THE MATURE MINISTER OF GOD (2 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: I Peter 2:4-10
This content is part of a series.
The Mature Minister of God (2 of 4)
Series: All Grown Up
Jeff Strite
I Peter 2:4-10
OPENING: On the overhead projection we put up a cartoon showing a crazed man being led away from a church in a straightjacket. On the steps of the church building the preacher comments to another man "I'm going to miss Louis - he volunteered for everything."
COMMENT: As funny as that cartoon is, there are many people who believe it is humorous because it depicts reality. They believe it is possible for a person to volunteer for so many things within the church that it can literally "drive them crazy."
But that's not true, and I can prove it. For, if it were true - that being "too involved" is what makes people "crazy" - then every preacher in every pulpit of every congregation in the land would need to be outfitted with straightjackets.
Of all the people within a church, the preacher is often THE most committed and involved of any. I knew of one preacher who was so driven that he set up his treadmill with a book stand so that he could read his Bible or other study books while he did his daily walks.
And if this cartoon depicted reality, then many of you within this congregation would be irritable and difficult to be around, because many of you are highly committed to serving God.
No. It's been my experience that the "more involved" a person is in ministry, the more satisfied and fulfilled that person is - not the other way around.
People do get frustrated serving God. Sometimes it's because they are faced with difficult circumstances, or difficult people, or a shortage of resources. But even those frustrations can be overcome if God's people understand two things:
1. Who they are, and
2. Why they are doing what they do.
Peter addresses that issue by telling us that God has given us a special status in His kingdom:
1 Peter 2:5 "...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices ...
Series: All Grown Up
Jeff Strite
I Peter 2:4-10
OPENING: On the overhead projection we put up a cartoon showing a crazed man being led away from a church in a straightjacket. On the steps of the church building the preacher comments to another man "I'm going to miss Louis - he volunteered for everything."
COMMENT: As funny as that cartoon is, there are many people who believe it is humorous because it depicts reality. They believe it is possible for a person to volunteer for so many things within the church that it can literally "drive them crazy."
But that's not true, and I can prove it. For, if it were true - that being "too involved" is what makes people "crazy" - then every preacher in every pulpit of every congregation in the land would need to be outfitted with straightjackets.
Of all the people within a church, the preacher is often THE most committed and involved of any. I knew of one preacher who was so driven that he set up his treadmill with a book stand so that he could read his Bible or other study books while he did his daily walks.
And if this cartoon depicted reality, then many of you within this congregation would be irritable and difficult to be around, because many of you are highly committed to serving God.
No. It's been my experience that the "more involved" a person is in ministry, the more satisfied and fulfilled that person is - not the other way around.
People do get frustrated serving God. Sometimes it's because they are faced with difficult circumstances, or difficult people, or a shortage of resources. But even those frustrations can be overcome if God's people understand two things:
1. Who they are, and
2. Why they are doing what they do.
Peter addresses that issue by telling us that God has given us a special status in His kingdom:
1 Peter 2:5 "...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices ...
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