MINISTRY DEFENSE (14 OF 17)
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18
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Ministry Defense (14 of 17)
Series: 2 Corinthians
Robert Dawson
2 Corinthians 10
I saw a cartoon that pictured a pastor and his wife sitting under a tree looking up at the sky and watching big fluffy clouds float by. Like we've all done, they were sharing what they saw in the clouds. The pastor, who was obviously a little shell-shocked from ministry said, ''That cloud looks like Mrs. Nitpicker complaining about my hymn selections. That cloud over there looks like Mr. Barkwell complaining about the budget for youth ministry. That other cloud looks like Mrs. Lintcatcher complaining about the women's fellowship meetings...''
I've had stretches in my ministry where I can identify with this poor guy. You start to see complaint and criticism in everything. It's like a Rorschach test. What do you see? I see someone complaining. What do you see? I see someone being critical.
When you are in that state of mind, someone could walk up after the service with the sweetest smile on their face and say, ''Pastor, that was a good message this morning.'' You hear it and think, ''What?! You mean the other 500 plus sermons I've preached over the last 10 years were not? Only this one is good?'' You go home and tell your wife, ''So and so came up to me after church and told me they think I consistently preach sermons that are not good.''
You take enough shots, you get jumpy. Your eye starts to twitch. You begin stuttering. I would not be surprised if Paul, after having dealt with the church in Corinth, didn't develop or eye twitch or stutter. He was constantly having to defend himself against baseless accusations by those who did not like him, the content of his teaching or his style of ministry and teaching. Much of the unrest was fueled by the rabble rousers that routinely followed him.
As we turn the page to chapter 10, we once again find Paul in defense mode. (These last few chapters are intensely personal). As we examine his defense, we will discover some chara ...
Series: 2 Corinthians
Robert Dawson
2 Corinthians 10
I saw a cartoon that pictured a pastor and his wife sitting under a tree looking up at the sky and watching big fluffy clouds float by. Like we've all done, they were sharing what they saw in the clouds. The pastor, who was obviously a little shell-shocked from ministry said, ''That cloud looks like Mrs. Nitpicker complaining about my hymn selections. That cloud over there looks like Mr. Barkwell complaining about the budget for youth ministry. That other cloud looks like Mrs. Lintcatcher complaining about the women's fellowship meetings...''
I've had stretches in my ministry where I can identify with this poor guy. You start to see complaint and criticism in everything. It's like a Rorschach test. What do you see? I see someone complaining. What do you see? I see someone being critical.
When you are in that state of mind, someone could walk up after the service with the sweetest smile on their face and say, ''Pastor, that was a good message this morning.'' You hear it and think, ''What?! You mean the other 500 plus sermons I've preached over the last 10 years were not? Only this one is good?'' You go home and tell your wife, ''So and so came up to me after church and told me they think I consistently preach sermons that are not good.''
You take enough shots, you get jumpy. Your eye starts to twitch. You begin stuttering. I would not be surprised if Paul, after having dealt with the church in Corinth, didn't develop or eye twitch or stutter. He was constantly having to defend himself against baseless accusations by those who did not like him, the content of his teaching or his style of ministry and teaching. Much of the unrest was fueled by the rabble rousers that routinely followed him.
As we turn the page to chapter 10, we once again find Paul in defense mode. (These last few chapters are intensely personal). As we examine his defense, we will discover some chara ...
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