Ministry Essentials

A number of SSB men attended a fellowship and teaching session today in Lincoln that was a great blessing!  It is only right to share some with you.

First, it was a time of fellowship.  There were a number of men from the area and out of the area that were previously known or in meeting them we were blessed.  It is always good to be blessed with those who are like-minded.

I sat at a table with four men I did not know – one from Illinois, two from South Dakota, and one from Wyoming.  With all I found common connections through people and ministry areas.  With the Wyoming fellow, who lives in Laramie, there were many people we commonly knew.  He took a picture of us and sent it to some of them who are very close friends of ours.  What an experience!

The teacher was Harry Walls who played football with Coach Ron Brown of the Huskers.  The current NE offensive coordinator was his quarterback in college.  He told how Ron, in his biography, talks about a player on the team who was not a starter, but who had a huge impact in pointing him to Jesus – it was Harry.   How important that our lives show and tell Jesus as we are being watched and do not know the way of the wind – of the Spirit.  We have a much larger impact than we know.  May we daily be given to showing and telling of Jesus!

Walls taught from I Thessalonians 1 and 2.  [Just Thursday I used I Thessalonians 2 in another video shoot with Jimmy (these are posted on Youtube) and on Friday I used I Thessalonians 1 with someone in the office.  Go figure!]

Walls: The church in Thessalonica is the one New Testament church to get an “A” as spiritual.

Consider…

• 1:6, you imitated, with joy, an example, the whole country was aware of
• 1:8, word sound forth, faith showed – clear and strong, nothing need added
• 1:9-10, tuned to serving, excited for Jesus
• 2:19, had a qualifying faith
• 4:1, “more” implies already walking and pleasing to God

A great church!!!

From I Thessalonians, five points on how to make your ministry/service valuable and intentional – how to have influence and make an impact.

Five keys:

1.  Be Courageous, I Thess 1:1-2 “as you know”
   In much opposition – endure.  Be faithful to bringing God glory.

2. Have a Pure Motivation, I Thess 2:3-4
   Not for flattery (to get something), without greed, and not for accolades

3. Be Relational, I Thess 2:6b-7, could but rather be gentle
   More impactful if intimate as a mother with a child

4. Be Consistent, I Thess 2:7 – over and over and over, day after day after day
   1:5, we proved – showed, on display
   “you know” – 1:1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11 – kept on doing

5. Be Dependent on God, I Thess 1:5
   Without Christ you can do nothing!  

These five are important for all Christians who are seeking to live pleasing to God.