Search

Living Theologically

theology and the Christian life

Open Search
Tag

Ministry

Playing the Long-Game in Ministry

Last night in youth group we said goodbye to our students who have graduated high school and are heading out to college this week. It’s always difficult to see them go. But it’s also a joy. Because this is when we start to see whether our ministry to students was fruitful and effective.

As a youth pastor, I’m very much aware of the reality that the long-game matter more than the short. And yet, so much of ministry (especially in youth ministry) immediate results are how we measure success (and how others measure our effectiveness). Whether you’re a youth pastor, worship pastor, senior pastor, or a faithful volunteer in your church… there are a few important questions we need to ask.

Apple Tree.jpg Continue reading “Playing the Long-Game in Ministry” →

1

Why Seminary is Worth It

On the Facebook groups I’m a part of, this seems to be a fairly regular question: “People keep encouraging me to go to seminary. Is it worth it for youth pastors?” As someone who has studied to complete two seminary degrees (M.Div. & D.Min., both at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary), and as someone who has been in full-time youth ministry for a decade, I think I’m qualified to finally address this question on the blog. What I’ve written below is largely based off my M.Div. since that’s far more common. If you would like to discuss the benefits of a D.Min. please comment on this post and we can dialogue there.

I want to address three common objections before presenting some reasons why I believe seminary is important (not essential, but important) for anyone who is called to lifelong pastoral ministry. After those three objections, you’ll see my list of arguments for why seminary is worth pursuing.

Why Seminary? Continue reading “Why Seminary is Worth It” →

4

10 Books Every Youth Worker Should Read

With the amount of books out there today, it’s overwhelming to know what to read and what’s worth skipping. These books run the spectrum from books for youth workers to theology books that address issues youth workers should be aware of.

Since I’m giving you plenty to read below, let’s cut to the chase… here are ten books (other than the Bible, that’s obviously the #1 book for us all) I’m convinced every youth worker should read, followed by a short explanation why I think it’s so valuable.

Bookshelves

Continue reading “10 Books Every Youth Worker Should Read” →

1

More Than Authenticity

God desires more than authenticity. God desires worship that is right.

I recently read through Leviticus, and while it isn’t the most exciting reading in Scripture (and certainly isn’t as quotable as Paul’s writing), I was continually humbled by the details God provided for Israel’s worship. The sacrifices were taken very seriously. If the priest offered them in any way other than the prescribed way, the offering would not be acceptable to God. In some cases, the priests themselves were immediately judged by God for their casual approach to the sacrifices (here’s looking at you, Nadab and Abihu).

In a world of phonies, it’s easy to affirm the important of authenticity. The problem isn’t that authenticity is bad, but that we are often authentically wrong.

We must resist the urge to say that worship styles that are different from our own preferences is wrong, but we must equally resist the spirit of the day which affirms every worship style which is authentic.

0

What Do You Need to Know to be Saved?

Man in Church

This is an important question, because it directly affects how you present the Gospel to an unbeliever.

 

Minimalist & Heavy-Handed Examples
For instance, if you take a minimalist approach then you’ll probably share the “Gospel” like this:

God loves you and wants more for you than you’re experiencing. You need to receive his love and choose to love him back!

But where’s the actual Gospel in there? There’s no Jesus, no cross, no resurrection, and no confession of sin or repentance. There’s very little “knowledge” in there, and I’m afraid that many Christians today share the Gospel far more like the above example than they realize. Continue reading “What Do You Need to Know to be Saved?” →

1

If Grace is Sufficient…

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

The Christian life is not one of strength, but one of weakness. We are not called to live in a way that is seeking glory, but the the cross. To be broken and poured out, not to be exalted and lifted up. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35).

If we want to follow Jesus, then we will follow him to the cross. For in God’s economy, glory comes only through the cross. Jesus’ promise was never that he bore the cross in order that we might receive glory without suffering. No, the promise is that there is hope and future glorification for those who endure by faith.

Martin Luther talked a lot about being a “Theologian of the Cross” rather than a “Theology of Glory.” The article linked to above is helpful in fleshing that out in ways I don’t feel the need to repeat here.

If God’s grace is sufficient, then…

  • When I have nothing left to give, God will make my pitiful offering a valuable treasure.
  • I don’t need to “have it all together” in order to be used by God.
  • I don’t need to hide in shame over my sin and failures, because they have been redeemed and used by God to demonstrate his strength.
  • I have peace, because I can trust that God is the one who bears fruit, not me.
  • I am humbled… because God chose me despite my brokenness (not because I was worthy).

In life and in ministry there are times when we simply run out of strength to offer. It is in those seasons when being a Theologian of the Cross is of particular encouragement. My usefulness in ministry (preaching, teaching, counseling, mentoring, etc.) doesn’t come from my strength, but from God’s grace. And my faithfulness in leading my family (loving my wife and kids in a way that reflects God’s perfect love and leading my family in Scripture and prayer) are also an overflow of whether or not I am drawing from the well of grace, if I’m running on reserves, or if I’m totally dry.

I’m thankful for God’s grace. Without it I’d be useless… I’d remain the self-centered, impatient, snarky guy who thinks he’s got all the answers. When I remember God’s grace, the Holy Spirit pulls me out of myself and reminds me of the patience and mercy I’ve received – and He empowers me to give what I have received.

What difference does the sufficiency of grace (not just the “idea” of grace, but the reality that you have received it by God) make in your life?

1

Fear & Pastoral Visition

During my final year in seminar working towards completing my M.Div. I was interning at a church where I was asked to make regular pastoral visits to the elderly folk at the assisted living home next door to the church. As someone who has always gotten along well with “old people” this shouldn’t have terrified me as much as it did. I knew many of them already and chatted easily with them before and after Sunday worship. I truly cared for them and wanted to know how I could serve them and minister to them.

And while that last sentence is true, I was so terrified of being asked a question I didn’t know how to answer that I often found myself neglecting those pastoral visits. In fact, this is still an area of my ministry that I struggle with. Those who know me may be surprised to find that I am, by nature, an introvert (yes, I know it’s suddenly trendy and cool to claim being an introvert… when and how did that happen!). I’ve learned to be more extroverted and outgoing for the sake of ministry, but the fear of speaking with people whom I don’t know well continues to strike fear into my heart.

A friend from church sent me a link to the following blog post about “The Lost Work of Pastoral Visitation.” There is much in the article to commend (although I do confess skimming over a few paragraphs), but the following portion in particular struck me for what should be obvious reasons:

We hear much today, and rightly so, of churches committed to simple means of grace. I suggest that if your ministry does not include systematic family visitation, you are neglecting an important means of grace. I challenge you to rethink your ministerial philosophy. If you have not been doing regular pastoral visitation, I encourage you to repent and seek God’s grace to start immediately.

In whatever capacity you serve in your church, I encourage you to prayerfully consider working towards re-claiming this important ministry. It may not be something that comes naturally to you, it certainly isn’t for me either, but if we are not willing to obey this important area of pastoral duty then perhaps there are other questions we ought to be asking…

  • If a pastor completely neglects pastoral visitations, what does that say about his desire to see his congregation grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ?
  • How does the pastor raise up and train others (particularly Elders and Deacons) to conduct pastoral visitations?
  • Why do you believe pastoral visitations have become so rare in the church today?
0

Trinitarian Authority & Submission

I had a short but interesting discussion the the man who leads our church’s prison ministry today. He referred to the mutual submission within the Persons of the Trinity as a model for how we all should relate to and submit to one another in the Church.

He’s definitely right, and it’s not a new thought to me. The servanthood and submission we see between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is astonishingly glorious. And yet, while we need to learn and be humbled by this, we also need to resist an anti-authoritarian mindset that insinuates leadership and authority are bad.

Afterall, the Trinity is not the Brother, the Brother, and Holy Spirit. Scripture affirms the Father and the Son. Jesus himself says, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8:28). There is authority, there is submission, and yet there is equality.  This is something worth chewing on as you consider the church, leadership, and ministry.

What implications do you see the Trinity having for Christian leadership?

What theological nuggets am I missing as we consider the authority and submission between the Persons of the Trinity?

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑