|
This edition is sponsored by Gloo |
|
I attended a church last Sunday that was celebrating several facets of "body life," a recurring part of their annual liturgical rhythm. The pastor referenced the biblical use of body imagery to describe the church; "the body of Christ." We were all invited as worshipers to engage the idea of many parts (ears, elbows, livers, and pinky toes) working in concert as a beautiful expression of life. From the outset, I sensed our connectedness beyond just occupying the same space. |
|
After an extended time of worship through song, the church celebrated motherhood while acknowledging the difficulty of longing and loss that surfaces on Mother’s Day. Next, a couple of parents publicly dedicated themselves to following Jesus with their whole hearts while nurturing the faith of their children. After that, several families with high school seniors took the stage to commemorate their graduates and commission them into their next season of life. Finally, a man testified to his faith in Christ before his family—his body—of faith through the ordinance of baptism. |
|
I left that worship gathering with a full heart. |
|
From there, I joined some dear friends at a funeral home just down the road to grieve the loss and remember the life of their mother. Only a year had passed since those same friends lost their father. Despite the occasion of death, this too was a celebration akin to what I had encountered just a couple of hours earlier. Joyful eulogies honored a woman who had lived her life endeavoring to follow Christ with her whole heart. It was clear she had left a beautiful mark on family and friends alike. |
|
I left that gathering with a full heart as well. |
|
In a day, I was confronted with the whole spectrum of life, literally the cradle to the grave. And I entered those moments with a community of faith intent on walking closely together in a God-honoring way. |
|
In both settings we were led by mature men and women who regularly serve as faithful guides, whether on mountaintops or in the valley. As leaders we’re trained to speak into those moments: to offer biblical wisdom, comfort, and encouragement suitable for the occasion. We’re called upon to offer a Spirit-led, steady, reassuring presence through every conceivable circumstance. I wonder, however, how many of us are well-prepared to navigate those "body life" circumstances personally, amid the interior no one sees but God. |
|
An unwavering exterior can easily be mistaken for an unaffected heart, especially by the one who has learned to maintain an invincible persona. Take it from one who has spent much of his life compartmentalizing in an attempt to push away the pain of loss, the ache of isolation, and the strain of relational strife. What I mistook for tenacity was in many cases an attempt to overcome the weight of woundedness. Nevertheless, I am learning to find genuine comfort, strength, and joy through dead honesty with the Lord privately and transparency with trusted companions who are walking out this journey of faith at my side. |
|
Solomon’s words have been particularly encouraging with regard to the latter: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) |
|
In Pastor, You Don’t Have to Suffer Alone, Chip Sweney offers a front row seat to his experience of being lifted up by faithful friends during a season of great struggle. I appreciated his transparent story of depression, breakdown, and the healing power of Christ and his Church. Along with taking in that or other content below, why not also take some time this week to deepen or rekindle a relationship with at least one other trusted member of the body who can shoulder the burden of the journey with you. |
|
|
|
Executive Director of CT Pastors |
|
|
|
You didn't get into ministry to manage disconnected systems and outdated technology. Gloo gives pastors and church leaders a values-aligned AI platform that modernizes your workflows and data, plus marketing and donor solutions that help your church expand its reach, grow awareness, and increase long-term giving. |
|
Spend less time wrestling with tech and more time doing what you were called to do — helping your community flourish. Learn more at gloo.com. |
|
|
|
In a rootless and self-focused world, the church can provide meaning to college students by inviting them into the story of God.
|
| Dylan Musser |
|
|
|
|
Understanding and facilitating unforgettable encounters with God.
|
| Gregory Hollifield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One pastor’s story of depression, breakdown, and the healing power of courage, community, and Christ.
|
| Chip Sweney |
|
|
|
|
If we do not regularly quit work for one day a week, we take ourselves far too seriously.
|
| Eugene Peterson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| PAID CONTENT FOR GLOO |
|
|
Somewhere in the Midwest, a pastor sits at his desk, dreaming of ways to better serve his people. From the congregation he pastors each week to the staff he shepherds…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PREACHING TODAY: Fresh sermon illustrations and updates on new sermons, preaching articles and much more! |
|
Each weekly CT Pastors issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. |
|
Delivered free via email to subscribers weekly. Sign up for this newsletter. |
|
You are currently subscribed as npxlpxnaph@nie.podam.pl. Sign up for more newsletters like this. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. |
| | |
