A Worker Approved by God

Posted: December 8, 2010 | Author: Brandon Smith | Filed under: Daily Life, Gospel, Pastoral Resources, Scripture Lessons | 1 Comment »

A quick thought for Christian men from 2 Timothy 2:22-26:

Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

May we memorize this list and seek Gospel transformation in our hearts. Though this passage seems aimed more at a vocational minister, these traits should mark the life of every Christian man (and woman).

Three Essentials of Ministry

Posted: November 15, 2010 | Author: Brandon Smith | Filed under: Daily Life, Gospel, Pastoral Resources | Leave a comment »

There are three things that are of great importance to me as a minister:

Scripture

The Bible is the absolute most important piece/collection of literature ever written. 2 Timothy 3:16 states that all Scripture is God-breathed and is used for something that nothing else ever written can be: teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Why? Because it’s God’s Word. God’s laws and standards are unchanging, while everything changes. Therefore, you cannot know God or know the reality of the created world we live in without it.

Prayer

This should be a “duh” moment for you. When I say that prayer is vital, it shouldn’t be a surprise or a reminder. Prayer is the one and only way we can talk directly to God. Sadly, we do not look at it this way. We forget to pray, think that some things aren’t worth talking to God about, you name it. I’ll tell you that in college chapel services, many students are looking around or whispering during prayers. I’ve been guilty myself. We should not hold prayer so low, either corporately or individually. When someone is praying they are speaking to God, and we should be speaking with them. It is much less about asking for things than it is about maintaining your relationship with the Father.

The Gospel

Oh, how this is so easily forgotten. How many times do we hear a sermon that doesn’t mention Christ? Whether you’re teaching from the Old Testament, the New testament, or teaching on life’s daily issues… The cross of Christ and His Good News should be central to the message. Jesus even speaks about the fact that the Old Testament is about Him. There is absolutely no reason why the Gospel isn’t made central to teaching, praying, evangelizing, or any aspect of the daily human life. The Gospel isn’t just an idea, it’s the reconciler of all creation.

Thoughts from a Young Pastor

Posted: November 5, 2010 | Author: Brandon Smith | Filed under: Church, Pastoral Resources, Testimony | 5 Comments »

Being in ministry at a young age can be daunting. Often times, young men dive head first into a ministry role (typically working with youth is an entry point for any wet-behind-the-ears pastor) with a swagger and confidence that screams, “I’m gonna change this church MY way!” At least, that was my mindset. Successes and failures come, heartache makes you want to quit, growth makes you want to pat yourself on the back, and everyone in the church has “advice.” The fact is, ministry is never as it seems. Your bad days are sometimes the days that you grow the most (unknowingly), and the good times are always sweeter than expected.

The hardest part for me, to this day, is the disadvantage that comes with being the youngest guy on the staff. No matter how much you read or how much experience you have (I’m 25 and in my third church ministry position), many – if not most – of the staff and congregants will not take you as seriously as you’d like. As an elder and pastor at our church, there are times where I feel hesitant to speak into meetings or general conversation because I’m not sure that anyone will heed my opinion. Fortunately, the other elders respect my voice but, trust me, it’s difficult to tell a 50-year old deacon, “I told ya so.” When I get the opportunity to preach, I have to try and use the experience that I do have as the backbone for my sermon so that people do not tune me out. As much as I’ve read about and would love to teach on marriage, I’m not married and would be ignored even if my sermon is spot on. And on and on it goes.

All this to say, there is hope for the young pastor. Here is some advice to young pastors from a young pastor:

Trust the Lord – For whatever reason, God has placed you in this position. Whether you are a youth pastor, single’s pastor, or the lead preaching pastor, God has allowed you to do so. Pray, pray, pray. You will be looked at sideways and tuned out at times, but God will place His Word on the hearts of those it is intended for.
Heed Paul’s Advice in 1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Regardless of detractions, set an example to even the older crowd in your church. Do not be defensive or arrogant, simply teach and live doctrine and love. Be a Christian first and a pastor last; this order of things will work itself out beautifully. If you’re loving Jesus and living for Him, your life will outflow into your ministry. People will notice.
Listen to Advice – You won’t always take it or put it to use, but entertain advice from older men, more seasoned ministers, and (gasp) even the little old ladies that storm your office all week. You cannot learn everything from books or podcasts, the best teacher is experience. Take full advantage of any criticism or counsel you can get your hands on.
Persevere – Ministry at any level can and will crush you at times. You can have strong theology and talent, but you are an emotional human being who will take a beating regardless of how strong you are. As Matt Chandler once reminded me, pastors spend all week dealing with other people’s sins and it can absolutely wear you out. Young pastor, grab ahold of Jesus’ grace and immerse yourself in it. Your greatest weapon is the endless mercy of God and a great salvation that only He can provide.

Blogging: Planting seeds from afar.

Posted: December 16, 2009 | Author: Brandon Smith | Filed under: Pastoral Resources, Scripture Lessons | Tags: Christ, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus, salvation | Leave a comment »

I’ve thought a lot lately about the role I play or potentially could play as a Christian blogger. God has brought a decent amount of traffic and recognition to this blog, especially lately, and I always wonder the affect it has on those who read it. There are those who simply follow a link to my blog, click a link here, and are only on the site for less than a minute. Some are referred to an article I’ve written by another site, read it, and move along in a matter of minutes. There are some of you who have chosen to receive emails of anything posted here. Regardless of the amount of time someone may or may not spend here, my hope has always been to share relevant and helpful resources for Christians.

So, what is my role in the lives of those who read? I turn to Paul’s statement in his letter to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 – What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

I suppose, as a teacher, I will either be a planter or a waterer. It’s easy for teachers, pastors, church leaders, or whoever to try to take the credit for the growth of those they lead. For example, prominent leaders like Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler are young guys whose churches have exploded numerically in short amounts of time. These men haven’t cornered the market or learned a special “trick” to church growth. No, they are men that God has gifted and used solely for His glory. Honestly, it could have been anyone at any time; they are merely guys who throw out seeds for God to sprout.

I am NOTHING. I am a vessel, blessed by God to be used by Him. The writer of Hebrews says it rather plainly:

Hebrews 6:1,3 – Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, and God permitting, we will do so.

I deserve no credit for helping you grow, and you deserve no credit for growing. All I can do is preach faithfully and all you can do is read with an open heart.

God will do the rest as He pleases.