Things Your Minister Wants Your to Know...

Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

There is a book written by Oliver Buzz Thoman on current bestsellers lists entitled, Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You (But Can’t Because He Needs the Job). Today, as we prepare to begin a new church year, I want to share with you Five Things Your Minister Wants You to Know (And He’s Not Afraid to Lose His Job).

1. God had a big dream for First Baptist Church. God’s dream is bigger than our current vision and bigger than our current level of commitment. We must either downsize God’s dream or upgrade our commitment.

2. In God’s dream, we are one church family. We have multiple services and multiple mission partners but we are one large church family. Every member is responsible for looking out for the good of the whole body of Christ.

3. The resources within this congregation are more than adequate to accomplish God’s mission. The personal, spiritual and financial resources in this community of faith are more than adequate to make God’s dream our reality, but we must channel those resources appropriately.

4. We must embrace the full giftedness of men and women. For years, God has called young men and women from First Baptist to serve as ministers, missionaries, evangelists, professors, and chaplains. Here are home we have called on men and women for teaching, worship leadership, missions, and committee responsibilities. In the future we prepare ourselves scripturally and prayerfully to make harmonious decisions as we contemplate calling on both men and women for other areas of servant leadership including service as committee chairs and as deacons.

5. Our Church Rocks. Our church ROCKS with multiple generations, multiple gifts, and multiple opportunities. We must decide whether our Rocks become steppingstones or stumblingblocks. We must decide whether to use our Rocks to build a fortress or to build a bridge.

Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18