I always try to listen to Rev. Stephen Davey on my way to work each day on the radio station I affectionately term “the legalism channel” (hee hee!). His sermon sniglets are about as long as my drive to work, so it works out to be a great, thought-provoking and challenging start to my day.
Wednesday morning was no different, but it was so convicting to me personally, I knew instantly it was something I wanted to pass along to you.
In speaking of the role, character and responsibilities of elders in the church, Rev. Davey pointed out that one function of the leadership of the church is that of providers. Shepherding and feeding the flock don’t just happen…those intentional actions require private preparation and loving labor. What we as leaders graze upon will ultimately be what the flock is fed.
Davey went on to say that the average church leader can quote Peter Drucker, but not the Apostle Peter…that we can detail the teachings of John Maxwell, but falter in the teachings of the Apostle John. Walter Keiser said, “It is no secret that Christ’s church is not at all in good health. She has been languishing because she has been fed junk food. All kinds of artificial preservatives, and all sorts of unnatural substitutes have been served up to her. And as a result, biblical malnutrition has afflicted the same generation that has taken such giant steps to make sure its physical health is never damaged by using food that is harmful to their bodies. At the same time a spiritual famine is resulting from the lack of any genuine preachers of the Word of God.”
Davey recounted words of wisdom he received from his missionary father when speaking of this same topic: “As a boy growing up on the farm, we could always tell when our cow Bessie had been in the onions. We could taste it in the milk.” In the same way, those whom we feed will be able to taste what we have been feeding upon, as will the congregations to whom they pass that nourishment.
All of us are leaders of a "flock" in one way or another - in our home, in our church, in our community... What those we influence “feed on” from us is what they will, in turn, feed to their "flocks". What an humbling task we have been granted! And what an awesome burden of responsibility. That word has made me much more conscious of what I will be feeding on spiritually, especially over the next several weeks. I don’t want my milk to taste of “onions”. I want them to feed on the pure milk of the Word of God. Blessings!
Wednesday morning was no different, but it was so convicting to me personally, I knew instantly it was something I wanted to pass along to you.
In speaking of the role, character and responsibilities of elders in the church, Rev. Davey pointed out that one function of the leadership of the church is that of providers. Shepherding and feeding the flock don’t just happen…those intentional actions require private preparation and loving labor. What we as leaders graze upon will ultimately be what the flock is fed.
Davey went on to say that the average church leader can quote Peter Drucker, but not the Apostle Peter…that we can detail the teachings of John Maxwell, but falter in the teachings of the Apostle John. Walter Keiser said, “It is no secret that Christ’s church is not at all in good health. She has been languishing because she has been fed junk food. All kinds of artificial preservatives, and all sorts of unnatural substitutes have been served up to her. And as a result, biblical malnutrition has afflicted the same generation that has taken such giant steps to make sure its physical health is never damaged by using food that is harmful to their bodies. At the same time a spiritual famine is resulting from the lack of any genuine preachers of the Word of God.”
Davey recounted words of wisdom he received from his missionary father when speaking of this same topic: “As a boy growing up on the farm, we could always tell when our cow Bessie had been in the onions. We could taste it in the milk.” In the same way, those whom we feed will be able to taste what we have been feeding upon, as will the congregations to whom they pass that nourishment.
All of us are leaders of a "flock" in one way or another - in our home, in our church, in our community... What those we influence “feed on” from us is what they will, in turn, feed to their "flocks". What an humbling task we have been granted! And what an awesome burden of responsibility. That word has made me much more conscious of what I will be feeding on spiritually, especially over the next several weeks. I don’t want my milk to taste of “onions”. I want them to feed on the pure milk of the Word of God. Blessings!