On Sunday I was ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa New
Wednesday 30 January 2008
Being ordained
Wednesday 23 January 2008
Lessons in Ministry from Thomas Scott
John Newton is famous as the slave trader who was converted to Christ, gave up the slave trade and penned the famous Amazing Grace.
This is an account from Scott’s diary that illustrates how poor view of ministry was:
In January 1774 two of my parishioners, a man and his wife, lay at the point of death. I had heard of the circumstances, but according to my general custom, not being sent for, I took no notice of it; till one evening, the woman being now dead, and the man dying, I heard that [ the neighbouring minister] my neighbour Mr Newton had been several times to visit them. {so even though these people were not in
Contrast this to that of Paul in 1 Thess 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
The need for the preacher to be interesting
conversation with a three year old...
3 year old: How did Jesus rise from the dead?
Me: God rose him.
3 year old: But God is Jesus…so he rose himself.
Me: Yes, well, um...my ice cream is melting I better go. Good night...
Thursday 17 January 2008
1 Thess 2:8
Ministry means loving people enough to work flat out for them.