We are posting here the opening two chapters in our book “Help! I’m a Pastor!” At the conclusion, we’ll tell how to order it.
Chapter One: Be a Pastor, Change the World.
A preacher I know was on the plane trying to complete the manuscript for a series of Sunday School lessons he had been asked to write. His seatmate wanted to talk. Stuart kept fending her off with short responses.
At one point she noticed his name on his briefcase. He was ‘Doctor.” That intrigued her. “You’re a doctor?” she asked.
“Um huh,” my friend said, not looking up from his work. “What kind of doctor are you?” she said.
Stuart said, “A Doctor of Theology. I’m a preacher.” “Oh,” she said, “I thought you were a real doctor.”
That did it. My friend laid his books aside and looked at her. “Madam,” he said, “If I were a doctor of medicine and did my work well, I might be able to add a few years to someone’s life.”
“But as a Doctor of Theology–a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ–when I do my work well, people live forever.”
It’s a powerful thing this Christian ministry.
It is surely the quickest way to change the world. And the best.
A fellow named Martin Luther went into the same work as you and I and saw the world change right before his eyes. The same can be said about John Wesley. John Wycliffe. Dwight L. Moody. Jim Elliot. Peter Marshall. Billy Graham.
And you.
Recently I came across a book called Give Your Speech, Change the World. Author Nick Morgan teaches public speaking in numerous formats (universities, as the editor of several publications, and consultant to executives) and has been speechwriter for a governor. Morgan said an old friend of his, another speechwriter, used to say, “The only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” Morgan agrees and adds, “Otherwise, why bother?” He answers, “We still need speeches. We need them to move audiences to action… And lest you think that when I say ‘changing the world’ I’m only talking about the big speeches (the ones that CEOs give to shareholders, for example) understand that I’m talking about every speech ever given.”
Every sermon you ever deliver, pastor.
Every public presentation you make of any kind. It’s that potent.
I’m remembering one Easter morning when I did nothing more than lead in prayer at a community-wide sunrise service and it changed the world. Two families who heard that prayer began attending my church, joined it, and became excellent servants of the Savior. Our church became stronger, their families flourished, and lives were changed. The world changed.
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