Preparing for Renewed Ministry

8/30/2014

As I make preparation for my first ministry opportunity after retirement from North Texas Baptist Area (other than supply preaching), I will be at College Avenue Baptist Church in Levelland, Texas, just west of Lubbock, October 5-8, 2014. 

I am anticipating a great week with Pastor Brian Simon, who is a former member of the youth group at Lakeview Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, which was my first pastorate. We have adopted the theme, “The Ekklesia Renewed.”

For the church to be renewed there must be reformation. I am not speaking of reformed theology, rather a reformation back to the Bible. In many places, the church has jettisoned biblical preaching for amusement and pleasure. When the pulpit neglects exegesis and exposition, the body suffers from spiritual malnutrition. Therefore, evangelism and discipleship have zero priority. 

Today many churches live off of performances and shallow experiences that will not substitute for prophetic preaching, where sin is confronted. Today sin is condoned, for discipline is not a part of the church’s agenda. (Matthew 18)

When the average church member is not in the Word on a daily basis and they hear one sermon a week, how can we expect renewal? We can have church without drama, music, interpretive dance, theater lighting, and pageants, but we cannot have church without the preaching of the Word. 

In these days of uncertainty, in Christ, all is certain.