Bread Crumbs – Devotions for Life

The Pastoral Office

Colossians 1:23-2:3

Preaching Notes – June 10, 2012

Colossians 1:24-2:3

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 

I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

All are called by God

We believe you are here because God called you here

God called you for 2 Purposes – Genesis 12:1-3

1.  To be blessed

2.  To be a blessing to us and through us

High value on God’s ministry through you, here

Members have always been the strength of every church

God speaks to and through you

God works through you

Comparison to the call on Pastors

Sisters of St. Joseph’s

Nun servings at hospital CEO

Nuns typically known for compassionate ministry

Shift of Minister’s work from Pastor to Administrator

CEO-Executive

Visionary-Leader

Customer Service-Community Relations

Degrades the role of both pastor and parishioner

Mega-churches diminished role of parishioner

bean counted, bean supplier, happy customer

Paul’s understanding of his call

Intro to his letters

Servant of Christ Jesus

Prisoner of Christ Jesus

Apostle set apart for the Gospel

  of Jesus Christ by will of God

    sent by God

Servant defines who is His Lord

Prisoner defines his loss of free will

Apostle defines his role

Paul’s call as an Apostle – from Letter to Colossians 1:24-2:3

To make the Word of God fully known (1:25)

To his saints (those who received his grace) (1:26)

1.  Warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom (1:28)

2.  Present everyone mature in Christ (1:28)

3.  That their hearts may be encouraged (2:2)

4.  Being knit together in love (2:2)

5.  To give full assurance of understanding & knowledge of God (2:3)

Paul’s fulfillment of his call as Apostle in all his letters

3 types of writings in his letters

Teaching – God and His ways

Application – how to live God’s way

Exhortation – encouragement and motivation

A Ministry of the Word – Peter in Acts 6:4

We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word

Expectations for Pastor’s in Today’s Church

CEO, Visionary, Growth, Recruiter, Customer Relations, Deacon

Paul never took on these roles

These roles filled by members of church, see Acts and Paul’s Letters

Eugene Peterson’s understanding in The Pastor

Preacher – teach the Word

Priest – pray for God to work

Pastor – care and counseling

Helping you see and find God in your life

Helping you make sense of God’s work in your life

NOT – fixing or managing you

NOT – fixing or managing ministry

==> My emphasis on

Elder’s as spiritual leaders 

Parishioners as servants doing God’s ministry

Any time a Pastor expends energy as CEO Minister

The ministry of the Word is diminished in the church 

==> our ministry is diminished

I do not want to build a “pastor-centered” ministry

Different Roles

Pastor – Bring the Word

Elders – Lead according to the Word

Members – Ministry of the Word

As members you are called here by God for a purpose

What is He calling you to do? 

This is your ministry work

Not 

I would like … this is not a question servants or prisoners answer

A call for someone else to do

To complain about ministry

Focus on 

His Word to You

His call for you

His work through you

He has placed you in this community

To do this ministry

Not alone, but as part of the body

Share His call with appropriate Ministry Team

Let Ministry Team affirm His call for you

Work within Ministry Team to fulfill this call

When we get it wrong

Visiting at VPC ==> neglect of the ministry of The Word