Three weeks in Blighty
We just spent three weeks in the UK. The first week was spent at our mission, UFM's, Summer Conference. We've always enjoyed these times - the conference centres are always clean and comfortable and you get catered for - our children used to think they were hotels. In addition you get some preaching and teaching - this time from an old acquaintance from Northern Ireland - and reports from people who serve in amazing places. We always feel like weaklings alongside the folk who paddle their way up the Amazon, or who work in remote parts of Central Asia. We had to do a seminar on preparing for retirement, which was well-received. Ella took us quietly and smoothly up to Caen for the ferry and we stayed overnight near the terminal before taking the early morning crossing. To get to the conference centre we had to use the M25, and it lived up to its promise. The second week was spent with my sisters and a nephew in a holiday cottage in Tenby. This was a straightforward trip down t...
Comments
It would be good to have a list of ten ways the congregation can encourage the Pastor.
Is it right to tell him, 'That was a wonderful sermon.'? Has Satan already told him that? What about 'Thank you for your ministry'?
Perhaps just getting on with things and not making a fuss?
Should we then just accept everything unquestioningly?
Yes, perhaps somebody could tell us how to encourage the Pastor, or is there no deffinitive answer?
Probably top of the list will be,
'Stop asking stupid questions!'
1) I don't think "good one this morning" is all that likely to be the thing that plunges your pastor into pride, apostasy and perdition.
2) Even better, discuss something from the sermon with him, but try not to choose either the place where he shouted loudest because he thought it wasn't very convincing, or the place where he missed the obvious exegetical point that a two-year old could see (especially if you are that two-year old).
3) Now and again take him out for a coffee, or babysit for him to go out with the missus, or take him to browse a bookshop and talk avidly about the cricket, the family, anything other than the church..
4) Most important - grow as a Christian. He'll put up with anything joyfully if he can see people coming to faith and growing.