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How to Encourage Your Pastor This Summer

by Steve Burchett

Attendance, and unfortunately enthusiasm, is significantly lacking in most local churches during the summer months. Vacations, reunions, camps, and other activities take people out of town, leaving even the main worship service of the week with gaps in the pews wider than a dump truck. A pastor typically prepares for this, yet he still might become significantly discouraged.

Have you considered the possibility that you could be a great encouragement to your pastor this summer? Consider these four ways to bring him joy:

1. Engage the preaching better than you ever have before.

In the first church where I was the main preacher, I can remember several Sundays during the summer months when at least half of the regular congregation was gone. The atmosphere was far from "electric." Nevertheless, I had a responsibility to "preach the word . . . in season and out of season." I was bound to "reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).

During those summer months, the Lord used certain individuals, and their hunger for Scripture, to keep me positive. In my mind's eye, I can still see a lady named Mary Jane captivated by the teaching of the Bible. I can still hear a gentleman named Jeff, after the service, asking insightful questions about the biblical text. Their love for the Bible was a great strength.

For your pastor's joy, you could make an extra effort to eagerly listen to, discuss, and then live out what is preached this summer.

2. Increase your giving through the summer months.

Summertime is often a fiscally lean stretch for a local church. In a "perfect" church, the members would compensate for their absences (for example, giving twice as much if they missed the previous Sunday), but this is rarely the case. The financial crunch that ensues can become a major stress in the life of a pastor, especially if the church has a building that requires regular upkeep, or a monthly rent payment. Plans and dreams for the church might have to be delayed because of the shortfall.

How might you be an encouragement in this area? Imagine this scenario: Ten families in your church each determine to give an extra ten dollars a week for the summer months (approximately 12 weeks). By the end of the summer, each family will have given $120 more than normal. When you multiply that by ten families, you get $1200. Though that may not seem like much money to a large church, most of us are part of smaller churches where even $100 is appreciated. Imagine the joy the Lord might bring to your pastor and church if many of you are cheerful givers this summer! (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7)

3. Attend the typically smaller Bible study and/or prayer meeting.

Unfortunately in most churches, the meetings other than the main service are significantly less attended throughout the year, and this problem is magnified in the summertime. You might be tempted to skip some of these meetings this summer because, you say to yourself, "How enjoyable will it be if only a few people come?"

But think about this: Those meetings will potentially be even less pleasurable if you are not there. Determine to go, participate, and speak words that are "good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear," including your pastor (Ephesians 4:29).

4. Pray for your pastor, and tell him about your prayers.

Pray in light of certain truths in Scripture, such as Psalm 147:5, "Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite." Pray also with God's promises in mind, like Romans 8:31-32, "What then shall we say? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Regularly share with your pastor about what you have been praying, even sharing key verses with him.

Similarly, call upon the Lord regarding the unique challenges that summer brings. For example, pray that when your pastor preaches to a half-full congregation, he would still "preach the word" in view of the coming judgment (2 Timothy 4:1-2). And then a Monday morning e-mail to your pastor about how the Lord answered your prayers for his preaching would be treasured immensely.

"But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Copyright © 2008 Steve Burchett. Permission granted for reproduction in exact form. All other uses require written permission.

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Southern Baptists: An Unregenerate Denomination

For this article by Jim Elliff, click here.

Fathering "By the Book"

by Daryl Wingerd

Comedian Bill Cosby once said this:

If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.

I'm sure (or at least I hope) Mr. Cosby was only kidding. Perhaps he meant to say that whatever you do as a father will either be right or wrong. If that is what he meant, I agree. But if he meant to say that the best you can do as a father facing difficult child-raising issues is to flip a coin (so to speak), he could not be more wrong.

To actually flip a coin in such important matters would be callous and foolhardy, to say the least. But many well-meaning fathers employ a method that is no more reliable. They review the findings of the psychological community and base their parenting strategies on what they learn from parenting magazines or psychological journals. Because these are the "experts" (it is assumed), their instructions are reliable. But are they?

Well, not exactly. More often than most people know, the "experts" disagree with each other. Since the 1960s, psychology has devolved into nearly 150 different branches of opinion regarding everything from child-rearing to the treatment of mental illnesses. One "authoritative" and "scientific" conclusion contradicts another, only to be contradicted itself by yet another. The resulting "expert counsel" is a mass of confusion and disagreement.

The truth is, relying on these "experts" is far less certain than flipping a coin. True, every new opinion is either right or wrong. But the sheer number of different and ever-changing opinions means most of them cannot be right. What comes up heads today (in the opinion of the "experts") will likely be tails tomorrow.

If you're comfortable with all of this as a father, by all means grab the nearest psychological journal or modern parenting magazine. Or, you may choose to rely on your "gut feelings"—your "fathering instincts." After all, if God gave you children, He also gave you the insight and ability to raise them properly on your own—right? Again, not exactly. You need direction. And God has provided it. There is only one source where you can find all the right answers concerning fathering (as well as sin, salvation, and everything else important in life). That singular and final authority is the Word of God—the Bible—a book of truth that stands in authoritative judgment of all "expert opinions" and "gut feelings."

You see, the Bible does not need to be (nor can it be) corrected or improved by new "findings." The Word of God always has and still does give us "all things that pertain to life and godliness," (2 Pet. 1:3). It is a body of doctrine that has been "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). "The grass withers and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever" (1 Pet. 1:24-25).

Add to this the fact that the Bible tells us, over and over, to be distrustful of human wisdom, whether our own or that of the "experts." "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Prov. 16:25). "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God" (1 Cor. 3:19). Concerning so many of today's "experts," people who either ignore or think they have improved upon the wisdom of God in the Bible, Paul would say, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:22).

By raising our children in moral, ethical, and spiritual ways that ignore or contradict Scripture, we sin, and we teach them to sin. We teach them to view and respond to God's Word as nothing more than a collection of antiquated and irrelevant sayings. As a result, "God says . . ." will carry no more weight of authority for them than "Confucius says . . ." or "Oprah says . . ."

Fathers, I encourage you—no, I implore you—to diligently, intentionally, consistently, and boldly reject any "wisdom" that is not consistent with God's Word. Given the natural and prevailing human tendency toward error and away from truth, to go on trusting yourself or the "experts" over the Bible is worse than playing heads or tails.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Copyright © 2006 Daryl Wingerd. Permission granted for reproduction in exact form including web address. All other uses require written permission.

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"We Should Speak Like This"

A message from Jim Elliff on James 4:13-17 - Click Here.

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Check out our home page, www.CCWtoday.org, for the latest articles and specials on books. These were just posted this week.

Hit By the Pitch

by Daryl Wingerd

As an assistant coach for my son's baseball team, I have watched a particularly formative event take place in the lives of many Little Leaguers. They come out to play with the greatest enthusiasm, but then something happens—something which even the most talented players are not always able to overcome. They are hit by the pitch.

Suddenly, enthusiasm for the game turns to fear. The dream about hitting the ninth-inning home run to win the seventh game of the World Series turns into a desire to take up lawn-bowling, ping-pong, or some other less-threatening form of athletic competition.

These youngsters may still stand in the batter's box with a determined appearance, gritting their teeth and waggling the bat as they wait. But behind the mask of self-confidence, they are thinking more about avoiding the potential pain than about concentrating on the pitch and making solid contact. The player dominated by fear will bail out before the pitch ever gets there, even if it is right down the middle. His left foot (if he is a right-handed batter) will step toward third base rather than toward the pitcher, moving his whole body away from the plate and making it unlikely that he will ever get a good hit. Ball players sometimes call this "stepping in the bucket," and it is a difficult habit to break.

Some players never overcome their fear. One Little Leaguer I coached was so fearful that he would jump completely out of the batter's box every time the ball was pitched. Another asked if he could play in the field, but not bat.

Those who go on to be effective baseball players in high-school, college, or the professional ranks learn that while getting hit by the pitch is not pleasant, it is part of the game. All serious baseball players get hit by the pitch sooner or later. Some get hit a lot! Former Major Leaguer Hughie Jennings holds the all-time record: he was hit by the pitch 287 times during his career! Ouch! The record-holder among current players is Craig Biggio who has been hit 273 times. Fifty-six Major Leaguers have been hit 100 or more times. And these are no 40 mile-per-hour Little League pitches, but bullets coming in at them 80-100 miles-per-hour!

Just as getting hit by the pitch is an unpleasant but ordinary part of playing baseball, there is an unpleasant but ordinary part of being a Christian. I am speaking of the experience of being misunderstood, rejected, ridiculed, or even physically persecuted because of the gospel. The difficulties related to speaking and living the truth don't usually affect professing Christians who prefer "sitting on the bench"—those who are more like spectators than active participants. They happen to those who boldly engage the world by unashamedly presenting and defending the biblical message (see Rom. 1:16)—those who live lives that honor Christ and therefore expose the unholiness of those around them (see Eph. 5:7-11). Because they stay in the box, they often suffer for it.

The Apostle Paul probably holds the record for getting "hit by the pitch" most often. He was whipped five times, beaten with rods three times, and stoned once. Add to this, as Paul said of his own experience, "danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure" (2 Cor. 11:24-27). In another place he described himself and the other apostles as fools for Christ's sake, weak, dishonored, hungry and thirsty, poorly dressed, buffeted, homeless, persecuted, and slandered. He concluded by saying, "We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things" (1 Cor. 4:10-13).

Please don't misunderstand; Paul was not immune to the temptation to "step in the bucket." Admitting his personal weakness, he asked the Christians in Ephesus to pray for him so that he would speak boldly as he ought to speak (Eph. 6:20). By the grace of God, he did not allow his weakness to paralyze him. He refused to live the "safe" Christian life because such a life is purchased at the price of silence or compromise.

How about you? Are you willing to be hit by the pitch? Or do you prefer to play in the field, but not bat? An old hymn by Isaac Watts contains the introspective questions every professing Christian should ask:

Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb,

And shall I fear to own His cause, or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?

Copyright © 2006 Daryl Wingerd. Permission granted for reproduction in exact form. All other uses require written permission.

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Training Men

[Below is an article written by the elders of Christ Fellowship of Kansas City on how we seek to develop men in our church. Our church is made up of several home congregations, each led by an elder. This provides a structure to mentor men that is natural and effective. In fact, it is our commitment to mentor every man in the church! If your church is not set up this way, you may find other ways to subdivide the church in order to train men. We hope you get some ideas from this article.]

The elders of Christ Fellowship believe that a relational approach to training men is superior to an institutional or programmatic method. We are committed to this concept because we see it so clearly demonstrated in our Master's training of His disciples and in the Apostle Paul's strategy with Timothy, Titus and a number of other men he led. For instance, Jesus chose men He wanted to be His disciples "so that they would be with Him, and that He could send them out to preach" (Mark 3:14). In this case, "preach" means to evangelize or herald the good news. The combination of "being with Christ" and having opportunity to evangelize under his supervision provided the perfect environment for spiritual growth. Therefore, at the heart of all that we do for Christian maturity and leadership development, we intend to promote loving and purposeful mentoring relationships between the men of the church and their elders. Every man who is a member will be involved on this level with his pastor.

The elders will help every man under their care to grow in six significant areas: character, knowledge, skills, enthusiasm, faith, and affection. Although there are other ways of analyzing development, these six items provide an excellent evaluative guide concerning key biblical qualities integral to Christian growth that will move men toward better leadership in the home, community and church.

If a man is strong in knowledge, yet weak in skills, his knowledge may never make much difference for the kingdom of God. Or, if a man has exceptional skills, yet lacks character, his efforts will consistently be undermined by his lifestyle. Or, if he has character without enthusiasm for carrying out God's will, he may be severely stunted in his ability to stimulate his family and friends to follow after Christ. Therefore, the elders will seek to develop these six areas of maturity concurrently and evenly in each man, with the intent of maximizing his effectiveness at every level of growth.

Emulating the method of Christ, the elders of Christ Fellowship are also committed to promoting experience as a teacher and trainer of men. Jesus "sent them out to preach." In other words, we want to foster the best environment possible for a man to exercise his gifts and leadership. When a man tries and fails, he will ask questions that are pertinent. He will desire good answers. He will listen, learn and apply.

With these two concepts in mind (relational mentoring and opportunity for experience), how does Christian growth and leadership development for men work out practically in our context?

First, the home congregation meeting itself is a seedbed for spiritual growth and improvement of leadership. For instance, the open session portion of our weekly meeting gives opportunity for men to speak out about Christ, the Scriptures and their life with God. Also, the willingness of our men to guide us in the Lord's Supper each week provides opportunity to grow in the formulation and expression of biblical messages. Some men will even be given opportunity to expound the Scriptures as the main teaching of the home congregation meeting. It goes without saying that the relaxed sharing of ideas and discussion of the Bible truths naturally taking place around the table during our meal time is perfect for spiritual growth in a variety of ways. Mature believers often find themselves instructing younger believers as an extension of these meetings.

Second, each elder will spend time with his men as a small group (or one on one as necessary) in a weekly mentoring time. Usually these meetings take place early in the morning before work. Most of the time, a book of the Bible is studied, or a theological book read, with the underlying purpose of training and maturing the men. In these meetings problem issues may be shared, challenges given, prayers offered, and questions discussed in such a way that life change is taking place. Because the elders are intent upon knowing each of their men well, and are motivated to bring them to spiritual maturity and into the use of their spiritual gifts, these meetings take on a personal tone saturated with pastoral care. The pastors and men who enjoy this close relationship will be together in other informal ways as a natural outgrowth of such commitment to each other. We believe it is essential for each man to be part of such a relationship with other men and his elder.

Additional gatherings of men are provided in order to train, encourage and instruct. For instance, a men's Bible study takes place weekly in six to eight week blocks throughout the year. This is for all the men of the various congregations. The "open home-open heart" hospitality of the church affords men further learning experiences. A yearly retreat, trips to conferences, work outings for the members, and other special gatherings promote growth as well.

Eldership and other vocational opportunities

Through mentoring relationships, the elders come to know their flock well. They become familiar with the inner life, struggles, interests, qualifications, weaknesses, and desires of each man. When the need arises and certain men known to the elders are ready, qualified, and motivated to serve as fellow pastors, the elders will seek to prepare them in whatever way is necessary. Some men may also be ready for service as deacons, missionaries, or evangelistic laborers. The men are encouraged to talk about their desires with their elders. The elders themselves are seeking to know God's will about potential leaders as a regular part of their work for the church. Not every man is ready immediately to lead just because he senses the desire. The church has a plan for choosing and installing elders (and deacons) outlined in other documents.

Sometimes men from either within or outside of our church will be asked if they are willing to be considered as potential elders. These men will already have pastoral skills, spiritual gifts, and maturity that the elder team considers beneficial for our church. Careful evaluation of the six characteristics of mature leaders and a comprehensive look at the biblical qualifications will be part of the process for discovering God's will for these men. The elders will spend extra time with them to help them understand the church and its characteristics. When ready, these men will assume the role of a designated leader of a home congregation. After some time of leading in this way, they will be ready for our process for approving and installing elders. This process will serve as a final check on determining the Lord's will for the church and for them. If approved, they will take on the full pastoral responsibility that was originally intended for them.

Internship

On occasion, some men from outside our church may move to our area for the purpose of internship with our elders. These men come at their own expense to be part of the life of the church. Their involvement with us does not guarantee that they will be invited to be leaders in our church after the internship is over. Other interns will arise from within our church. Internship is limited to men who are hopeful of future pastoral or missionary service, regardless of where they may eventually labor.

Our plan for interns will be the same as for all the men, mentoring by the elders and opportunity to exercise gifts and graces God has given. In addition to these, the interns will be asked to interact with the elders in three ways: 1. They will be asked to interview elders individually about certain pastoral issues. 2. They will be invited to meetings to discuss pastoral issues with the elder team. 3. They will at times be asked to join in the elders' weekly meetings in order to get a feel for the kind of ministry we do. They will also be asked to participate in what we call "synagogue evangelism," that is, getting involved with religious groups in our community that do not have a clear understanding of the gospel. The elders may guide them into various disciplines, experiences, and ministries as needed to prepare them for their future.

Conclusion

The elders will discuss the strengths, weaknesses and possible plans of action for each man as a regular agenda item in their meetings in order to remain focused on the objective of building godly men and capable spiritual leaders. They will also seek to observe their own weaknesses and strengths in order to mature and grow in leadership.

To summarize, we intend to know the men well, to address their needs, aspirations and growth issues as an extension of authentic pastoral relationships, and to provide numerous opportunities for each man to grow by using his gifts and abilities both inside and outside our church.

Copyright © 2009 Christ Fellowship Elders. Christian Communicators Worldwide, Inc. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in unedited form including author's name, title, complete content, copyright and weblink. Other uses require written permission.

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A Most Unlikely Wedding

by Susan Verstraete

He was a most unlikely groom in a most unlikely wedding. For years Richard had waxed eloquent on his conviction that a pastor who was doing his job correctly would have no time for a family. He followed his own advice and was a confirmed bachelor until the age of 47, and yet, here he was, waiting for his soon-to-be bride—a woman only half his age—to come down the aisle.

Richard Baxter served as the curate (assistant to the local vicar or priest) in the church at Kidderminster, a village of poor handloom weavers near London. It was a wicked place when he arrived in 1641, but by the time he left in 1660 the combination of his powerful preaching ministry and constant pastoral visitation, blessed by the Holy Spirit, had brought revival to the village. Baxter said, "When I came thither first, there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on His name, and when I came away there were some streets where there was not past one family in the side of a street that did not so. . ."

Mary Hanmer, a wealthy widow, moved to Kidderminster in 1655 specifically to place herself and her 16 year-old daughter, Margaret under Baxter's preaching. Margaret was a shallow and frivolous girl who cared more for her clothing than for her soul. She hated the dreary life in Kiddermaster and rebelled against her mother by dressing as ostentatiously as possible in contrast to the poor of the city. She was a flirt, worldly, vain and apparently shallow. But more was going on in Margaret's life than met the eye.

Under Baxter's preaching, Margaret slowly became awakened to her own sins of selfishness and pride. She entered a time of rigorous self-examination and prayer, and began corresponding with Baxter for spiritual counsel. By 1659, she was certain that she had come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Baxter left Kiddermaster in 1660 to help Charles II plan the restoration of the Church of England. Despite his objections, Margaret and her mother followed Baxter to London. In January 1661 Mary Hanmer died, leaving Margaret alone in the world. Baxter preached the funeral service.

While Margaret grieved for her mother, Baxter faced a crisis of his own. It was becoming more and more clear that the national church would not include non-conformists—Puritans like Baxter—in their ranks. That meant that he could be fined or imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and that it would be impossible for him to have another pastorate like the one in Kiddermaster. He was dejected. He was a preacher without a pulpit; his calling and livelihood were officially taken away in one act of Parliament in May 1662.

And so, with the self-imposed barrier of the demands of the pastorate removed, Baxter found himself free to marry in September 1662. There is some question as to how the marriage came about—one account claims Margaret proposed to Richard and another speculates that Mary Hanmer had a role in the match with a death-bed plea—but there is no doubt that Margaret and Richard were a great consolation to each other. This is not to say that either of them were perfect. Richard tended to be humorless, tactless and grumpy. Margaret was high-strung, a perfectionist, bossy and demanding. Their marriage tempered their weaknesses. It also allowed each of them to use their strengths to help the other.

After the wedding, Margaret shouldered most of the practical and domestic duties of the household, freeing Richard to write an astounding 128 books in addition to his articles and letters. Margaret found emotional security in her relationship with Richard and was overwhelmingly happy, which freed her to new levels of ministry. She gave away hundreds of books to any who would read them, began a school for poor children and arranged for opportunities for her husband to surreptitiously preach and teach.

Margaret died in 1681 after 19 years of happy marriage. Richard plunged himself into writing to assuage his grief, and immortalized her "cheerful, wise, and very useful life" in his book, Breviate of the Life of Mrs. Margaret Baxter. Richard knew that Margaret, like every good gift, was a blessing from the Father:

The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away: and He hath taken away but that upon my desert, which He had given me undeservedly near nineteen years. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I am waiting to be next. The door is open. Death will quickly draw the veil, and make us see how near we were to God and one another, and did not sufficiently know it. Farewell vain world, and welcome true and everlasting life.

Despite severe persecution by the state church and imprisonment, Baxter continued to preach and write until his death in 1691. His work has endured. Today, The Saint's Everlasting Rest, Christian Directory and The Reformed Pastor are still widely read and valued for their practical wisdom nearly 350 years after they were written.
______________________

Bibliography:

Salisbury, Vance. Richard Baxter: Mere Christian, e-book available here.

James, Sharon. In Trouble and in Joy, Evangelical Press, 2003.

Copyright © 2007 Susan Verstraete. Permission granted for reproduction in exact form. All other uses require written permission.

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"Eaten by Worms" - A Sermon by Jim Elliff

"My greatest objective (in this sermon) is to keep you from being eaten by worms."

Do you think more highly about yourself than you ought to think, and less highly about God than you ought to think? Click on the following message and listen to Jim Elliff's sermon from Acts 12:

"Eaten by Worms"