How to welcome new minister

GIFTS FOR YOUR NEW PREACHER & HIS FAMILY!

 

INTRODUCTION

     A.  Money for a gift for us is being accepted. We have gifts from every congregation we have worked with in the past. All of them are special to us. The one from here will be very special to us because of the relationship we have had over the last 15 years.

     B.  As I thought about this, I thought about the new preacher who will be coming and his family.

     C.  I thought of five gifts that you can give your new preacher & his family.

 

I. YOUR LOVE

     A.  Agape love – Godly love

     B.  Agape love puts their needs above your own – Philemon 1:5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

 

II. YOUR FRIENDSHIP

A.    Phileo love – Brotherly love

B.    Relationships – John 11:3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."

 

III. YOUR SUPPORT

A.    They need your help to accomplish God’s work in Monticello

B.    Romans 1:12  that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

 

IV. YOUR UNDERSTANDING

     A.  Of their humanity – Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

     B.  Of their short comings – (Paul) Romans 7:21-23 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. [22] For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

 

V. YOUR FAVORABLE COMPARISONS ONLY

     A.  Comparisons Will Be Made

     B.  But comparisons are not wise - 2 Cor. 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

     C.  Discount those comparisons which make me appear better

     D.  Accept those which make him appear better

 

CONCLUSION

     A. Gifts are wonderful remembrances to give but these gifts are what will really be remembered most.

     B. Churches

I think that I shall never see; A Church that's all it ought to be

A Church that has no empty pews; Whose Preacher never has the blues.

A Church whose Deacons always Deke; And none is proud but all are meek

Where gossips never peddle lies; Or make complaints or criticize

Where all are always sweet and kind; And all to other's faults are blind

Such perfect churches there may be; But none of them are known to me

But still we'll work, and pray and plan; To make this Church the best we can!

 

Larry Pasley