Embodying Christ: The Call and Character of Pastors

"Paul is using that in a more technical sense than simply everybody is a servant of the Lord which of course is true it's a phrase that is used for example classically the servant of the Lord as revealed in Isaiah the prophet and then the Lord's servant as Paul uses it concerning himself at the beginning of Romans concerning Titus as well and now also here in relationship to Timothy it is this servant of the Lord if you like the pastor and the teacher primarily in view in the entire chapter in what is being said." [00:03:40]

"Timothy if you're going to serve the people in Ephesus effectively number one you have to be completely committed you need to be sold out and he reinforces that Spirit of dedication or commitment by using the pictures of a soldier who obeys his commanding officer of an athlete who competes according to the rules and of a farmer who isn't lazy but gets up when others are asleep and is still up when others have gone to their beds." [00:04:43]

"God's servant must not be argumentative but a gentle listener a teacher who keeps cool working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey anybody like the job step forward if you're ready Small Wonder that the opening of the chapter reminds Timothy that he's not going to be able to do this on his own look back to the beginning of the chapter and you see you then my child be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." [00:06:33]

"His kindness includes the kind of clarity which he provides here where he doesn't name an individual but he names a type of individual a type of individual who's got a fat head a big mouth and a small brain and he is an absolute menace to everyone around him that that individual has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words that's this kind of individual that he has in mind." [00:12:41]

"Timothy you need to be very very careful about this now let me just say a word to you concerning how this works out in pastoral Ministry take you a little behind the scenes as it were at least for me I don't speak for all of my colleagues in this most of my colleagues are are far better at this than I am but the danger of getting involved in this stuff I don't find comes with uh um you know an email that says I'd like to have a meeting and so on no the greatest danger I would say is two minutes after the benediction." [00:15:34]

"The servant's disposition which is what is really being described here the prevailing tendency the default mechanism of Timothy as the pastor the characteristic attitude of Timothy is in essence to be christ-like just look at it we don't need to work heavily on it as straightforward kind but not just kind kind to everyone why does it have to say everyone why can't I just be kind to whoever I want to be kind to after all they're not all kind to me." [00:19:31]

"Timothy strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus make sure that you're increasingly becoming like Jesus now why is this so important well it is for a number of reasons not only for the development of of Timothy's character but also on account of Timothy's influence in the congregation because as we saw a couple of weeks ago in the letter that Thornton wrote to Simi and the pastor in Cambridge for 54 years Thornton is a businessman writes to Simeon his pastor and he says Simeon watch yourself." [00:25:12]

"God May perhaps grant them repentance I I the the sentence begins um halfway through verse 25 there the NIV I find more helpful in this I I had it in my mind I thought I'd made it up but I went and it's actually in the NIV in in the hope that so you're gonna this is what you mustn't be this is what you need to be and finally this is what you can't be this is what you can't be because your exercise in this ministry strengthened by the grace of God in the hope that through the exercise of this ministry Timothy God May Grant repentance a change of heart and of mind and of Direction leading to a knowledge of the truth." [00:27:24]

"Now Timothy by the grace that is in Jesus this is what you mustn't be don't be a combative quarrelor now this is what you need to be strengthened by The Graces in Christ Jesus but just remember what you can be you you you're not going to be able to open blind eyes you're not going to be able to Grant repentance but God May Grant repentance you see behind the scenes behind the scenes in this encounter and in every time that the gospel is preached and I owe this insight to John start behind the scenes what can't be seen here or is observed out there is the unseen reality which Paul refers to as an encounter and an engagement not in a fight against flesh and blood but again spiritual wickedness in the Heavenly places." [00:30:37]

"The role of the pastor and the teacher strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus is to point away from himself to Christ Jesus to the one who calls men and women to repentance and to Faith it is the very heart of God I urge that supplications and prayers and intercessions and Thanksgiving be made for all people for President Obama and all are in high positions for David Cameron the prime minister of Great Britain pray for all of them that they may lead a peaceful and a quiet life this is good it's pleasing in the sight of God our savior who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." [00:33:39]

"The invitation comes from Christ himself the shepherd who knows the Sheep who calls them by name and if you've never called out to Christ then I urge you to do so today no special language involved just the Cry of a sinner for a savior in the letters that I read this week that came to me from Truth For Life I I noticed one where a lady said I was in church and I listened to the service and at the end of it the lady next to me just said and are you a believer and says the lighter writer or I said oh yes yes I am she said but I went home and I knew that I wasn't and when I got home I asked Christ to be my savior my friend I hope that story will be duplicated today." [00:34:32]

"Now may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you may the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you his peace today and forevermore amen." [00:34:32]