One of the objectives of our church family is to release people into areas of ministry.
Today, Lloyd Pierce preached. His sermon was on Acts 9 — Terrorists can change!!! He used Saul to help us see that we all can change — from where we are to where God wants us.
I had the great opportunity of sitting in on his preaching.
Lloyd was not preaching because I wanted a holiday. He was not preaching because no one else was around.
Lloyd was preaching on purpose. He is a good speaker whom people respect. He is able to preach in such a way that it is simple and yet not simplistic. He was preaching because this is an area of giftedness in his life.
Although a pastor may need to be preaching most of the time to give vision and direction within a church — and to lay doctrinal and biblical guidelines, that doesn’t mean all the speaking needs to be done by him or her. If anything, a strong sense of ecclesiology (the study of the church) will show that we need to share with those who are gifted. When someone takes on all the jobs in a church, then we are providing a place for spectator sport and not for the participation of the whole group of people we call the church.
So, I participated in the worship service today at the Kindersley Alliance Church. I did not preach. I did not take up the offering. I did play and sing (a gifting area that I have been a part of for years).
And somehow God refreshed me and the congregation!!