3 Things the Pulpit Can't Do

While in college, those of us who were students in the school of ministry were taught a lot about preaching. Matter of fact, we had two classes dedicated to the skill formation and the art of delivering sermons. These classes covered almost every possible aspect of how to organize a message, how to practice good exegesis (preaching what the scripture actually says), discovering homiletical ideas, developing outlines, manuscripts, voice fluctuation, eye contact, hand motions and even what color ties to wear or not wear.

Whew...as I look back on it now I used to stress out a lot about sermons. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I take the responsibility of delivering the word of God to the people of God less serious now than in the past. Quite the contrary. Every time I prepare to stand before God's people to preach the word I feel the weight of that burden, especially in light of the fact that in America, we have a Church that is increasingly gospel ignorant and scripturally illiterate. The task of preaching should never be taken lightly or treated half-heartedly.

However, having said all of that, let me say that preaching is now one of the least complicated things that I do. Unlike when I was still a student at EC, I no longer stress as much about developing outlines and delivering sermons but now I find myself stressing about people. I now realize more than ever that preaching is a very, very small part of ministry. Preparing sermons gets easier; shepherding God's people is not always so easy. Moving people's emotions with passionate messages is something that can be learned (by both the godly and the ungodly), but consistently shepherding people with the compassion of Christ takes love, patience, and the call of God.

Nevertheless, many people think of a pulpit when they think of ministry. This is one of the big reasons that most churches practice the concept of "Church" being a Sunday morning or Wednesday night event rather than teaching the people of God to be the Church. Doing Church versus being the Church will be another blog for a later time. That should be a fun one.

So, as much as I appreciate and respect delivering messages from the pulpit, here are 3 things that the "pulpit ministry" does not accomplish:

• Doesn't sufficiently "feed people"- and its not supposed to! Where did people ever get the idea that two or three sermons a week at church meetings were supposed to spiritually feed them? Maybe that is one reason why many Christians are spiritually anorexic. Also, I'm pretty sure that shepherds don't feed sheep, shepherds lead sheep to greener pastures where they can feed themselves.
  
• Doesn't foster in-depth discipleship: true discipleship and sustained spiritual transformation happens best through one-on-one relationships and small groups. John Wesley proved this through his small-group philosophy which characterized the early Methodist movement. Radical discipleship happens within intimate community (Acts 2:44-47) and happens very little while sitting in rows listening to messages.
• Doesn't mentor young believers or develop the next generation of leaders: We must stop doing everything by accident in the body of Christ! We must begin to be intentional. Mentoring happens much like the process of discipleship-through intimate relationships and life-on-life investment. Effectively developing young leaders doesn't happen accidentally as they just happen to grab a few good points from an inspiring sermon here or there. No, it happens as an intentional process outside the church building and beyond the Sunday morning program.
  

There are many great things that happen through the preaching of God's word from the pulpit, music stand, coffee table, or whatever you use. Momentum, trust and true discipleship doesn't really happen if I just preach sermons to my youth at the church each week. But when I show up at their lunch rooms, baseball games, band competitions and houses, something deeper begins to happen as I step out from behind the pulpit and walk with them through everyday life.

Forward Motion

I feel like I am becoming more technologically savvy than I have ever been in my life. I ordered and installed our new DSL internet at our house, and I went out and bought a Magic Jack yesterday and...that's right, installed it myself! Who knows, I may even buy a palm pilot or one of those cell phones that does everything but dress me in the mornings. I'm on a roll!

Momentum is a funny thing. Just like me feeling less inept and more confident when it comes to some of those recent technological advances in my life (add this blog to that list by the way) we gain personal momentum in life and ministry when we begin to get some wins under our belts.

Let me give another example. I don't cook. I feel that I have made a successful run into and out of the kitchen when I leave with a bowl of cereal or a sandwich. That is about as far as my cooking experience has gone. However, my wife, Bethany, is feeling a little under the weather, so I strolled into the kitchen this morning and came out 45 minutes later with some freshly baked blueberry muffins and boiled eggs. Even more importantly, Bethany, who is an awesome cook, said that it was great! Well...what can I say? I feel like I am ready for the food network and to tackle Thanksgiving dinner for the family this year.

Maybe Thanksgiving dinner is going a little too far, but I think you get my point. With a little experience and some successes, my confidence has been boosted and I feel less intimidated by the electronics section at the store and the stove in our kitchen.

Notice the picture in the top right of a speeding train. When thinking about forward motion and momentum I thought of a train, partly because every hour, trains pass right through the city of Clinton and about 100 yards from our house. When a train starts rolling, it would take only a small wooden block or a couple of cement blocks to stop its progress. However, that same train, going at full speed, could break through many layers of concrete walls and take nearly a mile to come to a complete stop. What changed? It isn't the strength of the concrete or the weight of the train. It is the momentum factor.

Whether business or ministry leaders we find that much of our time is spent dreaming. We spend much time and paper writing down goals, plans and strategy. However, as my friend Kevin Bordeaux has said on his blog "Starting a Movement", there is a difference between artists and architects. Things must not stay on paper forever. There are many people (me included) who find it much easier to dream and talk with friends and fellow ministry leaders about the way things should/could be in the Church or in our personal lives. It is fun to talk about those things that we dream about while sitting at Starbucks as our creative juices start flowing along with the expensive coffee. It is also one thing to look at our office/guest room at our house seeing the mountains of boxes, books and clothes, but quite another to begin organizing the room one step at a time.

"One step at a time" - that is the word that we need to receive. So what are those baby steps that we can take? 1)Commit the plans and dreams to God through prayer; 2)While committing the matter to prayer, if you feel released, then share it with a handful of close friends and mentors; 3)Allow God to form, mold and refine the dreams or plans any way that He chooses --(remember that the Lord is the master builder: Psalm 127:1); 4)Through prayer and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, the Lord will begin to show you steps to take that will clearly communicate the vision and move you forward with favor and momentum.

As I celebrate one year as pastor of children and youth ministries here at Clinton First Pentecostal Holiness Church I am simply amazed and thankful for what the Lord has done in 12 months. The Lord gave me that clear word not long after coming to Clinton: "Celebrate small fruit!" Yes, even the ones that you have to get a magnifying glass out to see. Celebrate small wins and small victories because they will add up and will move you and the ministry that God has placed you in, forward with true momentum for His glory and the up-building of His kingdom. Take no steps that require no faith. Keep pressing on in the midst of discouragement and through bumps and inconsistencies that hinder outward momentum! Keep walking in obedience! Keep trusting in the Lord! Keep the faith!