Rock Higher Than I

Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

It is amazing to think that God can hear us from where ever we are. Last night I tried to get my wife's attention from across the store. I hollored, and whistled no matter what I did I couldn't get her attention. We finally had to walk all the way across the store and stand right next to her. (It probably wasn't the best thing to yell in the store, but everything )

I'm glad that no matter what situation we find ourselves in and no matter how loud the voice of the world is, God can always hear our cry. In times of difficulty, when life seems to be drowning us, we have a Rock that is higher that we are. We can run to Him. Stand on Him, and have confidence and security.

What's The Big Deal About Christian College? Part 4

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

The 4th benefit of Bible college is the emphasis on the local Church. It is safe to say that secular universities do not emphasize local church involvement. I imagine that secular university dormitories are filled with sleepping college students on Sunday morning. Why, because they were too busy partying the night before, or perhaps they just didn't prepare to make church a priority in their life. I know what some of you are thinking. I'm 18 year old. I'm a man I can make my own decision about going to church. That's true. You can, but if you are going to make the right decision about church attendance and involvement then you won't care if a Bible college requires you to attend and serve. The only people this type of requirement would bother are those who do not want to go to church.

Bible college provides a positive accountability to be involved in church. Some might ask, "What's the big deal about being involved in church?" I'm glad you asked. First of all, church is not my design. Jesus Christ created the local church. Jesus Christ began the local church. He established while he was on earth. He died for it on the cross. He commissioned it before he left, and empowered it on the day of penetecost. He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. In short, God is working through the local church to carry his message to a lost and dying world. I don't know about you, but regardless of my occupation or field of study, I want to be involved in what God is involved in.

You may have never thought about this before, and I may be the first person to ever tell you this, but it is more important that you are involved in God's local church than it is for you to have a career. Now, while I don't believe you have to choose between the two, there is a clear priority.

A strong Bible college pushes everything back to the local church. That is a big deal. Hopefully by the time you leave for college, you have already determined to be committed to local church attendance and ministry, but if you haven't God will use a strong Bible college to continue to work in your heart about this matter. You will have four more years to allow God to show you how important it is to be connect to a group of believer that are actively fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

What's The Big Deal About Christian College? Part 3

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Imagine being born on the little house in the prarie. For those of you too young to know what that is, just imagine being born 200 years ago before they had autombiles and tractors. Now imagine that you grow up to be a farmer, and it is time to plow the field. Remember there is no tractor, so you go out to the barn and pick out two animals to hitch to the yoke and plow the field. Above is a picutre of two animals yoked together. There are 3 donkeys, 2 cows, 4 horses, and a pig. What would be the best choice if you had to pick two? How about using a doney and a pig or a cow and a horse together? I hope you can see it. Neither of those choices would work. The two animals are so different in size, strength, and height. I think that the donkey would end up dragging the pig all around the field. It would work much better if you used two cows or two donkeys, or two horses. It just wouldn't work if these animals were "unequally yoked." Deauteronomy 22:10 outlawed this type of farming practice for the Israelites. In the New Testament, Paul uses this illustration to help us as Chrisitan believers to see the importance of choosing the right friendships, relationships, business parterns, and marriage partners.

Here is another reason why Bible college is so important. Let's imagine you go to U of Z (where ever that is). This university is a secular college where atheism, evolution, and other false teachings are promoted. Let's say that there are 5,000 people that attend the university. What are the chances that you will find a person that is a godly, growing Christian??? Not to good. Better yet, what are the chances that you will ended of marrying someone that cares very little about God, the Bible, and building a relationship centered around these things??? More than likely this is what you would find.

My point is NOT that you could never find another believer at a secualr univeristy. My point IS that you have a far greater percentage of godly candidates for marriage in a Bible college setting. Don't misquote me. I'm not saying that if your a girl every guy on a Bible college campus is a good candidate for marriage. I'm simply saying that there will be more guys that are likeminded about spiritual matters, and this is so very important.

Think about my marriage for a second. What if Mrs. Lahmann didn't like church, teens, the Bible, soulwinning, and helping people? How much do you think I would be able to do for the Lord? Not very much. You might say, "Pastor Matt, but I'm not going to be a preacher." Yes, but don't you plan on having a Christ-centered marriage, raising a godly family, and serving faithfully in a local church that is involved in fulfilling the Great Commission? Okay, then. You may want to think about going to a college where you will find a greater percentage of men/women (whatever your case may be) that are living a godly life.

Again, Bible college is not a REQUIREMENT of the Bible. You don't NEED it to find God's will, but if you are planning to go to college a Bible college offer far more benefits for Chrisitans than secualr universities.

Below is some additional material I found that exapand the application of this passage. This is not an endorsement of other Bible versions, but the materail contained in this link is Biblical and helpful to see a broader application of 2 Corithians 6:14 CLICK HERE

What's The Big Deal About Christian College? Part 2

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

In a multitude of counsellors there is safety. This next principle goes hand in hand with the first. A good Bible college allows you to gain experience living on your own but with some protection. Instead of graduating high school on friday and then moving out on your own on monday, Bible college provides you the opportunity to experience "adulthood" away from home (this is a natural desire that most teenagers graduating from high school have), while still providing godly guidance and safety nets along the way.

Areas of Experience

Keeping A Schedule-You will gain practical experience in scheduling life. Mom will no longer be there to wake you up six times. She won't be there to ensure that you are on time to your classes. This decision will now be your, but you will also have people that will "encourage" you in this direction.

Keeping Your House Clean- I know what your thinking, "I'm 18 years old. I don't want someone telling me to clean my room." Let's face it. This wouldn't be a bad habit to learn.

Paying Bills-During Bible college the bill may be a challenge to pay, but you only have to pay one bill. If you live on yoru

Miscellaneous Life Lessons-While I was in college, I expereinced getting a job, serving in a local church, fixing my car without my dads help. Getting my own bank account, and many other things. These are practical life lessons that can be intimidating to learn how to handle. That is the blessing of Bible college. You get to grow up slowly with godly guidance. You don't have to do it cold turkey.

Keeping your walk with God-You will also gain practical experience in developing your own individual walk with God. God will use the circumstances of college to grow your faith. Bible college provides a network of godly people that want to help you in your relationship with God. Instead of being out on your own in a city 4 hours from mom and dad, rooming with someone from oklahoma who does not believe there is a God, you could have a prayer captain in your room that will encourage you to walk with God, a floor leader, dorm supervisor, a faculty advisor, coach, professor, and many others who not only walk with God, but want to help you do the very same thing. These people are what the Bible refers to as "Counsellors"

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.


One of God's blessings to us is other godly people who He will use to give us advice from God's word. Bible college is a blessing.

What's The Big Deal About Christian College?

Yesterday, I had the privilege to sit down with one of our teenagers and talk about Bible College. I believe I was able to give her some Bible principles to guide her decision on finding God's will for her life. Over the next few days, I would like to talk about those principles. I believe they will be a help to anyone sincerely looking to find God's will for their life.

Please reserve final judgment until after all the principles have been read. This is just one of them. I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, and/or arguments. I would be glad to try to respond with God's world.

1. Bible college provides a college education with a Biblical foundation for life.
I understand that there are some teachers who work in a secular university that are Christians, but for the most secular college professors are not born again believers. Many times you will find these people to be atheistic and promoting a lifestyle that goes directly against God's word. It doesn't matter how strong you are, these people will have an affect on your faith. Just as a godly teacher/mentor/influence would be a spiritual blessing, ungodly teachers/mentors/influences will be a detriment to your faith. Don't believe me? Listen to what the Bible says.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

This verse teaches us that we can be spiritually spoiled through

Philosophy which refers to a love of wisdom. It is an exaltation of academic logic and reasoning
above faith. It looks to explain away God logically rather than believe that He is and that he is
the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Vain deceit carries the idea of empty deception. This is another attempt by the world to
explain away God and give them an excuse to live as if they are their own God. These are
taught in many forms such as evolution, humanism, atheism, feminism, and many other "isms"
that pop up from time to time.

Rudiments of the world are the basic foundational truths that unsaved people operate by. Today we live in a society where people are pressured to believe that absolute truth is unknowable. You can't know anything for certain. Secular universities promote acceptance of homosexuality, immorality, drunkeness, atheism, and many other ungodly practices and beliefs. No where is God emphasized or given a proper place of exaltation.

These philosophies, vain deceits, and rudiments are after traditions of men and not after God's word. I would also say that they are against God's word. The core values these universities are promoting are not after Christ; they are anti-Christ. This is why these places are so dangerous for young people at such a crucial time in their lives. Even in choosing a "Christian" college, you must carefully consider their beliefs and teachings. It is sad to say, but many institutions that have the name "Christian" have departed from teaching sound Biblical doctrine.

As a youth pastor, it is not my goal to see every teenager go to Bible college. My greatest desire is to see teens graduate from our youth group knowing God's will for their life, having a strong personal relationship with God, and being able to find answers for life's question in God's word. You may neeed to read this paragraph again so you don't misquote me.

For further evidence consider Psalm 1 as a Bible reason why Christian young people put themselves in danger by choosing to attend a secular university/college.


Psalm 1:1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (this sounds like what you would be doing if you attended a secular college) 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (this sounds like something you would be doing at a Bible college)3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (this is the blessing and promise God makes for seeking him and staying close to him) 4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (this is the end result of education without an emphasis on God)5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (more promise if we follow God)

Shooting Yourself In The Foot

When I was in high school, I had a football coach that must have said this phrase 30 times a practice. A lineman would jump offsides, and he would respond, “Come on guys; you are shooting yourselves in the foot.” A receiver would drop the ball, to which he would yell, “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot.” Anytime we made a decision or play that hurt our own team, Coach would remind us that we were shooting ourselves in the foot. We were hurting ourselves. The idea was that the opponent is already giving us enough problems and he didn’t want us create more problems for ourselves. I imagine we would have won a few more games if our feet didn’t hurt so much from being shot all the time.
Proverbs talks about the slothful person “shooting themselves in the foot.” Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor. Can you see it? Here is a man that is lazy. He doesn’t like to work. The goal of his entire life is to take it easy, have fun, and do what feels good at the moment. The Bible says that this “desire” will be the very thing that destroys him. How? Well, he won’t work so he can’t earn money to buy food and he is too lazy to plant food in order to put something on his table. I know sometimes it’s fun to lay on the couch and do nothing, but remember that relaxed position cannot be your full-time job. You must fight that desire or it will destroy you. Not only will it destroy you physically and spiritually, but it will also make you poor. Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. If what you live for in life is “pleasure”, you may find it, but it won’t be exactly what you wanted. Wouldn’t it be great to just be able to stay home from school today and play video games, watch Sportscenter, paint your nails, talk on the phone, and take all the self-quizzes on Facebook? The only problem is you’ll never graduate from high school, no one would ever higher someone who can’t show up to work, and you would have to keep living with your parents until you figured out how to work? There are plenty spiritual reasons why Christians should work hard, but here is a physical reason that should motivate you at least a little bit-money. Not having money is okay, but not having money because you are too lazy to work is a sin. Finally, Proverbs 21:5 states, The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every on that is hasty only to want. Here is God’s answer to those who desire the “Get rich quick” scheme. God promises that the way to plenty is through diligent hard work. God rewards people who are diligent day after day. He doesn’t necessarily make them millionaires, but God will see to it that they have everything they “need”. However, the “hasty”, those who only want to work one day and get paid a million dollars, these hasty people will be want food and shelter before too long.
It’s okay to dream about coming up with some invention that will make you lots of money, but until then work hard and be diligent as a Christian, as an employee, as a student, as a member of your church, and as a member of your family.

What To Do With Your Heavy Load

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Have you ever had a stressful day? Have you ever had a day where you have been overwhelmed? It seemed like you would never be able to make it through the day. There was too much work to be done, too many people to take care of, too many problems that needed to be solved before the sun set. If you have lived very long at all, you have had a day or two or three like this.

Proverbs 16:3 gives the solution for easy days and hard days. We are told to commit our works to the LORD. The word "commit" means "to roll upon". Imagine carrying around a great big burden on your back. It seems impossible to carry it one more step. It's about to kill you. The Lord wants us to roll it to him. Take it of our back and let him carry it. Rather than stressing out about a situation that we really can't handle or fixed, roll the problem on God's back. God is big enough to carry it. He is all-powerful. He also can fix the problem or help you through the problem.

If we will roll the problem to God's back then our "thoughs will be established" We can go through the day with joy, peace, and assurance, that God is carrying my load and he is working on the situation in a far greater way than I ever could.

Consider the following verses which have the same idea of rolling the weight to someone else.

Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass .

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

So, how do you roll your problems to God? The answer is simple but it takes some work. Prayer! Prayer is the answer. I can go to God with my problems and then my thoughts can be established because I know God will take care of me and helping me through the day. However, the hard part is being willing to leave the problems with God.

Sometimes we give God our problems like a fisherman. We cast our problems to God and then reel them back in. God wants us to leave them with him. If we will give him our problems, than our thoughts will be established, not in the fact that we will never have any more problems, but that God is working on them better than we ever could.

Sights And Sound Of Sodom

1 Peter 2:7-9 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

God was merciful in delivering Lot out of Sodom. I use the word “mercy” because it means “not getting what you do deserve.” Lot deserved God’s fiercest judgment. His lifestyle and testimony in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah was detestable at best. He began his journey to Sodom as a righteous man, and according to this verse, that is the way he ended his journey as well. No one’s righteousness in the sight of God is based on personal performance. Righteousness is based on the perfection of Jesus Christ. Lot’s faith was in a coming “Lamb of God” that would take away his sins. This is no different than our faith in the “Lamb of God” that came and took away our sins. Lot’s issue wasn’t an issue of salvation; it was an issue of sanctification. The word “sanctification” carries the idea of being set apart for a special use, holy, separately reserved for god or godliness.

So what happened to Lot that destroyed his testimony? Perhaps the more correct question would be, “Who happened to Lot that destroyed his testimony? Grammatically, it sounds a little rough, but Biblically it makes sense. Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? It’s not that Lot could blame anyone else, he had to take full responsibility, but no doubt there were people that helped sear his godly conscience so that sin didn’t bother him anymore.

Verse 7 says that he was “vexed by the filthy conversation of the wicked” in Sodom. The word “vexed” means “to wear down with labor, “to exhaust.” The word “conversation” means “manner of life” or “life style.” The word “wicked” speaks of rebels against God. These people exhausted his spiritual strength by their continual assault on God’s laws.

Verse 8 Here we see Lot’s first mistake. “He dwelt among them” Lot’s name would have never been connected to such wickedness had he never lived in Sodom. I can hear it now, “We’ll go there and be a witness.” “We’ll make a difference in that city, but first we need to just fit in and be accepted by the people.” I know missionaries go to wicked cities and live there in order to make a difference, but if you read Lot’s story in Genesis, you will see that his true motive wasn’t evangelistic. His true motive was entertainment. The sin of the city drew him in. Psalm 1:1-2 reminds us that it is never a good thing to be influenced by the wrong crowd. Instead of finding delight in the world, we should delight in the Word. Lot’s second mistake was what he watched and what he listened to while in that city. The Bible says through “seeing and hearing he vexed his righteous soul.” In the New Testament we may say “seared his conscience” like in 1 Timothy 3:2…having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Even in 2010 this is how Christian’s quench the Holy Spirit in their life. The 3 major influences: Sinners, Sights, and Sounds. Think about it. Television, Music, and People are the world’s way of influence. There is no doubt that the devil will use these avenues to numb Christians to God’s will in their life. We might think, “well I don’t do that stuff, I just watch it or I just listen to it.” I know. That is the problem. The Bible records no statement that says Lot was personally involved either. It simply states that he saw it and heard it and it numbed him spiritually to what God wanted for him. This didn’t happen all at once; it happened “day by day.” If sin jumped out in a black robe with fire in its hand, we would identify it and run, but that isn’t how sin works. It seems harmless, fun, interesting, cute, and cool, but over time it becomes a monster that is out of control in our life. This truth is evidenced by beer commercials which are the funniest commercials on television, but the end result of alcohol is far from funny. It’s just one cigarette. It’s just my favorite rock song. It’s just a few pages on the internet. It’s just one cuss word, one sex scene, one dirty joke, but before we know it, we find ourselves trapped in sin. Our pet sins become killer monsters. We are no longer separated to be used by God.
So what do I do when I find myself vexed by the sights and sounds of this world? Do what Lot did, Run!!! But, don’t make God pull you out while the walls are crumbling around your life. That kind of exit strategy is painful and it will scar your life forever. Run from sin to the Savior.

2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The ask God for forgiveness and you forsake the sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Gunslingers And Bomb Squads

Gunslingers and Bomb Squads

Proverbs 20:3- It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

In the Wild Wild West, men were considered men by how they could fight. If someone mistreated you or spoke falsely against you or any of your family, the manly thing to do was to challenge them to a showdown. You’ve seen the movies. There is a dusty road running through the middle of town, frightened women and children peaking out the windows and two big cowboys staring each other down, just waiting for the other to draw their gun. Pretty macho, huh? Well, if you ask me, it seems pretty dumb! I understand that this may be “how the west was won”, but many times men would needlessly die because they were just looking for a fight. Remember how the gunslinger all dressed in black would roll into town and some wanna-be cowboy would challenge him to a showdown just to see how good he was. This kind of foolishness is what our passage is referring to.

The Bible reminds us that it is not an honorable endeavor to go looking for trouble, controversy, or a fight. However, it is honorable to cease from strife. Thankfully we no longer find ourselves standing in the middle of a dusty street looking down the barrel of a colt 45, but if we are not careful, we can find ourselves meddling in controversy, and many times the controversy isn’t even ours. Someone comes complaining about how they were treated, and we jump right in the middle of the controversy slinging around our opinions and personal experiences about the subject. Perhaps, a controversy arises and instead of using a soft answer to turn away wrath, we bristle up and start firing away at our Parents, Spouse, Children, Co-worker, or Friend. In situations where there is an opportunity to add fuel to the fire, we should look to be more like the bomb squad than a gunslinger. You see a gunslinger looks for a way to shoot down anyone who stands in your way. He makes it a habit to seek out a fight. He loves to controversy. On the other hand, a bomb squad only responds when called upon. They run in, defuse the situation, and then get out. They are not looking for trouble, in fact I imagine they like it when work is slow.

So what about you? Are you a gunslinger looking for a fight? Don’t get caught seeking out trouble. You are going to have enough challenges of your own today without sticking your nose in other people’s controversy.

Proverbs 25:8-Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

2 Kings 14:1-14- Tells the story of King Amaziah and how he went looking to pick a fight with King Jehoash of Israel. Read the passage and see what happens to King Amaziah. This story may help keep us from looking for a fight.

Fast Food or Fast Words

Imagine what it would be like if you went to McDonald's and ordered a 2 cheeseburger value meal with a Dr. Pepper (there is really nothing else good to eat there). You swiped your debit card when the cashier turns around and immediately lays your food on your tray. Now that would be fast food! When it comes to having our food served to us we always want it fast. Slow is never better, unless you are making homemade ice cream, then it is worth the wait.
Throughout the Bible, God teaches that our speech should not be like fast food, but rather like homemade ice cream. It takes a good 15-30 minutes after you put in all the ingredients to get something out that is edible. Look at what the Bible says about speaking slowly.

Proverbs 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

You see, when we feel mistreated, misquoted, or misused our tendency is to serve up some “fast words” in our defense just so we can get back at whomever attacked us. Sometimes we get a few facts concerning a particular situation and then we respond quickly and hastily before we get all the facts. This is foolish. For example, last night Bro. Kevin got on to A.J. Strom for texting during church. Everyone knows that A.J. wasn't texting, as it would be highly out of character for him to do so, and that he was in fact using the Bible on his i-touch. Everyone in the youth group knows that, but Bro. Kevin didn’t. Sometimes my son Elijah will respond improperly to my help. We could be out in the yard and he could be standing in a pile of ants, and if I pick him up, he will start to cry. In a sense, he is serving up some “fast words”. He doesn’t see the big picture or have all the facts.

How about you? Are your words and your responses fast or slow? Every Christian should strive for slow words. The next time you fell like exploding, giving someone a piece of your mind, or giving your opinion before you have all the facts, remember that God doesn’t want “fast words”. In fact, no one really appreciates them. If you go around just spouting of foolish words all the time, you become a fool. Let’s be swift to hear, slow to speak.
Helpful Hints

1. Think before you speak
2. Ask God wisdom in what to say before you say it
3. Never speak when anger, you will always regret it

Essential Church: The People of God Part 2

Romans 15:1-4 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

No man is an island unto himself. We all impact other, whether we like it or not. Hopefully, as a Christian, you take great pleasure in having the opportunity to impact others for the cause of Jesus Christ. One of the blessings of ministry that I enjoy more than any other is when someone tells me that I have been a spiritual help to them. Because after all, that is what ministry is about. I’ve heard people jokingly say, “Ministry would be easy if people didn’t get in my way.” But of course that is a joke, because ministry is people. Every person in Christ has the unique privilege and calling to minster to the people of God. This job doesn’t solely belong to the pastor. When I ignore the Church, I am unable to fulfill my responsibility to edify fellow believers.

In the context of the local church, Paul reminds the Church at Rome about the ministry of edification.

1. Bearing The Weak (1) We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

In a gathering of localized believers, people will be on all types of spiritual plains. Some will be new believers, perhaps old-timers, or people who have strayed away but have now returned. The point is that each of us are at different places in our Christian experience. Remember that God is not as concerned with where we are as he is concerned with which direction we are heading. As we head closer to becoming like Christ, God requires us to bear burdens of weaker Christians. Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

A Christian need not be self-sufficient. God has provided a wonderful community of support. Not to mention we cannot fulfill God’s program for evangelism on our own. Picture a Mr. Potato Head with just a tongue. How would he see? How would he hear? He would just roll to the side and off the table. This child’s toy pictures perfectly a Christian who does see the essentialness of the rest of the body of Christ.

I have to admit that there are times I come to church and I don’t feel like going on another day. It is at those times that God uses someone who is stronger than me to be an encouragement and pick me out of the hole I am in. It may be a note the write me, or perhaps just a song that they sung for a special. Many times, just the faithful presence of other believers serving, worshipping, and living faithful lives is a huge encouragement to my walk with God. I need the encouragement and so do you. I hope you see what a blessing it is to have a local church that is serving God together. It is a powerful program designed by God to bring glory to him and bearing the burdens of believers.

2. Building The Weak (2-3) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me

This verse is in the context of not doing something that would discourage a weaker Chrsitian in his walk with the Lord. Simply put, we need to look at others and be more concerned about them and helping them be grounded in God’s word and helping them to build their life in God. There are two types of people in this area: those who build and those who destroy.

What does a builder look like? A builder is most likely thinking through people he hopes to see in church today. On his way to church or perhaps before he is praying for their needs and asking God to again help him bear and build others through his life. He my see someone who looks like their having a bad day and instead of ignoring them like the priest and the Levite did to the man who was robbed, he stops to see what is the matter. He listens intently and wants to help in any way he can. He is a Good Samaritan. He has kind words, a helpful hand, supportive spirit, and he is involved in the service. He says amen, appropriately. After the service he is looking for someone to minister to. Perhaps a visitor that knows no one. Are they saved? Do they need a friend? Who is taking them to lunch? These are all questions that go through the mind of a builder. I know life is busy and our own families have many needs of their own. Work is crazy and schedules are even worse, but edifying is becoming a lost art. You cannot Biblically edify someone through facebook alone. We need to interact with believer looking for opportunities to encourage one another. One of the evidences of a Christian is that they use their words to build up and not destroy. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Our words should build others lives biblically giving grace to people. Grace has the idea of the supernatural-enablement to do God’s will. It is amazing to think that what I say to someone at Church has the power to help or hinder their ability to follow God’s will in their own life. “Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.”

What does a destroyer look like? Basically, he is the exact opposite of the builder. He keeps to himself, never looking to help anyone. Spiritually he isn’t even aware of other’s burdens. In fact, he probably walks around half the time offended because he thinks that no one is paying him any attention. If that is you, remember this verse: Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Much of their thinking during the service is selfish and critical. They never notice a visitor and if they did they would never talk to them. Their comments and conversations tear down unity amongst the family of God. They are a hindrance to the work of God through the local church.

God has given us the privilege of partnering with him to make a difference in the lives of non, new, middle-aged, and old believers. It is call edification and it is essential to the Christlike development of the individual believer. In fact, this is the example Paul gives to the Romans. Romans 15:3-4 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Christ bore the burdens of the whole world. His life was given to minister not to be ministered unto. His life was recorded so that we would learn how to act as a Christian. Jesus throughout his life went around doing good. Let this be our mindset as we minister to the people of God in the essential church.

Essent Church: The Priority of Gospel Preaching

I remember when I was in 6th grade, my parents had an disagreement over how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My dad still believes that the peanut butter goes on one slice of bread and then the jelly on the other. My mom, however, believes that the peanut butter and jelly should be applied to the same side of the bread. Her logic is that the sandwich will not be soggy by the time school lunch break comes around. It was a classic “how you do things” argument. You believe it should be done a certain way, and they believe there is a better way.

In religion today, there is a trend against strong, biblical preaching. Men have decided that there is a better way to communicate truth or perhaps better said to water truth down. With the increase in technology over the past couple of decades, men think less of preaching and more of videos, multi-media experiences, and light shows that leave people with a warm fuzzy feeling inside but still absent of biblical truth or the holy spirit. Anyone who knows me, knows that I believe we should use technology to assist in the work of the ministry, but we must remain true to God’s design of preaching as the primary mode of conveying the truth to the church and to the lost world. Powerful, Spirit-filled preaching can never be topped, replace, outdated, or become extinct. Bible preaching was God’s idea and it is here to stay.

If God so desire, he could have allowed the internet to be invented when he showed Noah how to build the ark. Then instead of using men to proclaim the truth, he could have live streamed broadcast from Heaven. That would have taken the human element of error completely out of it. However, that was not God’s design. Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; God decided to use men to proclaim his truth from one generation until the next.

Preaching: God’s Design

Nehemiah 6:7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.


Preaching: Christ’s Example

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Preaching: The Early Churches Method

Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

1Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My desire for this article is not to build a straw man and then blow him over, but to lay a biblical foundation for biblical preaching through the local church. Here is one of the main supports for this argument.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Christ’s Desire (17) –Jesus Christ sent Paul to preach. He still calls men today to preach the word of God. Where, in the setting of the local church.

Critic’s Decree (18) –The world considers preaching of the cross and the message of the cross to be the activity of fools.

Christ’s Delight (21) –God in his sovereign plan for the universe delighted In the method of using men to preach his message to the world.

Read through 1 and 2 Timothy. Here you will find Paul’s advice to the young preacher Timothy on how to conduct himself in the church. You cannot go very far without seeing some reference to communicating God’s truth to men through teaching/preaching.

The preacher is a gift that was given by God to the Christian through the local church. He is to be someone who would regularly study God’s word (2 timothy 2:15), stand and proclaim the truth of it without compromise (2 timothy 4:2), and would encourage the Christians to live it out in their live by exemplifying its teachings in his own life (1 timothy 4:12).

May we understand the priority of gospel preaching in the mind of God, and as The Method of proclaiming Truth? May we not be found arguing with God about how to do things?