Encouragement from Paul

At Morling we have two chapel services, Tuesday and Thursday. The Tuesday chapel is the main one but many of us seek to go to the Thursday chapel as well. Because of some urgent student matters I was running a little late one week but when I arrived I was very much touched by a sermon by Tim MacBride that spoke to me about ministry today (Tim is one of our lecturers in New Testament and until recently on the pastoral team of Narwee Baptist). I believe it was most appropriate for our students training for full-time service, pastors and leaders. What follows is a brief outline of his sermon and please feel free to check it out on our website. Please keep us in your prayers and I pray that this blesses you as it does me.

1 Thessalonians 2: 7-12

In chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians, Paul seeks to present himself as a trustworthy and genuine messenger of the gospel, in order to build confidence in the gospel message itself. He points both to his attitude and his actions as evidence.

This is a challenge for us as messengers of that same gospel in a suspicious and sceptical world. In particular, we are challenged that our ministry is authentic:

(1) being for others' benefit, not our own (2:9)
In a world where everyone is out to make a quick buck, the church should stand out as being radically different, going out of our way to show that we're not in it for financial gain. As pastors, we also need to ensure we're not in it for status and influence amongst those whom we lead.

(2) being not just a job, but a lifestyle (2:7,11-12)
Parenthood is a 100% commitment, not a 9-to-5 job, and so is pastoral ministry specifically, and Christian service generally. Although we acknowledge the need for boundaries and self-care, we ought not use this as an excuse to clock in and out of pastoral ministry like any other job - it is about 'sharing our own selves' with people 'who have become very dear to us.' 

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