Pray for the Joy of Your Leaders
20000910a - Based on Galatians 6.9
SCORRE
• Every one of us can uplift our teachers and leaders by praying for the joys of teaching to be theirs… (what joys?…)
Opening
Weariness is the problem. (text)
We become weary in well-doing…
• fruit takes a while
• lack of parental support or involvement
• devotions turn into preparation
• criticism outweighs encouragement
• vision lost in mundane
• alone without adequate support
Gloss: to lose heart…
Of pastors, as example:
• 90-95% discouraged in last 6 months
• ½ have experienced burnout
• 25% have been seriously depressed
• @ least 22 organizations exist to counsel burned out pastors..
We’ve all seen it. That too-cute poster of a clinging kitten, hind feet dangling in the air…
Joy, real joy, is always reflexive, a spontaneous, yet deep human outburst because something has happened. Joy isn’t a goal, an achievement. Joy is a byproduct, a gracious spinoff. "Let’s all get together and do a little joy." No. It’s a gift, a response to something that happens to you…
Joy of Jesus
The greatest and enduring joy is a vital relationship with Jesus and the knowledge that he loves me no matter what. (How wide and deep and long and high, etc…)
This is the greatest thing you will pray for your leaders and it’s where we need to start because of all the joys I want you to see this morning it is the one you can do nothing but pray to produce.
Illust: wallet/fridge/bumper sticker of God. If all the other sources of joy dry up, you’ll have this.
Rooted in Christ.
Renewal every week!
“We don’t see things as they are – we see things as we are.”
Ephesians 2.7 on the immeasurable wealth of God’s grace
God will never run out of fresh ways for us to revel in the profound joy of being loved!
PS100.2 important for us to be happy in the love of God as we do our ministry.
Hebrews 13.17 - let them do this joyfully...
When we feel lonely
When we are hurt
When we are afraid
When we feel inadequate
When we really goofed
When we have stopped before we should have
When the seeds of faith seem to be dying
When we get weary of religion
When we are plain down discouraged
When Christians greatly disappoint us
When we need courage and grace
When we have nothing more to give
Eternal God, thank you for your promise: "I will never leave you or forsake you"
(Hebrews 13:5). -- Adapted from a poem by Ray A. Strawser, September 16, 1996.
"Dennis the Menace" cartoon .. leaving Mrs. Wilson’s house, their hands full of cookies.
Joey says, "I wonder what we did to deserve this."
Dennis: "Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice."
--James Moore, Some Things Are Too Good Not to Be True (Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 1994), 86.
Nehemiah 8:10 describes this power by telling us that, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Another passage of Scripture also puts strength and joy together. We read in 1 Chronicles 16:27, "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place." Strength and joy are linked together in Scripture because in the joy of Christ, of knowing Jesus, of dwelling in His presence, there is strength for the believer.
That is what John 15 is all about. The whole chapter is about abiding in Christ and drawing our resources and strength and joy from Him. You see, your relationship with Jesus Christ does not change even though other relationships change. (see Psalm 37)
"The joy of the Lord is your strength." This phrase is pregnant with meaning. It cuts like a two edged sword. It is the Lord’s joy that is our strength.
Joy by any other means will prove to be fleeting. This is what King Solomon discovered when he asked rhetorically, "Who can have enjoyment without God? "(Eccl. 2:25). Solomon had it all--he had love, money, and power beyond measure--but at the end of the day, he knew true happiness could only come from enjoying God.
Joy of Encouragement
While it isn’t something we can count on, we all need it. Teachers and leaders need to know that they are not alone – that they have not just been handed a responsibility by the rest of us.
Never meant to go alone..
H.B. London - “joy-suckers..” (ministry of criticism)
When we speak critically, God hears and hurts.
Come alongside… encourage with your commitment and actions, too!
• send a card on no special occasion
• give a book
• call, not to complain but to say thanks and we’re praying
• do their laundry (!) vs. giving a bunch of dirty “laundry”!
Joy of Vision
There is something wonderfully energizing about having the freedom to pursue a God-given dream! We need to let our leaders lead in their way, with their passions and gifts.
There is something deadly about pursuing a dream that’s not yours.
And there is something life-giving about following a vision God’s given.
“Leashed…” vs. Freedom in serving. (Permission to go for it. – To be one’s self before God.)
Joy...On opening day of the 1964 World Series, ballplayer and future funny-may Bob Uecker was shagging balls in left field with the other St. Louis Cardinals scrubs. To mark the festivities, three Dixieland bands were stationed there. And at one point, Uecker wandered over and picked up a tuba. For a moment he thought of trying to play it, because that might amuse the other players. But just then, someone hit a slow, lazy fly out to left. A born comic, Uecker circled under the ball with the waiting tuba. He tried for the catch in the mouth of the instrument but missed. The next one he caught. The players laughed and the crowd cheered. Uecker missed three more flies, then caught one. Some balls dented the tuba, and the unhappy owner sent the Cardinals and Uecker a bill for the damage. The incident delighted Uecker’s teammates, though. It was the World Series against the mighty New York Yankees, and the underdog Cardinals were now very relaxed. Seven games later, the Cardinals went on to be world champions.—David Halberstam, October 1964
Joy of Discovery
One of the joys of teaching is when you are pressed to continually learn and grow, but it is not automatic – we can lift up our leaders by resourcing them! Privilege of growth!
You can feed great ideas and devotional materials to our teachers, rather than expecting them to come up with something on their own. You are their resource bank!
Pray for minds that stay “inquisitive!”
Very best teachers and spiritual leaders are those who are growing! Zeal catches!
Closing
1. It’s a prayer. Our leaders need more than we can give them.
So, if you love the church, I urge you to pray for the happiness of your leaders.
2. You are part of the answer. You take care of them. WE PROMISE!
Message for kids, parents, adults who opt out, etc.
Make it a JOY to be SS teachers, etc.
Also, we have a sad history of putting our Consistory members on the firing line (pastor, too) and need to say NO to that!
Alternative is NOT to serve or give those who do GRIEF; rather to serve or give those who do JOY!
Circuit-riding preacher with a great horse illust.
