shepherding the shepherd
from PreachingToday.com
Sunday Mornings: Unsung
I must admit, when I hear someone (especially a young person) say, “I just loved the worship at that church,” I’m pretty sure they don’t mean the Scripture reading, prayer, Communion, creed, or the offering. Perhaps you’ve noticed that for many today, worship is synonymous with music. And that’s it. One of our great privileges and responsibilities as pastors is showing God’s people these unsung treasures on Sunday mornings, a duty we cannot leave only to others.
Sunday Mornings: Witnesses
Witnesses always gather around us on Sunday mornings, beginning with our distant relatives in the faith like Abel, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, and on through all the apostles with their Christian friends.
Sunday Mornings: Wonder Full
We cannot generate feelings of wonder, especially amidst all the pastoral hubbub of Sunday mornings, but we can think about where it is we are standing, what extraordinary, holy things we say and see and touch.
Sunday Mornings: Be Quiet
Personally, I never found Sundays to be peaceful, but they do offer a unique kind of rest.
How Beautiful
Sometimes even good shepherds get distracted by ministry staircases and such and forget to see the beauty of Jesus right there in our own congregations. Part of good pastoring is helping our people see Jesus in the alcoves of our fellowship.
The Parable of the Contractor
A certain wealthy man summoned a building contractor and told him he wanted to enlist his services in building a home. This wasn’t just a house; not even a mansion. It was a palace. No expense would be spared. But when the rich man began to describe the materials he wanted the contractor to use his astonishment turned to bewilderment.