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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.

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?)

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.

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.

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 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'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.

So...my take on this is different. Markedly so, I guess...

Our church has quite a defined liturgy - but we didn't make that change in January 2021 in relation to how masculine a liturgy is or isn't.

https://twitter.com/GShaneMorris/status/1630226505962758145

I began to prayerfully consider adopting our current liturgy first and foremost because I wanted @redeemermedford to have a self-consciously Gospel-shaped service that actually reflected dialogue between God and His people.