February 25, 2009

This past Sunday morning’s text was chock full of
robust and practical theology (note below for what I had
to leave out of my sermon!), and from your comments,
God’s Spirit was at work in a special way through His
Word. I covet your prayers as I study and prepare to
feed your souls the meat of God’s word; sometimes it
feels like I’m serving up hamburger, sometimes it feels
like filet mignon – the beauty of preaching is that the
Spirit is in control, and so what feels like hamburger to
me can be filet mignon to God’s people (which helps to
keep me from despair), and vice versa (which helps to
keep me from pride).

If you ever want to know how you can pray for me,
let these words from the Westminster Directory for
Worship be your guide: “The servant of Christ is to perform
his whole ministry:
1. Painfully, not doing the work of the Lord negligently;
2. Plainly, that the meanest may understand; delivering
the truth not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of none effect; abstaining also from an
unprofitable use of unknown tongues, strange phrases, and
cadences of sounds and words; sparingly citing sentences of
ecclesiastical or other human writers, ancient or modern, be
they never so elegant.
3. Faithfully, looking at the honor of Christ, the conversion,
edification, and salvation of the people, not at his own
gain or glory; keeping nothing back which may promote those
holy ends, giving to every one his own portion, and bearing
indifferent respect unto all, without neglecting the meanest, or
sparing the greatest, in their sins.
4. Wisely, framing all his doctrines, exhortations, and especially
his reproofs, in such a manner as may be most likely to
prevail; showing all due respect to each man’s person and
place, and not mixing his own passion or bitterness.
5. Gravely, as becometh the word of God; shunning all
such gesture, voice, and expressions, as may occasion the corruptions
of men to despise him and his ministry.
6. With loving affection, that the people may see all
coming from his godly zeal, and hearty desire to do them good.
7. As taught of God, and persuaded in his own heart,
that all that he teaches is the truth of Christ; and walking before
his flock, as an example to them in it; earnestly, both in
private and public, recommending his labors to the blessing of
God, and watchfully looking to himself, and the flock whereof
the Lord has made him an overseer. So shall the doctrine of
truth be preserved uncorrupt, many souls converted and built
up, and himself receive manifold comforts of his labors even in
this life, and afterward the crown of glory laid up for him in the
world to come.”

Pray that God would work that which I lack into my
life, and to the degree that I possess any part of these
characteristics, cause me to take heed lest I fall. I thank
God for the privilege of ministering among you, and for
your encouragements week in and week out. He is faithful!

Caleb