Synod 2010: Day 4

Dr. Spear opened with devotions this morning. He brought us four texts to consider as texts that have been used of God in his ministry.

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring.

Every day is a gift from God and we need to keep this in view as we think about what the Lord Jesus Christ has called each of us to do.

2 Timothy 2:2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul shows us the great responsibility of passing down faithfulness to other men. Dr. Spear said, "I did not seek to be an innovator at the seminary, but to be faithful in giving what has been entrusted to me."

2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

A servant of Christ is called to minister in a very specific way. We see the way in which he is to minister. How? With out quarreling. This word has to do with a sword. We are not to be people who just seek to win arguments. He is to be gentle. This is just a reflection of Jesus who is gentle to us. He tells us that he is gentle. Jesus will not quench and break. As pastors and elders we are not to as well- we are called to gentleness. He is called to correct as well. This is a broad word that includes nurture, training, instruction. It is what we do with children. Our children are not prepared to be mature at age three. It takes a lot of work. Pastors and elders must also be willing to work as a parent.

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

We are called to finish our race with joy and this takes agonizing work. That's the Greek word. We are called to run the race and finish well. And the way in which we do this is to realize that Christ is the one who has set the race and that he is the one who has already run the race!

"At the heart of the Gospel we seek to know Christ and to teach others to know Christ. This is the Christ of the Scripture; not the Christ of tradition; nor the Christ of the philosophers; nor the Christ of the latest fad; but the Christ of the Bible."

We closed with singing Psalm 71: 16-24 (selection C).