The Joy of Preaching

Philippians 1:15-20

Paul discloses in this passage that not everyone who is preaching Christ is doing so from proper motives. However, the end result is the same...Christ is proclaimed! The passage reveals five improper motives that all who declare Christ must avoid and fifteen characteristics that should evident in preaching.

Improper Motives for Preaching Christ:

1. Envy - desiring what belongs to another.
2. Strife - creating division.
3. Selfish Ambition - literally, one who works for money.
4. Distress - applying pressure.
5. Pretense - wearing a mask, not genuine.

Positive Characteristics of Preaching Christ:

1. Good Will - positive motive expecting positive results.
2. Love - God's sacrificial "agape" love.
3. Appointed - destined.
4. Defense - apologetic, argument.
5. Pure Motives - unmixed, holy.
6. Truth - honesty, integrity.
7. Rejoicing - the outward display of joy.
8. Deliverance - salvation, progression.
9. Prayer - supplication, requests.
10. Holy Spirit Provision - supply of the Spirit, annointing.
11. Earnest Expectation - literally, "to turn your head and watch", looking for results.
12. Hope - optimistic belief.
13. No Shame - no embarassment.
14. Boldness - confident declaration.
15. Exaltation of Christ - only Christ is glorified--not the preacher.

Let me encourage you to examine your motives in preaching. May any hint of improper motive be removed and may we be counted among those who have taken on the image of Christ through time spent alone with our Savior.

Eight Essentials...

I want to refer you over to Tom Ascol's Blog for a brief, yet well-articulated challenge by Dr. Danny Aiken, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Aiken's "Eight Theological Essentials for Southern Baptists in the 21st Century" are well worth your consideration. Read the essentials here.

My First Church...

During the Summer of 1984 I accepted my first church staff position. I was a young 20 year old who was one Summer away from beginning my Senior year at Union University. I held the descriptive title of "Summer Youth Worker". My primary role was to attend all of the activities that the Youth Committee had already planned and to be a positive role model. I talked the committee into letting me teach a Bible Study as well. It was a great Summer that ended up extending into the Fall. I will always remember and appreciate those wonderful folks at First Baptist Church in Camden, Tennessee who gave me my first church staff position. The church has a website here.

I love my church...

I have no doubt that I pastor one of the greatest churches in the nation! Occasionally, when I have a rough week, or when I think that I have received more than my share of criticism--I may begin to doubt. However, give me a minute to recover my focus, and I am quickly reminded of the greatness of this church I get to serve. Just this past week, my wife received a basket of flowers and several cards (some with gifts) expressing appreciation for the work that she does as "pastor's wife". This past Sunday, someone placed a love-gift of $250 into the offering for my family which will allow us to take a little trip during Springbreak next week. Hardly a day goes by that I don't receive some type of affirmation from within the church. I've served in other churches that aren't quite as gracious and so I understand how special a blessing it is to be at Cornerstone. To illustrate, let me share an email that I received on Monday:

Hey Pastor Dave!

Just wanted to drop you a note to say "thanks" for an awesome morning yesterday! God truly answered your prayer at the beginning of the service to speak through you...I know so many people were touched by your message on JOY. I agree that God is really moving in this community, and from our "Experiencing God" study, it is really a privilege that he has asked us to be a part of his work!!

As for myself, I left church incredibly "PUMPED!" about asking lots of people to join us for church on Easter...just wanted you to know, I'll be praying with you about the 100 people coming to Christ that day...and our church being effective in reaching the lost of Windsor year round!

I would like to be added to the list to help put away or set up chairs...I can do it any time, just let me know when you need me.

You are doing a great job, Pastor Dave! Just wanted you to know you are a blessing to me and many others!! Have a great week.

Yes, indeed, I serve a great church! We are consololidating our three Sunday services into one big service on Easter Sunday. We will be holding our Easter service in the High School Auditiorium which is the largest space in town. We are asking God for 100 souls to be saved and we have set an attendance goal of 1000 which is about 700 more than we would normally have on a typical Sunday. I asked our people to write down the names of those that they were inviiting to join us on Easter and to bring the names forward and place them on the altar during the invitation. We had more than 700 names that were brought forward! Amazing!

I just wanted to brag on my church a little today...they deserve it!

Joy in the Journey

Philippians 1:12-14

Paul has focused on the relational aspect of the church in the first eleven verses of his letter to the believers in Philippi. He now turns his attention to the proclamation of the Gospel.

"Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear."

He begins with an amazing statment, "My circumstances (i.e. imprisonment) have actually advanced the Gospel". This should help us to find hope in the midst of our own difficult circumstances. It is the purpose of God to expose more people to the Gospel story and He will take us through difficult places to see it occur. Perhaps, more often than not, the purpose of our pain is to give us a platform for sharing Christ.

Paul says that the Gospel has progressed in three clear ways:

1. Paul has become well-known throughout the Roman guard and everywhere else because of his imprisonment. His notoriety has become his vehicle for sharing Jesus. How can you use your own experiences of suffering to share Christ?
2. Paul insists that some have trusted in the Lord because of his imprisonment. He has not only been sharing Jesus--but people are responding. He has found a field to harvest in the midst of his prison. What about you? Are people attracted to Jesus by the way that you respond to difficulties? I don't think that there could be any greater purpose in your pain than to see someone's life transformed because of it.
3. Paul says that the other believers have become courageous and bold in sharing the gospel because of his example. What effect is your suffering having upon the church?

Polital Party Matching...

Which political party belongs to each of the four statements?

#1 The __________ Party is committed to keeping our nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American. That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes the security of our nation, strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, honest government, and civil rights.
Click here to see which party this statement belongs to.

#2 I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.
I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.
I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.
I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.
I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
Click here to see who this statement belongs to.

#3 As ___________, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.Consequently, we defend each person's right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.
Click here to see which political party owns this statement.

#4 We seek a future without war, exploitation, inequality, and poverty. We strive to build a brighter future, one based on democracy, peace, justice, equality, cooperation, and meeting human needs.
Click here to find this political party.

How did you do?

3000th Hit!

I hit a small blogging milestone today with hit number 3000. Someone from Dallas, Texas did a Google search as follows, "are there any awana programs in denver colorado". You can see the result of their search here. Hit number 3000 occurred at 8:34 pm and lasted less than a second. I obviously did not make much of an impression! Thanks to everyone who occassionally takes a look my way. It's amazing to see the locations from around the world that have stopped in--sometimes regularly.

By the way, my very first post was on June 13, 2006.