Remember The Screwtape Letters  by C.S. Lewis? Today, a journey into our imaginations. Let’s apply some of the devil’s strategies to today’s leaders. Your aim as a faithful demon? To destroy the spiritual health of a local church. How would you go about this? You mustn’t make the church suspicious, so the church building has to continue to look full and buzzing with life, while you are secretly at work behind the scenes. Second, you should probably use disguise and deceit to get past their defences. So, no prosperity teaching in a church that knows their Bibles well. You should deceive in line with what they already agree with, so nobody notices. What should you prioritise? Here are some tips. Overload godly leaders with so many good opportunities that they can only accomplish them at the expense of their walks with God. Ideally, this should also come at the expense of their family, if they are married, or other healthy friendships, if they aren't. Isolate and overwhelm them. Add in a bit of guilt if they aren't working harder and longer than the hardest working person in the church. Tempt them to compare themselves negatively with their favourite Christian missionary hero. As you begin, take care not to overdo it. You don’t want them to become so despairing and discouraged that they actually leave. No, no. And be careful not to alert the church elders (or equivalent). The last thing you want is for the church to realise how unhealthy their leader’s patterns have become. That would give the game away. (Fortunately, most churches never do a proper evaluation of the spiritual life and health of their leader, so you should be able to get away with these techniques.) Instead, keep the leader on the hamster wheel, delivering what everyone wants and being applauded for it, but with their spiritual vitality seeping away like a slow puncture. Also, if they make an effort to return to patterns that are sustainable and produce godly joy, ensure that they encounter those most likely to criticise them for this. That has always worked well in the past. Let me assure you that if you follow this guidance, you’ll soon have a church with many popular activities and teaching, but without any spiritual depth. Perfect! The teachers may well expound Scripture in a way that’s technically correct, and they may even be congratulated for their depth of insight. However, their hearts won’t be in it and they will be the only ones who know this. Great teaching but spiritual poverty. Excellent! Sunday services are also a great resource for you. If possible, tempt the leaders to focus on impressing others so that they neglect their own spiritual lives of prayer and worship. It’s not hard to convince them that they’re virtuous because they’re thinking of others. Ideally, all those who lead in church should believe that they’re working hard ‘for the gospel’, as long as they do so at the expense of their first love. If you can set up ‘gospel ministry’ as something that works counter to spiritual depth, all the better. It confuses them, because they often find they can’t abandon activity they’ve deemed central to their roles in order to prioritise time with God. Confusion will often lead to guilt. An outstanding combination! YOUR CHURCH Looking at the above strategies devised by Satan, how vulnerable is your church? If you’re the leader, how vulnerable are you to these tactics? The devil is quite capable of sending bad things our way, but he will also overwhelm us with a deluge of apparently good things. When that happens, our spiritual health is closely connected to our responses. Have we learned when to say no, and when to say yes? There is always more on our plates than can be done healthily and prayerfully. So, saying no and delegating must become learned behaviours. Furthermore, many of us hear a little nagging voice that tells us we’re pathetic if we don’t go the extra mile. It’s an insidious lie that appears to be founded on the truth. SLOWLY, SLOWLY One of the problems is that our patterns develop slowly. It goes wrong not immediately, but slowly. Allow that voice to dictate a thousand little decisions and you will eventually find yourself maxed out by church life. You’ll be spiritually exhausted at the same time as your church is seen to be a success. But it is all surface activity and energy. It’s activity and energy that overwhelms the spiritual life first of leaders, and then of everyone else. It’s worth taking note of this verse in the letter to the Hebrews. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden , for that would be of no benefit to you. Heb 13.17   The writer is warning against a church culture that so burdens a leader that they lose their joy. Satan loves to destroy our joy. It is surely better to be guided by the principle that vibrant spiritual health is our goal rather than manic activity. In addition, when considering which activities to prioritise, spiritual health should guide the choices we make. THE JESUS WAY When Jesus tells the disciples to come to him for rest, he tells them they are going to need to learn how to do it. He’s not referring to information, but to a whole-life paradigm. It’s important to remember that the disciples lived in a different culture to ours. The yoke of the Pharisees and the burden of religious duty was suffocating the life of the nation. For them, rest involved ‘unlearning’ a host of assumptions about what it meant to live well before God, as well as learning to rest in Jesus. Evangelical churches have their own versions of that old paradigm. Allow me to finish with some questions to ponder this coming week. Are you building a spiritually healthy church culture of people delighting and resting in Jesus? Are your church members growing in love and the fruit of the Holy Spirit? To cover up your spiritual poverty, are you prioritising impressive, attractive, and popular activities that act as a substitute for spiritual health? All we do in church life comes from a source. It is anchored either in healthy spirituality, the kind that involves resting in Jesus, which produces good fruit and abundant joy, or it is based on some kind of substitute. What kind of church do you lead?

Allow me to begin with a poem by John Keats. To Autumn Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease, For summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells. John Keats 1795 - 1821 The seasons have worked through the cycle again, and winter is here. As the ‘Horizontal Gardener’ (see a previous post on this), I have been reflecting on the lessons to be learned from our experience of the seasons. JOSEPH – THE ORIGINAL ORGANIC PRODUCE Let’s start with Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. Gen 49.22 (AKJV) Sounds good, doesn’t it? Who doesn't want to be described as fruitful? It sounds fantastic. You're one big, thriving mango tree! But what does it really mean? And how does it connect with that other famous fruit passage in Galatians 5:22-23, where the apostle Paul serves up a spiritual fruit salad? In Genesis 49.22, Joseph gets this glowing endorsement of fruitfulness, complete with imagery of a branch growing over the wall. He’s so full of life and purpose that his blessings can’t be contained. His vine isn’t just lying peaceably in the shady corner of the garden, it’s climbing the wall, waving at the neighbours, and tempting incipient climbers on the other side. But we know that Joseph’s life wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and jailed. Yet, through all of this, he remained faithful to God, and his 'well' of living water kept him growing. That’s the secret to fruitfulness. It’s not about perfect circumstances. It’s about being rooted in the right source. ENTER THE APOSTLE PAUL AND THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Fast-forward to Galatians 5:22-23, where Paul gives us a list of what real fruitfulness looks like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . You’ll notice that Paul doesn’t mention busyness, wealth, or social media followers. God’s definition of fruitfulness isn’t the same as ours. Joseph’s life was a living example of these Spirit-fruits. When his brothers showed up needing food, did he unleash a vine of vengeance? Nope. Instead, he responded with love, kindness, and forgiveness . Even in Potiphar’s house and prison, Joseph demonstrated faithfulness and self-control . Clearly, he was walking around like a one-man fruit basket! THE WALL, THE WELL, AND THE WHOLESOME FRUIT Joseph’s branches didn’t just stay on his side of the wall. They 'ran over’. That’s what happens when you’re connected to God as your well. You don’t just have enough for yourself. Your fruit spills over to bless others. This is where the fruit of the Spirit comes in. When we’re living by the Spirit, our love isn’t limited to the people we like, our patience isn’t reserved for when traffic is light, and our self-control doesn’t take weekends off. These fruits grow so abundantly, they naturally overflow into our relationships, our churches, and even the awkward work meetings where everyone’s pretending to like the coffee. WHAT ABOUT US? Let’s face it, we’re all works in progress. Some days, our fruit of the Spirit feels more like a sad raisin. But the good news is, God’s not asking us to grow these fruits by sheer effort. Just like Joseph’s bough that was planted by a well, our job is to stay connected to Jesus, the source of living water. So, what’s the application? Be like Joseph. Stay rooted. Let the fruit grow. And don’t worry if your branches get a little unruly and spill over the wall. After all, the world could use a lot more love, joy, and patience—and maybe a little less overripe bitterness. Whether you see yourself as a fruitful bough, a sapling, or just a slightly confused houseplant, there’s room to grow. And with God as your gardener, you can trust that your fruitfulness will not only bless you but also everyone around you. So go ahead. Let those branches climb the wall and make the world a sweeter place.

We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. Nicene Creed I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. Apostles’ Creed As a teenager, I wore a fish badge on my school blazer. It was an indicator of identity, a label of loyalty. Inside the outline of the fish, my badge bore the Greek word ΙΧΘΥΣ (ichthus), meaning ‘fish’. It’s an acronym for a phrase translated as, ‘Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour’ (i) . This five-word statement of faith draws almost directly from the creeds, with one modification. Where ΙΧΘΥΣ has ‘Saviour’, the creeds lead with the statement that Jesus is our Lord. There’s no contradiction between the titles ‘Saviour’ and ‘Lord’. Indeed, they must not be separated. Salvation is assured to those who believe and declare that ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Rom 10.9). The confession that Jesus is Lord is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s saving work (1 Cor 12.3). To become a Christian is to receive Christ Jesus as Lord; to continue as a Christian is to live consistently with this truth (Col 2.6). Jesus Christ is the Lord who saves and the Saviour who is sovereign. When we confess Christ as Lord and live accordingly, we bring our lives into line with reality. It’s worth remembering that the other titles for Jesus in the creeds are not there because we acknowledge him as such, but because his Father appointed him to these positions. For example, Jesus is the ‘Christ’, God’s anointed Messiah. He alone is qualified for this honour because he is ‘the only Son of the Father’. He is ‘of the same essence’ (Nicene Creed) and eternally co-existent with the Father. The title ‘Lord’, which the Old Testament ascribes to God, is also his by nature. The confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ also acknowledges Jesus’ supreme authority. The title ‘Lord’ was claimed by Caesar in the Roman world, but Jesus is ‘Lord of Lords and King of Kings’ (Rev 17.14). He is enthroned ‘far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is invoked’ and ‘head over all things for the church’ (Eph 1.21-22). When we confess that Jesus is Lord, what difference does that make to us as leaders? I suggest three principles. We lead as followers of Christ. We lead by proclaiming Christ. We lead as people accountable to Christ. Christian leadership is from the Lord, through the Lord, and to the Lord . It begins with, proceeds with, and ends with him. WE LEAD AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST The Lord of the Church has given people to the Church who will lead in the Church. Christian leaders are called to set an example to God’s people (2 Thess 3.7; 1 Tim 5.12; Heb 13.7; 1 Peter 5.3). We can only do this by following the apostle Paul’s example which enables us to say, ‘Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Imitating Christ means learning from him how to live (Matt 11.29) and, above all, how to love (John 13.15). Leadership flows from followership. The minister’s calling is to be an under-shepherd of Christ. That means shepherding people in the same way that the ‘Chief Shepherd’ shepherds us (1 Pet 2.25; 5.1-4). If we don’t receive his care, guidance, and correction, how can we care for, guide, and correct others? As he challenged Peter on the shores of Galilee, Jesus also calls us to follow him and to feed his sheep (John 21.15-19). If we are not following him, what food will we have to give his sheep? We cannot manufacture soul food. Like the disciples distributing the loaves and fish their Master multiplied, we can only receive soul food from its source. We feed others by breaking the Word of life and sharing it with them. Christian leadership starts with following Jesus closely. Christian leaders must be people who know, love, and trust Christ. WE LEAD BY PROCLAIMING CHRIST This second principle flows naturally from the first. If we are following Jesus, then we will desire to help others follow him too. We will resolutely point them beyond ourselves to the Lord. Our responsibility is to help people hear the voice of the Good Shepherd amidst all the other sounds that clamour for their attention so they can follow him (John 10.27). We lead in one direction—straight to the Lord. If we want to lead to the Lord, everything we do as leaders should been founded on the principle that Jesus Christ is Lord. This principle should flow through our preaching and our pastoring. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ (2 Cor 4.5a). Whether speaking to the congregation or the individual, our aim should be to help people understand the importance of acknowledging Jesus as Lord in every aspect of their lives, and in every circumstance. Our sermons and conversations should give glory to Jesus. Whenever we explain the meaning of the Scriptures—the big story— we should be clear that our own stories within that big story find meaning and purpose in the sovereignty of Christ as Lord. Our focus on Jesus Christ as Lord will also shape our attitude to those we lead. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake’ (2 Cor 4.5b). The Church has only one Lord, and it isn’t you or me. Lording it over others is the antithesis of Christian leadership (Matt 20.25-28; 1 Pet 5.3). We serve others for Christ’s sake. And we do so for his glory. WE LEAD AS PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO CHRIST Leadership flows from Christ and it must point to Christ because it will answer to Christ. Our leadership as under-shepherds will be assessed by the Chief Shepherd when he returns (1 Pet 5.4). The work of a minister is for a season only. We can assume there won’t be any need for under-shepherds in the fullness of the new creation. So, along with doctors, dentists, lawyers, judges, police officers, and parking attendants, ‘pastor’ belongs on the list of ‘jobs that won’t be in heaven’. We will continue eternally in ‘ministry’ in the broader sense of serving God, but in the narrower sense of ‘ministry of the Word’, that won’t be needed because the minister’s task of bringing people to maturity in Christ will be complete. The responsibility of being a minister of the Word lasts only until the Lord returns for his people. That might sound like good news if you’re weary in the work. I hope it gives you a new sense of hope! There is an ending, and it is glorious. The church you have laboured in will be made as beautiful as a bride—the bride of Christ. The people you have loved will be made perfect in Christ’s likeness. But this truth should also cause us to reflect carefully on how we lead people. The Lord will ask for an account of how we have handled the responsibility he has entrusted to us. We will stand before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor 5.10). Leaders are called to ‘keep watch over [God’s people] as those who must give an account’ (Heb 13.17). People will make all sorts of comments on your leadership, both positive and negative. It’s sensible to listen and learn. But there is one comment that supplants all others, and that’s the Lord’s assessment, his judgement. As I wrote in an earlier post , the fact that we will give an account to Christ should cause us to seek accountability from others right now .* Surely it is better to spot our failures before the final day. If we’re failing to see our blind spots, surely it is better to get back on track now. Giving an account does mean that all that was unworthy in our ministry will be exposed and burnt up (1 Cor 3.10-15). But giving an account is also a positive thing. The Lord sees, knows, and values all our work for him, even if no one else does. Our labour in the Lord is not in vain, so don’t give up (1 Cor 15.58). Therefore, creedal leaders . . . ‘We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God’. Because of these rich truths, let us follow our Lord closely, proclaim him boldly, and serve him faithfully in the knowledge that one day we will give him an account. So, make this your confession today: ‘ I believe in Jesus’. (i) The Greek phrase is Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ   ( Iēsous Christos, Theou Huios, Sōtēr ). ΙΧΘΥΣ has served as an identifying symbol for Christians since the second century AD. *Our post from last week, ‘ Rethinking Resolutions ’ also talks about accountability.

Happy New Year! Resolutions, anyone? No? Is that a smirk I just saw? Conventional wisdom on resolutions is that they’re a waste of time. The moment someone talks about their resolutions, we nod sagely, thinking ‘This person is kidding, right? Why bother? They’ll be a heap of vain hopes by February.’ As the saying goes, the road to the bad place is paved with good intentions. And that just about sums up new year’s resolutions. Good intentions destined to fail. Well, today, a different take. NOBLE ASPIRATIONS What is a resolution but a declared intention to improve some aspect of one’s life. We don’t make resolutions about eating more, spending more time in the pub or being more unkind. On the contrary, many resolutions have to do with eating healthily, exercising more, volunteering, reconciling, or giving more. They express a desire to improve, not deteriorate. So the first thing to recognise is that the vast majority of those who make resolutions have good hearts. Or at least good intentions. And they desire to change. Some yearn to change and they truly believe that making a resolution will produce the kind of change they desire. BEWARE CYNICISM We often sneer at these sentiments. Essentially, we do this because we’ve imbibed a cynical attitude towards change. And frankly, that’s ungodly. Of course, we call this realism and we think we’re savvy because, well, we know better. But is that really true? Do we know better? Or like many in this world, have we unconsciously joined many who simply drag others down. You think you can change? No chance, mate! That’s not an attitude to be proud of. Resolutions, whether destined for failure or not, are, for the most part, noble aspirations. And we should encourage such thinking. Especially when the resolutions include such things as more prayer, more commitment, more discipline to serve the Lord. RESOLUTIONS OFTEN FAIL This is the gritty reality, isn’t it? Resolutions do often fail. Hence the widespread cynicism. And if we want to remain positive about resolutions, we must ask ourselves two penetrating questions. Is change possible? If it is, how can resolutions make that change stick? CHANGE IS POSSIBLE If change weren’t possible, we might as well pack up and go home. No more church, no more Bible studies, no more prayers. All our beliefs about sanctification in shreds. Let’s start with this famous verse in Romans. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12.2 Be transformed. Changed. Yes, it’s possible. And then there’s another very well-known verse in Philippians. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus . Phil 1.4-6 This is the classic verse indicating sanctification. We are being changed by our God, who works within us by his Spirit. The apostle Paul puts it this way. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3.18 The problem is that many of us continue to live with the spirit of Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do . . . For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Rom 7.15,19 If we keep living in Romans 7, and in particular wallow in these verses without contextualising them with the glorious culmination of Romans 8, then we will lose hope. So, yes, change is possible. CAN RESOLUTIONS HELP? Resolutions are simply goals. And goals aren’t general, they’re specific. You may have heard that goals need to be SMART. S pecific M easurable A chievable R elevant T ime-bound RULE OF LIFE This past year, I’ve been meeting with, let’s call him a counsellor, a spiritual guide. He suggested that I write a Rule of Life, following the practice of the Benedictines. A Rule of Life is simply a list of specific goals related to one’s spiritual life—‘spiritual’ in the sense of encompassing one’s whole life, physical and unseen. So I wrote my Rule of Life and was quickly informed that ‘praying more’ or even ‘praying regularly’ was inadequate. Why? Not specific enough. ‘Meeting with my mentees regularly’ was also insufficient. How often? Who? So I re-wrote it. And it was specific and it met with my guide’s approval. It has made a difference. If he’s reading this, he will be encouraged. There is, however, one thing that is deficient in my practice. I need more accountability. A lot more. I should probably take note of Alcoholics Anonymous. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AA works on the principle of community. Former addicts meet in order to hear each other’s stories and remind themselves that they are not alone. And this helps, but it’s not enough. Most who attend AA meetings also have sponsors, someone to talk to outside the meetings, someone to reach for when life seems overwhelming. A form of accountability. CONFESSION The Church used to have something similar; it was called confession. Yet, due to many factors, including the abuse of this practice in Church history, it fell out of favour. The Scriptures, however, are clear on its merits. If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.9 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Jas 5.15-16 James urges his readers to ‘confess your sins to each other’ (though in the context of healing). John doesn’t specify that we should confess to each other. Both, however, view confession as a good thing. Is this accountability? Not exactly, but it could certainly be part of an accountability relationship. One built on love, friendship and a desire for holiness. FRATERNALS What do church leaders often do when considering the question of accountability? Many meet up with other leaders from outside their communities. A fraternal (or women's equivalent). Perhaps you’re part of one. The aim is mutual support, and all those who speak of their experiences with fraternals speak highly of their impact. This is wonderful. Mutual support, friends supporting friends. Fantastic. But they rarely involve accountability. That’s my impression. Accountability requires a level of humility and submission to another that many avoid. It requires us to be vulnerable. Confession does the same thing. We’re opening up about our sins and inadequacies, and in a proper accountability relationship, excuses are viewed as just that. Excuses. So, what about you? Do you want to change? The passage in 1 John talks openly about our tendency to deceive ourselves. Confession and accountability aim to tackle this tendency head on. We cannot change ourselves without the work of God’s Spirit, that goes without saying, but we also need community. We need brothers and sisters with us on this journey, those who will challenge, pray, and love us towards holiness. I wonder if you’ve ever made resolutions. I wonder if you’ve ever been truly accountable to another person? Is this the year to consider this practice? And have you ever written a Rule of Life? Perhaps this is the year to make a resolution to do so. But more important than anything else is our commitment to holiness, to following Jesus with all our hearts and placing him at the centre of all our decisions. Including whether to find true accountability. New Year’s resolutions, anyone? They’re not for everyone, but if you ever make them, ensure you find people to walk alongside you, friends who will support you on your journey towards greater holiness. It’s a journey we can only accomplish together. That’s how the Lord designed it. Be blessed.

I sat there puzzled. What are they doing talking about Easter in the middle of a Nativity play? I was eleven years old, but even I knew that Christmas wasn’t the time to be talking about Easter. It was the story of a baby, the story of life. Roll forward about eight years to December 1994 when my mum died, just a few days before Christmas. At church on Christmas Day, people walked down the far side of the church because no one knew what to say to me. After all, how do you wish someone a ‘Happy Christmas’ in the midst of their grief? A couple of days before, we finished her funeral service with the carol, ‘O Come all Ye Faithful.’ You could see people unsure about singing a carol at a funeral, but our minister assured the congregation that this was no mistake. Suddenly that Nativity play from all those years before that spoke of Easter made sense. Christmas is both the celebration of a baby born—showing the wonder of new life—while at the same time his birth anticipates eternal hope for all those he calls. For he has come to give us new life by triumphing over death. That’s why Christmas—with both life and death as central themes—gives us the gift of an eternal perspective from which to walk through suffering. LIFE WITHOUT PAUSE Life doesn’t stop, as our family learned that year in 1994, for Christmas festivities. Life still happens with all the same ups and downs as it has for the other eleven months of the year. Members in our church family and our own families are still going through the mill. Conflicts and tensions within our church family have not halted with a temporary ceasefire, eager to make way for the school nativity productions, Christingles, and carols by candlelight. News headlines have not changed. Everything is taking place side by side. All the candlelight, tinsel, angel wings, donkeys, extra food, and fairy lights do not alter the reality of our everyday lives. Christ and Christ alone reframes our reality and gives us a living hope. Many coming through the doors of our churches over the Christmas season haven’t been given a break from the very real struggle of their lives. Yet, Christ can speak into and transform their lives, if they are willing to let him enter in. The gospel narratives begin with the Christmas story, but you can also find it in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2.5-11 Our message this Christmas is not just that a baby has been born in a stable (or guestroom) or has been laid in a manger. It is about declaring near and far that Jesus Christ is Lord, that he humbled himself to become a baby, to grow and dwell among us; that he came to share our pain and suffering, so that one day we would all bow and confess that he is Lord. Our ‘Happy Christmas’ greetings are not about tinsel and mince pies. They are declaring our living hope to one another and giving God the glory. They are not just a superfluous greeting to make us feel warm and fuzzy for one day a year, they are a bold declaration of our firm belief in the events of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection. They are rich, life-giving greetings of good news for all, just as the angels declared to the shepherds that night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2.9-10 Good news that will cause great joy for all the people. SHARE HOPE Surely this is good news unlike any other. It should be shared even with those who have walked in darkness and grief, because it is a message of hope. Christmas is not about the tinsel or the food or the festivities, it is a celebration of hope amidst our pain and grief. We have not been forgotten or abandoned. We celebrate Christmas because our Saviour has come to save us. He has come to dwell with us, to conquer death, and give us resurrection life. That’s why we worship the baby in the manger. That’s why our ‘Happy Christmas’ is filled with meaning and hope.

Another Christmas, huh? Yup. It rolls around every year, doesn’t it? Mary, Joseph, baby, shepherds, wise men, come on, let’s pick up the pace. We know where we’re going. We go there every year, so let’s not dawdle. Come on, you at the back! Keep up. As Christmas approaches, a pressure builds inside many church leaders. Last year, it was Luke. This year, we’re focusing on Matthew. But essentially, it’s the same story. How exactly am I supposed to, well, you know, be original? As a former journalist, I completely understand the question. In our newsroom, every story had to have an angle. ‘What’s the angle?’ I was often asked. As we approach Christmas, many leaders are weighed down with that same question. ‘What’s the angle?’ It’s another way of asking, ‘Do you have anything new to say this year?’ And the answer comes back, ‘Nothing! Nothing is different. It’s the same every year!’ Hence the pressure, the sense that we’re failing unless we can come up with something new, something a bit edgy. A while back, a word study in Luke provided something slightly ‘new.’ A bit edgy. The Greek word—kataluma—we discovered, didn’t refer to a commercial inn but to a guestroom. Around the church, leaders started talking about Jesus’ birth in a humble home, rather than a stable. Floor plans of first century homes—with mangers clearly identified in the lower part of the main room—proliferated. This was the angle. And it was good. I always like it when the original language of the Scriptures blows away some of the cobwebs of our historical misunderstandings. Especially when the language refers to something as important as the birth of Christ. But was this really an angle? I’m not so sure. It was still the same story, and here we are again this year, with the same story. It’s not as though the language is ever going to do anything but reveal what we teach every year. That Christ was born in Bethlehem. There is no angle. That is the angle! It doesn’t need originality or edginess or new discoveries. So extraordinary is the story that it already contains everything it needs. But what exactly makes this story the greatest of all stories? Here are some thoughts as you prepare for your Christmas services. BEAUTY Have you forgotten the wonder of Christmas? Do you have any memories of Christmas from when you were young? For my part, if I close my eyes, I can still smell the musty church. I can feel the starched cassock and surplus I wore as I processed up the aisle. I can hear the majesty of John’s gospel being read aloud. I can also hear the other choir boys around me singing one beautiful anthem after another. The words, ‘For unto us a Son is born, unto us a Child is given’ are indelibly marked in my memory; I have carried them my entire life. They are etched into my soul. The story did not require any explanation. It was given and I received it. I hope your own memories of Christmas from childhood are also happy ones. Perhaps the first thing to remember, then, is that when you lead a Christmas service, you are creating life-long memories for some of those who attend. So, trust the story. Trust the story to do its work. It contains enough beauty and wonder to touch a person’s soul. THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE The Canadian philosopher, Marshall McLuhan, once coined the phrase, ‘the medium is the message’. His point was that the way in which a message is communicated is more important that the content of the message itself. The circulation of newspapers, for example, changed how a population saw the world; it changed how politicians led their nations. What about Christmas? The medium is the message. What medium did God choose? He—the writer—chose to enter the story he was writing about himself. That is a unique and wonderful form of communication, open only to the creator of all things. Second, he did not communicate through a system of thought or ethical theories, but through ‘story’. Narrative is the high king and queen, the supreme ruler of all methods of communication. How can I assert that with such confidence? Because the Bible is first and foremost a story. The story is the message. So, before you even begin to give your thoughts about Luke or Matthew or John, allow the story to take centre stage in all your services. Not the sermon, the story. And try to see the story with the eyes of a child. This may sound a bit Hollywood to you, but try to ‘experience it again for the first time’. Enter into the wonder and stay there. Let the story speak to you. Do you know the reason why Nativity plays are still so popular? Two reasons. Stories don’t preach. Second, the story includes a birth narrative, and birth narratives touch even the hardest of hearts. BIRTH At first glance, woman gets pregnant, travels to a new town, gives birth, well, it doesn’t sound like much of a plot. Where’s the twist? No chases? No intrigue? But on closer inspection, there is a chase—that comes later—and the twist comes at the beginning with the arrival of Gabriel. But still. What is it that makes this story so so special? The birth of a baby. I don’t really have words to express how wonderful birth is. It is certainly messy and gritty and at times a world of pain, but it is also beautiful. It brings together the vast range of our human emotions—joy and pain perfectly encapsulated in one extraordinary moment. There’s a reason why people talk about birth as a miracle. I have three children and one grandchild and I can’t really explain to you why their births feel like miracles, but they do. But of course, the Incarnation adds something much more special. It blows apart the idea that God has abandoned his created realm. By becoming human, God affirms the Genesis account that his creation is good. Physical stuff is good. Our bodies are not abhorrent, but good. And of course, as we know, Emmanuel means ‘God with us’. In Jesus, he has shared our common human experience. Our emotions. All of this is demonstrated in that little baby. And John chose to tell us with these beautiful words. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1.14a In these few Greek words, John spoke of God ‘pitching his tent’ among us. John’s gospel is so packed with wonderful ideas that a preacher could go on for days. Please don’t! The story is the message. Let the story do its thing. The birth narrative alone will speak merely because of the beauty it contains. And one of the reasons it is beautiful is because of one word: hope. HOPE It is almost impossible to see a newborn baby and not be filled with hope. They enter this world and their lives stretch before them. They are vulnerable and weak, unable to take care of themselves. They unlock a strong desire in us to provide protection, comfort, and care. And of course, though many look like Winston or Buddha🤣, they are beautiful. Babies fill us with hope. Babies are beautiful and they are a gift. But this baby? The one in the manger? He is Hope. And he is a Gift beyond all others. STICK TO CHRISTMAS Beauty and Hope. There is enough in those two words to fill many sermons. It’s not necessary to venture to other parts of the story when you have a section with that much wonder. That much beauty. That much hope. So, fill your sermons with those themes, but most of all . . . get out of the way. Let the story speak. Fill your services with the drama. If you can, engage all the senses. Make room for lots of music, and pay attention to the lyrics of our most famous carols. ‘Hark the Herald’ not only contains a powerful gospel message, its beauty is undimmed centuries after it was written. Sermon? Barely needed. They’ve just heard the gospel in these timeless words. So, let the story speak. It does not need anything ‘new’. It has no need to be ‘edgy’. It just needs a servant-heart ready to offer it with appropriate awe and reverence. Trust the medium to speak. The medium is God entering our human experience. The medium is a story. Let it speak.

We have news! After almost 20 wonderful years at the helm of Living Leadership’s ministries, our founder and Executive Director, Marcus Honeysett, has decided it’s time to pass the baton to a new leader. Marcus plans to transition into the role of Founder & President upon the appointment of a new Chief Executive. This exciting change reflects Marcus’ continued dedication to supporting leaders and their spouses, while creating space for fresh leadership to take Living Leadership forward into the next chapter of growth and impact. Under Marcus' leadership, what started as a few informal conversations with local church leaders has flourished into a thriving network of support and resources. In the 2023/24 financial year alone, Living Leadership served over 450 leaders and their spouses, representing more than 200 churches. Reflecting on this upcoming change, Marcus said: "I am delighted and amazed at all we have seen the Lord do through Living Leadership in the first chapter of this ministry. It has been an immense privilege to lead this organisation to this point, and I believe there are many wonderful opportunities ahead. For some time, I have sensed that it is the right moment to pass the baton to a new leader who can take this organisation forward into all the Lord is preparing. I look forward to seeing who the Lord will raise up to lead the organisation into this new season and am excited to serve alongside them in my new role". Can you help us find our new Chief Executive? The Trustee Board of Living Leadership is delighted to announce that recruitment for our new Chief Executive is now open! Hugh Davies, Chair of the Board, shared: "We are committed to finding the right person to take on the role of Chief Executive. This leader will build on the strong foundation Marcus has laid, helping Living Leadership grow and develop in the years to come. If you share our passion for encouraging leaders and spouses in joyful faith and faithful service, and if you have the relevant leadership skills and experience, we’d love to hear from you." If you or someone you know could be the right person to lead our team, please visit the Living Leadership website ( www.livingleadership.org/jobs ) to learn more about the role and how to apply. We’d love your prayers! As we embark on this important transition, we deeply value your prayers for wisdom, guidance, and clarity. We trust that the Lord will lead the right person to join our team and partner with us in this vital work.

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. Nicene Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Apostles’ Creed The creeds teach that God is the creator of all things. What effect does this have on how you lead? Care for God’s creation is certainly an important issue for churches and their leaders. But that’s not my focus in this post. Here I want to consider how creation impacts our heart attitudes and daily rhythms as leaders. In a previous post , I wrote about how belief in God as our almighty Father affects how we lead our churches and organisations. We are accountable to him and must learn from him how to love his people. That is true, but it carries an inherent risk. Leaders sometimes forget that they are created beings with God-given limitations. Several authors have explored the implications of the leader’s created nature for how we live. (i) A helpful starting point is to recognise that, unlike God, we are not almighty. Four truths follow from this observation. Unlike God, we don’t know everything. Unlike God, we can’t be everywhere. Unlike God, we can’t do whatever we want. Unlike God, we can’t go on endlessly. These might be the most obvious statements ever in a blog post! But bear with me, because I’m convinced that grasping the implications of these truths can make you a better leader. YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING God is omniscient. He knows everything. You don’t. That’s not a limitation you can overcome through training, reading, attending conferences, or watching videos. It’s a God-given limitation for your good and the good of those you lead. So, don’t pretend that you know everything. You are a learner, and you will be throughout your lifetime. Let those you lead know this. Preach like a learner, not a master. Pastor like a disciple, not a lord. As a leader, you may often be the person with the greatest knowledge of Scripture and theology. You might have the qualifications to prove it. But remember that ‘knowledge puffs up while love builds up’ (1 Cor 8.1). Don’t use your knowledge to impress or control others. Share it and use it to build them up. And remember that you have a lot to learn from those you lead. They have knowledge from study and experience that you don’t. ‘Be quick to listen, slow to speak’ (Jas 1.19). When it comes to tricky pastoral situations, be extra careful to listen well. Don’t assume things or jump to conclusions. Hear both sides of the story. Consider all the angles. And listen to God as well as people. What does his Word say about this matter? What is the Spirit saying to you as you wait in prayer? And be careful about what you say. Don’t claim certainty about God’s purposes beyond what he has said. Remind those you lead that life is not a series of questions to be answered and problems to be solved, but a journey to be walked step by step with the Lord who loves us. The same goes for when you are challenged or questioned. Even when we feel that an accusation is unfair, there can be an opportunity to learn something. Stay humble and learn. At the same time, be wise to distinguish between the clear teaching of Scripture, which we must hold firmly, and our best attempts at theology, which we should hold more lightly. Accept that you won’t understand God’s purposes fully this side of glory. Seek unity in what is central to the faith. Trust the Lord as he’s revealed himself to you, and as he leads you, even if there are many questions you can’t answer. YOU CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. You aren’t. You can’t overcome this limitation either. Yet leaders are sometimes expected to exhibit this aspect of divinity! Some people expect you to be at every meeting and event. When they’re in need, only a visit from the pastor will do. If you give in to such pressures, you will end up never truly being present anywhere. You’ll become so hurried that you’ll be somewhere in body, but all over the place in your mind. Leaders need to prioritise. They have to manage their diaries. People sometimes call this ‘time management’. Strictly speaking, that’s a misnomer. You can’t manage time. But you can manage yourself. You need to decide what your priorities are, and then live by them. In that way, when you’re with people, you are truly present, in mind as well as body. If you don’t manage your diary, the demanding and the urgent will replace the important. You won’t spend quality time with your family. You won’t schedule enough time for the most important pastoral visits. Sermon preparation will be squeezed. Prayer might even be pushed out of your life. So, make sure you put the most important events in your diary first, and ensure that you leave margins around them with sufficient time for prayer and reflection. Leave slack in your diary for the unexpected. Block out time for family and prayer. Set a reasonable amount time for sermon preparation, fully aware of your tendency to need more time. Especially if you’re a perfectionist. YOU CAN’T DO WHATEVER YOU WANT God is omnipotent. He can do anything he desires (consistent with his nature, of course). You can’t. I’m sure you’re conscious of many things you can’t do, even if you wanted to. You have limits. But God has given you certain gifts. Your responsibility is to use those gifts for his glory. If you have several gifts, you may need to prioritise some of them above others. How will you use the gifts God has given you? As a leader, what will your priorities be? We have to be careful, of course. There will be tasks in our jobs that are outside our ‘gifting sweet spot’. Servants shouldn’t dictate what they will do. Sometimes there’s a need and no one else is available. Don’t turn an awareness of your gifts into an excuse for selfishness. Instead, make it an opportunity to appreciate the gifts of others. It’s a wonderful thing to see someone else doing something better than you. That is how God has designed it. He specifically says in his Word—1 Corinthians 12—that no one can do everything. He has created the church as a body in which everyone has a part to play. Your role as a leader is not to do everything, but to equip others to do what God has given them to do—as the apostle Paul puts it, ‘for works of service’ (Eph 4.11-13). This also means that you need a team to lead alongside you. Whatever the structures in your church or organisation, you should find a way to work with people whose gifts complement yours. At times, they may be similar to yours; at other times they may be different. But they are all given by God’s Spirit ‘for the common good’ (1 Cor 12.7b). YOU CAN’T GO ON ENDLESSLY God is eternal. He never runs out of steam. You do. God has made you to need rest. You need to take regular breaks throughout a working day. You need to sleep every night, most likely between seven to nine hours. You need to have a day without productive work every seven days (a Sabbath). You need longer periods of rest in the year (a holiday). Rest is important for your health and it’s also a reminder that you are not God. Perhaps one of the reasons many leaders have unhealthy rhythms of life is because they do not really trust that God is almighty. They have not accepted that God works when they do not and that his most significant work in people’s lives often happens when they aren’t there. (ii) We cannot rest if we won’t trust, and we cannot trust if we won’t humble ourselves. We are created to need rest. Don’t deny it. So, creedal leaders, ‘We believe in God, creator of heaven and earth’. As a leader who lives in light of this important statement in the early creeds, acknowledge your God-given limitations. Learn to live within them. Trust your creator; don’t fight him. You don’t know everything. He does. You can’t be everywhere. He can. You can’t do whatever you want. He can. You can’t go on endlessly. He is eternal. So, rest in him, and bring worship to your God who is almighty in every sense of the word. Make this your confession today: ‘ I believe in the Creator’. (i) Christopher Ash’s Zeal Without Burnout  (2016, Good Book Company) and David Murray’s ReSET (2017, Crossway) are highly recommended on these themes. (ii) On this subject, see also Melinda’s post from last week.

How do you view the word, ‘inclusion’? The other day, I scanned a leaflet from a church outlining its principal beliefs. Jesus was mentioned a couple of times, but there wasn’t a single reference to sin. The words ‘include’ or ‘inclusion’, on the other hand, appeared twelve times. So, what impact does ‘inclusion’ (AKA ‘inclusivity’) have on the church? So widespread is the promotion of ‘inclusion’ that every day, most people either see, read or hear some kind of message promoting this value. And if not active promotion, then scathing criticism of anyone who doesn’t buy into ‘inclusion.’ This is having an impact on church members, whether we acknowledge it or not. WHAT IS INCLUSION? At first glance, inclusion looks wonderful. What’s not to like about a value that envelops everyone and accepts everyone? The problem, however, is that if you don’t buy into this aspect of the modern zeitgeist, well, you’re excluded. So, inclusion turns out not to be as inclusive as we might hope. Not only that, it is extremely ‘group-sensitive’. Certain groups are definitely ‘in’ while other groups are roundly rejected. How does this affect a church leader? Our church members may listen to our sermons (30 minutes on a Sunday), but for the rest of the week, wherever they look, ‘inclusion’ is actively promoted. In some workplaces, employees are expected to show visible and tangible support for the value. So, it’s hardly surprising that a significant number find themselves absorbing the following ways of looking at the world. They are uncomfortable about the idea of judgement. They much prefer God’s love to any talk about sin. They don’t like people to feel excluded. They want to be inclusive and to be seen to be inclusive. They like the world’s approval. TRUTH FIRST Truth should be very important to Christians. Hardly surprising given that we follow a man who claimed to be the Truth. For us, truth is revealed through God’s Word, the Bible, and it is beautifully exhibited in the life of Jesus. So, what do we discover about God’s view on inclusion? He’s inclusively exclusive. The Scriptures are absolutely clear about this. By ‘exclusive’, I mean he desires exclusive worship from his followers. Therefore, other gods are excluded. You shall have no other gods before me. Ex 20.3 God refuses to share his glory with other gods. He never, ever, includes other gods. The same theme continues into the New Testament. Jesus’ statement in John’s gospel is famously exclusive. Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14.6 So, God is fundamentally exclusive, in the sense that he doesn’t share his glory. He seeks true worshippers who will worship him alone. Exclusively. When we think about God’s inclusion, however, we discover an expansive, authentic expression of the word. God’s inclusion means ALL are invited. ALL are welcomed, whatever race or background. And he has made this possible through the sacrifice of his beloved Son. That’s why we read so many ‘whoevers’ in the Bible. ‘Whoever’ includes ALL people. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6.35 In summary, the problem with a worldly version of inclusion, is that it’s not really inclusive at all. It’s simply an expression of our rebellion. We don’t want to honour a holy God. We want to frame the world in our own image—and that means including those we like and excluding those who offend us. We therefore lie to ourselves about our own sinful rejection of God’s extraordinary love and sacrifice. We think of ourselves as inclusive, but we won’t include God. How ironic that our rejection of God is so often driven by the belief that he is insufficiently inclusive. SOME INITIAL RESPONSES May I suggest that it’s wise to exercise caution in the area of politics? Inclusion is a hotly contested word in our culture, and once we venture into the world of politics, especially party politics, we could find ourselves in trouble. For us, this isn’t a political issue, it’s a spiritual issue. Worldly ‘inclusiveness’ that downplays the seriousness of sin, and runs counter to the Bible’s teaching about God’s character, is very damaging to our spiritual lives, because it affects how we view our good and holy God. Second, in spite of the pressure to be inclusive, I urge you to continue to preach the gospel of grace, rooted in the truth. How gloriously inclusive our gospel is, offered to everyone we encounter. Third, never, ever, bow to a worldly pressure to conform. Meditate on Romans 12.2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world. Our job is to preach Christ crucified, and as long as we’re doing that, we won’t go far wrong. What are we to do, however, about the problem of sin? By this, I mean the very idea of sin and how we talk about it in our services and in our evangelism. Because, nowadays, sin is a tough sell. In fact, it’s worse than that. Many people simply can’t grasp the concept at all. In response, there’s a move to emphasize God’s love, watering it down into a wishy-washy ‘inclusive’ message, that omits the gravity of our rebellion. The answer is to keep preaching the gospel. Our Lord and Saviour didn’t die to express his love in a feel-good, comfort blanket sense, but to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Never lose sight of this. CLARITY ON METHODOLOGY One of our challenges relates to methodology. What are we actually doing when we read the Bible? If a significant number of your church members view the Scriptures as a guidebook to help them navigate their difficulties in this life, then that’s what they’ll get—a book of wisdom, with wise suggestions to aid their own self-realisation or provide some comfort in times of trouble. As a consequence, they’ll tune out the challenges and lap up the comfort. But that’s not why we read the Bible. We read the Bible in order to encounter God’s revelation of himself within a story of restoration and salvation into the kingdom of his Son. The truths we read about God will often clash with our modern sensibilities—especially inclusion—but that’s because his ways are not our ways. We can only grow, therefore, through submission to the truth about God, or we will live in a world of lies forever. Our church members must be reminded of this. Submission to God is hard. It is not a popular concept nowadays, but it is necessary. God isn’t asking for their vote. He wants their worship. He offers the truth in his Son. So, be bold in challenging your people with these kinds of questions. Will you submit to God, as revealed in this passage, even though you may not fully understand it or even agree with what it teaches? Will you allow your current views on inclusion to be challenged by this passage? Will you accept that God’s ways are not your ways? Will you submit to the truth that God’s holiness entails judgement of sinful human beings? HOLINESS Finally, holiness. In truth, the Bible’s central theme isn’t our sinfulness, it’s the holiness of God. Everything—absolutely everything—begins with God’s holiness. It is his most important attribute. He is holy, and we are not. This is the fundamental reason why he’s exclusive. Beautifully, wonderfully, inclusively exclusive. Reaching out with a message of love and grace to all who would respond. For one day, we will see him face to face. His glory will be beyond our ability to express in human language. This is why here today, this very week, we must place him first above all things in our own lives. Central to our every decision; offering him our exclusive worship. His holiness demands nothing less.

How do you start your day?   Mine usually begins with hitting the snooze button at least once, but more often twice. However, the tasks of the day soon begin to seep into my consciousness, and I start to mull over the hours ahead. Most days, before my feet have even hit the floor, I’ve begun to strategise, to set my agenda. I start by praying for my work, which involves meeting with people. However, if I’m honest, my prayers often focus on inviting God’s work and presence into my activity and agenda.   GOD’S DAY IS NOT OUR DAY   In our human accounting of time, our day begins with our activity. It starts when we wake up, get up, and get about our business. In our rhythm of life, there is morning, then evening. There is working, then resting.   In God’s accounting of time in Genesis 1, however, this rhythm is notably reversed. There is evening, then  morning. In this telling of time, the day begins not with human activity, but with a period marked by human in activity. There is resting and sleeping, then waking and working.   Commenting on this, Eugene Peterson makes the following observation.   The Hebrew evening and morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace. We go to sleep and God begins his work. As we sleep, he develops his covenant. We wake and are called out to participate in God’s creative action. We respond in faith and work. But grace is always previous. Grace is primary. We wake into a world we did not make, into a salvation we did not earn. Evening: God begins, without our help, his creative day. Morning: God calls us to enjoy and share and develop the work he initiated.’ (i)   LIVING IN THE CADENCE OF CREATION It’s a great temptation to think that nothing would happen in the world, our church, or in people’s lives apart from our strategies, agendas, and activity. But the cadence of creation reminds us that we are not the primary movers and shakers. The growth of the kingdom of God in the world and in the lives of people does not begin with our own efforts, but with God’s. Our work and ministry is not primary or central; rather, our work is participation and response .   Each new morning when we wake up, we are invited simply to join in with all God has been doing and is continuing to do in his world, to cooperate with his plans and purposes for the people we serve. When we get up and get busy, we do so in response to God’s prior gracious activity in our own lives and in the lives of others.   So, what would our lives look like if we lived intentionally in this rhythm of creation? What would happen if we started to see our days beginning with the evening hours when we rest and sleep rather than the hours when we wake and work? What does the evening/morning sequence have to teach us about our lives in ministry?   Here are some brief reflections.   ATTENTIVENESS   First, the pattern of the Genesis day invites us to cultivate greater attentiveness. In ministry, it’s all too easy to begin with our own strategies for gospel growth, or with our own agendas for the people we serve. However, the cadence of creation tells us that our primary posture should be to pay attention to God’s agenda, to where and how he is working—in our communities and churches.   Questions of primary importance become questions like these.   Where is God working here? What specifically is he doing? How is he speaking? Do I have a role in this work? If so, what is it?     Instead of launching into activity, our lives become a response to God’s work in his world.   SURRENDER   Second, the Genesis day pattern helps us surrender our lives to God. Our natural instinct is to want to be in control. However, the evening/morning rhythm reminds us that in the proper posture of Christian ministry, we are not inviting God to join us in our work, our strategies, or agendas. Rather, we are submitting ourselves to his. Seeing our work as participation and response invites us to loosen our grip on our tendency to seek control. This approach enables us to grow in humility before the Lord. So, these become important questions for us.   Where am I unhealthily wedded to my own plans for the people and church I serve? In which areas am I seeking control? What might deeper surrender to God look like for me?   REST   Lastly, this pattern invites us to rest. One of the primary reasons we find it hard to rest is that we think the work depends too much on us. We think that if we stop things will fall apart, or significant things won’t be accomplished. However, the Genesis rhythm tells us that when we begin our evening’s rest, the day is not ending. It’s just getting started! As we sleep, God is working. He’s at work in the lives of the people we’re concerned about. He’s at work throughout the world, calling his people to participate with him as he builds his kingdom. So, instead of going to bed with a heavy heart, burdened by all the things you’ve left unresolved or undone, what about a different mindset? Why not go to bed with a heart full of anticipation? And as you rise each day, why not remind yourself that as you slept, God was at work? He’s always active . . . loving, restoring, forgiving, changing people, calling them into participation and relationship.   The cadence of creation reminds us that gospel ministry and gospel growth does not begin with our own efforts or activity but with God’s. It calls us to see our work as participation in God’s plans; it calls us to join the work of grace he is already doing. It invites us to be attentive, submissive to his ways, and expectant. So, I invite you to do something a little different this evening. As you go to bed, thank God for the work he will be doing as you rest. Go to bed with anticipation for what the following day will bring. And as you live in this rhythm of grace, let me leave you with a final question. How will you  begin your day?   (i) Eugene Peterson, “The Good for Nothing Sabbath,” Christianity Today, April 1994.

On 26 May, 2024, I hit forty-seven. Perhaps I can comfort myself with the thought that forty-seven is a prime number—emphasis on ‘prime’—but there’s no getting away from it. I’m well and truly middle-aged. I’ve been in paid ministry for over twenty-two years, and God willing, I hope to serve him for at least another twenty-two. Our broader culture idolises youth. People spend lots of money on skincare products, gym memberships, Botox, and plastic surgery. But we don’t quite know what to do with the middle years. We speak with slight embarrassment about a ‘midlife-crisis’, though it’s often ill-defined. Many people class it as what happens when we become aware of the gap between who we want to be (or how we wish our lives had turned out) and . . . reality. So, how does growing older affect Christian leaders? What dangers are lurking for those who are church planters or ministers? As I’ve read, thought, and prayed over the past year or so, I’ve identified three potential dangers.   DANGER 1: STEWARDSHIP The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendour of old men is their grey hair . Prov. 20:29 As we get older, our bodies change. That’s a fact. Our capacities are not what they were. We may begin to notice that our recovery time after exercise is much longer. Or we no longer have the same bandwidth, the same energy required to drive multiple projects forward simultaneously. Or perhaps, like Jesus, we develop a fondness for naps! It’s okay to admit weakness. Indeed, it’s good to acknowledge that we’re growing older. To paraphrase Solomon’s words from Proverbs (above), young people glory in their strength, while the nobility of old men is in their grey hair. Though we may seek to hide it or even dye it, grey hair isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Rather, according to Solomon, it’s a crown of splendour. Proverbs 16.31 tells us it’s ‘attained in the way of righteousness.’ As we age, we need to rethink how we steward what God has entrusted to us. We are no longer in the season of late nights, early mornings and boundless energy. Instead, we now have a bit more wisdom to share with others—not simply wisdom from books, but wisdom from a life serving the Lord. As the years have passed, we’ve often gained wisdom the hard way—through struggles and mistakes. That’s worth passing on to others and it contains both encouragements and warnings.   DANGER 2: SIN Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Col. 3.5 When I was younger, I thought the older you got, the easier it became to follow Jesus. The naïveté of youth! Of course, now I realise we never stop fighting sin. Thirty years down the line as a follower of Jesus, I still see sin in myself that I hate—perhaps even more now. It can be demoralising. Why such little progress? Why am I still struggling with pride, envy, and selfishness? The call to put to death the sinful, earthly nature is not just a call for the young. It lasts a lifetime. Sadly, as we age, we can fall into the trap of downplaying the seriousness of sin. Call it a case of ‘Christian midlife mediocrity’. Whether it’s complacency, exhaustion, or despair, it can be easy to get used to ongoing, indwelling sin. After all, if things haven’t changed much in the last thirty years, why bother? Perhaps that’s why so many Christians, even leaders, end up walking away from their faith during their middle years. They stop fighting sin. They put down their ‘armour’ and walk away. And yet, brothers and sisters, keep going!  As we age, we draw closer to the end of the race. And though we may feel tired at times, and discouraged by the depths of our sin, our God is neither surprised nor disappointed in us. He knows us too well. Furthermore, his response to our sin proclaims the heights of his love. So, as you consider how he’s been with you in each season of life, remember that he’s never let you down. His faithfulness endures forever. Look to him for strength. Enjoy his mercies, new every morning. Be encouraged by the words of the apostle Paul, who reflected on his life as he approached death. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Tim 4.6-8   DANGER 3: SUCCESSION “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Tim. 2:1–2 When we start out, it’s easy to recite the mantra, ‘Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.’ A young pastor or church planter who’s fired up for the Lord is a thing to behold! Yet as time goes on, the desire to leave a legacy grows ever more powerfully inside us. If we’re not careful, as the work grows, the church develops, and lives are changed, we can easily start to find our sense of self-worth in how the church is doing. But friends, every pastor is an interim pastor. This is not your church; it belongs to the Lord Jesus. You are not the focus. He is. Always. A core part of your ministry should be the work you do to raise others up. It’s critical that as you age, you focus on training others to take over, urging them to surpass you in godliness. If you haven’t done this already, discuss a wise succession plan with your leadership. I’m convinced that one of the reasons pastors sometimes stay in post too long and end up finishing poorly is because these conversations either don’t happen or happen way too late. So, start today. Whether you’re a young leader feeling like you’ll never reach middle age, an older leader reflecting on a long life of ministry, or a mid-life leader seeking to minister faithfully as the years pass, this advice is for all of us. May we embrace whatever season of life we’re in. We pastor, we shepherd, we lead gospel-centred churches not for ourselves, but for the Lord. We follow the way of Jesus. For God’s great glory.   A similar article was previously published by Dan here

Meet Andrew.* He’s a remarkably successful pastor.** After joining a medium-sized church in a large city, he has overseen exponential growth. He’s launched several church plants, his team has more than doubled, and each week he receives requests from all over the world to speak. In fact, in the past six months, he’s been away as often as he’s been at home. When he strolls forward to speak on a Sunday, they hang on his every word. The church is packed. They absolutely love him. It all looks wonderful. But there’s just one problem. Inside, he’s dying. Meet Steven.* Steven’s churches—he oversees various tiny rural congregations—haven’t grown for years. In fact, they’ve been shrinking. His response has been to work harder. He’s running more courses and events, doing more talks, more training. There hasn’t been a huge bump in the numbers, but he’s hopeful. However, there’s something much more significant. He has the same problem as Andrew. Inside, he’s dying. As odd as it might sound, Andrew and Steven have the same problem. They talk about Jesus a lot, but they’re struggling to talk to Jesus. It’s a common problem at both ends of the ‘success’ spectrum. And that’s why it has the potential to affect any church leader. Leaders spend a lot of time talking about Jesus. They do this every time they preach a sermon. This is right and good. They do this when they train others and when they run evangelistic events. Again, all good. They do this when they discuss theology with people in their congregation, answering questions and helping them understand what God is like. Lots and lots of talking about. So, a crucial question is, ‘What are we doing when we’re talking about Jesus?’ The answer depends on context. If you’re a lecturer at a theological college, the answer has to do with the passing on of knowledge. The students must write essays and pass exams. Therefore, knowledge of the content is central to the task of a lecturer. Not so the church leader. Certainly, knowledge is important, but amassing knowledge is not the central aim. Indeed, when the apostle Paul outlines a pastor’s job in his letter to the Ephesians (4.12-13), he talks about ‘equipping the saints for works of service.’ And if you consider what a pastor is trying to achieve, verbs like ‘grow’, ‘disciple’ and ‘shepherd’ come to mind. Even when we think of the word ‘teaching’, its purpose is to help a person grow in their faith. Simply accumulating knowledge is not the goal. Becoming like Jesus is. That’s growth. That’s the description of a disciple. What has this to do with Andrew and Steven? Well, they are both struggling with their inner lives. When they sit and talk to Jesus in the quiet of their hearts, they are both unsettled. They feel distant and they are stressed. They’re not at peace. And so instead of facing the problem head on, they get up and ‘do more talking about’. They opt for tasks they know they can accomplish. Instead of true intimacy with Jesus, they focus on cerebral tasks at which they excel. Like preparing talks. Essentially, they run away from the problem. Does any of this sound familiar? THE LIFE OF THE MIND IS IMPORTANT Before you think I’ve turned into an anti-intellectual, I haven’t. The life of the mind is extremely important in forming disciples, so I would never wish to downplay the importance of teaching, nor the precise thinking necessary to understand and defend our deepest theological convictions. But this isn’t about theology. It’s about what happens when a leader’s inner life of faith hits a dry patch. Prayer becomes a struggle. So, back to the question. What are we doing when we’re talking about Jesus? We’re cultivating followers of Jesus. We’re helping our people to see Jesus more clearly, follow him more nearly, and love him more dearly, as the song goes. And if that’s our goal, it cannot be achieved if we’re not doing these things ourselves. We can’t see, follow or love Jesus if we’re not spending time with him regularly and fruitfully. A quick five minutes at the beginning of the day isn’t enough. It’s not nearly enough, and deep down, we all know it. Once the talk coming out of our mouths stands in contrast to our own spiritual reality, not only will we develop imposter syndrome, but we’ll feel guilty, stressed, and well, as I put it earlier, we’ll start to die. TIME OFF I hope my description of Andrew or Steven is a long way from your own experience. The truth, however, is that any pastor can find themselves in trouble, struggling for intimacy with God. I wonder where you are today as you read this. Could it be that you’ve started to compensate for your lack of intimacy by attempting to please God with external activity? Like talks, sermons, training, meetings? If so, what are the possible solutions? Here are some suggestions.  Take a sabbatical. If it’s available. Go on a retreat. Meet with your accountability group and seek prayer. Meet with a wise person (or persons) who can provide insight and suggest ways forward. Seek professional help (from a believer). All of these might help at various times. But often we’re trying to answer a different question. ‘Can I re-ignite my inner life of faith at the same time as doing a busy job as a pastor?’ Or ‘How bad is too bad?’ I’m not sure you’re the best judge of that. We are all prone to self-deception. Andrew and Steven have clearly told themselves it’s all okay as long as they keep working. So, Andrew will almost certainly keep going until the wheels fall off. He may have a breakdown, or he may simply look in the mirror one day and then walk off into the sunset. Steven will probably retire early. It’s just too disheartening to work for little reward, and even more discouraging when the joy has left one’s spiritual life. This is all to say, talk to someone sooner rather than later. Don’t pretend everything’s fine when in your heart of hearts, you know something’s badly awry. Don’t tell yourself you’re swimming in the deep when in reality, you’re bumping along in the shallows and the water is running out. You don’t need me to tell you that being a leader is hard. Since it’s formed of a web of interlocking relationships, it can be very stressful at times. People are fickle. Easily disappointed. Often demanding. It’s simply not possible to cope with all the external stresses unless you are tightly connected to Jesus. Spending time with him should be a balm. To meditate on the Scriptures, hearing him speak to you, and then talk to him about all your troubles—this should lift your spirit. The love of God is a deep well, a resource that has endless capacity to soothe your troubled soul. The Lord Jesus has endless patience with you. He is the Father welcoming the prodigal, the Saviour giving Zacchaeus a helping hand as he steps down from the tree, the one who responds with grace towards Peter as they sit together round a charcoal fire. The Lord is all of these things and he loves you. Not your work. Not your numbers. Not your measure of ‘success’. Just you. He loves you. So don’t just talk about Jesus. Talk to him. Every day, and as often as you can during the day. He loves to spend time with you. He loves you. *Both Andrew and Steven are fictional characters. ** Pastor here represents any title assigned to a church leader.