Monday Night: H.B. London (Phil 4)

Here are the notes from the Minister's Enrichment Retreat on Monday night.

Nearly 50% of seminary grads drop out of ministry within 5 years.

We lose 1500 ministers a month across USA for one reason or another.

We tend to forget the basis for our call and the challenge that we answer when we say yes to ministry. This call and profession is unique. When Jesus called his disciples, he promised to make them fishers of men. He did not, however, promise them success, and size of ministry, and status. He simply asked them to follow Him.

Paul wrote often from the worst of circumstances (old, cold, and lonely; in prison and suffering). Yet he wrote about God's sufficient grace. He told Timothy to focus on the reward of a finished race. He wrote to the Philippians about rejoicing in all circumstances. Paul learned, in spite of his difficulties, to lead himself to life-sustaining choices.

#1 - We need to REJOICE

It's difficult to rejoice with your head down, or when you are frowning, or when you are complaining, or when you are finding fault. Rejoicing is a choice we must make in spite of the circumstances of our life. This is one of the most important factors in a sustainable ministry...HOLD YOUR HEAD UP AND REJOICE.

Some have figured out that about 40% of our work is dealing with negative stuff. That's why we have to work so hard to not be overcome with negativity. Sometimes we have allowed the joy-suckers to so influence our ministry that we have become like them. We have let them destroy the true nature of the body of Christ which is that of energy, and joy, and life.

#2 - We need to RELAX

We need to stop taking ourselves so seriously. We need to stop trying to act so spiritual. We need to simply encourage people, be real with people, affirm them, and give them life.

A mentor from my past said, 'you don't have to be a great preacher to be a great pastor. Just practice the ministry of presence. Just be with them, affirm them, value them, love them. They will remember you not so much for the sermons you preach but for the sermons you live.'

I would say to my people almost every week: God loves you today as if you were the only person on this earth that there is to love. And if you were the only one on earth, Jesus loved you enough to die just for you. And I love you too.

When I left my pastorate, they gave me a ring with that statement inscribed in it. They had really heard me. They knew I loved them.

RELAX...and remember that it's God's church and their his people. We are simply custodians.

#3 - We need to REST every now and then.

If we are going to have the peace of God, then we have to empty ourselves of the things that cause the unrest. Jesus is the peace-giver! Nothing else will suffice but the peace that only he can give.

We must surrender the things that clutter our lives to HIM!

When we are struggling with the inevitability's and difficulties of life, think about the things that are good, and praise-worthy and worth celebrating. Think about the hurting people that you are able to offer care for. Think about the people who get saved, by God's grace, even during the worst sermons you have ever preached.

Paul had learned to rejoice. He learned to relax and be gentle with all. He learned to be content in all circumstances. And he was able to declare because of this: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

BEST OF THE FUNNY QUOTES:

• Laughter is healthy. If you can't find things or people to laugh at--watch TV. It's not quite a Sitcom, but sometimes its close.
• Their are many of joy-suckers in your life. You can close their eyes and see who they are. They have an ability to pull the life and the joy right out of you. Joy-suckers are just joy-suckers and every movement has them. I don't know if you can heal them or not?
• I have to say that some of the finest funerals I have ever performed were joy-sucker funerals. I'd be up there looking sad and everything, but inside I was smiling. Besides that I got paid $100 for doing the funeral.