Dear Friends,
Over three days last week, most of our staff team attended the Wollongong Region Ministry Conference. Every year, our Bishop calls together all the staff of all the churches in our area for mutual encouragement and strong challenge to spur us on in the work of the Gospel. This year David Helm from Chicago was the main speaker – but he is also the author of one of the most well-read Children’s Bibles – The Big Picture Story Bible.
If you are looking for a new Bible to read with the children or grandchildren, get this one and it will help you and them grasp hold of the message of the Bible from beginning to end.
David is a great writer and an inspiring preacher and I felt that his message to us was, Get back to basics, but don’t be basic!
So let’s be frank with each other. Sometimes sermons are little more than a dogs breakfast. I am more than willing to admit that I have preached some shockers over the last 7 years and you have all been quite polite about it. All our preachers work hard to be able to speak a Word from God that is inspiring and challenging; that seeks to bring about the transformation of mind and actions that the Gospel calls for. But we sometimes miss the mark.
David Helm called on us to get back to using all the skills we acquired at bible college to understand the text (get back to basics) but to then use that understanding to speak powerfully into the lives of people (but don’t be basic!). He spoke of the need for passionate reflection and consideration of the way your text speaks into the lives of the church. He encouraged us to get started early in the week to allow God’s Word to do its work on us first. He noted that too much OT preaching is sloppy, lazy and inauthentic because it rushes too quickly to Jesus and lacks thought and application.
Humorously, he implored us not to be inebriated preachers – just as a drunk leans on a lamp-post for support rather than just receiving its light, so many just lean on the Bible for a little support of whatever point they want to make rather than allowing it to illuminate you and determine the point.
All this is really the tip of the iceberg from 5 talks that were wonderfully heart-warming and challenging.
It is always a joy to be able to share ministry experiences with each of you so do please ask us for our own personal reflections on the three days. They were excellent.
It is also always a joy to get feedback from you on how we are going in ministry, either when you feel we could improve or when we have done well. I want to encourage you to share all your thoughts with us so we can work together hard in ministry for the Glory of God.
In Christ
Nigel