Have a Seat at the Kid’s Table

His kingdom is not like any other. His kingdom is upside down and backwards, but it only seems that way because our hearts and minds haven’t been re-oriented to the things of Christ. He invites you to feast on his mercy and grace be satisfied. He invites you to join him at the kids table with all the rich, poor, needy, blind, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, outcast, and free men and women who have understood that only Jesus offers true rest and life. He is enough, and he stands ready to receive you!

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What If…

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Who should a Christian be? What should a Christian do? We often wrestle over these questions, but the answer should be pretty clear because Jesus was once asked about the greatest commandment. His answer:

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Accidental Partners

We don’t have the market cornered on ministry. We do mission and ministry in ways that are dictated by our particular theology and our preferences. Just because some choose to minister in ways that are different than ours doesn’t mean that they are wrong.

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Preach With Your Voice

The medium is the message. No one wants to hear you stand up and give a Billy Graham impression. You’re not Billy Graham. But, you can preach God’s word. He has called you and gifted you. He’s set you apart for this sacred task. You don’t have to be anyone else, just be you, the man that God has called. Trust that he knew what he was doing when he gave you this task, and go preach his word with your voice.

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Don’t Misunderstand the Mission

Dirty? God’s not worried about dirt. He loves you, dirty as you are, and cleans you up. See, this is the love of God, the love that you and I are called to give. Not wedding day kind of love. That’s fun and pretty. God loves us with hospice kind of love. He loves us enough to clean us when we can’t clean ourselves. He loves us enough to spoon feed us when we can’t lift the spoon. God loves you enough to love you even when you don’t love him.

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Am I Called?

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God turned me around. When I stopped running, when I stopped being afraid, I could hear his voice more clearly. When I began to lean upon his grace and his provision, my heart began to change. No longer did I see all of the reasons why I shouldn’t pastor, instead I began to desire the pastorate. I longed to preach and teach and guide. I craved opportunities to participate in the church in new ways. When I surrendered my will, God changed my desire.

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Preach With Tenderness

We must preach with the broken in mind. There are prideful men and women in every congregation that need to hear the stinging words of rebuke directed toward Pharisees, but there are also men who have been destroyed by demons and women who have been abused by men. Jesus met a woman by a well in Samaria. She was an outcast who bounced from house to house. We don’t know her whole story, but it is possible that in our day and time she might be known by a different term: abuse survivoror even trafficking victim. We know is that as Jesus looked at this woman, he saw something different than everyone else who looked at her. Jesus saw her as a broken person in need of a savior. He didn’t paper over her sin as though it didn’t exist, but he didn’t discount her struggles and pain either. Jesus was honest and forthright, but he was compassionate and kind. He preached the gospel to her with tenderness and compassion. The Shepherd of Israel found a wayward sheep and lovingly brought her into the fold.

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