Have you ever thought about all the things you wish you could do? I wish I could sing. I wish I had artistic talent. I wish I knew how to build and create. There are so many skills that other people possess that I dream about being mine.

If I could do those things, I would be such a blessing to the world. I would make an impact for God. I would use my gift and talent to help people, support the Church and make the name of Jesus known.

If I could do that, then I would never stop doing it. I would use my gifts and abilities in so many positive ways. There would be no limit to all the good I could do if I just had your talent.

Then suddenly I realize that someone might be saying the same thing about my life. They may look at me and say, “I wish I had your skill. You do that so well.”

Our natural tendency is to admire the talents of others while ignoring the gifts with which we have been endowed.

There is this special moment in life when you quit wishing for the capabilities other people possess and start appreciating your own potential. You can take what God has given you and use it for so much good.

I believe you have the exact skill set to accomplish the good that God wants you to do. He made you unique, and there are jobs that only you can complete. Today is a good day to stop wishing and start doing.

This week I have been thinking about my time in ministry. I have been a paid Church leader for twenty-five years now. Through those years my understanding of scripture has increased in many ways.

Some of my knowledge has grown through simple reading. I have now made numerous trips through the pages of the Bible, and my overall familiarity has expanded.

Some of my insight has come through study. I have spent hours digging deeper into the context of passages along with the historical background. I have read books written by scholars and deep thinkers explaining the theology of God.

The final way I have grown in my knowledge of the Bible is through experience. I now understand passages about being a husband and a father. Sections about Church leadership make more sense to me after having worked a lifetime with those leaders.

The one passage that eluded me in those early years is a line from the Apostle Paul to the Church in the city of Corinth in his second letter. He tells the Church about all the struggles he has experienced in his life. He has been beaten, known danger and even been shipwrecked. Then he says, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28).

Paul includes in his list of struggles as a Church leader the pressure of his concern for the Church. The words imply he worried about the people in the Churches he had established. He cared about the people who needed to find Jesus. He was concerned about them accepting Jesus as their Savior. He spent hours praying they would grow in the Lord. He wanted to see them mature in their faith and become like Christ. He planned and prepared ways for people to serve the Lord and their fellow-man. He felt this overwhelming pressure both day and night to help the people he knew to become the people of God.

After twenty-five years I know the pressure of which he speaks. I worry about the people I lead and serve. They are on my mind both day and night. I pray for them, I think of them, and I hope they experience abundant life in Christ. I feel the pressure of being a Church leader, and I don’t regret a day of it. I believe eternity hangs in the balance and everyone who is saved is worth every ounce of energy.

Yesterday I shared a little about my first steps into the ministry that happened twenty-five years ago. Today I want to follow that up with sharing some of the significant changes I have seen during that time.

Let me say up front; I want to keep these positive. Sure, several negative things have happened I may share those soon, but today I see only the good. Here are some of the great things that I have seen happen since I started preaching every week.

1. The Worship Revolution – I was not prepared for this. The first two Churches I served were hymnally driven. We picked out songs from the hymnal, and the numbers were told to the congregation before each one. The worship leader would hold up their finger to indicate which verse was next and we usually skipped one of the verses for some reason. Then came a worship revolution. At first, we introduced a new chorus to the congregation that was only a few lines long, and we repeated it over and over. Then came to a new wave of worship and bands were introduced to congregations. Now, there is no longer a thing called contemporary worship; there is just worship in all its forms.

2. Technological Advancement – At my third Church I started using a computer. The elders could not understand why we needed it, so a kind individual donated one. I started printing the program with it and putting a sermon outline inside the folder. Soon the words for worship went up on a screen. By far, the biggest change is the internet. It literally changed everything. People now go to websites before visiting the Church, sermons are shared online, and announcements along with prayers are spread through email.

3. Greater Resources Available. During my first ministry, I subscribed to magazines and a once a month audio tape called “Preaching Today.” Every month there was great excitement as I could listen to two sermons and a lecture or read about the latest trends. Now, I have access to thousands upon thousands of free resources. Each week I listen to the best preachers in the world and read some of their blogs. I have far more lesson material and sermon ideas than I could have ever imagined. These are available to anyone who wants to use them, not just preachers. What a great time to be alive.

4. The Rise of Community Service. When I started the ministry, I taught evangelism classes. I would train people on how to talk to friends, neighbors, and acquaintances about faith. Most Churches have no program like that anymore. Instead, the Church now goes out into the community to do good works. The hope is to shine the light of Jesus into the world and allow that to become a bridge to share what we know about faith. Churches are leading the way in many communities with projects to help the poor, homeless, refugees, disaster victims and a variety of other projects.

5. Flexibility in the Church. In the early years, people got upset at the word “change” being used. Now, I make changes every week, and no one says a word. The world itself is changing at the speed of the internet, and the people in the Church have lost their resistance to it. In fact, most people embrace change nowadays. Sure, there are a few who are vocally resistant, but not the majority. The Church now has video venues, multi-site campuses, multiple services and is trying new things like never before.

The past twenty-five years have seen its share of changes. It makes me excited for the next twenty-five years. I pray as times change that the Church embraces the positive advancements for the good of the gospel. Every year the people of God need to be working to reach the next generation not holding on to the past methods that are no longer effective. By the grace of God, we will continue to use everything we possess for the name of Jesus.

Labor Day weekend of 1993 I was invited to speak at a small Church in Urich Missouri. It was my third year of college, and I felt God leading me to become a preacher. I went into the administration building at Ozark Christian College, and they said this Church was looking for a preacher. I could go there, and if they liked me then I might be invited back for another sermon, and it could potentially be a student ministry. On Sunday morning I loaded up my car for the day and drove one hour and forty-five minutes from my dorm to Christ’s Christian Church. I was more than a half hour early for the program and was surprised to find a couple of older people there preparing for worship. The time came for the service to start and seven people were sitting in the back two rows on the left, and one older gentleman was on the right side. I asked if we should wait for everyone else to arrive and they looked around and responded by saying they were all present. We sang hymns, prayed, shared communion, and I preached. The exact text and topic of the sermon have long been forgotten, but the memory of that day remains.

By the grace of God that little Church asked me to return the next Sunday. Away from the holiday weekend and there were a few more people the second week. Again they listened to what I am sure was a sermon composed of the best stuff I had heard in chapel at college. Once more they invited me back to speak. Finally, the first week in October after worship a couple of people grabbed me and asked if I would like to come back every week. Elated and scared I said that I would be more than happy to preach for them.

Most weeks were the same for me. I woke up and drove the hour and forty-five minutes to Church arriving before anyone else. They trusted me enough to give me a key. I would go early to preach through the sermon, make sure everything was ready, then meet with people before Sunday school, help lead a lesson, and finally, we would all worship together where I would preach. The following year I would learn to plan worship and lead when needed. I taught Sunday school for adults and then teenagers. When everything was done on Sunday morning, they gave me $75, and I felt like the most blessed student in the world.

The sermons were nothing special, but they were my fledgling steps into preaching. Much of what I said was shallow, short-sighted and immature. I was 21 years old, and I spoke to people two and three times my age. During my time in that ministry, God was good. The Church added people, and soon 40 or more were coming on Sunday. We had 70 on Easter, and there was little space for any more people. By the end of my time with the Church, I was blessed to lead two young people to the Lord and baptize them into his name.

Since those days, twenty-five years have come and gone. I have served five other Churches in four states. I have preached well over a thousand sermons, taught countless lessons, and baptized around 200 people. God has been good to me every step of the way. I have made my share of mistakes, failed repeatedly, embarrassed myself and others, along with doing a few things right. God took that child I used to be and transformed me into a committed follower of Jesus who leads his people. For that, today I am thankful.

We live in a time when it is easy to rely on the opinions of others. When my wife and I visit a new town and the time comes to look for a place to eat, we check out the reviews of local sites online. Then comes the time to make a purchase. I search for the ratings given by commenters who already own the product. Quite often the restaurant or the product I choose is swayed by the opinions shared on the internet.

The side effect of this practice is that it can influence us beyond the things on which we spend our money. The words of others can shape our thinking about everything.

If we listen long enough to other people, it can affect the way we see what is important. It can shape our view of God and what it means to be a believer. Their frustrations can be our frustrations. Their views become our views. Quite often our thoughts about ourselves are shaped by what other people say above all else.

One struggle for a person as they follow Jesus is to have their thinking shaped more for God’s word than by the words of others. You may be carrying a burden you were never meant to carry that was laid on your shoulders by other people. Your view of God may be steered more by the comments made online than by the Bible. How much of what you believe about your heavenly Father and yourself are shaped by the opinions of the people?

As our reliance on ratings and reviews grows with each year, we must be careful with the value we put on the opinions of others beyond those helpful comments. Trusting someone who recommends the best blender is one thing. Believing their views about God and the value of human life is quite another.

Yesterday it happened again. The first song of our worship time on Sunday I did not know. Honestly, I had not even heard it on Christian radio. My very first exposure to this song was in our time of worship. The leaders were asking me to sing a song I did know in my praise of God.

For many people, their reaction to this event would be less than favorable. There would be anger at the song or sadness over the newness of the situation. For me, moments like this are an opportunity for growth.

1. It forces me to focus on the lyrics. When you know a song by heart, it is easy to sing the songs from memory rather than focus on the content. As you sing a new song, you are given a chance to listen closely to the lyrics because of their unfamiliarity. Yesterday I heard in a fresh way that God “frees every captive and breaks every chain.”

2. It gives me a new way to express my praise. I believe the praise of our God cannot be captured with one image or phrase. It is not limited to even 10-20 songs that resonate with me. His praise is limitless. I love thinking about our God in new ways or from new perspectives. One of the songs the band is introducing is called Reckless Love. It has been around for a few months and has been greeted with some resistance to the phrasing. Is God reckless? Well, no … and yes. As the song says, only the reckless love of God would leave the 99 sheep to seek after the lost one. I love the image of God who cares about every individual, especially those who are lost.

3. I learn to appreciate the old songs. Another song from the worship set was an updated version of “It is Well with My Soul.” It amazes me that the original song was written in 1876 and it still touches lives today. When I hear new songs, I usually think about how long they will last. Honestly, most of the songs we sing today will not last for over a hundred years. Some of the hymn writers penned hundreds of songs to have only one that lasted. Those songs that endure from generation to generation are extraordinary.

4. It reminds me what it is like to be new to the Church. Every week someone new walks into our Church to worship with us. Some of them have never heard a worship song in their life outside of a funeral. They have no idea about lyrics or tempo or song styles. Each new song gives me a chance to stand in their shoes to feel what is new and unfamiliar. We are all just pilgrims on a journey with God and moments like these help me identify with people who are just joining the journey.

I will be honest; I love singing my favorites. I love taking a line and belting it out with all my heart. But I am learning to enjoy new songs as well. They push me and force me to see our worship as something bigger than just my preferences. Our worship is an opportunity to connect with one another as we sing our heartfelt praises to God. And so, I sing no matter what song is chosen for the group.

Here are some of the best articles I have read over the last several weeks. Some really good stuff. Enjoy

What the Church taught me about being fat.

4 ways to undermine your Christian witness on social media

20 NEW Politically Incorrect Thoughts on Church in America – Great thoughts for anyone in Church, especially leadership.

10 Signs the Christian Authors You’re Following are (Subtly) Teaching Unbiblical Ideas – Great stuff. Longer article but worth thinking through.

8 Predictions about the future of sex, gender, and marriage in American – Some interesting things to think about.

Confessions of a Reluctant Complementarian

More good stuff from business guru Seth Godin. Short and profound.

Today is the best day

We learn as we go

Our Church community is getting bigger. It is a great blessing from the Lord to see so many people coming to our weekly gatherings. The hard side of this reality is that the bigger a Church becomes, the more focused the pastor must be in his job. I find myself asking questions like, “What are the primary activities I am gifted to do?”

This week I have been thinking about this very specifically as I plan for 2019. Here are what I see as the primary motivations in my ministry.

1. I want all people to know Jesus as their Savior.
By far my greatest motivation is for people to come to a saving relationship with Jesus. I preach the message of the cross. I explain the grace of Jesus. I do everything I can to bring people to Jesus.

2. I want people to become spiritually mature.
Once you make Jesus your Savior, the journey is just beginning. God calls us to live with Jesus as the Lord of our lives. We are to grow in our faith until we become Christlike in our behavior. I encourage people to read their Bible, learn what it means and apply it to their life in every way. I want to help people grow in their faith.

3. I want people to connect with other believers.
Faith is a journey, and we are not to travel alone. God wants us to be surrounded by people who will encourage us, challenge us, and teach us. The Church is not a place where we come to worship God; it is a group of people who worship God coming together for connection in the name of Jesus. I want to facilitate ways for people to bond on a deeper level.

4. I want people to find a second chance in Jesus.
The people who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and come together as a Church are bound to make mistakes and fall short of the faith they proclaim. Christians are a bunch of hypocritical sinners. That fact can push us away from faith or draw us closer to him as our only hope. I want people to know the grace that saves us again and again.

These are not an exhaustive list of the motivations for ministry. These are just the ones I feel called to in my work for Jesus. Other pastors focus their attention in other areas ranging from social justice to working with the needy to prison ministry to defending our faith. Those are also noble causes, but those are not the areas God has gifted me to serve. These are my areas of ministry. I pray he brings people around me who can help us to be a complete body of Christ.

Now, let me ask you some questions, “What are your specific areas of ministry, in what ways has God gifted you to serve his kingdom, and what moves and motivates you as you serve him?”

Knowing the answers to those questions will help you to say “no” to things that are a distraction and “yes” to things that will make an impact for eternity.

The post was finished. The idea was good. The lines of text almost wrote themselves. Then I went back and read what I had written. I sat for a few minutes reflecting on the words before I posted my blog. Finally, I did it. I took my mouse and dragged the cursor over the text and hit the delete button.

At first, there was sadness that swept over me. I had spent over a half hour typing and pouring my emotions into every line. The words were true, and the concept was clear. All of that was gone.

The single problem with my words was glaringly obvious. It was written out of anger and frustration. My emotions had overtaken me, and instead of making a phone call or having a private conversation, I was going to use my blog as a weapon. People would know I was justified by my self-righteous tone of condemnation.

Even though I am sure I was right, this was not the format to address it. The Bible encourages us to confront the people who oppose us face to face. Jesus said if you know someone has something against you then you should go to that person.

We live in an age when social media in all its forms allows us to shout our disapproval of others on every corner of the internet. Frequently I find myself typing things and then pausing to hit delete. If you are at odds with someone else, the Christian thing to do it confront that person in a kind and loving way. I hope that before you post that negative comment or send that angry email, take the time to use the delete button.

The look on their face told me what they were thinking. I had seen that look dozens of times before while I was preaching. Some people have been bold enough to confront me about it. They thought I was preaching at them or about them.

The sermon hit home in a way they hadn’t planned when they headed out to Church that morning. It was on a topic in which they were struggling or knew they needed to change. It seemed too personal to have happened any way other than deliberate planning.

At this point, I usually need to explain my sermon methodology to them. Over a year ago I spent time in prayer and discussion and came up with my annual sermon plan. Right now, most sermons have a title, topic and possibly a text until December 2019. That is almost a year and a half into the future. This helps me to touch on a wide variety of topics and prohibits me from giving stump speeches on hot topics every week.

Next, as each series approaches, I begin to fill in additional scriptures, articles, and illustrations. For example, the whole series I am working on now has a text, a general topic, and specific application. Then my next series in about one-third planned before I ever set down to write a single sermon. Most of the primary material is put together a month or more before the speaking date.

Third, I take Sunday night through Tuesday morning to write the final draft of the sermon. I then let it “rest” until Sunday morning when I preach through it and make any last-minute adjustments that I feel God leading me to make. Sometimes I will add in current events, immediate illustrations and application for relevance. Most of the sermon to this point has been guided by two questions. One, what does the Bible say about this text or topic? Two, what do all Christians need to hear about this concept? How can I apply it to this place and time to people who want to follow Jesus? At this point, I rarely have thought much about the people in my congregations specifically.

The final part of my sermon is prayer. This is where things begin to happen. I ask God to do two things every week. First, I want my words to be clear. God use me despite my sins and shortcomings. I implore him to take my words and fill them with his Spirit as I deliver them on Sunday. My second prayer is very specific. I ask God to bring in the people who need to hear this message. I plead with God to fill this building with people whose heart he can touch through my words.

I have no idea who will show up on Sunday. Nowadays many people only come once or twice a month and some it is far less frequent than that. I had no clue that you would be here on Sunday, but God did. He showed up and used my words to encourage, confront, challenge or do whatever he needed to do in your life. I do not believe it is a random chance that you came the Sunday I spoke that sermon. I believe God brought you here this day to instruct you in some way. Don’t be mad at me, God is the one who is putting all this together.