You Had One Job…

I’m excited about a new writing opportunity. I’ve been selected—I’m still convinced by mistake—to write for Midwestern’s new project For the Church. I can’t share my excitement any better than Aaron Armstrong shared his.

Here is a sample of my first article for them:

The disciples frantically shuffle through all their belongings hoping to find some bread.  “I thought Andrew was bringing the bread,” remarks a beleaguered Thomas. “No, it was Thaddaeus,” Andrew responds. Back and forth they go only to find one measly loaf of bread. 

Then their greatest fear is realized. Jesus says, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 

“Great! The Master knows. Our foolish act of forgetting bread has been exposed. And now Jesus, speaking in parables like he always does, is rebuking us for being so dense. We are going to starve out here in the middle of the ocean all because none of us remembered to bring the bread.”

In these moments our humanity lies bare. Our greatest fears are realized—we are exposed for the weak and woefully inadequate people we are. We failed to meet even the lowest expectations. Things that are so seemingly obvious nobody should mess them up. When you go on a journey, you bring bread! Any dolt knows that.

When you are called to lead a church, you’d better set vision. If you spend hours in your study, you shouldn’t emerge with a real stinker of a sermon. Shepherds aren’t supposed to mess up relationships. Spiritual leaders shouldn’t go through period of intense doubt or numbness.

But here you are. Confused. Unsure of what direction the church should go next. You are preaching so poorly you’d be happy with something even semi-cogent. Gone are the days when you are disappointed because you didn’t hit a home-run in your sermon. Now you’d be happy to get a bloop single. You’ve blown relationships. And you’ve endured painful dry periods.

You had one job to do (bring the bread) and you left it at home.

Then Jesus speaks…

Continue…