I shared this two years ago, but I believe the thoughts are worth repeating. On Monday our nation will set aside time to recognize the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing up in Alabama, I lived 150 miles from where he marched in Selma. For 17 years living in Arkansas, I lived 100 miles from where he was killed in Memphis. It is undeniable that he played a significant role in a time of turmoil and change. Regardless of what people may think about the man, his methods or his politics, for many he symbolizes the desire for unity, service and concern for our fellow man. You have probably heard his “I Have a Dream” speech repeated around this time of year. Below is a section of another speech he gave the day before his assassination.

“Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness. One day a man came to Jesus, and he wanted to raise some questions about some vital matters of life. At points he wanted to trick Jesus, and show him that he knew a little more than Jesus knew and throw him off base. Now that question could have easily ended up in a philosophical and theological debate. But Jesus immediately pulled that question from mid-air, and placed it on a dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho. And he talked about a certain man, who fell among thieves. You remember that a Levite and a priest passed by on the other side. They didn’t stop to help him. And finally a man of another race came by. He got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy. But he got down with him, administered first aid, and helped the man in need. Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, this was the great man, because he had the capacity to project the ‘I’ into the ‘thou,’ and to be concerned about his brother.”

This question has been on my mind lately. It is a question that I asked the auditorium class last Wednesday. Who’s your one? Each of us has people in our lives who are not followers of Jesus. For many of us, there is one name that comes to mind first. As each year passes, there are more and more people in our world who do not know the story of Jesus well and are not familiar with Bible teachings. As Christians, it is up to us to do something about that.

• Make a list of people in your circle of influence for whom you will pray.
• Seek to model a Christ-honoring life before them.
• As you interact with them, attempt to understand their world—their hopes, frustrations and fears.
• Build friendships with them and the significant people in their lives—especially their family.
• Watch for opportunities to serve the people and their families for whom you are praying.
• Seize every opportunity to tell the story of what Jesus has done for you and for them.

As we wrap up our series on the pastoral letters this week, it is helpful to consider some of the truths that Paul taught Timothy and Titus throughout his writings. These are not only things that are important for ministers and church leaders. They are truths that can help all followers of Christ in their efforts to be more like Him.

In 1 Timothy Paul tells his young protégé to fight the good fight of faith. Throughout his letter there are many great teachings, but here are one dozen ways Timothy could fight the good fight of faith. This is not just advice for a young preacher, it is divine revelation for a life that exalts Christ and defeats the devil!

• Live under submission to the command or will of God (1:1).
• Find your strength in the Lord, not in yourself (1:15-16).
• Glorify God in your life and with your words (1:17).
• Remember what you’ve learned (1:18, 19a).
• Never neglect your prayer life (2:1-4).
• Train yourself in godliness (4:7b-10).
• Be an example for others to follow (4:12-13).
• Pay attention to your life, it matters (4:16).
• Be content (6:6b – 8).
• Avoid the deadly trap of loving money (6:9-10).
• Pursue the right things (6:11).
• Never give up (6:12-16).

Fight the good fight of faith!

Our society attaches significance to special days, months or times of year. After setting aside time to be thankful in late November, we enter into what is often called the season of giving. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas tends to get materialistic if we are not careful, but generally the things we are buying are intended for others instead of ourselves. Like so many of our special days, months and seasons in America, the season of giving is designed to be a way of life for Christians. It is not something we are called to do only in December. We are to give throughout the entire year and our entire lives.

• When God’s people recognize their blessings from Him, they give back to Him. In Genesis 28:20-22, we learn that Jacob does this by giving 10% back to God. “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
• We should give to help those in need. In Deuteronomy 14:28-29, God gives instructions to His people to make sure those in need are not overlooked. “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.” This is just one of many commands in scripture about giving to others.
• When we focus on things, we are not focusing on God. Jesus talks about the dangers of materialism several times. In Matthew 6:19-21, He reminds us that things are temporary and an indicator of where our hearts are. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• Giving is voluntary, brings joy and pleases God. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
• God wants us to give ourselves to Him. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 that our very lives are to be a gift to God. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
• We give because God gives. The greatest Gift He has given us is His Son. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)

This Sunday is an important day for our church family. We will be installing four new elders this morning. There are several terms that have been used in scripture and through church history to describe this role: elder, overseer, pastor, bishop. Over the years I have come to appreciate one term over the others: shepherd. Sheep are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. A consistent theme is their need for shepherds. The church has that same need.

• We need shepherds because congregations need leadership. (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1)
• We need shepherds because congregations need stability, especially in face of opposition. (Acts 14)
• We need shepherds because congregations need instruction. (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:9)
• We need shepherds because congregations need models of the Christian life. (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7)
• We need shepherds because congregations need protection. (Acts 20:28-31)