I was privileged today to be able to attend Bible Conference at West Lenoir Baptist Church. It is an annual conference hosted by the church that also sponsors the great school that God allowed me to attend. There is always great singing, but most importantly, there is great preaching. Some of the finest preachers I know came through West Lenoir and there are many others who didn't attend classes there, but are closely associated with it. If you are a young preacher looking for a God centered, biblical education, West Lenoir is the place. Each of the instructors are great men of God who have a passion for helping young or inexperienced preachers.
Now to the point of my post. I fear that the average church member takes much for granted on any given Sunday. They assume that their pastor has spent the necessary time in the study to pray, study, discern, and prepare a message to preach. (Any preacher who is worth his salt will take the time to do that, regardless of his education or ability. He will spend time seeking the Lord, desiring to prepare a message and have a word from the Lord when the time comes to step behind the sacred desk to preach.) All of that is expected along with the miriad of other things that come along with pastoring todays churches. The pastor doesn't mind the time or effort involved with his work; it is his calling and he is happy to do whatever the Lord has for him. However, preachers need a time of refreshing once in a while as well. Look at it from a physical point of view. If you were so busy preparing and serving meals for others that you never had time to eat yourself, it wouldn't be long until you would begin to suffer the effects of malnutrition. It would be a shame to be around all that food and never consume any for yourself.
That is not the greatest of illustrations and it doesn't fit exactly, but I think you understand what I mean. Yes, as I study from the Word of God I receive nourishment for my soul. As I prepare to preach a message, God speaks to me and I continually grow in Him. But, there are times when a pastor needs to have the privilege to sit at the table and eat himself. If you live alone, or even if you are the primary cook of the household, there are times when you grow tired of eating your cooking. It is good to sit down once and while to something someone else has labored over and prepared for you. Preachers are no different. They enjoy what they do, but they need to be feed from a different table once in a while as well. I had that opportunity today and I am greatful for it.
If you have a godly pastor who faithfully and accurately preaches the Bible you need to thank God for him and hold him up in prayer. It would be a blessing to him and the entire church if the congregation would allow and even encourage the pastor to take a few times during the year to attend a good conference and find the refreshment he needs for his soul as well. He faithfully feeds you each week, so why not let him eat once and a while? Just a thought, but I promise you will notice a difference. He will find some rest and strength in the Lord and his preaching will be better for it.
Preacher Chris
Now to the point of my post. I fear that the average church member takes much for granted on any given Sunday. They assume that their pastor has spent the necessary time in the study to pray, study, discern, and prepare a message to preach. (Any preacher who is worth his salt will take the time to do that, regardless of his education or ability. He will spend time seeking the Lord, desiring to prepare a message and have a word from the Lord when the time comes to step behind the sacred desk to preach.) All of that is expected along with the miriad of other things that come along with pastoring todays churches. The pastor doesn't mind the time or effort involved with his work; it is his calling and he is happy to do whatever the Lord has for him. However, preachers need a time of refreshing once in a while as well. Look at it from a physical point of view. If you were so busy preparing and serving meals for others that you never had time to eat yourself, it wouldn't be long until you would begin to suffer the effects of malnutrition. It would be a shame to be around all that food and never consume any for yourself.
That is not the greatest of illustrations and it doesn't fit exactly, but I think you understand what I mean. Yes, as I study from the Word of God I receive nourishment for my soul. As I prepare to preach a message, God speaks to me and I continually grow in Him. But, there are times when a pastor needs to have the privilege to sit at the table and eat himself. If you live alone, or even if you are the primary cook of the household, there are times when you grow tired of eating your cooking. It is good to sit down once and while to something someone else has labored over and prepared for you. Preachers are no different. They enjoy what they do, but they need to be feed from a different table once in a while as well. I had that opportunity today and I am greatful for it.
If you have a godly pastor who faithfully and accurately preaches the Bible you need to thank God for him and hold him up in prayer. It would be a blessing to him and the entire church if the congregation would allow and even encourage the pastor to take a few times during the year to attend a good conference and find the refreshment he needs for his soul as well. He faithfully feeds you each week, so why not let him eat once and a while? Just a thought, but I promise you will notice a difference. He will find some rest and strength in the Lord and his preaching will be better for it.
Preacher Chris
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