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D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

Apr 17 • 8 tweets • 2 min read • Read on X

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I'm nearing the end of my time in 1 Timothy. Until I finally make to the Letter to the Hebrews, it'll probably go down for me as the most important series I've preached.

Here are five personal lessons I've taken from the letter:

1. Faithful ministry is Gospel ministry: The word translated "false doctrine" in the CSB (1:3, 6:3) can be rendered "other doctrine". There are a thousand messages competing for the faithful minister's heart and mouth. Only one is worth it.

2. Faithful ministry is a fight: I hate that it is (if I can be honest) but faithful ministry goes again the grain in every sense possible. No wonder Paul has to tell Timothy twice to fight the good fight (1:18-20, 6:12)

3. Faithful ministry is Word ministry: A ministry without the Word is something...it's just not a ministry. Elders must be able to teach (3:2) and be committed to progress in Word ministry (4:11-16)

4. Faithful ministry is loving ministry: I think the theme of love might be the easiest to miss in 1 Timothy but right out the gate, Paul says ministry is about love (1:5) and calls his son to be an example of love (4:12).

5. Faithful ministry is God-centered ministry: In an age of man-centered ministry (even in circles that would claim to be God-centered), 1 Timothy is refreshing in its centredness on God (1:1-2, 11; 2:3, 5; 3:15; 4:10; 5:21; 6:15-16)

Bonus: 1 Timothy is such a rebuke to so much of the weak, anemic, limp, flat, Bible-less, Gospel-deficient "ministry" out there. I've come out of this book thankful for those who came before me and also kinda ticked by those who willingly reject a Pauline kind of ministry.

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More from @AKofiCup

D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

Nov 7, 2024

Reading 1 Timothy for the last few months has led me to the painful conclusion many American evangelical churches don't actually know their job description.

They want to be glorified community centers instead of places are the "pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim 3:15)

If I sound harsh...just look up most churches and look what they offer. Is it spiritual-growth focused or activity-focused?

How many churches are public about providing training and discipleship? (And not just for those called to vocational ministry?)

More fundamentally, outside of our doctrinalist camp/tribe (which I love!), if you ask the average American evangelical what is important in a church, what would the answer be?

I have my anecdotal answers after years of church planting...and they're not always 1 Tim answers.

Read 5 tweets

D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

Jun 27, 2024

It was about a year ago today that one of the worst seasons of ministry I'd ever experienced began.

By the end of summer, half our membership (in an already small church) was gone, I was battle weary and borderlined depressed and almost tendered my resignation.

But I didn't.

A few things came together for me to change my mind:

1. I went back to the basics of what ministry is. Not what folks wanted me to do or what I felt pressure to be. I took 36 hours and went on a personal retreat with just my Bible and a iPad to take notes with.

I re-read the "pastoral epistles" and re-introduced myself to what faithful ministry is. I was encouraged because I was doing it (imperfectly but earnestly) and challenged because there was room to grow. Which leads to my second thing:

Read 15 tweets

D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

May 25, 2024

A verse that is never far from my thoughts as a young pastor is:

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are instructed to know how to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens me each morning; he awakens my ear to listen like those being instructed.

Matthew Henry:

"See what is the best learning of a minister, to know how to comfort troubled consciences, and to speak pertinently, properly, and plainly, to the various cases of poor souls.

An ability to do this is God’s gift, and it is one of the best gifts, which we should covet earnestly. Let us repose ourselves in the many comfortable words which Christ has spoken to the weary"

Read 5 tweets

D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

Apr 20, 2023

So I've been thinking about something the last few weekends and I'd love to hear opinions on it.

In the life of most churches, there are three (somewhat overlapping) purposes for gathering in church life:

1. Times of worship
2. Times of fellowship
3. Times of equipping

Sometimes, all three are happening (like our regular Lord's Day services) and sometimes one is prominent.

I've listed the three types in order of most attendance and (often) priority in the minds of congregants (at least in my experience)

My experience has been educational times are the hardest to sell. Here are some reasons I've thought through:

Read 7 tweets

D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

Mar 20, 2023

I've got something I need to share with the Twittersphere - grab a seat. This is gonna take a minute it.

Discernment ministries.

Once upon a time, I was a fanboy of a lot of it. I was a refugee of the WoF movement and I loved it when folks "stuck it on" those guys.

Then came the Emergent stuff which became the rage around the same time I came to embrace the doctrines of grace. New ministries rose up, fighting those guys and I was glad for their voice.

I thought discernment ministry were doing the job where churches were failing and so, sure the tactics could be weird, but war is war and you can't reason with folks in war.

Read 5 tweets

D. Kofi Adu-Boahen

@AKofiCup

Mar 2, 2023

I'm a little exercised today.

I was in a thread in a large Reformed FB group by a dear brother who is thinking of training up leaders in his church.

One of the things I kept seeing was, "That's too much. That's too rigorous."
I hear so often I am sick of it and here's why:

1. It's a ridiculous low standard. Doctors, lawyers, first responders, mechanics, electricians, plumbers - all go through rigorous training but pastoral ministry? Be a nice guy and have some experience at... (checks notes) adulting.

It's stupid, frankly.

2. It reflects a low view of what pastoral ministry is. A pastor doesn't just work up a speech every Sunday and run everything. Pastoral ministry is labouring to see Christ formed in the people we minister to (cf. Gal 4:19)

Read 7 tweets

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