Today I conclude my full-time preaching assignment with the Main and Oklahoma Church. A couple of days to conclude the month, and my full-time ministry assignment will also end. I have ended ministry assignments before–and always begun another one. My ministry now counts 40 years of full-time ministry, six churches (one with two tenures), two universities, at least six interim ministries, and the opportunity to preach in hundreds of churches across the nation. What makes this ending different is that I am not planning another beginning. I do not anticipate another full-time ministry assignment.
I do not consider myself an expert, but I can make some claim to the adjective “experienced”. I have preached full-time in the northern regions of the US, and also in the south. I have preached in churches of all sizes–preaching in special series in some of the largest congregations of the churches of Christ, and preaching also in some of the smallest. When all is said and done, what is the most important factor in church growth, ministry, preaching?
My answer is, “The ability to establish and stick to priorities.” It is not easy to put first things first. We are easily distracted in the church, and in ministry. We seek the wrong things for the wrong reasons with the wrong methods. We get things out of order. I heard from a former student recently–he has over a decade of preaching experience now. He is a counselor to other preachers. He reminded me of my continual encouragement to discover and preach the dream.
Many churches (and church leaders) have forgotten the goal. Without a goal, we may deceive ourselves and consider ourselves successful. But in reality, a person or a church without a goal has little possibility of much forward motion. The church must constantly search for and employ new methods that touch the hearts of people in culturally consistent ways. The church, and those who preach and lead, must never forget that the church is ultimately about salvation. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and telling the world about the Jesus we follow as king can involve no less. His purpose is our purpose if we are faithful learners (disciples).
If we don’t get much else right, let us get this right! The goal is connecting people to Jesus so that they might be saved eternally. Ultimately, the success or failure of our activities–including our preaching–can be measured by no other standard.