Friday's message

Here are my sermon notes from the installation of the new minister in Thunder Bay URC on I Timothy 4:12-16. ^"12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (NIV).

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ: Have you ever noticed how there are two ways of saying something? There are two ways of saying something. For instance, you can say to someone in a kind voice: “Have a nice day!” Or you can say it sarcastically: “Have a nice day!” As women, you may look at what someone is wearing and say (as a compliment): “well that looks nice.” Or you can say, “Well that looks nice” (but not as a compliment). There are two ways of saying something.

This is also true in the ministry. There are two ways of looking at your calling and you say with awe: “Why has God called me to this? Why has God put me here?” Or you can say in despair: “Why has God called me to this? Why has God put me here?”

There are two ways of looking at your congregation. You can say, “I don’t deserve this congregation” (in awe). OR you can say: “I don’t deserve this congregation” (with a sigh). Life can be very exciting in the ministry or life can be very stressful. It can be very encouraging or very discouraging. This is certainly true b/c Paul says to Timothy that he was called to preach in season and out of season.

Certainly we all want all our ministers to say: “I don’t deserve to be here today”. We all are miserable sinners. It is amazing that God could call us to himself. It certainly is more amazing that He calls us men to serve in the ministry! But there are times in the life of the minister and in the congregation when we need to recapture the zeal and rediscover our strength. Those days come in every way and situation.

What makes an effective Christian ministry? How can this work be carried out effectively? This is what we’re going to consider this evening from these words in I Timothy 4 with the theme: “THE EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY” with 4 points....

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