Beginning the Ministry
Today is 6 December 2019. My first Sunday as pastor here at Warrior Creek was 1 December. So many people have welcomed us with loving arms, showered care and concern on us, and reached out to help in any way they can.
We have already fallen in love with everyone. As I enter my second week, I wanted to share some of my goals for the next few months.
My first goal is to preach God's Word faithfully. Peter exhorts pastors (or elders), "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you..." (1 Peter 5:2, ESV). We derive the word pastor from this phrase. Among the most important work of the shepherd is to feed the sheep. Christians live on the Word of God. It is their milk (1 Peter 2:2) and their nourishment (1 Timothy 4:6). The faithful preaching of God's Word feeds and nourishes the sheep, one of the important tasks of the shepherd of God's flock.
Another goal I have is to pray for you. Interestingly, the apostles shared the work of the ministry with deacons in order to give themselves "to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4, ESV). There are numerous examples in Scripture of prayer. However, one goal that I have is to have a few requests from each on of you (both physical and spiritual) for which I can pray.
A third goal is to visit with each one of you over the next six months. Paul labored among the Ephesian Church publicly and from house to house (see Acts 20:20). I want to truly know you, your cares and concerns, your gifts, and your desires.
These are some of my initial goals. You can also help me in several ways. First, pray that I will be a faithful Christ first, a loving husband second, an encouraging father third, and a sincere shepherd fourth. If I reverse this order, I would disqualify myself from the ministry, do great harm to my own soul and family, and do a disservice to God's Church.
Second, commit to following Jesus with your entire being. Give yourself to the study of the Scriptures, fervent prayer, and good works.
Third, share your life with me. Be honest about your struggles and victories. Tell me how God's Word is working in your life. We grow together.
My greatest prayer is that God would be glorified in everything.