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Soldiers in Ministry by C.J.

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C.J. gives us a quote for men who serve in ministry and how men can support their local pastor. He writes:

Men who pastor small churches have my deepest respect. These guys are my heroes for the way they quietly and faithfully serve and persevere in difficult and challenging contexts, and do so with joy. That is why, during a panel discussion at Together for the Gospel, I was coming out of my chair as John MacArthur made the following remarks in response to a good question by Thabiti:

Thabiti Anyabwile: I am thinking about folks who are traveling with me. I am deeply encouraged with their being here. And I see other pastors traveling with some of the elders and members in the church. I assume they are likewise encouraged. Any words that you would offer to folks here who maybe aren’t in pastoral ministry? Maybe they are here to support their pastor in the kind of faithfulness you are talking about. Any exhortations to them, practical ways that they can hold the pastor’s arms up in this kind of faithfulness and trusting in God?



John MacArthur: What I cherish the most is a true and loving loyalty. This disloyalty, betrayal, undermining, just cuts the heart out of your pastor. When I talk about loving loyalty, I mean when there is an issue that needs to be addressed you go eyeball-to-eyeball, man-to-man, and you confront it. And I love that. I love when guys come to me and say, “John, I think this is a problem. I think you are overlooking this. I think this is a misstep on your part.” Those are the men I cherish. Those are the men I pull to my heart. 



But what is just terribly debilitating is to feign that kind of affection to the man and then undermine that among the people. That is the most difficult thing. It is the betrayal that that brings. I could endure any problem in a church. I am challenged to solve any problem. But it is so hard when the men that you trust betray you behind your back. Because he is God’s man in your midst, you give him your love and you give him your loyalty. Be honest with him, face to face, man to man, open hearted. But understand the burden that he bears, and you need to be his true friend. You really do.

It is especially important for pastors who serve alone. At a different point in the discussion, MacArthur addressed the struggles single-staff pastors face:

I find my joy in the church in the men I work with, in their growth and their partnership and their love and their loyalty and their support of me. 
 
For me, I think that would be the hardest thing about being a pastor at a small church, being there alone and trying to carry that burden by yourself. That is why some of you are here, because you need this. You don’t even so much need what we say—you need each other. You need to feel like you are a part of something way beyond your own thing, and we embrace you fully.



I have often said the Lord must prefer small churches because he made so many of them. And you guys that are alone in those churches, you are the real soldiers, you are the real warriors. We thank God for you.


MLJ on Finding God’s Will

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Justin Buzzard has an excellent post, with the relevant quote available as a PDF, on what he calls “The Most Helpful Thing I’ve Ever Read About God’s Guidance” from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones advising his daughter when she was seeking to know God’s will. It is taken from Volume 2 of Iain Murray’s excellent bio (p.177):

These are the rules which I would advise you to observe:
1. Never speak to anyone about it. Don’t tell people what you are feeling and discuss it and ask for advice. That always leads to still more uncertainty and confusion. Make an absolute rule of this at all costs. Say nothing until you are absolutely certain, because we are all subject to self suggestion.

2. Do not even think about it and discuss the pros and cons with yourself. Once more this leads to auto suggestion and confusion.

3. In meetings, etc., do not start with the thought in your mind, ‘I wonder whether this is going to throw light on my question or help in any way?’

4. In other words, you must not try to anticipate God’s leading. Believing as I do that God does ‘call’ very definitely, and in a distinct and definite doctrine of a call, and a vocation is distinct from the ‘need is the call’ idea, I believe that God will always make His will and His way plain and clear. With reverence, therefore, I
say leave it to God entirely as regards purpose, time and all else.

All you have to do is to tell God that you are content to do His will whatever it may be and, more, that you will rejoice to do His will. Surrender yourself, your life, your future entirely to Him and leave it at that… You must not go on asking God to show you His way. Leave it to Him and refuse to consider it until He makes it impossible for you not to do so.

Gospel Centered Families

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Timmy Brister reflects on how the Gospel should influence our families:
1. Discipline in the home facilitates gospel mission.
2. Godliness in the home facilitates leadership development.
3. Humility in the home facilitates transparent community.
4. Simplicity in the home facilitates personal sacrifice.
5. Training in the home facilitates disciple-making.
6. Hospitality in the home facilitates ministry to others.

His conclusion:

When you think about the church, wouldn’t we want to see more people engaged in gospel mission, more leaders being developed and empowered, more transparent and authentic community, more personal sacrifice for the advance of the kingdom, more disciples being made, and more people ministering to others? That’s a tall order, right? What kind of program, technique, or best practice can facilitate this? My answer is gospel-centered families. If you do not take the gospel seriously in marriages, parenting, and overall home life, then all kinds of substitutes will attempt to promise what they cannot deliver. May God give us grace to embrace the gospel daily in our lives, in our families, and in our churches!

Next Conference Online

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I’ve had the privilege of attending the Next Conference (formerly called New Attitude) put on by Sovereign Grace Ministries three times in my life. This conference is usually held over Memorial Day weekend. Each time I’ve attended was a time God worked in my life in amazing ways through His Word. Each year, they put the audio of the conference online for free. Here’s this year’s:

Joshua Harris, What Are You Built On?
Mark Dever, The Doctrine of Christ’s Work Accomplished and Applied
Kevin DeYoung, Scripture
C.J. Mahaney, Sanctification
D.A. Carson, God
Kevin DeYoung, The Church
Jeff Purswell, The End Times

Related to the conference, they do amazing music. Bob Kauflin has put the Next 2010 Set List online for us to know exactly what music they did. This includes a lot of free chord charts and lead sheets for worship people.

On the Personal Side… (3)

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If you’ve been following my weekend, today is the day my wife returns from Florida. Although the night included Andrew waking up at 1:30AM claiming “something was in his room,” the night was pretty uneventful. Woke up to both boys ready to play at 6:55AM. During breakfast, I broke a tooth. Strange for me…I’ve never had teeth issues. But, for whatever reason, that bread seemed too big for my tooth to overcome. That was trial #1. It’s been crazy. I’m ready for Meg to be home and know that God wants to continue sanctifying me, exposing my heart’s weakness in this crazy day.

Got time this morning to do reading, (read Spurgeon on Colossians 3:1-2), listening (Chandler’s latest sermon as well as an excellent sermon from JR Vassar on what the church is to be and do), and cleaning (flooded the kitchen with laundry water). But, looking forward to heading to Wichita around 4 to get my babe.

Weekend Recap – Union With Christ

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As I was reflecting on Sunday AM’s events, I am still a bit awestruck by the implications of what it means to be united to Christ. The sermon, Union, from Colossians 2:20-23 is now online. The sermon really talked about the effects that being in union with Christ has upon the believer. Specifically, our connection with the world is severed and we are given real, effectual help in fighting sin. The challenge is that many of us think that we can defeat sin in our own ability. We need to remember that it is all Christ. As we received Christ Jesus, the Lord, we are to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith, just as we were taught, abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7). Let’s look to our union with Christ and find it to be sufficient for our fight with sin.

On the Personal Side … (2)

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If you read my last post, it seemed as though I was going to cruise through the weekend without a hitch. After a great Friday night with friends, who really helped to give me a break, I was rolling Saturday AM. Got the boys loaded and picked up a package at the post office, but when I got back in the car, it wouldn’t start. After much work (and coming home using the truck to shuttle the boys around to run some other errands), found out the starter needed replaced and finished that up around 6:45PM. After supper, baths and prep for Sunday, boys went down.

Today was a pretty uneventful day, getting up and getting the boys around and then settling into a typical Sunday AM routine at church. Got through everything, grabbed some lunch with other friends, and came home and all boys (including me) got a nap in. Tonight, we get to be with some other friends for a Fish Fry. Just one more day till Mom gets home. I can’t wait!

Please continue to pray that God would be glorified in our home.

On the Personal Side… (1)

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A few of you know that Meg is in Florida with her mom for the weekend, which leaves me home with the 2 boys (4 and 2 year old if your wondering). Had a productive day yesterday: a friend came over and helped me clean maple tree sproutlets out of the gutters, fix the attic fan and put together a swingset. In the evening, we went to watch our adult church softball team play (we won pretty handily). Then, we went and got some ice cream.

Today, ran a few errands and am home enjoying some down time while the boys sleep. Have some friends over tonight for a break (for kids from me and me to adult world conversations).

So…if you’re a reader of mine, please pray that I would exhibit godliness to my boys by being patient with them, having a few extra things to account for this weekend. I really enjoy having an opportunity like this (and being able to bless Meg in this way), but I realize also my sinful nature is crouching at the door waiting to be served and I want to master it so the boys are served well. Pray for me to be holy in this.