Last week I attended the Basics Conference at Parkside Church. I do so every year and every year I come away convicted and encouraged.  Alistair Begg’s steady example is the center point as he gathers around himself guest speakers to teach on the basics of pastoral ministry.  Every year it’s good to get this refocus, and I’ve never went away thinking the conference wasn’t worth my time.  Here is the fruit of one of the breakout sessions, “On Being a Pastor.”

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Ministry

1. Prayerlessness. Almost every pastor is prone to forget, not just the calling on their lives to a ministry of prayer (Acts 6:4), but their need to depend upon God which comes through prayer.

2. The Gap Between Life and Doctrine. We have to be sure that our lives match up to what we teach and say we believe (1 Tim 4:16).  We have to be careful that we do not tolerate this gap even though we might have apparent success. Be holy as God is holy.

3. Inflated Ego. Don’t believe everything you hear that is good about you or what you’re doing in ministry. Keep people around you who will honestly evaluate you. Remember that everything you have has come from God’s hand.

4. Despondency. The opposite of the previous pitfall, here we are down with no hope of change for people or growth for the church. Eventually, ministry will become drudgery rather than joy.

5. Jealousy. Be careful about being envious of the other man’s ministry. Shepherd the flock God has given you.

6. Laziness. People talk about being on guard against burn out but most of us need to be on guard against “rust out.”  Work hard in your ministry and never take for granted the privilege that is to be supported by others for the work you do.

7. Misplaced Affections. Do not let love for the work of ministry overtake your love for the One who called you to ministry. Be aware of the idols of you heart.

8. Aimlessness.  Do not drift in ministry.  Make plans to keep you from being aimless and haphazard in what you do.  Plan to preach, plan to pray, discuss bigger plans with your leadership.

9. Fads. Every few months there is a new ministry craze and emphasis. Most of these come and go and leave little real mark on the church. Most church growth books have little staying power and are outdated by the next publication. Stay steady in the essentials of ministry: teaching the Word, praying for your people, training leaders, loving the church, and lifting up Christ.

Filed under: Pastoral Ministry Tagged: Alistair Begg, Basics Conference 2012, Ministry, Parkside Church, Pastoral Ministry ]]> http://johnbotkin.net/2012/05/22/common-pitfalls-for-pastors/feed/ 0 John Begg2012 http://johnbotkin.net/2012/04/30/reading-the-gospels-wisely/ http://johnbotkin.net/2012/04/30/reading-the-gospels-wisely/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 02:20:56 +0000 John http://johnbotkin.net/?p=1809 ]]> Dr Jonathan T. Pennington has a new book coming out soon called, Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction, which looks to be a great resource.

Here is what the Baker website says about the book: “In this work, Jonathan Pennington examines the theological and ethical aims of the Gospel narratives, helping students see the fruit of historical and literary study. . . .  Pennington neither dismisses nor duplicates the results of current historical-critical work on the Gospels as historical sources. Rather, he offers critically aware and hermeneutically intelligent instruction in reading the Gospels in order to hear their witness to Christ in a way that supports Christian application and proclamation.”

If that doesn’t sound all that appealing, try this video trailer for the book:

Here are some endorsements:

Pennington’s website has some related audio resources as well:

Northwestern Baptist Association Theology Conference, Jan 13-14, 2008
“What are the Gospels and Why Do We Need Them?” — (Handout-PDF)
“How to Read the Gospels” — mp3 message
“Introduction to the Gospel of John” — mp3 message
“The Gospels as Story” — mp3 message
“Overview of the Gospel of John (Part 1)” — mp3 message
“Overview of the Gospel of John (Part 2)” — mp3 message

Northwestern Baptist Association (Woodward, OK) Theology Conference, Jan 22-23, 2007
“The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament” — mp3 message
“The Kingdom of God in the New Testament” — mp3 message
“The Ethics of the Kingdom of God” — mp3 message
“Preaching the Kingdom of God” — mp3 message

HT: JT

In his book, The Last Word: Jesus’ Teaching in the Upper Room, Wallace Benn focuses on the final words of Jesus before the cross as recorded in John, chapters 13-17. As Benn is quick to point out, a person’s last words can have a profound and lasting effect on those loved ones who hear them.  All the more so with Jesus.  Benn is surely right when he says, “As the final words of Jesus, the essence of all that he wanted his disciples to know, these chapters need to be taken very seriously by every Christian” (KL 106-107).  Through this book, then, the author seeks to unpack and apply this precious words for Christ’s people.

The book is divided into five main sections: The Last Demonstration, The Last Question Time, The Last Gift, Last Perspectives, and Lasting Joy.  Each of these section is made up of an exposition of part of the chapters in focus.  In the first section, Benn brings out the great love with which Jesus showed his followers, from this humility in foot-washing to his sacrifice on the cross.  Next, Benn helps the reader understand Jesus’ explanation of himself and his relationship to God the Father.  Then, in the third section, Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit to his people is brought out from three passages from chapter 14-16. Fourthly, the reader is led into the final concerns Jesus expressed for his disciples—those there with him and all who would believe–in what is coming known as “The High Priestly Prayer.”  Finally, Benn explores a theme that runs through all of the Upper Room Discourse: joy, both in Jesus’ life and the desire that it be part of the disciples’ lives.

We are rightly told in the Preface that these verses are regarded by many as “Holy of Holies” for John’s Gospel.  These chapters are precious to many Christians, not because they are more important than any of Jesus’ others words, or any words of Scripture for that matter, but because they are some of the most tender, encouraging words that Jesus gives to his disciples—all on the eve of his brutal, atoning death on the cross.  Thankfully, Benn is a steady and sure hand in walking us through these words.

The great strength of this book is the balance it maintains between clear theology and pastoral care. Benn never descends into banal sentimentality or fluffiness in trying to connect to the readers (or hearers of these sermons, originally).  Neither does he allow the deep theology of the passage to become dry, boring, or distant. Instead, Benn draws us into the events of those final hours and the teaching of Christ, making the rich teaching there compelling for us.  He shows the glory and gravity of these chapters with the skill of a seasoned shepherd of souls.

In the end, The Last Word, would make an excellent addition to the pastor’s library—an example of moving from text to sermon.  It would also be helpful to use as a resource for small group learning and discussion.

*Note: I received this book for review from the publisher, though this has not affect the content of this review.

This past Good Friday, I tweeted a line from Genesis that spoke of the cross of the Christ.  It’s the first sign-pointer telling us of Jesus’ death for sinners, bearing God’s wrath against their sin.  As the day rolled on, I begin finding such verses from all the Old Testament books.  My goal was to find something that specifically pointed to the cross, not just the coming of Christ generically.  But, as the evening came, I was unable to finish all thirty-nine book as we were hosting a Secret Church simulcast event in our home.  I decided to come back to it later and finish up the remaining books.  So, here they are!

The Pentateuch

I will put enmity between…your offspring and her offspring; he shall crush your head & you shall bruise his heel (Gen 3:15)

The blood shall be a sign for you…It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover (Ex 12:13-27; 1 Cor 5:7)

He shall make atonement for the Holy Place because of the uncleannesses of the people (Lev 16:16; Heb 9:11-14)

The LORD said to Moses “Make a fiery serpent & set it on a pole & everyone who…sees it shall live” (Num 21:8; Jn 3:14-15)

Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree (Deut 21:23; Gal 3:13-14)

Historical Books

Then the LORD turned from his burning anger (Josh 7:26; 1 Jn 2:1-2)

The LORD…saved them from the hand of their enemies…for the LORD was moved to pity (Jdg 2:18; Matt 1:21)

Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer! (Ruth 4:14; Gal 4:4)

If someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him? (1Sam 2:25; He 9:11-15)

He shall be to me a son…I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men (2 Sam 7:12-14)

This house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will…say, ‘Why has the Lord done this?’ (1 Ki 9:8; Jn 2:19)

They did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger (2 Kings17:11; Rom 5:8)

You shall be shepherd of my people Israel & you shall be prince over my people Israel (1 Chrn 11:2; Jn 10:11)

The Lord your God is gracious & merciful & will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him (2 Chr 30:9; Phil 2:8-9)

Our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens (Ezr 9:6; Heb 9:14)

Our God turned the curse into a blessing (Neh 13:2; Gal 3:13-14)

For he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people (Esther 10:3; 1 Pet 1:2)

Wisdom & Poetry

Can mortal man be in the right before God? (Job 4:17 ; 2 Cor 5:21)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  (Ps 22:1)

Rescue those who are being taken away to death (Prov 24:11; 1 Tim 1:15)

God will bring every deed into judgment (Ecc 12:14)

His banner over me was love (Song 2:4; 1 John 3:16)

The Prophets

He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities (Isa 53:5)

I will make a new covenant… For I will forgive their iniquity & I will remember their sin no more (Jer 31:31-34; Matt 26:28)

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath (Lam 3:1)

Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people (Ezek 21:12)

And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den (Dan 6:17)

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?  Shall I redeem them from Death? (Hos 13:14; Rom 6:3-4)

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved  (Joel 2:32)

For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins (Amos 5:12; Rom 5:8)

Do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune  (Obad 12; Matt 27:33-44)

Salvation belongs to the LORD! (Jon 2:9; Matt 1:21)

And he shall be their peace (Mic 5:2-5; Rom 4:24-5:1)

Who can stand before his indignation?  Who can endure the heat of his anger? (Nah 1:6; Rom 3:25)

Why do you idly…and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? (Hab 1:13)

The Lord has taken away the judgments against you (Zeph 3:15)

I am about to shake the heavens and the earth… I will take you…and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you (Hag 2:21-23)

I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day (Zech 3:9; Heb 10:11-14)

“I have loved you,” says the Lord (Mal 1:2; John 15:13)

Wherever Christ is known through whatever means, there is Christianity, and men may hear and believe and be saved. But God has caused his grace to abound to us in that he not only published redemption through Christ to the world, but gave this preachment authoritative expression through the apostles, and fixed it with infallible trustworthiness in His inspired word. Thus in every age God speaks directly to every Christian heart, and gives us abounding safety to our feet and divine security to our souls. And thus, instead of a mere record of a revelation given in the past, we have the ever-living word of God; instead of a mere tradition however guarded, we have what we have all learned to call in a unique sense “the Scriptures.”

                                                                                         – B. B. Warfield

For those of us who couldn’t go and were taunted by friends who did (I’m looking at you, Brubaker!), here is the meat of the recent Together for the Gospel (T4G) conference: the audio of the main session speakers.

2012 The Underestimated Gospel

• The Sustaining Power of the Gospel by C.J. Mahaney
• The Power of the Articulated Gospel by Al Mohler
• False Conversions: The Suicide of the Church by Mark Dever
• Will Your Gospel Transform a Terrorist? By Thabiti Anyabwile
• Spirit-Powered, Gospel-Driven, Faith-Fueled Effort by Kevin DeYoung
• Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions by David Platt
• The Underestimated God by Ligon Duncan
• The Fulfillment of the Gospel by Matt Chandler
• Glory, Majesty, Dominion, and Authority Keep Us Safe for Everlasting Joy by  John Piper

If you want to get a quick overview of what each talk was about before you listen to the whole thing, head over to Justin Taylor’s blog. He was there and live-blogged the main sessions (Mahaney, Mohler, Dever, Anyabwile, DeYoung, Platt, Duncan, Chandler, Piper).

Hopefully, the panels discussions and at least some of the breakouts will be up in the coming days as well. Keep checking here.

This week, James Cameron’s 1996 blockbuster, Titanic, is going to be re-released in theaters to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary. Given how popular it was fifteen years ago, I can only imagine that many people will be seeing it again and a whole group of teenagers will be seeing it for the first time. But if you, or someone you know, is going to see the movie, Titanic, it’s important that you remember two things.

First, you need to remember that the movie can entertain, but not teach.  For some, Cameron’s Titanic will be the definitive history of the 1912 sinking. However, the film is woefully inaccurate when it comes to the history of the event.  Though the impressive special effects give it all an air of realism, the real flaw lies in the characters of the film.  Here’s a good summary of the kinds of revisionism I’m talking about, courtesy of a review in the New York Times:

Of the many differences between the movie ”Titanic” and history, one in particular is telling. In the movie, as the ship is sinking the first-class passengers (all third-class human beings) scramble to climb into the small number of life-boats. Only the determination of the hardy seamen — who use guns to keep the grasping men at bay — gets the women and children into the boats.

In fact, according to survivors’ accounts, the ”women and children first” convention was observed with almost no dissension, particularly among the upper classes. The statistics make this plain. In first class, every child was saved, as were all but five (of 144) women, three of whom chose to die with their husbands. By contrast, 70 percent of the men perished. In second class, 80 percent of the women were saved but 90 percent of the men drowned.

The men on the first-class list of the Titanic virtually made up the Forbes 400 of the time. John Jacob Astor, reputedly the richest man of his day, is said to have fought his way to a boat, put his wife in it and then stepped back and waved her goodbye. Benjamin Guggenheim similarly refused to take a seat, saying: ”Tell my wife . . . I played the game out straight and to the end. No woman shall be left aboard this ship because Ben Guggenheim was a coward.” In other words, some of the most powerful men in the world adhered to an unwritten code of honor — even though it meant certain death for them. The movie makers altered the story for good reason: no one would believe it today.

So, why is history so important?  After all, isn’t this just a movie?  Yes, it is but historical accuracy is inherently important for the Christian as Christianity is utterly dependent on history.  Unlike other religions where the teaching is important apart from real events, the Christian faith is lost without real events. If there is no Adam and Eve, no Mount Sinai, no King David, no cross and resurrection, then there is no Christianity (Romans 1-5; 1 Corinthians 15).  More specifically, there were many Christians on board the real HMS Titanic and they don’t come off looking very good in Cameron’s film.  This is a shame because the historical reality is that, at least some of those Christians were courageous and worth imitating (e.g., John Harper).

Second, if you’re going to see Titanic, remember that Jack and Rose are examples to avoid, not heroes to embrace.  The two main character are no better than everyday sinners who let their lusts drive their actions.  That may seem harsh but it’s meant to be a bucket of cold water on our faces.  The film portrays Jack and Rose as heroes bucking against the trends of the day, even family, to find happiness in each other.  In fact, this is really the story that drives the film.  Cameron has twisted history to advance his doomed romance meant to grab our hearts.  And if we’re not careful, as Christians, we end up cheering for them in their sin. Fornication, rebellion, and pride are all evident in their behavior, but do we see that?  Do we see their sin for what it is or have we been so drawn into the narrative of the film that we lose sight of our moral bearings, turning what is evil into good?  Do we admire something God despises?  This is important for us because if we don’t flinch at their sin, we will likely not flinch at our own sin.  Like Jack and Rose, we are all sinners in need of forgiveness.  Whether it’s in our lives or the lives of others, sin should always cause us to weep, as we remember what it really is–that which sent Christ to the cross on our behalf.

So, am I telling you not to see Titanic?  No.  I won’t be seeing the film (preferring this more reliable one instead), but this post isn’t about telling you which movies you should and should not see.  This post is not even about the evils of film. Instead, it’s about the power of film. Given the talented hands of a good director and actors, reality and can be reshaped into the image of the filmmakers.  But as Christians, we do not have the luxury of just turning off our worldview and engaging in mindless enjoyment–that’s the devil’s playground.  Especially with movies, we have to be asking question like: How are good and evil portrayed?  How does the cinematography effect our perception of the events and characters?  Does the story of the film openly contradict or subtly undermine a biblical vision of reality? If we aren’t careful, we allow truth to become fiction and fiction, truth. Worse yet, we allow evil to be counted as good and good as evil.  Without discernment, we can allow our minds and hearts to be molded to the sinful whims of this age rather than being lifted out of the culture around us, being renewed in our thinking as God’s people, so that we can lives lives of worship before him (Rom 12:1-2).

So, regardless of which movies you see this summer, as the lights go down and you begin to munch your popcorn, remember to turn off your cellphone, turn on your mind, and let the discernment begin.

Filed under: Culture, Film Review Tagged: discernment, history, James Cameron, movie review, Sin, Titanic ]]> http://johnbotkin.net/2012/04/02/two-things-to-remember-if-you-see-titanic/feed/ 0 John Titanic BW http://johnbotkin.net/2012/03/22/how-do-you-read-the-bible/ http://johnbotkin.net/2012/03/22/how-do-you-read-the-bible/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:23:39 +0000 John http://johnbotkin.net/?p=1773 ]]> Recently, T Desmond Alexander was interviewed over at the Gospel Coalition website. He was being asked about how to read Genesis with a Christ-centered focus. While the whole interview is worth reading, I couldn’t help but be struck by this paragraph:

“….in Genesis the future royal line is traced most strongly from Jacob to Joseph and then onward through Joseph’s younger son, Ephraim. We see this occurring when Jacob unexpectedly given the blessing of the firstborn to Ephraim (Genesis 48). Later, Joshua, as an Ephraimite, leads the Israelites into the promised land; Joshua is a king in all but name. However, back in Genesis, after Joseph’s departure to Egypt in chapter 37, Genesis 38 unexpectedly focuses on Judah’s offspring. The chapter concludes with a brief report of twins being born to Tamar, with the younger brother Perez pushing aside his older brother Zerah in order to become the firstborn. We later discover in the book of Ruth that from Perez comes the royal line of David. Key to understanding the significance of these observations is Psalm 78. According to Psalm 78:56-72, in the time of Samuel the royal line of Joseph was rejected by God due to its sinfulness, and at that stage David was appointed by God to continue the family line that begins in Genesis. This shift from the tribe of Ephraim to the tribe of Judah accounts for the importance of both Joseph and Judah in Genesis, and why the tribes of Ephraim and Judah are to the fore in the books of Joshua and Judges. These developments help me to understand how Joseph may be viewed as foreshadowing Jesus Christ.”

What an amazing piece of thematic study!   I found this to be both encouraging and convicting  It’s encouraging as a reminder that the Bible hangs together as one book with one story, written by one Author. It’s convicting, though, in that we are often used to reading in such a way that we see the trees but miss the forest.  Alexander is bringing together history and theology across several books of the Bible that helps us better understand Jesus.  As a pastor and preacher, how can I not want to do that?  But this kind of reading only comes with actually reading the Bible–again and again, wide and deep, with eyes open, mind alert, and heart engaged.  May we strive for such study in our own lives.

In a previous post, I spoke about the dying art of pastoral visitation and looked at some practical things I’ve learned about visiting people in the hospital.  In this post, I want to think about making visits with people in their homes.

Determine a clear purpose for your visit.  Why do you want to see this person?  Do you desire to just spend time with them or do you desire something more?  Certainly, Christian encouragement can and should happen “on the fly” as the unplanned consequence of two or more believers being together. But the New Testament calls us to something more intentional. There is a meant to  be planned attempt at investing in people’s lives.  Along with that, people are in different places.  Remember Paul’s concern to present everyone mature in Christ (Col 1:28)?  You need to know where the person is in order to help them move towards greater maturity in Christ.

So, for example, you have Paul saying, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1 Thess 5:14).  The idle doesn’t need help, they need admonishment—they need to be told how to get it together, but the weak person—the person struggling spiritually—they need help.  They need someone to be tender toward them.  Yet, Paul says they all need to be encouraged with patience on our part.  This is an important place to start: determining a purpose of the visit.

Determine a plan for your visit that involves the Bible. Three common purposes for a visit are: evangelism, encouragement, and correction. Each of these will best be carried out if you take a Bible and plan to use it.  Even just reading God’s word to someone can be beneficial if the take is immediately applicable. But you need to know which texts are best to read or explain.

If you’re going with the intent of evangelizing, make sure you have a basic plan for your gospel presentation. Are you going to dive right in or lead the conversation there?  Are you going to use a tract like Two Ways to Live or take through the ‘Romans Road’?  If you’re going to encourage them, how are you going to do it?  What do they encouragement for—family issues, assurance of salvation, loss of a loved one, extended illness, or something else?  Do not pick random verses to share with them—land on something that speaks to the issues they are facing and need encouragement for. The trickiest visit to make is one for correction.  Should we even bother with this sort of thing?  God seems to think so.  Consider some verses:

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:91-20).

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Gal 6:1).

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt 28:15-20).

So, how do you make such a visit?  First, be humble. Be humble about your own sin and the fact that you are not perfect. Second, be loving. If you cannot make this visit with the intent of lovingly helping the person come back to God, then don’t go.  This is not about punishment, but redemption.  Third, you should pray, pray, then pray some more.  Make sure God is with you.

Schedule a time to visit.  For the most part, the days of the drop-in visit are gone. Some people are still okay with it but schedules tend to be so chaotic that you may not even catch someone at home.  So, before you drop by, call or email the person to find a good time for getting together.  This will also help you feel out their responsiveness to your visit.  If they are enthusiastic, you will likely plan different than if they are hem-hawing around and are acting like they don’t want to commit to a time.

Pray for a good visit.  Most of us know we should pray, but we don’t really pray like we should. Prayer reveals your need of God. It shows that you know he is the one who brings about spiritual change in people’s lives, not you (1 Cor 2:14).  Ask God to give you wisdom about what to say during the visit and how to handle anything that unexpectedly comes up (Jas 1:5-8).

Think about the practicalities of the visit.  I heard one of my professors in seminary talk about making an evangelism visit one time where the guy he was with launched into a heavy presentation and was barreling ahead at full steam with a guy when he suddenly stopped and said, ‘Do you have a bathroom I could use?’  The length of time he spent in there along with the accompanying sounds pretty much killed the conversation.  Think strategically about your time there.  For example, I don’t recommend stopping for Mexican or Thai food on the way.  Furthermore, even if you have to pop into a McDonald’s, try to meet any bathroom needs before you go.  It simply alleviates what could be an awkwardness to the visit. Think also about having something to jot down notes on–either a an old school notebook and pen, or a note-taking app on your phone. Finally, make sure you silence your phone.  By that, I mean, turn the ringer all the way without the vibrate function, or simply put it in airplane mode. This will allow you to give all your attention to the person and still be able to access your calender app if you need it.

Be a gracious guest.  When you arrive many people will offer you something to make you comfortable.  What are you going to say?  Will you accept or decline?  Most people will at least offer you something to drink.   Even if you take a glass of water, you are allowing the person to show you hospitality which will automatically encourage them by your visit.  It may seem odd but allowing yourself to be served can actually serve others.  At the same time, don’t walk on those you’re visiting.  If they offer you something that may not be your favorite, don’t snarl your nose up at it.  Don’t make them feel bad for not having what you prefer. Any an innocent comment about what you usually do can make them feel bad about not being able to meet your needs.  I would even suggest you check your routines and preferences at the door and have whatever they offer you.

Get to the gospel.  Regardless of the kind of visit you are making, the gospel is the life-source of any spiritual conversation.  It will either serve to bring people into the kingdom of God, encourage those who are in to persevere, or remind those who are caught up in sin of the love God has shown them and of the faith that have professed.  The gospel message is the centering point for our lives.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16).

“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Rom 16:25-27).

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Cor 15:1-2).

Pray before you leave.  Ending with prayer can have the effect of cementing the time you spent together in someone’s mind.  It can add a real sense that the visit was more than a social time for the two of you.  Furthermore, it can be a way of bringing to a natural and important conclusion all that you have talked about.  Spent just a minute to two leading in prayer, thanking God for the time you had and asking him to continue to work in your lives in the areas you discussed.  If you want the other person(s) to pray, have them begin.  This takes the pressure off of them to try and conclude the prayer with something profound and makes them feel like you are doing the heavy lifting.

Follow up with the person at church or over the phone.  If you visit someone during the week and end up with a spiritually significant conversation, don’t let it end with that visit.  The nature of the subject might necessitate a follow up call a few days later. If nothing else, make a point of saying ‘hi’ to the person when you see them at church the following Sunday.  Let them know you enjoyed the visit (if appropriate).

Filed under: Pastoral Ministry Tagged: Gospel, Ministry, pastoral visitation, visitation ]]> http://johnbotkin.net/2012/03/20/practical-pastor-making-pastoral-visits-in-homes/feed/ 1 John visitation http://johnbotkin.net/2012/03/17/sabbatical-reading-list/ http://johnbotkin.net/2012/03/17/sabbatical-reading-list/#comments Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:23:18 +0000 John http://johnbotkin.net/?p=1763 ]]>

My church has been gracious enough to give me three weeks off for a sabbatical this year.  Among other things, I plan to spend time with my family, spend extended time in prayer and the Word, and write a book for our church.

But I also plan to read through several books that have been sitting on my “to read” pile for a while.  Here are the books I plan to read:

• The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Jerry Bridges
• Preach the Word: Essays in Honor of R. Kent Hughes, edited by Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson
• A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir by Colin Hansen and John Woodbridge
• Union with Christ: Reframing Theology and Ministry for the Church by J. Todd Billings
• Fight to the Death: Taking Aim at Sin Within by Wayne Mack and Joshua Mack
• Gospel-Powered Humility by William Farley
• The Fight by John White
• The Everlasting God by Broughton Knox
• Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God by Sam Crabtree
• The Hidden Life of Prayer: The Lifeblood of the Christian by David McIntyre
• The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Douglas Bond
• The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon by Steven Lawson

Now, realistically, will get all of those books done?  Probably not. But it’s helpful, I think, to have a plan and give a disciplined try rather than have good desires but no real execution as I find other things to do everyday besides read.  Most importantly, though, you’ll notice the top book is the Bible.  Even if I get no other book finished over the next few weeks, I want to spend as much time as I can reading the Book, for my own benefit and the benefit of the church I serve.

What books are you reading now?

Pastoral visitation seems like it’s fast becoming a lost art.  Though my dad was never a pastor, the one thing I saw him do for years was visit people in their home.  Often this was connected to his bus ministry through the church. Every Saturday he would spend hours in homes and on the street, visiting with parents and kids who would ride his church bus the next day.  I was usually with him during these times and what he did has stuck with me.  But he would sometimes visit people from work or extended family as well.

All of this ingrained in me the value of the pastoral visit.  At the same time, I have seen this dwindle among many current pastoral ministries.  In part, I cannot help but wonder if it’s because no one has shown them how to do it?  Though, I have not always done it well, I want to share what wisdom I can about pastoral visitation.

In this post, I want to focus on visiting people in the hospital.  I don’t claim to be an expert on pastoral visitation.  Nevertheless, here is what I do based on the examples I’ve seen and the experiences I’ve been through. I hope this practical advice will aid you in your ministry.

Before you leave for your visit, make sure the person is still in the hospital.  I know that sounds self-evident, but several times people have been in for what turned out to be nothing serious and were home quicker than I expected. The result was showing up only to find them no longer at the hospital!  It only take a few seconds to call and ask for a room number.  It might save you a drive or the embarrassment of walking into the wrong room.

Pray before you go in the hospital. Before you get out of the car, pause and ask God to be bless the time you will spend with the person.  Ask God to give you genuine concern for the person you’re visiting and encouraging words to say to them.  I know some want to be a witness to the world by praying in public, perhaps in the hallway or elevator.  I understand this and to some degree participate as we pray as a family when we eat out. At the same time, I am mindful of Jesus’ words about public prayer being an easy path to pride and legalism (Matt 6:5-6).  For the pastor, it’s probably better to let his words and his attitude be a better witness than his prayers.

Take a Bible with you and plan to use it.  This is where most people fail first.  Remember who you are and what you are intending to do. As a Christian, this is more than a social call.  This is more than just making sure the person is getting along well.  This is a time to bear another burden’s with them and build them up in the faith (Gal 6:2; 1 Thess 5:11).  The best way to do that is by opening up God’s word with them (Col 3:16). This doesn’t mean you have to lead a Bible study or something even close to formal.  Just reading the person a few verses will be of great benefit to them.  What you read will, of course, be different depending whether or not you are visiting a Christian or a lost person.

Get to the gospel. If this is a believer undergoing minor problems, this might be as simple as making it the focus of a closing prayer (see below).  If the situation is more serious, you may need to get there more quickly and emphasize the unending love of Christ as the hope for his people (Rom 8:31-39).  If you’re visiting with an unbelievers, then more pastoral wisdom may need to be exercised. Do you know this person well?  Has someone asked you to visit them?  Have they ask you to visit them?  All of this will factor into how hard you press in on their need for Christ. At the same time, you shouldn’t leave without first planting some gospel seed.

Be humble with the hospital staff.  Gone are the days of ministers having implied respect with the general public, especially healthcare workers.  Don’t assume everyone there is impressed that you’ve arrived or is even glad you’re there.  Consider it a privilege and carry yourself accordingly.  Practically, this means some of us will need to dial down our personalities a little.  Go light on the levity, remembering that some people may be facing life and death around you.  It also means you might just check it at the nursing station before you walk into the room.  Simply asking if “John Smith” is up for visitors will go a long way to letting the staff know you don’t want to hinder them doing their job.  Along with that, try not to visit during shift change (often this is 7:00am and 7:00pm).  This can be a crazy time where the on-coming nurse needs to introduce themselves to their patients and getting familiar with the person’s treatment in short order and it’s a good witness to be in the way!

Prepare yourself for the worst. I have sometimes stepped into rooms and found the person in a much more dire condition than I would have imagined.  I have sometimes even had to make myself close my mouth, which had gaped open at their appearance.  I cannot imagine this is helpful for the person to see such a reaction!  Regardless of what the person looks like or is going through, try to maintain—even pray for—an expression of confident hope and joy.  This doesn’t mean you cannot weep with those suffering pain or loss.  It simply means you should put them at ease rather than magnify the weight of their circumstances.

Be sensitive to their situation.  We live in an age of medical privacy and by entering into the room, you are inherently removing something of that privacy.  When a doctor or nurse comes in to check on them, ask the person you’re seeing if they want you to step out for a minute.  At the same time, some people are less concerned with privacy.  Once I was visiting an elderly man when, in the middle of our conversation, he said, ‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ grabbed the urinal, lifted the covers, and proceed to relieve himself.  His comment was, ‘I’m not shy if you’re aren’t embarrassed.’ Furthermore, some may be even more open and even ask you to do something like help them to the bathroom.  Here is a moment when you can either freak out or display Christ’s attitude of love, counting others more significant then himself (Phil 2:4-7).

Pray before you leave.  Again, this is something I learned from my dad.  It doesn’t matter what else happens, you should always end the visit with prayer.  This has the effect of taking the focus off of the physical problems and putting it on God himself—his goodness, his mercy, his power in any situation.  When I pray, I try to include specific things that have come up in the conversation, both medical and spiritual.  Is the person feeling downcast?  Pray that God lift up their spirit. Is the person not responding to the treatment they’re being given?  Pray that God would cause their body to begin responding and be healed.  I almost always end by asking God to draw the person’s mind to the saving work of Christ.

Ask them if you can serve in any practical ways.  The last thing I do as I leave is ask if there is some other way that I can help.  Do they need something to read?  Do they need me to tell a family member how they’re doing?  Can I get them something special to eat (assuming it fits with their physician-directed diet!).  Should I check on family left at home?  As John Bunyan used to say, ‘We can many things after we pray, but we cannot do much before we pray.’  Prayer is essential, but James says we shouldn’t stop there (Jas 2:14-17).

I will never forget that night.

I was sitting near the front of a worship service as I watched the guest preacher pace back and forth across the stage. He was a popular speaker in our area, and crowds had come to hear what he had to say.  My first clue that something wasn’t right was when he started by saying, “I forgot my Bible tonight.”

But that didn’t deter him. He explained that for days he had prayed about what God wanted him to say to us. He told stories about how he had taken walks in his neighborhood, sat at coffee shops, and reclined in his study.  He was funny, witty, and engaging, and he kept the crowd entertained.

When he came to his conclusion, these were his exact words: “I tried to do everything I could to figure out what God wanted me to say, but nothing ever came to my mind. So maybe that means God simply doesn’t have anything to say to us tonight.” With that, he prayed and walked off the stage.

I sat there with my Bible in my hands, dumbfounded. God doesn’t have anything to say to us tonight?  There I was, holding  a library of sixty-six books that are decidedly and definitively the Word of God, and this guy just said God doesn’t have a word for us?  In my mind I said to this guy, “Just open this book anywhere—to Leviticus, for I care—and read it, and you’ve got a word from God. Save yourself the walk around the neighborhood and the cost of your mocha. Just read the book, and God is saying something to us.”

I am thankful for that experience, for it burned a permanent brand into my heart and mind. In my life and in the church, we are never without a word from God.  At all times, you and I have God’s revelation to us in all its power, authority, clarity, and might. We don’t have to work to come up with a word from God; we simply have to trust the Word he has already given to us.

This is what exposition is all about: trusting the Word of God to accomplish the work of God among the people of God.  As preachers and teachers, we don’t have to be creative, innovative, unique or unusual; we simply have to be faithful. Faithful to study the Word of God, faithful to know the God of the Word, and faithful to proclaim it in the world.

In the book of Jeremiah we have a great contrast between two kings.  One king was the young reformer, Josiah.  At the beginning of the book, Jeremiah says that his ministry as a prophet began under the reign of Josiah, who was the last godly king of Judah.  We read in 2 Kings that when Josiah is 18, he begins to fix up the temple. And as money is being collected to give to the workers, the book of the Law is found in the temple.  Just think about for a minute. That Law—the word of God that was supposed to guide every part of their life—and it had to be found.  And when it was found the people read it and were astonished; they had never heard it before!   And it proclaims judgment for sin for their not following the word of God, so they bring it to Josiah and read it to him.  So, what was his response?  2 Kings 22:11 says, “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.” In the next two chapters, we see the king repenting before God and reforming the nation according to God’s word.

That’s one response to God’s word.  But then you have another prominent response in Jeremiah from an Israelite king.  The second one is actually from Josiah’s son, Jehoiakim, who in no way followed in his father’s footsteps.  Jeremiah receives God’s word and he tells it to Baruch so that it can be written down and read to the leaders of Judah.  As with Josiah, the people who first heard God’s word through Jeremiah bring it to the king.  But then, in Jeremiah 36, we read that as the court official would “read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.” (36:23-24). This is another response to God’s Word—ignore, even destroy it because you don’t like it’s message.

As Christians, Jehoiakim’s response should, at one level, repel us and infuriate us.  For we know that God’s word is from the Almighty Sovereign Lord—a gracious revelation of himself for the good of his people.  The king doesn’t want to hear of God’s judgment and so burns the Scriptures.  It’s inconceivable that one would treat God’s word with such contempt!

Yet, at another level, the passage should cause us to laugh.  Why?  Because we know that God’s word is not confined to a scroll.  In fact, the very next verse says, “Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:  ‘Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned’” (36:27-28). Jehoiakim tries to burn away the Word of God but he just gives it again.  Thus, we laugh at the incredible futile attempt of the king even as we are minded of another prophet’s words: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa 40:8).

Recently, we have seen how many respond to the destruction or desecration of the Koran. More than that, we have been shocked and saddened that American lives have been taken; even more lives than the numbers of Korans burned.  Yet, this should never be the response of a Christian to the burning of the Bible.  Though we will be rightly saddened by an obvious contempt for God if the Scriptures were to be burned, we know that his word is not bound by any scroll or book or hard-drive.  God’s word is pervasive and unstoppable, like God himself.  No one can ever thwart God or his purposes simply by burning a mere copy of his Word.

Therefore, as Christians, our lasting response to any disrespect to God through a desecration of his word will be one of confident assurance that our hope is in God himself.   With that, will also come a renewed desire to know, love, and serve God as we ourselves treasure his word, seeking to obey it and be changed by it.