Serving God – Serving Others

Luke 10:2

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Today I want to take a look at serving God and serving others. In the life of most churches – there is a sad statement that is common knowledge in the church world! It goes like this – 20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church. At times – this might be because the 20% has a hard time sharing or delegating the workload. At times – it might be a control issue on the part of the 20%. But most often – it is because the 80% aren’t joining in the labors for Christ in the church. Are we part of the 20% or the 80%?

Think about this for a moment. Are we only attending worship in our church and doing nothing else (online or in person)? Are we only taking what the church offers – youth ministry – children’s ministry – family ministry – worship – Bible studies – etc. – and not giving anything back? In essence – are we a taker without being a giver? Do we take more than we give?

There is another saying we might be familiar with – it goes like this – you get out of something – what you put into it. I wonder what our church would look like if everyone associated with our church were to serve God in some capacity in the life of our church? What if everyone in our church considered themselves workers in the harvest fields Christ has for us? I mean – we can all help somewhere! Right?

Church Life Defined

Luke 10:2

He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

In church life – there is a common statement that is very sad. It goes like this – 20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church. At times this might be because the 20% has a hard time sharing or delegating the work load. At times it might be a control issue on the part of the 20%. But most often it is because the 80% aren’t joining in the labors for Christ in the church. Are we part of the 20% or the 80%? If you are in one camp or the other – why?

Think about this for a moment. Are we only attending worship in our church and doing nothing or little else? Are we only taking what the church offers – youth ministry – children’s ministry – family ministry – worship – fellowship events – etc. – and not giving anything back (other than whatever we give in the offering plate)? In essence are we takers without being givers as well?

There is another saying we might be familiar with – it goes like this – you get out of something what you put into it. I wonder what a church would look like if everyone associated with that church were to serve God in some capacity in the life of that church? What if everyone in the church considered themselves workers in the harvest fields Christ has for us? I mean – we can all help somewhere! Right?

What Do You Pray About?

1 Thessalonians 1:2

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

I know – I’ve been talking and writing a lot about prayer of late. We are in the midst at church of a 21-Day Prayer Vigil. From 5 am to 11 pm – someone from the church is praying. We send out directed prayer items each day and ask people to lift their prayers for the church and her children.

We need to be serious about our prayer life dear friends. We need to spend more and more time on our knees – physically and spiritually – for such a time as this.

We talk about taking what we learn in worship – in Bible Studies – in Sunday School – in personal devotion – and putting it to work in our daily lives. This requires prayer. My question today is this – in our prayer life – whom do we mention? Do we pray for others? Do we pray for those who lead our country – including the POTUS (even when we agree or disagree)? Do we pray for those who oppose our nation? Do we pray for the rioters and lawless persons? Do we pray for the police and first responders? Do we pray for the peaceful protestors? Do we pray for those who have lost loved ones or their personal property due to lawless behavior?

The typical nighttime prayer for a child is – God bless mommy and daddy – God bless my brother and sister – and maybe the child might add – God bless my grandma and granddad and my doggy too. We might add prayers for someone sick – for world peace – for that new job we are starting Monday – and there might be other items on our plate as well. We might even praise God for simply being God and getting us through another day of life (all the more during the pandemic). But – what about praying for our enemies or for those whom we disagree with – even on important issues? Are we praying for those who differ with us in ideology in the upcoming 2022 national mid-term elections? How about those who oppose our theology within our denomination?

My family has four continuous generations of Methodist/United Methodist pastors. We are heaped in Wesleyan theology and practice. Over the last four plus decades (a time that has encompassed most of my time as an ordained minister) – the divide between the left and the right leaning positions in the church has grown. We have debated the Bible and the Book of Discipline (the two rule books of the church). General Conference after General Conference has dealt with numerous issues where the two extremes have differed. Even as we prepare for yet another battle at the upcoming 2024 General Conference (moved from May 2020 to August 2021 to the fall of 2022 to 2024 for various and questionable reasons) – the two sides are opposed to one another and at different places in theology and practice. The future of the unity in the UMC is at stake. We are facing schism and more. Some are outwardly defiant to the Bible’s teaching and the instructions of the Book of Discipline and the Judicial Council of the church. Some do not care what the laws of the church say – they will do whatever they feel is right.

Pastors – Are We Present?

John 10:14-15

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

This devotion might be directed more at my colleagues than my regular readers – although we all might get something out of it. As one who is considered a senior pastor (by age 67 with 46 years of experience in ministry) – I have some thoughts at this time. A few years ago – I was asked by our DS’s office (and I imagine other pastors if not all pastors were asked the same) – what questions might be asked during this year’s pastor’s evaluations by the SPRC. I mentioned a few and one that seems relevant that year was – How present was the pastor during the pandemic?

A pastor is responsible for their flock – their congregation – and should be as present as possible and should find ways to be present during difficult times like the pandemic. As an older pastor – I didn’t find it easy to be present during the pandemic – but – together with some lay persons – we struggled through and found new and exciting ways to be present.

How Is Our Prayer Life?

1 Thessalonians 1:2

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

I know – I’ve spent most of my ministry – talking and writing a lot about prayer. We need to be serious about our prayer life dear friends. We need to spend more and more time on our knees – physically and spiritually – for such a time as this.

We talk about taking what we learn in worship – in Bible Studies – in Sunday School – in personal devotion – and putting it to work in our daily lives. This requires prayer. One question today is this – in our prayer life – whom do we mention? Do we pray for others? Do we pray for those who lead our country – including the POTUS (even when we agree or disagree)? Do we pray for those who oppose our nation? Do we pray for rioters? Do we pray for the police and first responders? Do we pray for those who have lost loved ones or their personal property? Do we pray for peace in Ukraine? Do we pray for a changed heart for Putin?

The typical nighttime prayer for a child is – God bless mommy and daddy – God bless my brother and sister – and maybe the child might add – God bless my grandma and granddad and my doggy too. We might add prayers for someone sick – for world-peace – for that new job we are starting Monday – and there might be other items on our plate as well. We might even praise God for simply being God and getting us through another day of this pandemic or post-pandemic. But – what about praying for our enemies or for those whom we disagree with – even on important issues? Are we praying for those who differ with us in ideology in the upcoming mid term elections? How about those who oppose our theology within our denomination? Have we spent time praying for the United Methodist Church?

My family has four continuous generations of Methodist/United Methodist pastors. We are heaped in Wesleyan theology and practice. Over the last four plus decades (a time that has encompassed my entire time as an ordained minister) – the divide between the left and the right leaning positions in the church has grown. We have debated the Bible and the Book of Discipline (the two rule books of the church). General Conference after General Conference has dealt with numerous issues where the two extremes have differed. Even as we prepare for yet another battle at the next General Conference (if it finally happens in 2024) – the two sides are opposed to one another and at different places in theology and practice. The future of the unity in the UMC is at stake. We are facing schism and more. Some are outwardly defiant to the Bible’s teaching and the instructions of the Book of Discipline and the Judicial Council of the church. If churches and people leave – I’m praying for a gracious departure so that we might work together in the future. I’m praying against hardline stands that seem to merely be about money!