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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Encouragement (among believers) (11/08/07)
As a “professional” minister it is easy for me to get caught up in “doing” ministry. I get caught up in preparing classes, performing exegesis, and giving sound spiritual advice—which are all good things. In fact all of the things I do in my role as a “professional Christian” are good and in some ways even necessary. However, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that if my exegesis is perfect, and my advice is sound, and my classes are flawless, most of the time nobody remembers any of it. What people do remember is the times I take out to just simply talk and be honest and share my heart, and my passion—and this one is incredible sometimes not even sharing my heart or my passion, but simply listening.

You may be asking yourself at this point what this has to do with encouragement among believers and I think there is an important lesson that I tend to forget and I suspect others do as well. Encouragement among believers is a natural part of sharing the journey. The greatest encouragement that most people receive is not when we give them perfect answers to their problems or tell them that “God loves them”. Often the most encouraging thing we can do for others is simply let them know we care. When we become vessels for God’s love however, chipped, cracked, rusty and full of holes, our vessel may be then God is truly glorified and God’s people are truly encouraged.



© David Smith 2007 | blog.zahar.org |
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This article has been read 683 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
11/15/07
Super title, and I like your second paragraph. Add a bit more personality to this and it'll really fly.

FYI--challenge entries aren't supposed to contain your name, so that judging will be anonymous.

Your writing is very good--I want more!
Seema Bagai 
11/17/07
Great title. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
LaNaye Perkins
11/18/07
You made a great point in your entry. Thanks for sharing such a great message.
David Butler
11/27/07
The title spoke volumes. Yes. Readers (and listeners) relate to an honest expression of imperfection and human-ness, and is reflected well in the title.
Excellent thoughts, but I agree with Jan. Maybe you could describe an incident or relate how one of your passionate, not-so-exegetical sermons made your congregation sit up and listen, or relate some feedback where they were greatly helped. There's great power in a narrative approach.
Kenneth Heath
11/27/07
Short and sweet. Well done.