This weekend I touched on some very sensitive issues that may make us all feel uncomfortable. Why would I do that? Isn’t church a place to go to feel good? Those are good questions, so I want to take some time to explain why I talk about tough issues.
First thing I want to note is that we don’t “Go to church.” We are the church. The church is a community (both large and small) of people who are seeking to follow Jesus together as best they can. In a sense we are a family and in every healthy family difficult situations need to be discussed. That is how families grown in maturity.
I consider a number of factors when I choose what topics to talk about. Such as the following:
a) Is God pressing me to talk about this? – I try to listen and discuss what topics the Holy Spirit is highlighting
b) Is this a topic that people are dealing with in this church? – Remember back in August I talked about drinking and drunkenness? I felt like that was a topic that people were struggling with.
c) Is it a topic that will result in Spiritual Growth? – This is always my desired result. Not controversy for controversy’s sake.
d) Can I communicate it with the grace of God? – He is so merciful that I want to communicate that in all we do.
My desire is to help us all grow in the truth and Grace of Jesus. Keep praying for me to be able to do this! It’s not easy, but I’ll keep trying as best I can as your pastor.
John, if we were to decide on which topic(s) you were to preach, we would hold elections every so often to see who would be pastor. This is not politics.
We trust God called you to preach and that God brought us through the doors of this particular church to hear that preaching. If we’re hearing it, we can assume God believed it would be good that we do. Until you preach something contrary to scripture, I for one won’t be second-guessing the topics of the pulpit.
There is something there for us to grasp from any sermon but it is up to us to hear the Spirit and apply. Maybe it is to look at a subject from a new angle. Maybe it is to be reminded about compassion for a hurting soul. It could even be we need to be reminded that our political action, if we indulge in that realm, is to be based on a Christ-centered world view WHILE displaying His love in the midst of the action.
I pray God will always speak loudly to you when you seek what we need to hear. I pray we would be a thankful congregation happy to have a pastor not wanting to hurt, but always striving to bring healing without compromising the direction and teaching of the Bible. Have at it, John!
I appreciate your bravery in bringing up the tough issues. It can’t be easy to talk about such things publicly, it’s like sticking your neck out. In doing so, I believe you bring grace and healing to each situation. We need to hear it, or the Spirit wouldn’t press you to speak it. If it were all flowery and feel good messages, I wouldn’t want to go to our church, that would be no good for growing me up into the person I was created to be. Thanks for speaking what you are called to speak, not letting fear get in the way, as we, the Body boldly press ahead!
I totally agree with Jim’s comments. I have been attending the church for over 8 years and have NEVER had a problem with the subjects of the sermons. Tough issues ARE hard to hear sometimes but never-the-less- we still NEED to hear them. When delivered in the right way (biblically, with love & compassion) they are much easier to handle and can sometimes open our eyes to the areas we need to look at within ourselves. Thus, possibly bringing us to a place where we may need to ask forgiveness and/or deal with the issue in a different manner which in turn would complete John’s goal #3 of spiritual growth. I commend John for talking about “tough issues” instead of sweeping them under the rug, and I pray for the continued blessings of love, compassion, wisdom & boldness from Jesus that John uses to teach us. Can you imagine (knowing how difficult it is for us to hear these sermons) how difficult it is for John to preach them????? Thank you John!!
I appreciate when you handle the TOUGH issues because someone needs to do it. But I especially like the fact my 14yr. old grandaughter said…he made me feel like he was talking just to me..when you sat down and said we needed to chat. She felt safe!!! That speaks volume’s to me that she said this later in the afternoon. We were in the fireside and she was in the sanctuary and it blessed all of us. Some things should never be brushed under the rug so to speak..this I believe is one of them. Having counseled some girls BEFORE abortion (and minds were changed) I saw the agony that went into this. But you delivered this with grace and love and someone must have needed to hear this at this time. To know that God forgives and restores what a life changing sermon. Keep them coming…
What I saw from the front row yesterday was a man full of love, care and compassion sitting down speaking with his family representing the holy spirit. I appreciate how John tackles the tough subjects I’m sure with much
time spent in prayer. It is not easy for people to hear the tough things. I am glad my pastor is brave and caring, loving and compassionate enough to tackle the tough issues. Thanks John.
I was not present this weekend as I have been home caring for 3 children sick with colds;However, my family and I have been a regular attendee of the church,and John (along with his nuclear family and church family) has always been nothing but kind and considerate. I can’t imagine him ever tackling ANY issue with anything but concern,compassion and biblical love for his brothers and sisters in Christ.I thank God he has lead me to a church home where every member of my family feels we belong,where each of us are growing spiritually in our own way and where when possible,every member of my family is eager to attend. My only negative would be that there isn’t service during the week on a regular basis…bible study class at the church every wednesday ( with childcare ofcourse) would be awesome.With all this said,I pray that my children will be over their colds so that I can be in attendance on Sunday,to hear the next message the Holy Spirit places on his heart to share.
I do hope your kids feel better soon! As far as not having a mid week meeting, we have thought about that at different times in our history. But because we have such a high value on small groups we have always decided it was better to skip it and encourage people to jump into a small group. The reason we do that is because they help people build deeper relationships, it allows more people to teach and lead and it can more fully give lots of people care. Just so you know, we will be kicking off small groups in a few weeks and i am sure there are many choices with child care. (even in the church building)
I’m not certain I’d want to belong to a church where the senior pastor was afraid to speak to his congregation about sensitive issues such as abortion.Your willingness to do this is just one of the reasons that I continue to partner with the Vineyard.every year. LUCY
I just watched your service on the internet. I am so glad you are talking about “tough issues” which in years gone by were considered “taboo” subjects that nobody talked about. We need to talk about them.
I was around during the women’s rights movement and recall all the hoopla about women’s right to have an abortion (after all, it was “their” body). And it was “expected” by some of the women I knew that I should believe in that, too. I never had an abortion, but went along with their ideas to feel accepted. I guess you could call that a form of bullying. There is a lot of that out there.
We can be intimidated (as I was) to “go along” even when we know it is wrong.
Keep up this important work, John.
John, as a new person recently brought to your church, I have cried many times in the audience and I appreciate those tough subjects. I know that I am a sinner and being released from those sins, forgiving myself is the hardest thing to do. When I sit there and come up for prayer teams, it is a wonder release from my own guilt. Thank you for being such a pastor that has empathy for us all. I feel much better than ever about God. I used to be afraid to worship because I felt unworthy. Now I know Jesus died for those sins and God loves me. Wow What a wonderful feeling. thanks to his disciples like you.
Great to have you with us!