I can’t tell you how many people have asked me lately… “how do you feel right now about your time ending as Pastor at LifeWay?” My answers have ranged widely depending on who asks me the question. Often, I’ve made jokes about it. Frequently I’ve answered with the normal American version of retirement by saying something like… “just bought my golf course membership so I can finally golf all the time!” For some I have tried to have a more thoughtful biblical answer by using Acts 13:36 (one of my favorite ‘retirement’ Bible verses – look it up for yourself). But no matter how I feel, I will tell you that I’m excited to share with you this Sunday for the LAST TIME as Pastor at LifeWay a sermon from God’s Word. Now, I did not start this journey in July 1984 thinking deeply about this sermon. But honestly, I have always known and had in mind that of course this day would indeed come. I’ve been building for this moment all these years, and here it has arrived. I remember once I went and spoke at my home church (where my Dad was pastor at the time) and gave a bit of a mission’s report on how it was going at this new church start up. I told them that I have full plans to be in this for the long haul. One of the church leaders asked me how long I thought I would stay at this. I remember my answer well — “give me 25 years here then we’ll talk.” Well, Patty and I started here in July 1984 with our 6-month-old son in our arms, and now 42 years later I am sharing my last sermon as Pastor. So, what in the world am I to preach to you after all these years????
I am going to share with you this Sunday a few stand out passages that are actually letters to Churches and Church leaders in the 1st century. We call them the “Pastoral Letters.” There is no way I can come up with great words on my own. I have spent time in these New Testament letters lately, and they just seem to scream out words to me and to our church today. Of course this will be personal. I promise it will be encouraging and challenging as God’s Word always is. And I can’t wait to share it with you — my church family. I’m excited to share it NOT because it my last will and testament — not because it is my great wisdom of 42 years —- but because this is God’s eternal Word of instruction to God’s people that is as fresh today as it was 2000 years ago.
For a glimpse on one of the key passages I am preaching from, come prepared for worship by reading and contemplating over 1 Peter 5:6-11.
I am praying for God to use this as we Worship Him Sunday morning.
See you Sunday.
