Celebrating Pastor Mike Merrill's Legacy of Faith

I pulled up 1 Timothy 3, and this is a passage I used way back when I started and kind of laid out what the vision was for me as a pastor coming into it. And this is just a great example, a scriptural example of what a leader of the church is supposed to be. And when you reflect sometimes, it's good to go back to what does scripture truly say about who leaders are supposed to be. So we're going to read through 1 Timothy 3, 1 through 13, I believe. [00:01:39] (31 seconds)



Leaders in the church is what this is entitled. This is a trustworthy message. It's a trustworthy message. It's a trustworthy message. It's a trustworthy If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position. So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. [00:02:24] (24 seconds)



He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle and gentle. He must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle and gentle. Not quarrelsome and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church? [00:02:53] (21 seconds)



The first term that came to me was to be a scholar. To be a scholar. To be somebody who is always seeking to understand Scripture at its core. To understand the base languages. To understand what was happening over in that day in a way that he can understand why they wrote what they wrote. Because life has changed. [00:04:53] (25 seconds)



So many times, and the fact that most of us wouldn't even necessarily see most of the counseling that goes on through Pastor Mike Merrill. He's a counselor. He's a counselor. He's a counselor. He's devoted his research and his scholarly time to understand how people work. He's utilized scripture as his basis for what human beings are supposed to be like. [00:06:20] (28 seconds)



And yet he's able to listen and to offer sound advice whenever we have an issue. At youth group or whenever we have an issue, just things going on in life. The one person I know that I can always go to and bring the issues up, and you'll get a clear understanding of what the next right step is, is my father. [00:06:49] (28 seconds)



The man that is here and present upon you every Sunday morning is the same man that I saw on vacations, is the same man I saw at IYC, is the same man I saw at all places within my life. He is true to who he is. He doesn't put on a good face for you Sundays. [00:07:49] (19 seconds)



And I remember my dad coming out on stage and explaining the situation that we were in, that we were safe where we were, and that we were going to be taking some precautions and things were going to be different than they expected. And I remember 6,000 people not freaking out. There was questions. There was what's going to happen next. [00:09:36] (27 seconds)



And as we sit there and we look out what was happening, it takes a strong leader to be able to create the environment even in the midst of chaos. He sets other people up for success. For years, he was the coordinator for youth ministry for the Free Methodist Church. [00:11:20] (22 seconds)



Through the ideas and the core values that he holds, he's been able to change people's lives. Shape people's perspectives on life. Largely around the idea of how we experience emotions. Tell me what I'm feeling right now, because this is like, [00:14:49] (32 seconds)



But what he has shown throughout his entire career and life is that he is a willing heart who gave 100% of himself for the betterment of the kingdom of God. And he spread the love of Christ throughout this village of God. Throughout the city of Hilton. Throughout the city of Rochester. [00:16:48] (21 seconds)