Continuing the series…
#3 - Teaching On Money
When we first began our church I was told to NEVER teach on money by lots of people because…well…it was offensive. So I didn’t.
I began to realize several things…
First of all...an overwhelming percentage of the problems that married couples were dealing with had to do with finances.
Number two...lots of my friends (me included) were in debt up to their eyeballs.
Number three...JESUS actually talked about money more than He talked about heaven or hell.
THAT’S when it hit me…the only people who were bothered by me talking about money were the people who were actually robbing God! (Seriously, the only people who are bothered when you teach on adultery are the ones committing adultery…)
I finally became convicted that if I didn’t teach on money then I was NOT teaching the entire counsel of Scripture…Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that heart follows treasure…and in Matthew 6:24 that God and money cannot both be served.
The fact is that until a Christ follower learns to put God first in their finances their walk with God will always contain a limp!
Pastors, we’ve GOT to teach on money with a goal in mind to help people! Trust me…if our country has ever been in a position to hear what Scripture says about money—NOW IS THE TIME!
#4 - No One Will Respond To The Invitation
This fear paralyzed me and held me captive until about two months ago.
I was standing on the stage arguing with God. He was pressing into me to give a strong invitation…but I didn’t feel like I had “preached hard enough” to do so.
SO…I asked Him, “What if no one responds? That will make me look bad as a preacher!”
He spoke two things to me very clearly…
The first - whether or not they respond is NOT up to you…it’s up to me!
The second - “Since when did this ever become about you looking good as a preacher?”
SNAP!
SO…now…I listen to Him…and if He presses into me to offer an invitation after a service I pursue it with passion and excitement, knowing He is about to do something awesome and life changing.
Pastors…OBEDIENCE is up to us…whether or not someone responds is up to God! AND…there is incredible freedom when we learn that!
It’s not about us looking good…but about lifting up HIS name and exalting HIM!!!