Reading: Afterword

AFTERWORD

Pastor, church leader, your assignment is to equip your people to do God’s work until they become like Jesus. Your task is to train them to create a welcoming, loving home for God their Father, imitate their big brother Jesus through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, and invite everyone they meet to join God’s family. In other words, teach them to be the church and be ready to have church any time, any place, with anybody.

That’s a huge task. The words of Jesus apply: Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible (Matthew 19:26). Thank you for taking it on.

Allow me to close with this prayer for you:

Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, everyone and everything is yours. You created the world out of nothing. You created humans from the dust of the earth. Then you redeemed us by the blood of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. By creation and redemption, we are doubly yours.

I thank you for those who read this. Thank you for the call on their lives. Thank you for the churches they serve, or will serve. I pray that you richly bless them with an overflowing sense of your love. Give them peace, joy, wisdom, favor, provision, protection, and every blessing. Give them skills in prayer, Bible reading, preaching, teaching, administration, and everything you call them to do. Give them friends, mentors, confidants, intercessors, and encouragers. Give them health, strength and energy. Give them an overwhelming desire to seek your will and your way, and let them know it with clarity, accuracy, confidence, and timely obedience. Through their ministry, may many be drawn into your kingdom, and grow into the full and complete standard of Christ. And give them grace to persevere to the end, that when their race is over they may receive the crown of righteousness and hear you say, Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.

287

PASTORING: THE NUTS AND BOLTS – EXPANDED EDITION

Amen.

288