Comments on: Sunday After Sunday

By: Nancy Patterson

Nancy Patterson — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:44:19 +0000

Mike, I’ve been hearing God’s word spoken through you for maybe 15 years now. I promise you, if I am not weeping (or laughing) someone near me is. Your prayers for the gift of preaching are SO answered, glory be to God! The thing I have loved most about you is your sensitivity….you are able to speak the truth in love. I always think that you are holding God’s word in the palms of your hands and allowing us to taste…retreat…and return for more when God has prepared our hearts for another meal or morsel.

Thank you for your open heart and your sincerity….take a break, retreat, rest and let God fill you up again because I believe He will, but please don’t give up! I’m older than you (a little) and sometimes I feel weary too….but we have miles to go before we sleep so hang in there Preacher Mike. You are loved

By: Politics and Culture

Politics and Culture — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:38:11 +0000

I’ve been preaching for about 13 years. I’ve tried to quit and go into something else a few times, but God won’t let me.

So I just keep preaching…..doing the best I can…..

By: Matt Dabbs

Matt Dabbs — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:09:17 +0000

We young folks really appreciate all you have done as well. Keep up the good work and encouragement of so many people.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:22:25 +0000

I’m 31, and when I was 21 I figured I’d now be living in Brazil with a lot of sermons and ministry under my belt. Life took a different path than what I expected, but here I am. Writing sermons on a full minister’s schedule is demanding, but it was some of my most fulfilling time in ministry (besides visiting/”calling”). In the U.S. I used the Revised Common Lectionary just to keep me from preaching on my favorite topics all the time. Maybe someday soon I can get back into that kind of ministry.

By: preacherman

preacherman — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:19:28 +0000

Mike,
Let me encourage you brother by letting you know that you are making a differnce by the message off grace that you have proclaimed to thousands upon thousands. Mike, you are letting people really know who God is, that he is a God who is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, and grace. You are making a differing in the churches of Christ across the country. Churches of Christ are now becoming known as grace oriented, compassionate, loving. You are significate part of that change. I want to thank you for putting that “Holy Hunger” in countless ministers and students lives. God bless you and your ministry in a powerful way brother.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:10:09 +0000

In light of our conversation yesterday, maybe this applies.

http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php

Hopefully, it’s meant to encourage, not discourage.

My spiritual life would have been poorer in California and Texas had you not been the open, dynamic teacher/preacher you are. Bless you for being faithful to the gift of preaching the LORD pours through you each time you stand before us.

Your reaction to seeing Kyle and Bernita was such a touching moment. It seemed as though you wanted to stop preaching, go to them and hug them, not continue. But continue you did, blessing each of us. Thank you, Mike for being you!

And to all you preachers, from a PB [brat], each of you has your gift, and our LORD’s word says even your feet are beautiful, you that bring us the Good News so faithfully!

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:20:24 +0000

As a minister’s child, and as a friend to other minister’s children, I understand your weariness. I think your positive reflection on decades of service is good–not heaping accolades on your own head, but digging into the meat of ministry and what it has meant to you. I believe preachers and pastors can use positive ministry experiences as a healing salve, a jolt of inspiration, and a springboard into the future. However, I do think churches tend to shoot their wounded (especially in the situation of ministers leaving a church or being fired–but this is not the time/place for that discussion I don’t think).

By: Larry Wishard

Larry Wishard — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:06:53 +0000

Trey,
Good point.
When you do expository to topical.
32 Years.

You repreach the text and repeat,but to you with fresh study and fresh context it is never the same. For example.

Luke 13.1-9 before 911 versus after 911 if you are a preacher using context about who died when the towers fell and why?

By: Jim Hughes

Jim Hughes — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:30:10 +0000

The thought that came to mind was the phrase, “A long obedience in the same direction.” Our culture continually tries to convince us that something new is better than what we are doing and doing well, that we are limited in God’s and our ability to continually reinvent ourselves within what God has led us to do.

By: Trey Morgan

Trey Morgan — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:57:08 +0000

Larry Wishard … cool quotes. Sometimes you wonder if what you do is worth it… it is.

Besides I guess after all that time you and Mike have preached, you could just re-preach your sermons ever couple of years.

Just kidding!

By: David U

David U — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:40:43 +0000

A double AMEN to Larry’s comment!!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:30:01 +0000

Leadership Journal is doing an issue on this very topic in the near future. See Out of Ur, Caring for the Inner Pastor, for thoughts on this topic.

http://tinyurl.com/27kopq

I’ve included the blog post here since it’s not too long.

February 15, 2007
Caring for the Inner Pastor

What practices keep your soul fueled for ministry?
Dallas Willard has written about the importance of soul care for those of us in ministry. He says,

The call of God to minister the gospel is a high honor and a noble challenge. It carries with it unique opportunities as well as special burdens and dangers for members of the clergy as well as their families. These burdens can be fruitfully born and the dangers triumphantly overcome. But that will not happen unless the minister’s “inner person” (2 Cor. 4:16) is constantly renewed by accessing the riches of God and His kingdom in the inner person.
Willard’s words are beautifully optimistic, but how exactly does a minister “access the riches of God and His kingdom in the inner person”? I don’t recall that class being offered in seminary. Perhaps that’s why spiritual directors are becoming so popular, but a good spiritual director can be difficult to find. It’s not as easy as putting a personal ad in the paper:

SWM (Soul Weary Minister) seeks SMF (Spiritually Mature Friend) to help my inner person access God’s riches and experience triumph in my soul. I like long prayer walks in the park, guided sabbatical retreats, and reciting the daily offices. My turn offs are elder board meetings, church budgets, and Mrs. Clark’s mystery casserole. Please respond quickly, my soul needs urgent care.

Because the pastor’s soul is a vital component of ministry, and caring for it can be a challenging responsibility, we’ll be tackling the subject in an upcoming issue of Leadership. What keeps our souls fueled for ministry? What bleeds them dry? And what can we do to maintain our soul’s health and vitality? These are questions many of us might ask a spiritual director, but they are also questions pastors should be asking each other.

So, we are inviting you to share the practices you engage to keep your soul healthy and equipped for ministry. Tell us about the practice, how it nourishes your soul, and why other pastors should consider it for themselves. Be sure to include your name, your church, and your city. We’ll be compiling the list of soul-feeding spiritual practices in the spring issue of Leadership.

Peace.

By: Larry James

Larry James — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:25:09 +0000

Mike, I think God changes the world through people who have something to say. Then, there are people who have to say something. I suppose God uses those people too. You are definitely among the former and that is why God continues to use you so effectively, even when you are tired.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:55:48 +0000

Thanks for these wonderful words. Larry - your words were a blessing.

Anonymous, we didn’t have a discussion about preachers borrowing from other preachers. We had a discussion about plagiarism. If you don’t know the difference, I’m glad I don’t sit in your congregation.

It’s not looked on highly in business, in high schools, or in college. It just seems that we shouldn’t favor it in church.

By: paul

paul — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:27:11 +0000

It isn’t you, Mike. It is God working through you. He has all the strength to carry you through. He will give you enough for each day. You are a wonderful servant. God is praised and glorified through what you do week in and week out. Don’t despair. God is good. HE will carry you to the end.