The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

News haven’t you mastered yet? What obstacles do you face right now in being able to share with clarity and passion Jesus of Nazareth as crucified, risen, and ascended as Lord of the earth, the sacrifice made for the sins of the world?

In Today’s Church, You Have to Be Sensitive to What People Can Take

Many preachers today struggle in their pulpit ministries largely because of the fear of what they think they can say. In one congregation, the elders and congregation struggled deeply with the relationship of the Church to the State. Flags of the country adorned the sanctuary of the church, official national holidays were recognized and celebrated, and members of the armed services were honored and praised. Some members of the church, reading the many NT texts on the Church as separate from the world system, believed that the church’s uncritical acceptance of everything national actually compromised the spiritual identity and commitment of the church. The conflict began to simmer more and more, until, at one elder’s meeting, tempers flared and the issue was sharpened to the point that the church would need to think through the implications of this carefully. While the pastor felt more than competent to teach what he believed the Scriptures taught on this controversial subject, he hesitated because he believed that such preaching might lead to a split in the church. He wanted to be sensitive to the members of the church while, at the same time, helping them understand the Bible’s view of the Church and the world. What would you advise the preacher to do in this situation? In one church that was healthy and growing (steadily and slowly), a pastor of great passion and heart led the congregation. Indeed, he possessed the gift of pastor/teacher, especially in his ability to lead people through difficult situations and through loving counsel and care to bring them into the will of God. Deeply loved and respected by the congregation, he still, however was a source of controversy. You see, although all loved him and respected his deep spirituality and openness to the Lord and others, many complained about his preaching. He was neither lively nor exciting, his sermons for many were simple and laborious, and some members knew of visitors who liked the church, but found the preaching “hard to listen to.” There are some in the church who are convinced that the pastor was misplaced; he ought not be the “primary presenter” (their word for preacher), We Need a Better Preacher to Lead Us

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