Charles and The Study

If there is one thing I love doing and that is study and learning and understanding the Word of God

NOTHING HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Nothing happens automatically in the Christian life.

Christians learning to THINK. Critical Thinking.

Critical thinking gives due consideration to the evidence, the context of judgment, the relevant criteria for making the judgment well, the applicable methods or techniques for forming the judgment, and the applicable theoretical constructs for understanding the problem and the question at hand. Critical thinking employs not only logic but broad intellectual criteria such as clarity, credibility, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, significance and fairness. Definition

Thinking is often casual and informal, whereas critical thinking deliberately evaluates the quality of thinking.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE

Understand that spiritual discernment means being ready to admit to weakness or limitation in that very gift; being willing to abandon “shortcuts” in return for the demanding spiritual disciplines that produce lasting fruit; and resisting the temptation to judge the hearts of others.

Lloyd-Jones makes a great point in the quote below. The only thing I would add is that many people today think that simple preaching of doctrine will automatically lead to a transformed life. Lloyd-Jones is right when he says we must be taught to think. We need practical guidance to help us apply the wondrous truths of the gospel, or we will remain stunted and immature Christians. Where is the preaching that will help us live as Christians?

NOTHING HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Nothing happens automatically in the Christian life. That is a very profound principle, for I believe that most of our troubles arise from the fact that we tend to assume that they do happen automatically.

We persist in holding on to a semi-magical notion of regeneration which teaches that, because of what has happened to us, the rest of the story is, quite simply, ‘they all lived happily ever after’.

But of course we know that that is not true . . .Obviously the antidote to that is

• to think,
• to have an understanding,
• to reason the thing out thoroughly.

The world does not do that. The trouble with the world, ultimately, according to the teaching of the Bible, is that it does not think. If only people thought, most of their problems would be solved . . .

The fallacy of the humanist is, of course, that he believes that all you have to do therefore is to tell people to think. But as long as they are sinners they will not think. (As our study in Romans 1 tell us, I have added)) These elemental forces are so much stronger than the rational forces that ‘man in sin’ is always irrational.

When we become Christians we still need to enforce this self-same principle. Even the Christian does not think automatically; he has to be taught to think—hence the New Testament .

Why were they ever written? If a man who becomes a Christian automatically does the right thing, why did the Apostle ever have to write these epistles? Or if you can receive your sanctification as one act, one blessing, why were these epistles ever written? Here they are, full of reason, full of argument, full of demonstrations, full of analogies and comparisons. Why? In order to teach us how to think, in order to teach us how to work these things out, and how to gain understanding.

David Martyn. Lloyd-Jones, Life in the Spirit in Marriage, Home & Work : An Exposition of Ephesians 5:18 to 6:9 (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974, c1973), 209.

Sanctification happens in our life as Philippians 2:12-13 tell us, but as I have said, we have to put forth the effort to think on the spiritual things of the Word of God and then God gives us the will to do His will for His good pleasure.

SANCTIFICATION MEANS CONCENTRATION ON GOD

“Faith, in all its degrees, still reads the inscription, ‘The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin;’ and if at times the eye is so dim that it cannot read these words, through blinding tears or bewildering mist, faith rests itself on the certain knowledge of the fact that the inscription is still there, or at least that the blood itself (of which these words remind us) remains, in all its power and suitableness, upon the altar unchanged and uneffaced.

God says that the believing man is justified: who are we, then, that we should say, ‘We believe, but we do not know whether we are justified?’ What God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”
– Horatius Bonar, The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall a Man be Just with God? (Carlisle, Pa.: Banner of Truth, 1874/1993), 23

I AM TEACHING FROM FIRST THESSALONIANS, I AM NOT YET IN CHAPTER FIVE, BUT I WILL GET THERE, SO HERE IS A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT IS IN CHAPTER FIVE.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. First Thessalonians 5:23-24

When we pray to be sanctified, are we prepared to face the standard of these verses?

We take the term sanctification much too lightly.

Are we prepared for what sanctification will cost? It will cost anintense narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of all our interests in God. Sanctification means intense concentration on God's point of view. It means every power of body, soul and spirit chained and kept for God's purpose only. Are we prepared for God to do in us all that He separated us for? And then after His work is done in us, are we prepared to separate ourselves to God even as Jesus did? "For their sakes I sanctify Myself."

The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God's standpoint.

Sanctification means being madeone with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled Him will rule us.

1. Are we prepared for what that will cost? It will cost everything that is not of God in us.


2. are we prepared to be caught up into the swing of this prayer of the apostle Paul's?


3. Are we prepared to say - "Lord, make me as holy as You can make a sinner saved by grace"?

Jesus has prayed that we might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. The one and only characteristic of the Holy Ghost in a man is a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, and freedom from everything that is unlike Him.

1. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit's ministrations in us?

CHILDREN PASTOR POSTION

CHILDREN'S PASTOR POSITION IS OPEN

• I could not resist: I love children, and have worked with adults, and teens and young adults, and Charity and I have had several positions as Children's Pastor (preschool to sixth) I worked in Christian Schools. We have worked in the Bus Ministry working with kids is great. My last two position in the ministry was in Christian Education and Children's Ministry, and I can tell you I would have loved to have worked under this job description. Pastors and Elders take notes.

• Who would not want to work with these kids in the photo. Reid, Cole and Ella Williams. Dad and Mom are just outstanding parents and love the Lord, and love their church. I hope they have a Children's Pastor in their church (the church below is not the church they go to.)

The job description below is not from their church, nor am I applying, boy it sound like one I wish I could.

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AND TO THINK SOME CHURCHES TAKE LITTLE EFFORT IN HAVING A GOOD CHILDREN'S MINISTRY. TAKE NOTE PASTORS AND ELDERS AND DEACONS.

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A GOOD JOB DESCIPTION:

TX—Dallas // Children’s Pastor: We’re a creative, contemporary, Bible-centered, elder-led, medium-sized church (200 adults) looking for someone to join a great team as our Children’s Pastor. Casual, collegial and fun working environment. We’re willing to try new things--unencumbered by a lot of sacred cows. We’re basically purpose-driven; more interested in equipping followers than attracting the masses; a more intimate ‘family’ alternative to the many megachurches in town, but the quality of our Sunday morning rivals almost any big church. The Children’s Pastor is responsible for all ministries related to children from birth to sixth grade.

This is the only paid position in children’s ministries. We’re looking for someone to shepherd our children, minister to our families and reach out to the children in our neighborhood. This includes the responsibility to recruit, train, direct, and evaluate a corps of volunteers in children’s ministries. Current ministries to children include graded Sunday School, graded Children’s Church, midweek discipleship program, VBS, Kid’s Camp and several special events during the year. However, we’d like to transition to a more contemporary ministry and we’re open to some new ideas. Also includes some general pastoral duties. I want someone who thinks children’s ministry is the most important ministry in the church; committed to worship and serve Jesus wholeheartedly; teachable, flexible and adaptable; team player who works well with others; willing to speak their mind, but then able to ‘follow the leader’; capable leader with a pastor’s heart--particularly for kids; conscientious and self directed.

Salary: $40,000 plus health and dental.

Contact Associate Pastor Broc Jahnke; Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho; 7815 Arapaho Rd, Dallas, TX 75248; 972-852-5555; fax: 972-661-9113;

resumes@fbcarapaho.com for more information.

IS SEMINARY NECESSARY FOR PASTORAL MINISTRY

SHOULD THOSE WHO DESIRE FOR A LIFE TIME OCCUPATION OF PASTORAL MINISTRY BE TRAINED IN A BIBLE COLLEGE OR SEMINARY?

Part Three

HOW DID I KNOW THAT THE LORD REALLY WANTED ME TO PURSUE A LIFE’S WORK IN PASTORAL MINISTRY?

BACKGROUND HISTORY

If you grew up an independent fundamental Baptist, you knew about every sermon you heard was going to encourage you to pursue a job as a missionary, a preacher, or evangelist, or youth pastor, or some ministry in a local church.

Almost every revival you attended, every World Baptist Fellowship meeting you attended in Virginia, or North Carolina, the preachers were preaching to you to become a preacher, evangelist, or some kind of ministry in the local church, and then go to Bible Baptist Seminary in Arlington, Texas.

And my dad went to a WBF meeting every month when I was a kid and took the family, and many times he was the last speaker of the meeting. In those days, WBF meetings went three days and nights. Goodness. And I heard a lot of preaching to make ministry my life’s work.

I was really pumped and primed for pastoral ministry from the earliest days of my life. From the third grade, by brother Don and I were playing church. He would be Billy Graham one day and I was J. Frank Norris the next day. We went next door to the church and had church on Monday and Tuesday.

By the time I was fifteen I was involved in ministry, and my dad asked me to teach the young people. Twenty-seven months I was the youth pastor of Roanoke Baptist Temple and then I graduated from Jefferson High School in Roanoke, Virginia in May of 1966. My training in preaching and doing ministry as a youth pastor was self-taught and from watching dad. What I learned in those days was used in our ministry even until now. Myself and my younger brother Donald, and our school days side kick and friend Algie (Al) Myers hit the road preaching at youth rallies in Virginia and North Caroline

So to have this idea of preaching was normal for me. From the eighth grade in middle school, I knew in my spirit I wanted to preach. And my dad was ready to let me work in the church.

Then I attended Baptist Bible Seminary in Arlington Texas. WHY? I believed that was the direction that I should go for proper training to learn to preach and pastor a church.

SEMINARY TRAINING WAS TO BE FOR TRAINING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOR MINISTRY.

The professors in Seminary were preachers and pastors, and they were pastors of good churches. I really enjoyed those churches. I really wanted to know how they were able to pastor those churches. I had the desire to learn and know and apply what I could learn about ministry. After all, there were many men who had started churches and had done well.

These pastors and professors were themselves fundamentalist trained. Maybe it was because I was a young seasoned preacher before I attended Seminary that I was not so yielding to training by another. I did have an attitude in Seminary. I had no problem in the class room; I wanted to learn. But I also wanted to do ministry. Having a Mentor in Seminary? Outside the class room, we didn’t communicate with the preachers or teachers. All this was back in 1966, I am sure today that all has changed.

While I did receive some good WBF preaching training, and WBF pastoral training, somewhere along the way, those things I learned didn’t help. As pastor what I drew on was previous training prior to attending Bible Baptist Seminary.

Now the J.F. Norris camp knew how to get a crowd of people together. There were some big churches and the pastors had attended the Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Akron Baptist, Canton Baptist, Dayton Baptist, Massillon Baptist, to name just a few who had large churches. So to pastor a large church they knew how to do that. Some where along the line, I didn’t get the know how of how to do that. Well, maybe a little, knocking on doors, soul winning and promotions and, of course, the bus ministry.

• SEMINARY TRAINING FOR ME, DIDN’T GIVE ME THE TRAINING TO PASTOR. I know THAT IS A BOLD STATEMENT, BUT THE ABILITY TO PASTOR ANOTHER ESTABLISHED CHURCH JUST WAS NOT IN THE TRAINING . SEMINARY TRAINING DIDN’T HELP ME WITH THE PRACTICAL DAILY WORK OF MINISTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I GRADUATED FROM SEMINARY I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO OUTLINE A SERMON. THAT IS THE WBF WAY. (And yet the pastors and professors knew themselves how to do ministry and preach and pastor a church). MENTORING MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. This was 1966-1970.

I REALLY BELIEVED THE ONLY FUNDAMENTALIST PREACHERS were Baptist. To think I could learn from another group of preachers and professors that were not Baptist would be a sin. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF REFORMERS, OR EVEN EVANGELICALS.

Those top ten churches in America in 1968 were Baptist Fundamentalist. Why wouldn’t you want to have a church like them? So I wrote those top hundred churches and asked them “HOW DO YOU PASTOR A CHURCH AND HOW DO YOU GET A CROWD?” I have written a post on that. I have addressed this history in previous posts.

FOOTNOTE:

• The top photo is the entrance of Arlington Baptist College, and Bible Baptist Seminary
• The second and third photo Cederville University
  

IS SEMINARY TRAINING NECESSARY

SHOULD THOSE WHO DESIRE FOR A LIFE TIME OCCUPATION OF PASTORAL MINISTRY BE TRAINED IN A BIBLE COLLEGE OR SEMINARY?
Part Two

I grew up in an independent Baptist church where my father pastored. He had a ministry to pastors and those who had been knocked out by pastoring churches.

I grew up seeing a pastor train men for ministry. Then my dad passed away, and I went to seminary. I had some good training as a fundamentalist but had little training learning how to be

learning how to be a pastor like my dad.

How one receives that wisdom is the question at hand.

One should never go into the pastorate without first having been trained by a seasoned pastor who knows ministry. Training starts in the local church and then moves to a Seminary or even some good off- campus education training.

Dan Philips over at Biblical Christianity or Pyro addressed a question about “Is Seminary training necessary?”

I want to start with this question:

How does God bring a young man to the point of knowing God would like him to be in pastoral ministry?

My oldest son was going to Pensacola Christian College, for a degree in Accounting. In his first year a fundamentalist preacher came to chapel and preached a sermon on “Pastoral ministry as a life ministry”. My son believed that he was to preach and changed his major to pastoral ministry.

The next three years he took all the subjects for Bible and minored in Greek. Following graduation, he came back to our church where I was the pastor, and I put him to work as a music director and youth pastor. Well, in a little while he began to realize that his calling was not from the Lord, but his emotions. And I encouraged him to find another direction in life. Serve the Lord, for sure, but the call for pastoral ministry is not an emotional call. He today is doing great and he and his wife are active in their local church. The training he received in Pensacola was not training for pastoral ministry. It was excellent Bible education. I don’t know if they have hand-on program for pastoral ministry.

HOW DOES ONE KNOW THAT GOD IS DIRECTING HIM TO GO INTO PASTORAL MINISTRY

My youngest son Kyle, who is twenty-three, said, “Dad, I don’t have a clue what I want to do; and if I go to college, I have no idea what I want to learn to do.”


WHERE DOES THE DIRECTION COME FROM TO GIVE DIRECTION FOR ONE’S LIFE WORK?

That is, HOW DID I KNOW THAT THE LORD REALLY WANTED ME TO PURSUE A LIFE’S WORK IN PASTORAL MINISTRY?

There is no substitute for hands-on apprenticeship: pastor to student.

Having all the knowledge of the Word does not qualify a man for ministry in a local church. But having the knowledge, then wisdom of ministry of a local church is a must.

How one receives that wisdom is the question at hand.

One should never go into the pastorate without first having been trained by a seasoned pastor who knows ministry. Training starts in the local church and then moves to a Seminary or even some good off- campus education training.
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Footnote

• This observation is from by perspective and life experiences. My experiences are not necessary the norm for all pastors, preachers, ministers and Christian workers. And I am speaking from the experience in my youth, as a Independent Fundamental Baptist.



• I am speaking in part from by experience from forty years ago.



• But it does not negate the issue at hand, "SHOULD ONE WHO HAS A DESIRE FOR PASTORING A CHURCH GO TO SEMINARY."

WHY DO WE HAVE A MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION? FOR WHAT REASON DO WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, & YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS?

What is the vision that we have for our youth in the next two years? What is the aim of our education? What do we believe is the most important result of the ones that enter into our building to each week? What do we hope will occur in the lives of our young people?

A Vision: visualize

Now what is the most fundamental thing we can say about Christian Education?

This vision and this ministry , this building are about educating children, and youth and adults to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts, mind, and body.

The vision in part is to see children, youth, and young adults have a recognize love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the first essential teaching that will produce that kind of fervent love is teaching "Knowing God." If they had a vision of God as Isaiah had. Isaiah 43 and 44 give an overwhelming description of the absoluteness of God. "God’s commitment to being God and being known as God is like a thunderclap in these chapter."

• "Authenticity and transparency in communicating in large and small groups settings." A reasonable idea. I really am beginning to love our group in Discipleship hour at our table.

• "Vulnerability with our imperfections that encourage candor, not concealment."

• "Equipping "incubators" to support the "newborns" that God brings forth."

• "Cultivating a ministry mindset of creativity, flexibility, and responsiveness to new
• needs."

• "Increasingly visible, authentic, practical ways of loving each other."

• "Eager openness to new people and the avoidance of cliquishness."
  
• "The freedom to relax and enjoy each other and God’s Word in casual ways."

• "The importance of small groups for building caring, faith-sustaining relationships.
  
• "A strong attention to bringing children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

• "A spiritually dynamic youth ministry that equips teenagers for courageous Christianity."

• "Capturing the hearts and minds of college / career students with a biblical vision of God."

• "Being a place where single people can flourish with each other and in family."
  
  
  Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant