Are you a preacher? If you stand behind a pulpit or music stand of any kind and spout spiritual truth from God's Word on a consistent basis then, like it or not, you are a preacher. It doesn't even have to be adults you are delivering a sermon too for you to qualify. It could be college students, teens or, yes, even children that you are sharing God's Word with on Sunday morning, Wednesday night or Thursday morning for you to be a true preacher.
I had a chance to watch the above video from Alan Danielson this morning, and it's got me thinking a little bit. Actually, I can't tell if I'm thinking or reacting, which is one of the reasons I'm typing my thoughts out here (so that the rest of you can correct me, if needs be).
As one talks to individuals in churches across our land it is common to meet people who speak of their churches as being missions minded. It is vogue to say, "We're a missions minded church" as if that statement alone certifies the group's commitment to foreign missions for all time.
We have been instructed by Jesus to "occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13). But how are we to be occupied? The answer is clear in Jesus' last instructions to His disciples in Acts 1:8, "You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." We have been left on this earth to lead others to Christ. Witnessing makes the wait worthwhile.
It was near sundown when we reached the dusty Laotian village, two vanloads of wide-eyed American visitors.
The decision to bring us here was, to me, a cost-benefit conundrum. Laotian Christians are often persecuted for their faith, and it's hard to bring Americans into the rural rice fields of Laos without drawing attention from the police or Communist leaders. At more than six feet tall I towered over the Laotians and my white skin was like a beacon. My sunglasses alone cost more than these people make in a month.
Imagine a visitor from another planet visiting the average American church. This extraterrestrial would more than likely see many empty pews but also hear a gospel that is killing us. This outside intruder would here a gospel that frames God's purposes in the gospel as making our life healthy, wealthy, and prosperous.
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