This last weekend was formative for me. My wife and I spent a couple of days in Minneapolis at the Desiring God National Conference. It was timely and inspiring. On the not so distant horizon I can see a dynamic shift in my ministry. God is leading me to be a senior shepherd. Of this I am certain. The uncertain parts of it are where exactly, and when. Currently, the church which I have served for 10 years is without a "senior pastor." It's been almost nine months. God has done marvelous things and continues to do marvelous things as He prepares our faith family for what I think will be a deeper, richer body life and function than we have ever known. It's exciting. I'd love to lead these people toward a vision and mission that God has given me for something authentic and dynamic - a body life marked by commitment to holiness, passionate an perpetual growth, and biblical, practical function. My prayer is that God will bring us to a place where we are no longer religiously stoic and static - a place where joy is evident everywhere and is realized through obedience to the mandate that we live the gospel. I long to be characterized as a congregation by Great Commission living - a people that are reproducing themselves both personally and corporately. I dream of missional awareness that causes us to be both effective "goers" and "senders" as God's Spirit leads us and allows us. I beg God to develop in us an attitude of selflessness and deference as we live and serve with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that through all of this that the name of God would be magnified and glorified to the fullest. Yeah, I'd love to lead a church like that.... who wouldn't. I've experienced the joy of jettisoning religion and embracing authentic relationship with Christ. I desire the same for this flock.................
"Do this Lord. Please do this here and do this now."
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