Leadership Recognition Service in Jesús María
Today was the big day! It was the day we had a special service to recognize the first elders (one who is pastor) of the church in Jesús María.
It’s almost better not to say anything – I think I’m a little speechless. When you look around and see the people that were there today, you think of the amazing things God has been doing, you think about how time passes, and yet how quickly things have happened. What can you say?
I did take some video, and hopefully one of these days I’ll get it posted. 🙂
I did have a small part in the service today, so maybe I’ll use that here. We made special presentations to the two couples. They were given a cutting board, reminding them to feed the flock. They were given walking sticks, reminding them to lead. They were given plaques for their homes, reminding them to be hospitable.
And I had the privilege of giving them Bibles. So I’ll translate here what I … well, more or less what I intended to say in Spanish. 🙂 I actually took the idea from this post.
Yesterday I was sick. It’s always difficult for a wife (or a husband) when the other is sick in bed. But around mid-morning, my wife took the time to bring me some delicious baked oatmeal. Pretty nice, right? It’s pretty cool to have an Amiga del Alma in my house! [Amiga del Alma is a term for best friend, but in this case it refers to one of the teachers of the baking classes we have here.]
It seems like everybody wants to be known as a “good person”. I think most people think that what they’re doing in life is good and worthwhile.
One of the Apostle Paul’s favourite expressions was “every good work”. This is what he said in his letter to the church in Colossea: …we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
In 2Corinthians 9 he said: God is able to make all grace abound to you …for what purpose?… so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
God gives us grace. Grace to know Him. Grace to know His will.
But how can we know His will? How can we know God? Through His Word.
Paul told Titus that an elder must hold firm to the trustworthy word. Many people talk about things that are without value; myths and the commandments of men. They (say Paul) are unfit for any good work.
And of course this is what he said to Timothy: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. … Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
And finally, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent (or perfect), equipped for every good work.
When you feel inadequate, when you would like to read one more book on leadership, when you would like to go to one more pastor’s conference, when you would like to take one more Bible college course, remember this:
All that the man of God needs to be complete is here in God’s Word. Everything that we need for every good work is already here. Not some good work – all.
If you want to feed the congregation, put aside your opinions, and give us Scripture. You can speak with authority and confidence, because the words are not yours, but God’s. If you want to lead the church, get on your knees with this Book open in front of you. Every good work. Without exception. God’s sufficient Word.