Dear friends, it was with this text that I began my ministry on June 6, 1971. And I have used this text to begin and end nearly all my ministries in North Dakota, California, Utah and Colorado. The past 36 years have been wonderful. With continual challenges of a changing church, great friendships made along the way, and a supportive family, I've been blessed in ways I could not have imagined. I have few, if any, regrets, and as I look forward to this next period of life, the Lord I'm sure will show me what He has in mind. That's what He's been doing so far, so why change now?!

         Have you ever wondered what's in the heart of a pastor, what moves them to do this work, what his motives are? In recent years we've seen some high-profile pastors crash and burn, and it's never a pretty sight. We tend to acknowledge their humanity, while at the same time expecting higher things from them. So when they struggle or fail, it affects us all. I was leading a Bible class in Utah and making my way through the valleys, when life was not going well. And since we all shared our problems together, I shared mine with the 6-8 women there. One sweet lady said, "I've never known a pastor who's had as much trouble as you - I think it's really great!" Now she wasn't happy about my troubles, just saying it was good to know some pastors go through what she had.

         But as to what motivates a pastor, let's look at Paul of Tarsus says in today's text: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

         One never quite gets over the butterflies of speaking God's Word to people. We may practice the message a lot, or ignore the fears, or we may just wing it, praying for the Holy Spirit to fill in the gaps. But the "weakness and fear and trembling" Paul speaks of is never far away. And when we're done, we wonder what good has been done. Sometimes all that's taken home is a story, or a silly joke or even reference to yard work. But pastors always must remember that we're just the pipeline, the means the Holy Spirit uses to get the message through.

         "To know nothing else among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" - that's what pastors want. Christians believe there is no way to heaven except through Jesus, no other way to God. A pastor seeks to share that faith, to motivate people to get to know Jesus better. As St. Peter said, "For there is no other name under heaven. whereby we can be saved." (Acts 4:12)

         Sometimes a pastor speaks with fear and trembling, and sometimes it's with courage and power, and mostly it's just bumbling along the best he can. But the message of Jesus must never rest on human wisdom and persuasion, but on the power of the Holy Spirit.

         You and I are not in complete charge of our lives. God is in control, of this world and of our individual lives. His divine wishes will be done, no matter how people try to manipulate the world. As Paul said, our faith does not rest on the wisdom of this world, but on the power of God.

         If there's one message Epiphany and every Christian congregation must take to heart, it's that we must rely on God's power, not human cleverness. Yes, you and I may have wisdom and talent and even influence in the world. But all of us, especially those in high places must ever rely on God. Human beings are not the measure of all that is good. That's God's business. Human skill and knowledge are only as good as our faith, and God uses those skills as He chooses.

         Pastors teach and preach. We guide and coach. We motivate and communicate. And we also stumble and fall. The shepherd tries to know his sheep by name and guide them. The shepherd knows his sheep and what their needs are. He knows he's just an "under shepherd" who tries to reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd in all he says and does.

         We're all dependant on God. All we do is by His power or love and forgiveness. Because of Jesus we are forgiven of the sins that separate us. Because of Jesus our broken relationships are restored. Because of Jesus you and I have hope for this world and hope for heaven. Without Him we are nothing, but by faith in Him we have everything that's important.

         Christianity is the only religion that offers forgiveness. All others - every one of them - depend on human behavior. Be good enough, they say, and their god will be good to you. Mess up your life, and you're doomed, without hope. It's all up to you, they say. But that's all falsehood. It assumes people can be good enough. But the Bible tells us the real truth, that people are not capable of being good enough, that we need Jesus to remove our sins and give us a new start.

         Let's look at these words of Paul more closely. I hear him telling us five things:
1. "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God." Eloquence is for orators, for wordsmiths, or for politicians. Winston Churchill tried never to use words longer than 2-3 syllables. Superior wisdom is a smoke screen. The message of Jesus is simple: God loves us, but we're sinners. That's why He sent Jesus - praise the Lord! Paul knew people listened better when he used simple words.
2. "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." There is so much a pastor could talk about in our busy world, so much that is interesting, but not helpful. People need to hear about Jesus every time. Expounding on social issues won't increase our faith. Politics won't bring us salvation. We need the church to be in the world, not the world to be in the church. "Nothing. except Jesus Christ" says Paul - that's all we need.
3. "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling." Every pastor comes that way. We know our own weaknesses, and continually wonder if we're doing enough. Sometimes we tremble so much that we fall down. But God's people are there to pick us up. Thanks for doing that!
4. "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power." The Holy Spirit is behind any good pastor. And right behind Him is the pastor's good wife. I have no idea how single pastors can handle this work. God gives us common sense and good ideas, as well as love and support through our wives. Alone, it is too much.
5. "So that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." We've all seen what Satan can do to a weakened pastor. Temptations affect us all, and with today's open society, we will get pulled down. Our faith must always rest on God's power, not human wisdom.

         These past weeks and months have been filled with recollections and memories, of baptisms and weddings and funerals, of youth and adults taught, and people helped and friends who've come and gone. Just remember: Faith does not grow in front of a TV, or on a soccer field. We must choose carefully to give our children what is lasting. Make sure it is worthy of the precious time we have. Your life is God's gift to you; what you do with your life is your gift to Him.

         And you know what? We Christians don't laugh at ourselves enough. We all need honest humor to keep us humble. And maybe also to help our poor memories.

         An elderly man wanted to join a Denver church, but found this church interviewed all its new members. During his interview, someone asked him what his favorite book of the Bible was. He, being a bit flustered, said, "The Book of the Parables." The interviewer said, "Oh? And what is your favorite parable" So the man, being put on the spot, gathered up all his biblical knowledge and this was his reply: "A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, and thorns grew up and choked the man, leaving him half dead. And as he lay there, a priest came by and said, "Come to the banquet." But he said, "I cannot come for I have married a wife and bought me a cow." But he was compelled to come, and so he came, riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. And as rode, his hair got caught in some tree branches, and he hung there 40 days and 40 nights. And ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink. And one night his wife Delilah came by and cut off his long hair, and the man fell onto stony ground. And being in fear of the Jews he ran and hid himself in a cave until a still, small voice said, "Come, ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom." So he set his face toward Jerusalem. As he approached the holy city, he saw Queen Jezebel high and exalted, lifted up upon a throne, and she was laughing at him. And he said, "Throw her down," and they threw her down. And he said, "Throw her down again." And they threw her down, not once, not twice, but seventy times seven times. And of the fragments they picked up 12 baskets full. Now tell me, sir, in the Kingdom, whose wife will she be?" The interviewers were so impressed, they asked him to teach a Bible Sunday Class.

         Well, dear friends, it's been a wonderful ride, especially these last 8 years with you. I trust our efforts will be blessed. Some pastors plant, others water, but only God gives the growth. I'm sure we will meet again, if not here, then there. "God be with you." And all God's people said, AMEN!

Credits:
 
  Epiphany logo designed and provided by Dale Bargmann at daleb@ecentral.com