Brian’s Perspective - Old Blog

Before Thanksgiving, I found myself cleaning. I was going through a box of things I should have filed away 3 years ago. You know, the box in the corner of the closet that has been there since you moved in. There were lots of things in the box I must have felt were too valuable to have thrown away, but now, separated by time, it was safe to throw them away. After a quick sort, I was left with what had stood the test of time–3 years anyway.

One folder contained printouts from a time in 2003 when I was reflecting on me as a minister and my own inadequacies. On that day, I had a moment with God, the kind where you flush with tears all the things that keep you from being authentic with him in the first place. This was the first time I actually realized the pain and emptiness of Christianity without knowing God. In it I wrote,

I ask for one thing and for one thing alone: I want to know you. There is no greater thing than knowing God and walking with God. It is too easy for me to get tangled up in the deceitful web of what the world expects from me. Even your church in this place is being corrupted by worldly influences. Our things have come between us and you.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have thought a lot about that time and what I believe is truly important. I have been reading a lot about exegesis and bible study. I have been reading: New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors(3rd Edition), Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors, and Linguistics and Biblical Interpretation. They have reminded me of the awesomeness of the task of taking God’s word and delivering its truth completely and correctly to God’s people. They have also rekindled my joy for seeking God in the written word. It is far too easy for ministers to let others dictate to them what their priorities should be. We know that the only way we can know God is to be in his Word and in His presence, yet, we spend a lot of time doing other things. We need to minimize the other and focus on the things God views as more important for us.

As I sit here today, I am reminded of a passage in 1 Timothy 4:11-16. In that passage, you can identify 4 Big Rocks of Ministry:

1. Show yourself an example for the others. It is imperative that God’s minister shape his life and model his life so that others can see him and know what it means to live for Christ. The fishbowl is very real and ordained by God. If being a Christian is a 24/7 encounter, then a minister’s being an example is 24/7 as well. [1 Timothy 4:12]
2. Make sure the scriptures are read publicly. We need to be about giving God’s word to others. There is a marked absence in our assemblies of serious public scripture reading. When the text is read, some get bored and their minds wander. This ought not to be. [1 Timothy 4:13]
3. Encourage others to live Godly Lives. Paul says to exhort others. That exhortation is to use whatever means possible to encourage, appeal, request, etc., to lead others to live out lives like Christ. It is not passively giving a message. It is delivering the word of God so that others must respond. [1 Timothy 4:13]
4. Teach others how to live like Christ. This is the intentional indoctrination of others with the truth about Jesus. While it includes preaching, teaching, evangelism, etc., in this passage Paul is focusing on Timothy’s responsibility to the church. Thus, the teaching that Paul’s encourages Timothy to focus upon is that teaching that will build up the body of Christ. Needless to say, preaching is just such an event. [1 Timothy 4:13]

By focusing on these 4 big rocks of ministry, Paul says that a minister will “ensure salvation both for himself and those who hear him.” (2 Timothy 4:16) What more could we want?

Now the only thing missing is the courage to do it. No. It doesn’t take courage, just faith.