Hello, we’re Your New Pastor
Introduction
Today is a day of new beginnings for Grace Baptist Church, and for Stacy, our children and I. For the past several years we were given the privilege to serve in various positions within a few different churches and now God has brought us here to serve Him through serving you. We have been privileged to serve as youth pastors and watch the growth of young people as their heart yearned for the spirit. We have seen youth groups grow from a handful of young people to at one point have a regular attendance of 50+. A couple of Sunday’s ago, we said “farewell” to Union Baptist and this morning, I want to say “Hello” to Grace Baptist.
Acts 21:17-20
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
The Apostle Paul was heading for Jerusalem, and all along the way he was warned about the challenges ahead. He was even warned not to go. I can recall being warned of how difficult ministry can be many years ago when I accepted the call (after years of running that is). During the nearly 14 years I have been a minister, I can recall watching as pastors I loved and admired would struggle under the heavy loads of the church. I have watched as wonderful men of God would crumple under the strain and burden ultimately throwing in the towel. I’ve had ministers and pastors tell me how difficult it is and if you can do anything else at all, do it. But I’m like Jeremiah when he said in Jer 20:9 -But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
I would be lying if I stood here this morning and said that there is not an intense level of nervousness in my mind and life right now as Stacy & I take this step and begin on this journey as your pastor. However; I would also be lying if I said we were not incredibly excited to see all that God has in store for Grace Baptist.
We are approaching this new leg of our journey with the same steadfastness and reliance on the Lord as we have during all our years of ministry. As we begin this new journey I want to focus on 3 words today:
1) Receive
2) Report
3) Rejoice
And in through these 3 words I want to help us establish a new mindset for the days ahead for us all.
I. RECEIVE (vs 17-18)
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
1. You’ve received me as your new Pastor.
God has called me to lead you to fulfilling His plan for First Baptist Church. Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians reminds us of God’s call for His leaders:
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
2. I’ve received you as a new congregation.
You are a group of people that God has entrusted me to guide and to help grow into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. How I am supposed to accomplish that task?
2 Timothy 4:1-2
1 I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
I can assure you of this – everything we do together in the time ahead of us is going to be centered in the Word of God.
II. REPORT (v 19)
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
When Paul arrived he reported on WHAT GOD DID! And I want to do the same with you today. There are three simple statements that I want to report to you today:
1. God still REIGNS
2. God still REACHES
3. God is still RELEVANT
Stacy and I have seen God do marvelous things over the 14 years (nearly 8 together) we have been in ministry. God has time and time again proved Himself faithful. Why? Because He is still the King of kings and Lord of lords. Because He is still changing lives. Because, regardless of what the world might want us to believe, people are still searching for answers, and Jesus is THE answer!
What God has done, He will continue to do in our lives and in the life of His Church. The question is, “Are we willing to be a part of what He wants to do through us?”
III. REJOICE (v20)
20 And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
I believe there is some joy here at Grace Baptist Church because you have a new Pastor. I appreciate that sentiment, and share in the joy of being able to join you in serving our Savior. But as we rejoice we need to ask ourselves, “Who gets the glory for what God does? Is it Him or us?”
We know the answer is Him, but knowing the answer and living it out are not the same thing. We need to make a commitment to the Lord, and to one another that He will be number one in our lives and in His Church. Here are two thoughts I want to leave you with as I conclude my first sermon as your Pastor:
1. Jesus should be in the center or our worship and our work.
Nothing, and no one should be more important than Him and what He has called us as His Church to do.
2. There will always be challenges when you are doing God’s work.
It isn’t going to be easy. In fact, if we are truly committed to Christ our enemy is going to attack us to try and discourage us from fulfilling our purpose.
We must recognize today as a turning point for my family & I along with Grace Baptist and work together to reach the lost, see the church grow spiritually as well as physically. We must promise each other to hold hands and journey together down this new path God has laid before us. Some things will change, others will remain very much the same – but one thing is for certain; God will always be number one.
