7-27-14 Sermon

To listen to this week's sermon, click here.

July 2014 Newsletter

JULY 2014 NEWSLETTER
(below or read here)

Forest Grove United Methodist Church Happenings

FROM THE PASTOR:  

The Journey Begins
    

Bishop McAlilly fixed the appointments of the clergy at the Annual Conference on June 11th.  My appointment was to Forest Grove United Methodist Church and the journey together begins.  I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity.  You may have heard that I am coming home.  The house that built me is located at 2873 Morgan Road—2.4 miles from the church.  I graduated from Joelton High School in 1974.  I know what it means when the community is called “Paradise Ridge” because I believe it really is paradise.  I have often said that around I-24 at exit 35 the grass is greener, the trees are taller, the sky is a little more blue, and the children are all above average.  Its home for me.  I am equally excited to be appointed to Forest Grove because I really believe it matches the gifts and graces I have for ministry.

The question many of you may be asking is “What’s the new preacher’s agenda?”  I want to spell out my beginning agenda in hopes of putting your fears at ease.  First, I approach the task before me with excitement and passion.  Therefore, I want to give it my best effort.  Secondly, I will do my best to love you (those who are easy to love and especially those who may be difficult to love).  Thirdly, I will make a concerted effort to get to know you.  I want to visit in your home, participate in conversations with you, and listen to you.  Fourth, I will pray for you---everyday.  Fifth, I will offer divinely-given visionary leadership to the church that will challenge you to be God’s church in the world.  That’s the agenda and you may have noticed the words “change everything” was absent from the agenda.  In the days ahead you will experience those items in greater detail. 

The question I have in mind is “What will be the agenda of the Forest Grove church?”  First, I hope you will make every effort to attend worship on Sunday, June 29th.  I am anxious to meet you.  Secondly, I am counting on you praying for me---everyday.  Thirdly, I hope that you will want to grow in Christ and serve Him with all your heart, mind, body, soul and spirit.  Fourth, I hope you will love me (even when it’s difficult to do so), and forgive me when I mess up (and I will because I am human). 

I believe these will be good days together.  I am looking forward to the journey.  Remember, I will be looking for you on Sunday at Forest Grove!                                                             

Hubert

FELLOWSHIP DINNER

This month’s fellowship dinner will be held Wednesday July 9^th    at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  Everyone is welcome, even if you don’t have time to make something to bring.

FELLOWSHIP BIBLE STUDY GATHERING

Those interested in a time of sharing, praying, and fellowshipping together are welcome to gather at the home of Henry Procopio on Wednesday July 23^rd  at 6:30 pm.  This is a monthly gathering but anyone is welcome to come whenever they can come. The group is studying the Gospel of Luke.  You can start at any time.  Snacks are provided.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate Communion on Sunday, July 6^th.    

CHURCH CLEANING SCHEDULE

For July 6^th                            Alicia Williams

For July 13^th                         Open

For July 20^th                         Matt & Renee Heustis

For July 27^th                         Kristy Wehmeyer

For August 3^rd                      Brenda & Tony Alcorn

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY

Did you know that the state of Tennessee has made a Will for you, if you have none?  Their laws may not leave your property to the people you wish.  They definitely will not leave anything to your church or any other charity.  Draw up a Will this month and don’t forget your church in your estate planning. 

JOELTON HOPE CENTER –Neighbors Helping Neighbors

The Hope Center continues to help over 100 people a month from the Joelton, Whites Creek, Pleasant View zip codes.  Donations of food, clothing, household items, some furniture, and cash are always needed. 

The Hope Center has some fully cooked BBQ Boston Butts for purchase left over from their sale during the month of May. They have been cut into smaller pieces to accommodate smaller families.   This meat is 100% hickory smoked, cooked slowly all night long over an open BBQ pit. Your support will go towards fighting hunger in Joelton, Whites Creek, and Pleasant View. If interested visit the Joelton Hope Center Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday at 212 Gifford Place or call (615) 876-1778

Report on the 2014 Annual Conference

Bishop McAlilly started off the conference with the words, “I am not afraid. Jesus and the Holy Spirit will always be with us, sending us forth as witnesses. The church is divided right now by human sexuality, the concern about our financial stability. We fear that we are losing our youth, when in fact we don’t even know how to talk to them. We lack vision, and mission and we are all trying to learn evangelism. There are going to be disappointments along the way, so don’t fret over the people who God doesn’t send. Use the people he does send.  ”Remember there are 365 fear not’s in the Bible, one for every day.

The theme of our conference was 72&U with the theme Scripture of Luke 10:1-11; the story of Jesus calling 72 disciples, commissioning them and sending them ahead to every town in place of him. The bishop asked “Who is being called by God to step into the future with grace and mercy to become one of the 72 disciples God called?

The mission of the Tennessee Conference is to DISCOVER, EQUIP, CONNECT and SEND lay and clergy leaders who shape congregations, and will offer Jesus Christ to a hurting world, one neighborhood at a time. OUR OPPORTUNITY IS NOW. We create transforming lay and clergy leaders, engaging the mission field, and grow fruitful and faithful congregations by our values.

OUR VALUES

Unrelenting love for all people

Integrity

Excellence

Faithfulness and Fruitfulness

Innovation

1.       Discover : Scripture: Matthew 22 36-40. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

The bishop said he thinks of God like a mother and told a story about when his sister was lost and his mother said “that no one can do anything until we find her”.  The bishop found his sister under the kitchen table, hiding because she was afraid she would get in trouble. She was eating a stick of butter.  Even though they had looked all over the neighborhood for her, her mother was so excited when she was found. That’s how God is with us. No matter what we have done or haven’t done he still loves us and is always there for us just like a mother. Would we not do anything for our kids?

When we are trying to figure out how to be Christ to a hurting world ask, “What breaks Gods heart?  What breaks our hearts?  Do we have eyes to see like Jesus? Maybe we need to change and let go of things to make space in our church and in our hearts and mind for the Holy Spirit to work.

We heard a story of a church that only had older people and was really getting worried about their future.  One of the ladies of the church decided to follow the school bus around the neighborhood and she wrote down the address of every child that got off. Later she went back to each house to invite the kids to a special program at church and in helping these families, the church started to grow again. All because someone had an idea and they decided to step out and do something.

We need to find leaders that have these qualities. Passion, courage, are flexible, missional (reaches out), wisdom for the whole church not just for one area, positive, and responsible. Congregations like being comfortable and change is not well received, which in turn causes the church staying status quo.  Not being open to things that would shake up the status quo and make an impact, not only the people doing the serving but also the receiving, which would help our church grow. Think about this, are you one of those people and do you have ideas that need to be heard? Remember “Do not be afraid”.

2.       Equip: Scripture Ephesians 4:11-13, 16.  His gifts were that some were apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. Speaking truth in love and working together building each other up.

We all began in the world with a sign that says “Some assembly required”. We cannot equip others until we equip ourselves.  The spiritual gifts we have need to be cultivated to their full potential. They are to be used to build up the church and to nurture others.  Jesus gives gifts thru the Holy Spirit to use to help others.  All baptized Christians are called to ministry. We are called to use the gifts we have for a particular job in the church that is needed.

Sometimes the “equipment” is just time set aside to nurture and apply your gifts.  Having small groups, going to Sunday school, and Bible studies are part of the church’s ways to help nurture you, but when you treat church like a “to do” list that you might get to, what picture does that look like to your children?  What would happen if a parent told the coaches that their child will not play sports on Wednesday or Sunday?  What gifts do you have that could help the church grow in love and do what Jesus would do, not just do nothing or do only for yourselves.

3.       Connect: Scripture John 15:4. Abide in me.

We are baptized and at age 12, confirmed; that’s when we say YES to our baptism. We follow the great commandment (Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And Love your neighbor as yourself.  We watch in love not judgment.  We should be Rooted in Scripture, Centered in Christ, and Strong in Love. We can’t do it alone but together so we can conquer fear. We need to come to church to share God, not to find God.  We should go to church not to get something, but to give something.  It’s in giving that we receive. Some of the connections Forest Grove has, through our apportionments, like Miriam’s promise, tons of after school programs, the Hope center, prison ministry, Project transformation, are ways we have to go out to the people. During the Laity luncheon, Ms. McAlilly,(Bishop’s wife) shared that she would like all the churches to adopt a school. The fact that there are so many kids that can’t read and end up dropping out of school makes her very passionate about this. The teachers need help with supplies, snacks, and helping kids in class to read.

Do you know thatMethodist people are loved everywhere we go because what we do is care, no matter what. People don’t know how much you know until they know how much you care.  So what?  Now what?    What would happen if we met people where they are in their wants and needs and show them that it is not about getting them to church but getting the church to them? Then by doing that they see what we are all about and will want to be a part of our church. Do you have ideas about getting the church to the people in our neighborhood?

4.       Send: Scripture Matthew 16: 18-20. Jesus said, “God authorized and commanded me to commission you to go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I will be with you as you do this, right up to the end of the age.”

What did Jesus teach?  Love no matter what. Forgive sins, Show mercy and grace and reconciliation. Heal and help people. Love God and love people. In order for people to follow him he showed love first and then they would listen to what He said.  That’s what we have to do as a congregation. Stop listening to all the good ideas and start doing.  Figure out what we need to do to bring our church to the people and don’t wait on someone else to tell you what to do.  We all have gifts and ideas of how to accomplish our mission.  We can’t continue to sit on our “Blessed Assurance.”  Our focus needs to be on what we can do for others outside of our walls.  Jesus and the disciples didn’t preach and teach inside, they reached people by going out and showing the love of Christ.   Remember our mission is to DISCOVER, EQUIP, CONNECT, AND SEND CLERGY AND LAITY LEADERS WHO SHAPE CONGREGATIONS THAT OFFER JESUS CHRIST TO A HURTING WORLD, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.

That was the teaching part of our conference.  We also heard from Bishop Unda Yemba Gabriel who came from the Congo, thanking us for the mosquito nets that help save lives. He knows malaria’s loss first-hand as his wife and daughter died from it. We heard from two teens that went to the Congo and saw firsthand how this disease effects this country.   Before we started helping a person died every 30 seconds, now it is down to every 60 seconds.  Holly Neal, the president of Laity, has started a campaign IMAGINE NO MALARIA that will raise money to help stop this from happening. You will be hearing more about this during the year to come.

There were all different kinds of music from children, Martin College choir, Lake Junaluska Singers, Lindsey and Corina (our own girls!), and Marilyn Thorton who played the violin.  Ms. Thorton also portrayed one of the 72 during each of our teaching sessions, which made us think about the people and what they were doing and thinking when Jesus sent them out into the world to spread the Good News.

We also heard from Todd Cox, president of the youth. He told us his story about being bullied when he was young and even though he was raised in the church, he just went thru the motions during worship, not feeling there was a God because of the way he was being treated.   It wasn’t until he was made to go to Warmth in Winter 6 years ago, that he heard a speaker with the same kind of story as his and how God and the love of other youth and youth leaders led him to give his life to Christ.  Todd is starting seminary school this fall to become a minister.

We never know who we can help and touch, with our words, our works, and our love and caring until we actually do something.  Our job as baptized Christians is to do as Jesus did and reach out.  We just have to figure out how we at Forest Grove can do that.  Step up, search your heart for what you can do to use your gifts in the church.  If you have an idea let it be known to other people and see where it can lead.  Remember. WE ARE NOT AFRAID.

PRAYERS OF LOVE TO ALL AT FOREST GROVE, BRENDA

Community Cares

Community Cares is a mission that provides the following six days/week for the homeless: meals, showers, laundry facilities for people to wash their clothes, food (any canned food) and necessities that people need daily (like over the counter pain medicine, toiletries, diapers, etc.). The address is 511 South 8th avenue. The hours to volunteer for lunch are 10:30 to 1:30. They also use people to help clean showers and stock shelves. It is a small place that helps a lot of people.  Website is ccfnashville.org if you want more information. 

AIN'T

He was just a little boy, 

On a week's first day. 

Wandering home from Bible school,

And dawdling on the way. 

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;

He even found a caterpillar.

He found a fluffy milk weed pod,

And blew out all the 'filler.'

A bird's nest in a tree overhead,

So wisely placed up so high..

Was just another wonder,

That caught his eager eye. 

A neighbor watched his zigzag course,

And hailed him from the lawn;

Asked him where he'd been that day

And what was going on. 

'I've been to Bible School ,' 

He said and turned a piece of sod.

He picked up a wiggly worm replying,

'I've learned a lot about God.' 

'M'm, very fine way,' the neighbor said,

'for a boy to spend his time.'

'If you'll tell me where God is,

I'll give you a brand new dime.'

Quick as a flash the answer came!

Nor were his accents faint.

'I'll give you a dollar, Mister,

If you can tell me where God ain't.'

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been identified as "Subsequential Internal Non-morality," more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. 

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.

Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair  Technician,Jesus, into the heart component. 

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with: 

1.       Love 

2.       2. Joy 

3.       Peace 

4.       Patience 

5.       Kindness 

6.       Goodness 

7.       Faithfulness 

8.       Gentleness 

9.       Self control 

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING:Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus. 

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention, GOD
P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'! 

June 22nd Sermon (Frank Billman's last at Forest Grove)

To listen to today's sermon, click here.

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF HUBERT CUNNINGHAM

06-22-14 Sermon

B____________ I________________ B____________ L_____________ E_____________

 

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Hugh Cunninham is a G__________________ from God to you.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NIV)

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1 Timothy 5:17-20 (NIV)

¹⁷ The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a] and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b] 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. ²⁰ But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.

 

Hugh Cunningham is worthy of _________________________________________

 

·      In____________________________

 

·      In ____________________________

 

1 Corinthians 16:8-9 (NIV)

⁸ But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹ because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

 

Numbers 16:11, 31-32, 35 (NIV)

¹¹ It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. 

³¹ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart ³² and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions.

³⁵ And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

 

To _________________________the pastor dishonors God.

 

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

 

Hugh Cunningham will need your __________________________

Ephesians 6:17-20 (NIV)

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

Colossians 4:3-4 (NIV)

³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

 

Exodus 17:4, 11-12 (NIV)

⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

 

The pastor not Prayed for is _________________________

 

Hugh Cunningham IS a gift, but he will not __________________________________

 

Hugh Cunningham will HAVE a ministry here, he will not ___________________________

 

Pastors are not just LEADERS in the body of Christ, they are also _____________________

 

Mark 1:35-38 (NIV)

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” ³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

 

Acts 20:32 (MSG)

³² “Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

 

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF HUBERT CUNNINGHAM

06-22-14 Sermon

When you go out and buy a pet you can also get an instruction booklet on how to care for that pet.  When you buy a potted plant it will often come with a care tag attached.  Living things need more care and attention than, say a chair, or a TV or even a car, so instructions are provided. 

As Christians, our instruction book is the bible, God’s Word.  There are instructions in it for all aspects of our personal life as well as our life together as Christians in the church and in the world.  Someone has said that BIBLE stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.  We should therefore not be surprised if we find instructions on the care and feeding of a pastor among those instructions.  As the time for the arrival of your new pastor fast approaches I want to highlight some of what God tells us about the care and feeding of a pastor. 

Let me ask you something.  If you were to receive a personal gift from an important person, like a king or the president, how would you treat that gift?  Perhaps you have some special item in your house that has been passed down in your family from some person who was important to you.  To others it may not have much dollar value but to you it is priceless.  How do you treat that item?  With great care and honor.  You value that gift or that important heirloom.  You go to great pains to see that it is not hurt or damaged. 

Now suppose you were to receive a gift from God himself, how would you regard that gift?  If you value and honor and protect that family heirloom, how much more would you value, honor and protect a gift from God?

Well, the Bible says that you are about to receive a gift from God.  In the New Testament there are several lists of gifts given in the books of Romans, 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter, and Ephesians.  In Romans, and 1 Corinthians, and 1 Peter the lists are gifts given to individuals to be used to build up the church and reach the world for Christ and advance the kingdom of God.  These lists are lists of gifts given to individuals.

But in Ephesians 4, the list of gifts is a list of gifted persons given to the church in order that the church might grow up to maturity in Christ and move out in ministry for Christ.  And among the gifted persons that Paul lists in Ephesians are pastor-teachers.  Hugh Cunningham is a gift from God to you.  How should you treat a gift from God?  With love, honor, value, respect and protection, just like you would care for any other valuable gift, but especially because this gift is coming from God.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NIV) ¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.  Circle highest regard.

 

But in our scripture from 1 Timothy 5, Paul carries that one step further.  There Paul says that the elders who direct the affairs of the church well, are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.  Circle double honor.

The word that Paul uses for honor there means something so valuable that it is held as precious, prized, cherished, treasured, valuable, and very dear.  So Paul is saying that you need to value Pastor Hugh highly; hold him in honor; treasure him graciously; esteem him; handle him respectfully; and treat him like a prized treasure that is very precious to you.

Paul is saying that Hugh Cunningham is worthy of double honor.  That means certainly to love him and respect him and to value him.  But within this passage of scripture Paul mentions two areas that would be included in this double honor.  First of all, Paul mentions financial compensation.  The old prayer of finance committees:  Lord, you keep him humble, we’ll keep him poor, is not scriptural.  To become an elder in the UMC the pastor is required to spend a minimum of 4 years in college and then a minimum of 3 years in seminary.  And it is estimated that it now costs a pastor around $100,000 to become an elder in the UMC. According to Paul, part of your double honoring Pastor Hugh should be seen in his financial compensation.

Forest Grove averages between 35 and 40 people at worship on a Sunday morning.  But Pastor Cunningham will have pastoral oversight over 21 baptized children, with 2 more on the way, 17 friends of the church who are not members, and around 85 members—that’s 125 people, not counting the new folks that God is going to be sending to Forest Grove.  125+ potential counseling situations, 125+ potential prayer concerns, 125+potential hospital calls. 

Pastor Cunningham will be under full time appointment of the bishop like I was.  I was half time here at Forest Grove and half time at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.  Pastor Cunningham will be half time here and half time at the Cumberland District Office.  But remember that a half time pastor still preaches all the Sundays a full time pastor would preach, and leads all the communion services, and does all the baptisms and weddings and funerals that a full time pastor would do.  Pastor Hugh will be preaching on Christmas Eve and be involved in our community Ash Wednesday and Thanksgiving services, like full time pastors would.  It is a bigger responsibility than most people think.  The half time shows up in the salary, not the responsibility.  Actually, full time pastors in larger churches who have paid staff to work with have it easier because other staff take some of the responsibilities off of the pastor.  The Forest Grove pastor is a lone ranger!

In the passage from 1 Timothy Paul also mentions another matter in the context of double honoring the pastor.  He mentions that the pastor should be double honored in protecting him.  He should be protected from malicious rumors and accusations.  Stories abound of leaders in the church whose ministries have been undercut or destroyed by malicious rumors originated by a few.  Terry Teykl in his book Preyed on or Prayed For: Hedging in Your Pastor with Prayer has a chapter entitled Sheep can bite!. 

Peg and I have friends who kept sheep.  And in their flock of sheep they had a ram named Ramses.  Did you know that there is a reason why they call rams “rams”?  They had to keep Ramses penned up by himself because he was dangerous.  If he was out of his pen, in the same area that you were in, you had to keep your eye on him at all times because he could hurt you severely! 

Each year, the week after Easter, at the Aldersgate center in Goodlettsville we have a minister’s retreat.  And every year some of the pastors come there with scars and teeth marks from irate sheep!  Across the USA 1600 pastors are either terminated or leave the ministry every month—1600 every month!!  Sheep can bite and sometimes they can ram you!

The New Testament makes it clear that pastors are blessed and battered.  Hands are laid on them both to ordain and to injure.  Paul writes to the Corinthians But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me.  And then in the next breath he writes and there are many who oppose me.  Perhaps one of the most literal weapons against a pastor today is accusations because our world thrives on rumors and half truths. 

Numbers 16 contains an interesting scene.  Korah, Dathan and Abiram came as a group to oppose Pastor Moses and Aaron.  Moses responded to their opposition by saying It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together.  The end result was that the earth opened up and swallowed those associated with Korah and the fire of God consumed 250 others who opposed Pastor Moses!

Can you imagine the reaction of the onlookers when that took place?  Can you imagine how the remaining people reacted the next time they were around someone who grumbled against Moses?  Can’t you just see them stop the person in mid sentence and give them a wide berth to avoid going down with them?  That is good advice for today! 

When you hear a person spreading rumors or dishonoring the pastor give them a wide berth, avoid them, correct them, so you won’t get drug down with them.  God took it personally when the people spoke against Moses and Aaron.  The pastor is in some sense a representative of God in the local church.  To accuse and dishonor the pastor dishonors God.  The Lord is offended when his shepherds are offended.  And then the ground opens up and swallows the church’s blessings, effectiveness, and authority in the community. 

To paraphrase 1 John—if you cannot honor the pastor whom you can see, how can you honor God whom you cannot see?   The Bible and the church have established means of dealing with problems and complaints.  See that those means are used.  Everyone should be welcome in the pews of Forest Grove church, but no one is welcome to bring bad behavior into Forest Grove church.

How else can you honor Pastor Cunningham?  Well, each year the month of October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  The PPR Committee or Administrative Council could plan to do something special for him during that month. 

And it so happens that June of 2015 will be the 15^th anniversary of Pastor Cunningham’s ordination as an elder.  You could plan to do something special to celebrate that event.  Think of other ways to honor your pastor throughout the year.

As we read through the book of Acts and look at the life of Paul we find that he had a tremendous ministry.  He performed many miracles.  He faced many challenges.  And thousands of people responded to his preaching and teaching and gave their lives to Christ.  Churches were planted wherever he went.  Of course, part of his secret of success was his personal devotion to God.  But I also believe he enlisted a lot of prayer support.  Hugh Cunningham will need your prayers.

In our scripture from Ephesians 6 Paul urges his readers to be pray-ers on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  And then he says:  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be give me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains.  Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 

Paul says something similar in Colossians 4:3-4-- ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

 

Isn’t that a great prayer to be praying for your new pastor—that whenever he opens his mouth, words may be given him so that he will fearlessly and clearly make known the mystery of the gospel?  Paul had to face some tough times.  He was writing this very passage as an ambassador in chains.  He was writing from prison in Rome.  He knew he needed prayer support.  Pastor Hugh will need your regular prayer support just as I did.

 

In Exodus 17 Pastor Moses is having a hard time.  The first scene is at Rephidim.  The people are short on water.  The people are mad at God, but they blame the pastor!  That’s typical.  The people called together the B.T.E. committee, the Back to Egypt committee and they grumbled against Moses.  Pastor Moses is frustrated and he says to the Lord, What am I going to do with these people?  They are almost ready to stone me!  The Lord comes to his rescue, water is provided, and the B.T.E. committee adjourns for a while. 

But Pastor Moses’ troubles are not over.  Just as everyone settles down the Amalekites attack.  Pastor Moses orders Joshua to the battle.  Moses, Aaron and Hur go to the top of the hill to pray.  And we read that as long as Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning.  But whenever Moses lowered his hands the Amalekites began to win.  When Moses’ arms got tired Aaron and Hur told Moses to sit on a rock and they stood on either side of him holding up his arms.  The end result was a great victory for the people of Israel.

Who will be holding up Pastor Hugh’s arms when he gets tired and weary of the strains, and the hurts and the pressures of the ministry?  The enemy will be out to destroy Pastor Hugh and his family.  We are in a spiritual battle and the pastor not prayed for is preyed on by a whole host of destructive forces.  A prayed for pastor is blessed and protected.  Pray for Pastor Hugh and his family on a regular basis that they will become everything that God wants them to become. 

Pastor Hugh will be a lot like you and I.  He will have some rough edges that will have to be smoothed out, like we do.  At times he will sin and fail and fall short of expectations, and forget things, just like you and I do.  Instead of criticizing, pray about how you and others can help.

As I said before, Pastor Hugh is a gift to this church from God. Pastor Hugh IS a gift but he will not HAVE all the gifts.  He will be strong in some areas and weak in others.  Pastor Hugh will HAVE a ministry here, he will not BE the ministry here.  The entire body of Christ at Forest Grove provides the ministry of the church.  Hugh Cunningham will just be the pastor, you are all the ministers of the church.

There is another thing you need to keep in mind.  Pastors are not just leaders in the body of Christ, they are also PART of the body of Christ.  Look again at our first scripture from Ephesians 4.  Paul said that Jesus gives gifted people like pastors to the church, why??-- ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Now notice what Paul says there.  These gifted people are given to the church to build up the body.  And the body includes the pastor!  Paul says that the goal is that we all reach unity in the faith, and we all grow in the knowledge of the Son of God, and we all  become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

You see, Frank Billman didn’t come here to Forest Grove church 9 years ago just to lead.  He also came to grow here.  To grow, to mature, to grow toward Christlikeness.  And I did grow here.  I grew a lot.  And I expect to grow more as I move to the next place that God sends me.  To stop growing would do myself and the church a great disservice. 

My point is that Pastor Hugh is coming here not just to lead, but to grow.  Just like I did.  When I came here I was not a finished work, just a work in progress.  I continue to be a work in progress.  Pastor Hugh will come here the same way. 

If you find areas where Pastor Hugh needs to grow, then help him to grow there, like you did me.  And I can tell you one thing.  People grow better from encouragement and a positive, loving attitude than they do from criticism and negativity. 

If you see that Pastor Hugh is weak in some area, that should not be a source of criticism or gossip.  It is something to be prayed about.  In that situation you should ask God to fill in that gap in the body of Christ here at Forest Grove church.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that the pastor will fill in that gap.  It could mean that God is calling one or more church members to fill in that gap.  In fact, you should ask God if he was bringing that weakness to YOUR attention so YOU can do something about it. 

For Pastor Hugh to grow he will need personal time with God, and time away from the church for spiritual renewal and growth, and time away for continuing education.  That means he won’t be able to be available 24/7.  Did you know that Jesus wasn’t available 24/7 either, when he walked this earth?

Jesus had been ministering in the town of Capernaum.  He taught in the synagogue.  He cast a demon out of a man in the synagogue—right in the church of that day!  He healed Simon’s mother-in-law who was sick with a fever.  By evening it says that the whole town gathered at the door of Simon’s mother-in-law’s house and Jesus healed many who had various diseases and drove out many demons.  Then it says this:

Mark 1:35-38 (NIV)

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” ³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus saw the need to make time to be alone with God, so you can expect your pastor to sense that same need.  But note in this passage that the disciples come looking for Jesus and they tell him Everyone is looking for you!  The crowds are waiting Jesus!  There are still more people here that need to be prayed for.  There are more people here who need to be healed.  There are more people here who need to have demons cast out of them.  There are more people here who need to be taught. 

But Jesus had been spending time with God, and in his prayer time God told him that in spite of the many needs of the people in Capernaum, he wanted Jesus to spend time with some new folks in another town.  So Jesus was not going to be available to the people in Capernaum in spite of their pressing needs.  Jesus heard God telling him to in a different direction than what the majority wanted.  That may happen with your pastor as well.

I am asking you to do something more than to give Pastor Hugh a chance among you.  I am asking you to give GOD a chance to fulfill his will for Forest Grove church through Pastor Hugh.  GOD is the one who is moving me to another area of service.  GOD does not want Frank Billman here any longer.  And GOD does not want a Frank Billman clone here either.  GOD is sending Pastor Hugh here.  God is intentionally sending someone to Forest Grove with different gifts than those Frank Billman has.

I hope you all will rejoice at the new things that God is going to do through Forest Grove church and Pastor Cunningham.  I hope you all will rejoice at the new people that God is going to reach through Forest Grove church and Hugh Cunningham.  But if those new things are going to happen you are going to have to care for Pastor Hugh and his family according to the instruction manual, God’s word. 

In 1990, Peg and I became foster parents for the first time.  And over the years of being foster parents we had several children come into our lives.  Being a foster parent means that children are loaned to you for a time for you to love them, care for them, teach them, and help them to grow.  The children do not belong to you, they are just loaned to you.  And there came a day when our time to care for those children came to an end and we had to give back each of those children.

In 1979, years before we became foster parents, I became a foster pastor.  If you think about it, that’s what United Methodist pastors are—foster pastors.  Over the last 35 years, I was given congregations of people by a bishop and during my time with these congregations I was to love them, to care for them, to teach them, and to help them to grow toward being more like Jesus.  The congregations didn’t belong to me, they were just loaned to me for a time.  And, as with foster parents, there came a time when I had to give those congregations back.  That is what I am doing today.

I would like to close with the words of Paul that he gave as he left the believers in Ephesus--Acts 20:32 The Message (MSG)

³² “Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

Prayer for Forest Grove congregation—Father, I thank you that you allowed me to be the foster pastor for this Forest Grove congregation for 9 years.  I thank you for the love that they showed Peg and I.  I thank you for the growth that I have been able to see here.  I thank you for the demonstrations of your supernatural power that I have seen here.  I thank you that you are sending Hugh Cunningham to lead them still further along the path that you are setting before them. 

So, now I am turning them back over to you, praying that you will make them into all that you want them to be and that you will give them everything they could possibly need to accomplish everything that you want them to do.  Amen

Closing hymn--Invitation to lay hands on and pray for Pastor and Peg.