Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to preach again at Westfield Advent Christian Church. It was the first time I have ever tried to use a Biblical Narrative to preach from. I will admit that I find myself getting more comfortable with the idea of getting up in front of people and preaching the Word of God but, I still have a lot of things to learn and a lot of things that scare me. One area that still does scare me is that I am completely capable of error and could wrongly interpret a passage and then preach from that wrong interpretation but, God has been very good to send me people who can guide me in the process of learning how to understand, interpret and apply Scripture. Also, I still am struggling to find my voice in all of this. I don't just want to read a passage and exhort the people. I want to be an effective communicator of the truth about this world we live in. I want to connect with people who are sitting in the pews. I want them to understand that I, just like they are, am in need of a Savior. I want to be able to bring about solid applications for them so that their lives can be changed by the Truth. I'm not so sure I am there yet.
The only solution to my fears and inexperience is to have more opportunities to speak. I am finding that the more I do it, the more I enjoy it too. Recently, I have spent time thinking about how God has created me to be His vehicle for spreading the gospel. He has hardwired me to like doing certain things. I think this is one of them. When people ask me how I knew I wanted to get into ministry for a profession, I find it hard to answer. Here's how I knew. I came to a point where all I desired was to be a servant of the Lord and nothing else. I couldn't see myself being an IT guy or an engineer. I couldn't see myself going to a secular college and studying to be a music major or a scientist. Since I have accepted the grace of God, my heart has been tuned into ministry. I find my joy in work through serving Christ. I don't want to do anything else. Christ is my life. I want to teach, preach, train, learn, grow, and plant the gospel everywhere I go. It really feels natural. How intentional was God in creating me in this way? I think very!
The more involved I get into ministry the more I find this to be causing mixed feelings in my heart...receiving money for doing ministry. Like yesterday, I got a check for preaching. It felt so weird to accept. I was only doing something I enjoy doing. I wasn't really thinking about the check. God knows my financial situation and will take care of me this I know but getting paid for doing ministry gave me an interesting feeling. I don't think I felt sinful. This is what I am going to do. This will be my profession. This will be my life. I don't do it for the check but, the money helps to support my studying, ministry opportunities, and life. I don't think I feel wrong about that. It's just interesting to finally be at a point of getting paid for ministry. God is very good to me!
Listening to:
Hello Operator- The White Stripes
Apple Blossom- The White Stripes
Reading:
The Disciplines of a Godly Man- Kent Hughes
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