With this being my last journal entry, I thought it was only befitting to take a moment to reflect on how this class has opened my mind to ministry. Understanding ministry stretches far beyond the pulpit on Sunday; but you are a minister EVERYDAY! Even days when you don’t feel like walking as a “Disciplined Christian.” It is difficult to not at times allow your flesh to overshadow your spirit, and I must say this class has caused a piece of my flesh to die every day. The one central theme that resonates in my mind is “it’s not about me, it’s about God!” All that I do, all that I say, should be about giving Him the glory and Honor. I strive to reach the point where I “not only behave in an exemplary manner” (page 290) but I am an exemplary person. This is what I aspire to do and I am confident with the foundation I have received in this class, that aspiration will one day come to fruition.
My supervisor called me on Monday and asked me if I would consider staying at Jonesville, even with the conclusion of this class. He indicated he recommended me to the Presiding Elder for a position on the District as the Statistician. This is a great opportunity for me as I continue to walk on my ministerial journey. This might be the opportunity I have been looking for, to help propel me into a pastorate. I was overjoyed when I spoke to him and just as I was about to exclaim “Yes, of course!” I realized I had to have this discussion with my pastor. My pastor was originally reluctant to let me do my Supervised Ministry outside of my church; but he later agreed, after much coaxing. I know that the average person would think that my pastor would celebrate my growth and new found opportunities, but I am sad to say this is not the cas...
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...e them an assignment where they had to help someone. They had to provide me a signed form indicating they had fulfilled this obligation preferably doing their service with a senior citizen. I had never been met with so many moans and groans. The students all expressed their discontent with this assignment. This troubled me even more, so I decided at the last minute to plan a field trip. When I originally asked, I was told my principal wouldn’t approve it, but when I asked he gladly approved. I write to say, I know that I am going to need EXTRA prayer for Tuesday. Even though Willimon sounds good in regards to being a disciplined Christian, I will be taking 60 8th grade students…students who barely listen in the classroom, to UNC Charlotte and Little Flower Nursing Home. I am not so certain I will be able to exhibit this behavior if they get to out of hand.
N.T. Wright: During my first semester at Northwestern College, I was assigned the book, “The Challenge of Jesus” by N.T. Wright for one of my Biblical Studies courses. This book and every other book Tom Wright has written has dramatically impacted my Christian faith. Dr. Wright has not only defended the basic tenants of the Christian faith, but also has shown how an academically-minded pastor ought to love and care for his or her congregants. N.T. Wright was previously the Bishop of Durham and pastored some of the poorest in the United Kingdom. His pastoral ministry has helped shape his understanding of God’s kingdom-vision which he is diagramming within his magnum opus “Christian Origins and the Question of God”. This series has instructed myself and countless other pastors to be for God’s kingdom as we eagerly await Christ’s return. Additionally, I have had the privilege of meeting with N.T. Wright one-on-one on numerous occasions to discuss faith, the Church, and his research. I firmly believe Tom Wright is the greatest New Testament scholar of our generation and he is the primary reason why I feel called into ministry.
Jay's Journal is an interesting book written by Jay. The story is about Jay and how he was led into witchcraft and the occult and using drugs by his girlfriend and others. The author tells how Jay was led into all of this, and it also tells how he got his two best friends into using the same stuff and into the occult also known as the O. The author describes how he learned that the human race was afraid of mind over matter techniques and learned how to use them himself. He was able to levitate small objects and see peoples auwa and aura. This is a great book because it helps some people that deal with the same problems to see what might happen if they choose to follow the same path. I really liked this book because it might help people deal with this type of stuff, it was written in a real person's journal and described what led to his death, and I like how it says what happened every day of his life.
Journal Entry #1 Wiesel says this because he wants to keep the Holocaust from happening again. He probably meant that it is selfish to keep something to yourself when it is important and you can prevent it from happening. When he was being tortured, the other citizens did nothing to help. Maybe he just wants to make up for what others did not do for him. I agree and disagree with his statement.
Philosophy of Ministry: God's desires come first, I must always live my ministry God's way. I must live as a Christian (1 Corinthians 9:27) I must have a proper relationship of surrender to the Leader. In my personal life or in the Church I must understand that Christ is Head and Chief Shepherd (Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 13:20). The “management” of Church is about relationships with God and Man, not just maintaining a social organization.
I spent every spring and summer in middle school doing mission work and community service. I loved the opportunity that it gave me to build relationships and share my beliefs with people I didn’t know. Little did I know that this would pave the way for a life-changing experience that I would encounter one day. Each spring my church would host a missionary event called “The Ignite Project.” I felt an urge to join the group, recognizing that it was a calling to profess my faith in Jesus. These mission trips helped me to go out
“The call is something that is an indescribable joy and an indefinable burden at the same time.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 32). There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a congregation of the redeemed moving forward in their faith. However exciting this may be, it is usually not the thrill that propels the pastor in his service. It is the burden placed on the pastor by God that compels him in his work. The pastor understands that he is largely responsible for the work of God being accomplished by his faithfulness to his calling. “All through the Word of God and down through the annals of history, when God has moved it has almost always been attended by the preaching of the Word.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 31)
As with any ministry, it takes a person who to be selfless and willing to make the sacrifices that have to be made daily as Ms. Lamb does. For example, she quit a f...
Paul has given an extraordinary of example of humbleness to those who preach and teach the Gospel. Although, the Apostle Paul was well known prepared on any theological subject, he went to Jerusalem to meet with other apostles to verify that his message was alienated with the Gospel. Therefore, pastors and church leaders should look intentionally for spiritual mentors that help them to grow in their knowledge of the Gospel. (121, Habermas)
In comparison with many other countries, the American Church is well resourced. One can hardly say anything about the academy without noting the large numbers of underemployed biblical scholars with PhDs in the United States, even while the Church in parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and even Europe are desperate for scholar-pastors to help in theological school teaching. Again, following the example of my own mentor Gordon Fee who took one term in three to serve the Church in developing countries, I hope to continue my commitment to teaching and training national church leaders in under-resourced countries, perhaps by volunteering my services abroad, or by leading student teams on short-term trips overseas, or by being involved in a college’s international students group. Believing in reciprocity of community, I believe that my own understanding of theological education will be enhanced significantly by the worldwide communion of the Church’s scholar-pastors and their congregations. Given the cross-culture ministry of Paul the scholar and Barnabas the mentor, such endeavors seem
Overall, this book helped me become more aware of my weaknesses with my preaching style and also gave me tools to strengthen them. The examples are very basic and practical and helped highlight key skills and situations that a preacher can experience when doing a sermon. This book added more knowledge to me and gave me new insights that I can use as a tool when I go back with my ministry as a youth worker.
Using the chapters from the course is a great way to overcome my own personal fears about evangelism, they are a great tool for me to look back on when I need an extra push to lead someone to fait...
This semester has proved to be a real awakening to what direction I need to be pursuing in my spiritual walk. I have learned so much through this course. Some of the things that I have learned that have become more important than they were in the past are; the need for silence, the need for community, the need for direction, and above all how utterly helpless we are when we try to “do” everything, including ministry without seeking God first.
It is important for me to remember when preparing a sermon, that it is not about the preacher, but through preaching, God the Holy Spirit does the work of giving God’s
In ministry it is important to note that the different people involved in your ministry will be at different stages of their spiritual growth. Having an awareness of your own personal theology will be important for how you go about teaching the students who are involved in your youth ministry. One part of personal theology is spiritual formation. Duffy Robbins states that spiritual formation is, “the growing into the likeness of Jesus” (448). Another main part of personal theology is community. Understanding and having an idea of both spiritual formation and community helps with the formation of personal theology of ministry. This paper will share five areas of theology and how they relate to practical theology in youth ministry. The five areas of theology include view of God, view of people, view of sin, view of redemption, and view of scripture.
*If you've been hurt in the past by people dont assume that you will always be hurt, open your heart to someone who you can trust and you will find true love, dont deny yourself of that feeling*