Here’s the email I wrote to elders and deacons at Crestview today, 9/10/13:
As we continue to think about Tripp’s Dangerous Calling book, we were encouraged to read Chapter 7 and I was reminded of this section of Tripp’s talk in the last video:
“Ministry is always shaped by a war between the kingdom of self and the kingdom of God, which is fought on the field of your heart. The reason this war is so dangerous and deceptive is that you build both kingdoms in ministry by doing ministry! Perhaps some theological background would be helpful here. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that Jesus came so that those who live would no longer “live for themselves.” Paul is arguing something significant here, something that every [leader] should remember. He is arguing that the DNA of sin is selfishness. Sin inserts me into the middle of my universe, the one place reserved for God and God alone. Sin reduces my field of concern down to my wants, my needs, and my feelings. Sin really does make it all about me.”
Beware of the tendency to make ministry more about you than about God. We will tend to drift into this naturally, I think. But, fight this. There’s a war going on for your heart. Honor God by serving in a way that is distinctly about God’s kingdom, not yours.