tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.comments2011-04-04T20:58:38.931-07:00Confessions of a Confessional Rev.Kevin Efflandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comBlogger289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-32487271732352789752010-12-25T20:12:15.574-08:002010-12-25T20:12:15.574-08:00Merry Christmas to you guys as well!Merry Christmas to you guys as well!Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-56023568012394749462010-12-24T10:07:00.203-08:002010-12-24T10:07:00.203-08:00Calling the airlines --in my dreams.
Merry Christ...Calling the airlines --in my dreams.<br /><br />Merry Christmas you guys.amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06731484871860837017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-32020880338604921452010-12-23T13:29:14.840-08:002010-12-23T13:29:14.840-08:00If you guys leave now, you can make it with time t...If you guys leave now, you can make it with time to spare :) I'll even reserve the front row for you.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-15880683655635286012010-12-23T13:20:00.875-08:002010-12-23T13:20:00.875-08:00I would love to.I would love to.amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06731484871860837017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-56350608489650691532010-11-17T16:24:32.682-08:002010-11-17T16:24:32.682-08:00good analysis.good analysis.John znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-504131187626500992010-11-04T07:27:18.761-07:002010-11-04T07:27:18.761-07:00Looks like Baxter was dealing with some of the sam...Looks like Baxter was dealing with some of the same stuff in the 17th Century as we are today. Nothing new under the sun.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-48229673132388331032010-11-03T21:40:16.446-07:002010-11-03T21:40:16.446-07:00"Of all the preaching in the world I hate tha..."Of all the preaching in the world I hate that preaching which tendeth to make the hearers laugh, or move their minds with tickling levity, instead of affecting them with a holy reverence in the name of God."<br /><br />Richard Baxter-The Reformed Pastor<br /><br />(I would say you are in good company here pastor!)<br /><br />Rick <br />ModestoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-92045529256346831032010-10-29T10:42:09.592-07:002010-10-29T10:42:09.592-07:00The best thing about worshipping with your childre...The best thing about worshipping with your children, is the interaction that is possible at home, afterwards. Questions can be answered, applications made, etc. The witness of the parents, which ultimately has more practical impact, can be carried out. This is difficult to do if they are at a different service, although it is not entirely impossible there either.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-86592006937749215262010-10-25T20:13:20.168-07:002010-10-25T20:13:20.168-07:00I agree with what you have said, but we must be c...I agree with what you have said, but we must be careful about neutrality, it may lead us to refraining from preaching Christ in some cases. I'm reminded of Peter and John, who said they had to obey God rather than men.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-90342688248336249712010-10-25T11:54:06.399-07:002010-10-25T11:54:06.399-07:00John, I already told you that I was not going to d...John, I already told you that I was not going to debate you on this. For someone who has claimed on another blog to have listened to over 4,000 sermons in Reformed churches, as well as a list of other things you claim, by now you ought to know Reformed ecclesiology. Your previous comment will now be deleted. If you want to debate why everyone is a "minister" in the same sense then I would recommend that you start your own blog.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-7122457509290325682010-10-24T15:12:58.858-07:002010-10-24T15:12:58.858-07:00He that wants to be greatest among you, must be yo...He that wants to be greatest among you, must be your servant. (spoken by Jesus, Matt.20:26)John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-67779920831588498682010-10-23T12:32:17.295-07:002010-10-23T12:32:17.295-07:00John, I'm not going to debate this with you. Y...John, I'm not going to debate this with you. You seem to want to lump everyone into the same category, as if everyone is a minister, which I think is contrary to Scripture, our Reformed tradition, and our church order.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-29230685575923993142010-10-23T11:19:32.594-07:002010-10-23T11:19:32.594-07:00Interesting that the King James version only uses ...Interesting that the King James version only uses the phrase, minister of the word, only once in Luke 1, while the NIV does not use it at all, but uses "servant of the word" instead. In other words to serve the word more likely means to obey it, to follow it, than necessarily to preach it. <br /><br />I know what the church order says.<br /><br />3.Matthew 20:26<br />But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;<br />Matthew 20:25-27 (in Context) Matthew 20 (Whole Chapter) <br />4.Matthew 20:28<br />Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.<br />Matthew 20:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 20 (Whole Chapter) <br />5.Matthew 25:44<br />Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?<br />Matthew 25:43-45 (in Context) Matthew 25 (Whole Chapter) <br />6.Matthew 27:55<br />And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:<br /><br />Scripture does not appear to make a clear distinction when it comes to ministering, between one class of ministering and another. <br /><br />Changing a description into a title.... hmmm.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-13411559308405763462010-10-23T08:08:04.510-07:002010-10-23T08:08:04.510-07:00John, when I mention the "minister of the Wor...John, when I mention the "minister of the Word," I'm speaking of the specific office, not the general office of believer. The church order of the URC states that there are 3 offices that Christ has instituted in the church: Minister of the Word, Elder, and Deacon.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-39757019494872438312010-10-22T22:04:19.244-07:002010-10-22T22:04:19.244-07:00The word "minister" means servant. A mi...The word "minister" means servant. A ministry is a work of service. Ministers can be anyone who washes feet, who attends masters, who cares for the sick, who brings food and clothing to the poor, who brings comfort and hope to people, etc. Scripture uses the term minister and ministry in many different contexts and situations. <br /><br />Preacher is someone who preaches, and in the context of scripture, someone who preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the word of God.<br /><br />A pastor is someone who cares for the flock, which is the derivation of the term pastor. The new testament indicates that churches had several pastors, which were not necessarily synonomous with prophets(prechers), nor with apostles, nor with teachers.<br /><br /> Ministers are not even specifically mentioned in the listing of tasks and gifts in those passages. Teaching could be a ministry. Deaconal work would be a ministry. <br /><br />The only specific offices to my knowledge that identify specific and general qualifications, are the offices of elder(sometimes termed bishop), and deacon.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-12093806391449276352010-10-22T21:52:00.456-07:002010-10-22T21:52:00.456-07:00"It only takes a spark, to get the fire going..."It only takes a spark, to get the fire going... and soon, all those around, will warm up in its glowing..." I think this also was a 1960's spiritual.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-88244702388376024232010-10-22T12:43:10.963-07:002010-10-22T12:43:10.963-07:00John, I thought that I made it quite clear that a ...John, I thought that I made it quite clear that a minister has the task of pastoring or shepherding the flock. So, to answer your 3 questions...Yes, yes, and I don't understand what you're getting at in your 3rd question.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-39052577434034643622010-10-22T12:11:42.203-07:002010-10-22T12:11:42.203-07:00Kevin, you did not answer my question, or any of t...Kevin, you did not answer my question, or any of the three questions I asked. You only answered the question that you formed in your own mind.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-50385792808948444022010-10-22T11:29:04.325-07:002010-10-22T11:29:04.325-07:00See, exactly my point, Al :)
If being a good past...See, exactly my point, Al :)<br /><br />If being a good pastor rests on these things that people most appreciate about their pastor, I'm in big trouble. I'm not going to tell a rip-roaring monologue in the sermon...I'm not able to put together a great sound system for the church...and I don't play an instrument (other than the 3 weeks in the 4th grade that I played trombone).Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-53979108913657728072010-10-22T11:18:06.604-07:002010-10-22T11:18:06.604-07:00my former pastor wasn't all that funny... or h...my former pastor wasn't all that funny... or hip... ;-)Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041761541861589407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-4768823535830815702010-10-22T10:54:59.417-07:002010-10-22T10:54:59.417-07:00I think you could pull it off, Mitch.
As to your ...I think you could pull it off, Mitch.<br /><br />As to your question, John...the duties of the minister of the Word involve preaching and shepherding God's people. Both are important and crucial. Therefore, I don't think the, "Well he's not a preacher, he's a pastor" line holds much weight.Kevin Efflandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136596237924284499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-51212718135524302272010-10-22T10:08:42.441-07:002010-10-22T10:08:42.441-07:00You mean I can use my rugged good looks and boyish...You mean I can use my rugged good looks and boyish smile to lure people into the church?<br />Mitchell PersaudAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-5728552082223019262010-10-21T18:20:53.042-07:002010-10-21T18:20:53.042-07:00Glad to hear of this outreach! I will pray for th...Glad to hear of this outreach! I will pray for the Lord's blessing on it.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-58191272029279719212010-10-21T18:18:08.286-07:002010-10-21T18:18:08.286-07:00Oh, and not just spoken on the Lord's Day, but...Oh, and not just spoken on the Lord's Day, but every day of the week.John Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7550677644890482573.post-17997245814555857152010-10-21T18:17:15.408-07:002010-10-21T18:17:15.408-07:00Truth truly spoken. Well said.Truth truly spoken. Well said.John Znoreply@blogger.com