It was my joy and privilege to ride 58 miles this morning in our annual Missions Bike Hike with some heroic friends! We have been doing this the past eight years adding a mile each year for my b’day. You have to be smart enough to figure out how old I am. But don’t rub it in or then you’d be dumb!
This year we raised $10,000 US for TC Moore who ministers in a youth mentoring program in Boston, MA. He is an incredible young man with a great personal testimony of the Lord rescuing him from gangs and drugs. If you would like a copy of his printed personal testimony email kbott@stonecreekwired.com and request it.
The bike hike today reminded me how much fun it is to do life and ministry together. However, over the years I have noticed that some pastors/ministers seem to withdraw from fellowship especially as they grow older or perhaps more successful. This is such a tragedy and hurts their leadership effectiveness. Here are some thoughts on doing life and ministry together:
1. Michael Jordan won ‘zero’ NBA championships but his team won six. You may be a super-pastor or minister but you won’t win the big ones unless you do life & ministry together with others.
2. The Lone Ranger was an old make-believe black and white TV show that was actually pretty cheesy. You are making yourself look bad by avoiding fellowship and doing life and ministry without others. Not just talking about those in your church group but working with other pastors and churches!
3. Life and ministry gets hard but when you do it with others the encouragement they give you keeps you going.
4. Withdrawal from ministerial fellowship is proof that insecurity has not been nailed to the cross.
5. Withdrawal from ministerial fellowship is proof that pride has not been nailed to the cross. This is big.
6. Withdrawal from ministerial fellowship is proof that a root of bitterness is springing up and causing trouble.
Repentance is the key to restored fellowship with others not just God. As pastors we are always in the ‘teacher’s seat’—we need to humble ourselves and sit in the ‘learners seat.’ That’s what fellowship and working together does—it humbles us.
If life and ministry haven’t been working for you as good as they should—it’s time to make a greater effort to be in fellowship. It makes both lots more fun! Selah
Posts
