Each of Us is the Lesson
July 20, 2005
Well, hello from Nashville. I have been out of the city virtually all of the time from June 25 until today! Wow! Where has all the time gone. I wanted to jump right back in and keep my enthusiasm for our dialogue on the front burner. Thanks to all of you for being so responsive. It has been a great year for me in getting to know many of you in person as well as on the internet.
I just returned from doing a special week at Glorieta and another at Ridgecrest. Actually it was three and four days, not a full week at each place! The emphasis of these weeks was bible study -- Sunday school training for local church leaders. It was a great time. I deeply believe that the future rests upon our ability to effectively communicate the truths of God's Word.
No amount of creativity or tradition can take the place of giving public exposure to the revelation God has given us in His Word. I found the people eager and responsive. I reminded them and remind all of us that in the final analysis, each of us is the lesson. We teach God's Word, but our lives give validity to what we say. What we are and who we are with God is what those who listen to us will remember more than specific facts or truths. Our lives reinforce the truth we teach. Anyway, the time was good. We did have one sad day at Ridgecrest when a dear man died last Sunday afternoon. That is a strong reminder to all of us that we are all passing through this life, that this earth is not our final home. I want to make the most of the days the Lord allows me to have...and I know you do.
I have had a great time this past couple of months digging into Scripture to prepare some messages. That has been the thing I miss the most about the pastorate. As a pastor, I prepared three new messages every week -- even when I was president of the SBC back in the early '80s. I didn't think I would miss the discipline of study, but I have and I do. I preach every week...but always to strangers and not new sermons each time. Nothing is more exciting to me than discovering the meat of God's Word and presenting that to a congregation or audience. The older I get the more that is valued. I pray you will all experience that joy. Preach God's Word to your people. Paul's counsel to Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:1-2 is still valuable for us today!
Thanks for letting me drop in for a visit. I'll look forward to getting back with you soon.
Jimmy Draper
Posted by lwadmin at July 20, 2005 8:19 AM | Permalink
Comments
I think most of our younger leaders would agree that the creativity employed in preaching and teaching is to more clearly communicate the truth that God has revealed to us, not to in any way substitute for it.
Posted by: Marty Duren at July 21, 2005 5:15 AM
My daughter is working at Glorieta as summer staff this summer and she heard you speak when you were there!
I appreciate knowing that I'm not the only one who would rather preach to people I know rather than just "filling the pulpit." I enjoy exegeting the text and the people I am responsible for at the same time.
I appreciate your responses to Marty's interview and the direction you are taking.
Thank you.
Posted by: Rodney McCarty at July 25, 2005 8:05 PM
