Comments on: 21st Century Ministry and 2 Corinthians (Part 7)

By: Connie Lard

Connie Lard — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:12:38 +0000

It is all too easy to get side-tracked by little details of life that aren’t exactly as we wish they were, and that we have little or no control over. Whether it’s something going on in the world, or in our own lives, or maybe in the lives of our children, we can get very distracted and forget where we are to find our joy. When we focus on God’s action, then everything else falls into place. Perhaps that is the most important reason for coming to the Table every Sunday. A book I’m currently reading (Simply Christian, by NT Wright) suggests that the Table is a place where earth and heaven meet. He says it’s like sitting down to dinner with Jesus, and your great-great-grandparents along with your great-great grandchildren also show up. Past, present and future. Not to mention friends and family scattered across the world. And we’re all there together because of Him – what He did and continues to do in our lives. That’s where we find our peace and our joy, and what gives our lives meaning.

By: Arlene Kasselman

Arlene Kasselman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:39:21 +0000

When our focus shifts away from the work of God we have the uncanny ability to act as if we work and serve people in this life instead of realizing that we work and serve God. In doing that do we act as His agent in relationship with people? Sure! But when our real mission gets out of focus we find ourselves working out of our skill set which easily leads to exhaustion and burnout instead of working out of the over flow of a life that is intimately connected to God.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:14:57 +0000

Thank you Karin. I have found this to be so important. One, because I believe this is the way Paul did ministry. He was attentive to God as the primer mover and initiator in ministry. He is unfolding HIS story. Second, not paying attention to God and his work in our ministries put far too much responsibility on us for what happens in our congregations.

By: Karin

Karin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:34:06 +0000

In think you captured it all when you said, “As we complete this first decade in the 21st century, it is very important that we pay attention to the work of God as the story of HIS love, grace, and kingdom unfolds. Far too often, we focus our ministries on what we are doing or what we need to do. If we are not careful, our ministries can be totally focused on our strategies, our tactics, and our goals, to the neglect of God’s work in our ministries.” Totally agree! One of my favorite phrases, a stanza in a poem I wrote, is “God IS working everywhere; we just need to join Him there.” Often I’ve heard prayers that ask the Lord to do this, or that, or the other, when He already has been, is and will be at work and we just haven’t been observing His actions everywhere, haven’t recognized the work as His, and perhaps even think He has forgotten to work on…… you fill in the blank. Father, please give me a heart of gratitude for all you are doing everywhere!