Embracing Holiness, Grace, and Support in Ministry

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored some of the most pressing challenges facing the church today, focusing on the holiness of God, the understanding of grace, and the importance of doctrine. We began by discussing the tendency of many churches to prioritize feel-good messages over the true teachings of God, which can lead to a self-centered approach to faith. This is a significant issue as it detracts from the holiness of God and the true purpose of the church, which is to live according to His calling.

We also delved into the misunderstanding of meekness and humility, often perceived as weakness in our culture. True meekness, as exemplified by Christ, is about strength under control, being bold yet gentle, and standing firm in faith while remaining humble. This is a crucial characteristic that the church needs to embrace and teach more effectively.

Furthermore, we discussed the eternal perspective that Christians must maintain, challenging the cultural notion that this life is all there is. The reality of eternal life and death should guide our actions and beliefs, reminding us of the deeper truths of the gospel, which offer freedom and forgiveness from sin.

The role of pastors was another key topic, emphasizing the importance of love in pastoral ministry. A pastor's primary responsibility is to preach and teach out of love for the congregation, not merely out of a love for preaching itself. This love is what sustains the relationship between pastors and their congregations, allowing for effective ministry.

Finally, we addressed the expectations placed on pastors and the need for congregations to support them by understanding their true roles. Pastors are not meant to fulfill every role within the church but to focus on preaching and teaching the Word of God. Congregations can support their pastors by praying for them, encouraging them, and allowing them the time needed to prepare and deliver meaningful sermons.

Key Takeaways:

- The holiness of God is central to our faith, and churches must prioritize teaching and living according to His standards rather than seeking to make people feel good. This requires a commitment to true doctrine and a rejection of self-centered approaches to faith. [01:06]

- Meekness is often misunderstood as weakness, but it is actually about strength under control. Christ exemplified true meekness, which involves being bold yet gentle, standing firm in faith while remaining humble. This is a vital characteristic for Christians to cultivate. [06:36]

- Christians must maintain an eternal perspective, recognizing that this life is not all there is. The reality of eternal life and death should guide our actions and beliefs, reminding us of the deeper truths of the gospel, which offer freedom and forgiveness from sin. [09:16]

- A pastor's primary responsibility is to preach and teach out of love for the congregation. This love is what sustains the relationship between pastors and their congregations, allowing for effective ministry and spiritual growth. [19:26]

- Congregations should support their pastors by understanding their true roles and not placing unrealistic expectations on them. Pastors need time to prepare meaningful sermons, and congregations can help by praying for them, encouraging them, and allowing them the space to focus on their primary duties. [24:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:18] - The Holiness of God
- [01:06] - Feel-Good Churches
- [01:52] - The Importance of Doctrine
- [02:30] - Identity and the Image of God
- [03:09] - Meekness in Scripture
- [04:06] - Christ's Example of Meekness
- [05:41] - Beatitudes as Pictures of Christ
- [06:36] - Misunderstanding Meekness
- [07:25] - Raising a Generation of Men
- [08:12] - Sharing Truth Compassionately
- [09:16] - Eternal Perspective
- [10:32] - The Image of God in Us
- [11:06] - Truth and Compassion
- [12:42] - Inconsistencies in Belief
- [13:25] - The Compassionate Surgeon
- [14:55] - Telling the Truth in Love
- [16:28] - Pastor's Main Responsibility
- [17:23] - Preaching and Pastoral Work
- [19:26] - Love in Pastoral Ministry
- [21:00] - Congregation's Role
- [22:33] - Supporting Pastors
- [24:37] - Realistic Expectations
- [26:08] - Encouraging Pastors
- [27:47] - The Blue File
- [29:20] - Praying for Pastors
- [30:46] - Supporting Pastor's Family
- [31:30] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
2. Galatians 5:22-23
3. Matthew 5:5

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some characteristics of meekness as exemplified by Christ, according to the sermon? [06:36]

2. How does the sermon describe the role of a pastor in relation to their congregation? [19:26]

3. What is the significance of maintaining an eternal perspective as discussed in the sermon? [09:16]

4. According to the sermon, what are some common misconceptions about meekness in today's culture? [06:36]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest that a misunderstanding of meekness can impact the way Christians live out their faith? [06:36]

2. In what ways does the sermon propose that the holiness of God should influence church teachings and practices? [01:06]

3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between love and pastoral ministry, and why is it considered essential? [19:26]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of doctrine in combating false teachings within the church? [01:52]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own understanding of meekness. How can you cultivate true meekness in your daily interactions, especially in challenging situations? [06:36]

2. Consider the role of your pastor. How can you actively support them in their primary duties of preaching and teaching? What specific actions can you take this week? [24:37]

3. How can you maintain an eternal perspective in your daily life? Identify one area where you can shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal truths. [09:16]

4. Think about the teachings you receive at church. Are they aligned with the holiness of God and true doctrine? How can you encourage your church to prioritize these aspects? [01:06]

5. Reflect on the expectations you have of your pastor. Are they realistic and biblically grounded? How can you adjust your expectations to better support their ministry? [24:37]

6. Identify one way you can show love and encouragement to your pastor or church leaders this week. What specific action will you take? [26:08]

7. How can you personally contribute to a church environment that values doctrine and rejects self-centered approaches to faith? What steps can you take to promote this within your community? [01:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing God's Holiness Over Feel-Good Messages
In today's world, many churches are tempted to focus on messages that make people feel good rather than on the true teachings of God. This approach can lead to a self-centered faith that detracts from the holiness of God and the church's true purpose. The church is called to live according to God's standards, which requires a commitment to true doctrine and a rejection of self-centered approaches to faith. By prioritizing God's holiness, believers can align themselves with His calling and purpose. [01:06]

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV): "You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine."

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize God's holiness in your daily life, even when it challenges your comfort or preferences?


Day 2: Embracing True Meekness as Strength Under Control
Meekness is often misunderstood as weakness, but it is actually about strength under control. Christ exemplified true meekness, which involves being bold yet gentle, standing firm in faith while remaining humble. This is a vital characteristic for Christians to cultivate, as it reflects the nature of Christ and His teachings. By embracing meekness, believers can demonstrate strength through humility and gentleness, impacting those around them with the love and truth of the gospel. [06:36]

Matthew 5:5 (ESV): "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate strength through meekness in a challenging situation you are currently facing?


Day 3: Maintaining an Eternal Perspective
Christians are called to maintain an eternal perspective, recognizing that this life is not all there is. The reality of eternal life and death should guide our actions and beliefs, reminding us of the deeper truths of the gospel, which offer freedom and forgiveness from sin. By focusing on eternity, believers can live with purpose and hope, knowing that their lives have significance beyond the present moment. This perspective encourages a life of faithfulness and devotion to God's calling. [09:16]

2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one way you can shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal truths today?


Day 4: Love as the Foundation of Pastoral Ministry
A pastor's primary responsibility is to preach and teach out of love for the congregation. This love is what sustains the relationship between pastors and their congregations, allowing for effective ministry and spiritual growth. Pastors are called to serve with a heart of love, prioritizing the spiritual well-being of their congregations over personal ambition or recognition. This love-driven ministry fosters a nurturing environment where believers can grow in their faith and understanding of God's Word. [19:26]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: How can you support your pastor in their ministry of love and teaching within your church community?


Day 5: Supporting Pastors Through Understanding and Encouragement
Congregations should support their pastors by understanding their true roles and not placing unrealistic expectations on them. Pastors need time to prepare meaningful sermons, and congregations can help by praying for them, encouraging them, and allowing them the space to focus on their primary duties. By supporting pastors in this way, congregations contribute to a healthy church environment where spiritual growth and effective ministry can flourish. [24:37]

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV): "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Reflection: What specific action can you take this week to encourage and support your pastor in their ministry?

Quotes


Well. I was told to be quiet, but I'll be very brief. R.C. is absolutely right that it keeps coming back to the holiness of God. Is God who He says He is? Or is He what we make Him to be? And I think one of the great ways the holiness of God needs to be considered in America today is relative to the church. Are we, as Christians, looking for churches that live their lives and do their teaching the way God has called us to be? Or are we looking for churches that make us feel good and, and the feel-good, self-centered church is one of the greatest problems America faces today, I think. [00:41:36]

I think one of the big issues when, when you think about God, we go back to Calvin's Institutes and he talks about do we learn of ourselves by looking to God? Do we look to God, we learn of ourselves. And of course, the first thing that Calvin takes us to is the image of God. And that we are created in the image of God, which is also revealed in special revelation and is a biblical truth, but it's also just fundamental to nature. It is revealed in the natural law. And I keep circling back to this, especially for this next generation of identity issues and that fundamental challenge, that we are not created in the image of God, that we as a church need, as you told us, we need to speak that truth and we need to proclaim that truth. [00:45:00]

This is a very important matter, and I am grateful that we're discussing it, because I think that meekness and the subject of humility in general, because meekness does, does relate to humility, I think it's actually one of the most overlooked characteristics in the church. It's not something that we talk about as much as we ought to. And I also think it's one of the most misunderstood characteristics, particularly, in our culture today. It's misunderstood in that we associate meekness, as Steve was saying, meekness with weakness, in being a pushover, being a doormat, just being a nice guy who gets along and, you know, just goes along with anything. [06:11:46]

Christ was meek when He cleansed the temple. Christ was meek when he castigated the Pharisees and Sadducees. And so, we need to understand how we need to be able to stand firm and remain steadfast and remain humble and gentle and bold and unwavering. [08:02:06]

I think one of those is, sort of what came up in John, is Jesus came out of an interest for eternal life, not just the life of this world. And increasingly, people are being guided in our culture by a conviction, stated or unstated, that we only live in this life, so you have to grab all the gusto. How old of an ad is that? You have to grab all the life you can because you're only going around once. And we as Christians, I think, have to challenge that fundamental attitude. No, there's an eternal life to think about and an eternal death to think about, and we have to contemplate that. [09:02:41]

The truth of the gospel is freedom and forgiveness from sin, and that is compassion. It's the opposite of compassion to say to someone, you're better off remaining bound in your sin, remaining not what God created you to be, to remain bound to your idolatry and not free to worship the true God. The truth of the gospel is full of compassion, and we need to remember that as we preach that. [11:18:41]

I think when I first, when I first became a minister, I think, I think first and foremost, I was a preacher, an expounder of the Word of God. But I think as you, as you grow in ministry and you, you get older, you, you also realize that there's a lot of pastoral work that can be done and should be done in preaching. So, preaching to the affections of people, preaching to the needs of, of, of people, enabling them to see how this Scripture is meant to help them, help them grow, help them become what God wants them to become. [17:11:21]

Well, Paul says, 1 Timothy chapter 1, "The aim of our charge is love." And I think all I want to add to what Derek has said is, there are probably numbers of pastors here, but most of us who are here are not pastors, and you probably have very little idea how much you mean to your pastor. Because if he is really called to be a pastor, he loves you. If he doesn't, if he has not developed love for you, he should be doing something else. It is the absolute sine qua non of being in pastoral ministry, that in preaching and teaching, you do that not because you love to preach and teach, but because you love the people that you want to feed by preaching and teaching. [18:48:01]

One of the main reasons that pastors leave ministry is because of people having expectations. Just as you were talking about, Bob, that are not rooted in Scripture. Pastors are not the administrators. They are not fundamentally your counselor. They are not fundamentally the social organizer of the church or of the community. Pastors are not your mother, your father, or your best friend. Pastors are not deacons. Much of the work that we expect our pastors to do is the work of the diaconate. So many of the things that we expect of our pastors are not the primary work of the pastor. [24:28:06]

I want to give just a slightly different perspective, because I grew up in a pastor's home and very grateful for it. And, just very grateful from, you know, the time I can remember, just being in the church all the time. It's not necessarily grandiose big things. I think just little things people can do to encourage their pastors. And also, remember the pastor's family. They're not called to be the pastor of the church; the pastor is called to be the pastor. The wife is not called to be the assistant pastor. The kids are not called to be perfect. So, remember that. [26:02:46]

I've had probably hundreds of little notes or letters or cards. These days it's email and texts, which, which are more difficult to print out. But I've, I've kept them all and they're still in that blue file, and there are hundreds of them in there. And every now and then when I'm feeling a little blue, I'll, I'll take one out and I'll, I'll think, "Oh, well," you know. I've had my share of anonymous letters which I don't read. I just throw them in the trash. But those little, those little notes, they've taken time, they've taken ten, fifteen minutes to write, write it on a card. [27:47:06]

You know, people have said to me, "I pray for you every day." And that just blows my mind away. And I've often thought over the years, somehow or another, my survivability has been rooted in the prayers of the saints. And you know, if you do one thing for your minister, pray for him. If there's one thing you shouldn't do is say to your minister's wife when a visitor has preached, "That was a wonderful sermon," unless you have frequently said that to her about her husband's preaching. [29:27:06]

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Transcript
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