Ministry Lessons part 2

Last month I started to address lessons from 25ish years of ministry.  I did a “part one” but remembered I didn’t give you the second half. 

Reminder from last month:
1. People are different.  There’s no room for a “one-size-fits-all” ministry.
2. It’s not mine.  I participate in the call, I don’t own it.
3. I’m not an island.  Healthy relationships are crucial.
4. What matters needs to matter.  Too much energy is give to what doesn’t really matter.
5.  Learning never stops.  I still feel like a rookie.

The rest:
6. Baggage doesn’t eliminate me 
The past haunts people in the pews and people in the pulpit.  When I read through the Bible and scan through history there is an interesting pattern of God using broken people with a lot of baggage.  God doesn’t count someone out who has baggage, but He won’t let us pretend we don’t have it or treat it as if it’s no big deal.  

7. It’s a lot easier without baggage 
I so rejoice in the choices I could have made and didn’t.  It’s a lot easier to not pick baggage up than it is to put it down.  Choices matter.  The choices I’m making right now could be tomorrow’s baggage or today’s victory.  We can choose to live in such a way that stops baggage from accumulating.     

8. Humility counts
There’s way too much “meism” in ministry.  It’s my vision.  I am the leader.  I call the shots.  I deserve….  Arrogance doesn’t stop being a sin when you’re in ministry.  In fact, it’s uglier in ministry.  The voice of authority and the voice arrogance will not sing a duet.  God gives one and sin gives the other.  One builds on a rock, the other builds on sand.  Humility counts.    

9. The issue is fruit 
You can be so talented and gifted that it leaks out of your ears, but the issue to God is fruit.  A right heart will be used by God to produce right fruit.  The church of America does entirely too much whining about the culture and not enough ministering to the culture.  Both actions produce fruit, it’s just that one of them produces rotten fruit.  Finish this sentence, “To God the obvious fruit of my life/ministry is___________.”  

10.  The Word
I am a student of the Word of God.  Not just my favorite sections that speak to my hot spots - all of it.  The story of the message of Christ involves all of the Word, and so should my own story.  People don’t need me, they need the God who is writing my story and longs for them to see His role in theirs.  For me looking to the Word with fresh eyes and open ears is two steps beyond crucial.  

Still Learning,

Pastor Dave