2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 2 reads, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.”
It’s a letter from Paul to the Corinthian people where he states with confidence that the people themselves – changed lives – are the fruit of his ministry and the letter of commendation for his team.
Isn’t that a cool thought? Defining ministry success by changed lives?
I hurt when people leave Antioch because I wonder if we’ve failed them. If programs, events or other distractions have kept us from ministering to them. I have to remember no church ever kept 100% of its people.
It’s a good guide, however. Are the people, rather than the programs, becoming the letter of commendation for our work?
Paul continued, “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
I pray that our ministry may always be driven by the Spirit of the living God and that it may always reach to the level of human hearts.
I pray the church itself, the people, may be our letter.
Ken, God used you to play a major role in changing my life to be centered on Christ. Keep plugging away…you make a major difference in people’s lives!
Ken, you are a diamond in the rough…a pastor who is driven completely by Christ! God has used you to play a major role in changing my life and I am forever grateful. You’ll never know the impact you have on people in the name of Christ. Don’t ever change or become corrupted…you keep plugging away!!
Ken – Thanks for sharing these thoughts. You’ve hit on the #1 reason for why ministry should exist, which is to develop men and women who know the heart of God. A heart that wants only to give love and receive love in response. We don’t need more church leaders giving in to the temptation to be relevant, spectacular and powerful in order to count more bodies, have bigger budgets, and chalk up more baptisms. Let’s pursue a vision of a community which knows God intimately and lives out our faith by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and alleviating the suffering of the poor. Stay strong and courageous!
just a word of encouragement.. you are making a difference in my life and in my “walk”… my mind, as well as my heart , is renewed each sunday! thank you!
p.s. luv redux too!!