviting our friends to attend?
2) Will our pastor proclaim the distinctive message of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and avoid concentrating on one or two issues that seem to be the pastor's pet concentration?
3) Will our pastor support the educational emphasis of our church school, academy, college, etc? Will he encourage ministry for our young people, both by proclamation and by participation?
4) Will our pastor help heal wounds and seek discouraged and offended missing members rather than contributing to further dissension or separation in our congregation?
5) Will our pastor model God's will in the pastoral family rather than preaching one thing and practicing another?
6) Will our pastor affirm confidence in the Gift of Prophecy and the distinctive mission and message of the remnant church?
7) Will our pastor encourage outreach appropriate for our community and train, by example, our members to reach out to others?
Friends, the task of a minister is an awesome role. It carries an awesome responsibility with it. Many hope that their minister holds all the answers. I wish I could promise to always have all the answers to your questions. Not to put myself down, but the odds are I probably won't always have all the answers. But I do pledge I will try and feed you Spiritually on Sabbaths. I refuse to stand behind this pulpit with a sermon I just threw together Friday night or on the way to church Sabbath morning. Most of you know that I spend 10 to 20 or more hours' weekly preparing God's message He has given to me. Also I spend 5 to 10 hours on our Wednesday night study. I put much thought, prayer and study in every sermon I preach.
I also vow to be there for you when you're hurting. When you are in need of Spiritual assistance. And when you or someone in your family is in the hospital. Which reminds me, as I said over two years ago, please, do not think I always know when someone is sick or in the hospital. Don't take it for granted that I know when someone is hurting. Please let me know when you are in need of me or when you know another member needs me. Do not think that I have already been to see someone that everyone else knows is in trouble. Call me. I would rather have a dozen calls than not any at all.
I also want you to know that we have started something new about 3 months ago with our Elders and Deacons. Our Elders are teaming up with a deacon and every member will be visited. In fact, chance are you probably have already been visited by an Elder and Deacon. Our goal was to have every home visited by the end of the year. If you have not been visited by an Elder and Deacon, you should be shortly.
If you are like me, you probably wonder why the pastor isn't the one that does all the visits. I use to wonder that, until I became a pastor. I want to read something to you that helped me understand years ago why the pastor isn't the one that does all the
visits. You will find this in my book, "Power Witnessing" on page 114. I got it from the Shepherdess International Journal, 4th Quarter 1995.
"If the pastor never stops at your home, you probably should thank God. It means death has not struck, that no serious illness has laid you low, or that the surgeon's knife had not been necessary, or that you have had no serious family problem or that you are not a spiritually delinquent member. As a rule, your pastor does not have time for "social calls." It is not that he would not enjoy doing so, it is simply a matter of priories... putting first things first. Your pastor does not have time to do everything he would like to do. However, you may be sure of this: your pastor is willing to come to the hospital or your home, the jail, the street corner, or anywhere at any hour of the day, or night when he is needed. Call him if you need him. Otherwise he will not know of your need until it is too late. For the moment, thank God you have not needed him. One day you will need him and he will be there when you call. Now he is visiting someone else who does need him."
I want you to know that I appreciate the Evaluations you returned to me. I tried to cumulate all the #'s and comments you wrote down. From what I see, oh yea many of you evaluated Kathy too. But that is Ok since we are a team. But from what I calculated and determined, Kathy and I have been around 85% affective here. And I give God all the praise and glory. Anything about 51% for a pastor is good.
I guess I should make a few comments on some of the evaluations that were returned to me. One thing that appeared over and over, was that some of you believe that it is the pastor responsibly and duty to do something about fussing Children in the sanctuary. I'm sorry folks, but that is not the pastors responsibly and duty. It is the responsibly and duty of the parents of that fussing child.
We have a nice mothers room for the parents to take their children when needed. This also includes teenagers that are talking and acting up in church too - not just the small children. So if you are one of those that believe it is the pastors responsibly and duty, I'm sorry to disappoint you.
Also, I want you to know that I do not expect any of you to be saints. You do not need to put up a front or wear a mask around me. I want you to come to me just the way feel. Troubles, temptations, problems, anything. And friends, for your info, this is also the way Christ wants you to come to Him. Just the way you are! Just the way you feel!
As I start coming to an end, I want you to know that Kathy and I continue to have big plans for our church. One of these plans is we want to see it continue to grow. This district had 31 baptisms this past year. I hope and pray that doubles this New Year. Grow with people that love and want to serve Christ. I want you to know that I'm not just a minister after numbers. I'm after quantity and quality. Just having large numbers on our books will not help any of us get to Heaven faster. But having people that are ready for Christ 2nd Coming will.
Well, there is much more I would like to and could say. If you have not filled out the Pastoral Evaluation yet, please do so and return it to me ASAP.
Kathy and I look forward to continue working and severing you for as long as our Lord keeps us here. It's hard to believe that over 2 1/2 years, 30 months have come and gone since we arrived. And by working together we have seen what God's almighty hand can do. We have already accomplished a lot, but we still have more to accomplish for God.
May we continue to claim the promise of Philippians 4:13 and 19 together;
"We can do all things through Christ which will strengthening us. And all our needs will be supplied according to His riches in the Glory of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."
|
