Tonight I finished a week of speaking to Senior High students at Big Sandy Camp. I had an amazing time speaking to these students, hanging out with them, and getting to know a few of them. I have spoken at camps, retreats, and conferences all over the place, but this week I learned something new. Actually it isn't entirely new.
My ego is fragile. I don't mean I am offended easily or that I have a tendency towards low self esteem. Actually I mean exactly the opposite. My ego tends to be too big and I have to work at keeping it in check (please don't help me). After I spoke the first couple of times I started to think pretty highly of myself. It was before I spoke for the third time that I realized what was happening. I had gotten the kids to laugh by telling some crazy stories. Some of them had even began to tell me how funny I was or how I have a way with words. Usually I don't hear that until the end of the week. It started to go to my head.
I realized what was happening and I realized that I needed humility. Before I spoke for the third time I began to pray that God would help me to be humble. All of the messages went pretty well this week, but after that third message I didn't seem to struggle with things going to my head as much. I realized something really important. I could make the students laugh the entire time, but if I didn't give them the word of God it wouldn't matter. The message wasn't laughter, it was the Gospel.
Over and over again I worked to help students see and understand the significance of the Gospel. In the end it wasn't the laughter that saved the students, it was the Gospel. It was deep but simple theological truths like, imputation, propitiation, hypo-static union, incarnation, atonement, redemption, and resurrection. The message these big words carry with them boiled down to simply truths is what saved some of these students and challenged others to further their faith or rededicate there lives to Christ.
God may have used the talent He gave me to be funny for His glory and to accomplish His purpose, but even the talent was given to me from Him anyway. We saw several students accept Christ for the first time tonight, and we saw even more make significant decisions regarding their already existing relationship with Christ. Praise God!!!
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7 comments:
Are you sure you don't want help? Brianna and I may be the first to volunteer.
ya, I think I'll be fine without the help. I feel so loved that you guys would offer though!!
John, I truly meant to tell you this in person, but perhaps in text it might be put better. imputation, propitiation, etc. Amazing words of truth which I loved hearing especially because I have heard those words numerous times at college over the past 5 years.
Secondly, there were several times where I nodded in agreement with what you were saying. I was agreeing with the topics and the verses of Scripture, but what I really agreed with was when you explained why certain things needed to be said. The best example of this was Friday morning and Friday night. You made it very clear that these messages were about the Gospel and not about just a stirring of emotions for a high which wouldn't last. It was about truly accepting the right message for the right reasons. When I heard you explaining all this, had it not been a serious moment, a "YES!" would have escaped my lips!
Your issue with humility is something I know I will face in the years of ministry and speaking coming for me. I hope and pray that the same things you prayed for would be true in my own life and ministry. I pray that laughter would be secondary and even null and void when used to deliver the gospel. I pray that simple truths would shine through the stumblings and failings of me and you as speakers. I pray that it would be true for all the staff in all the ministries.
The last night's cabin talk was amazing. I said only this: "Guys, during cabin talks, I basically told you to go to church and read Scripture. You all knew that. Let God be the one that truly speaks to your heart. Let Him be the one that fills you and guides you. Don't rely on camp or the people at camp to tell you what to do. Seek out God's Will on your own."
Thanks for leading us this week, John. Truly a blessing
You do realize that was a sarcastic comment about keeping your ego in check, right? You know, since we love it when you lie to us...
lol, ya, I know.
Trevor,
Thanks for the props!! It truly was my privilege. It was fun to watch you put all kinds of energy into the students. Keep serving! I would love to hear more about the cabin talk on Friday. If you feel motivated you could fire me an email or facebook message.
You were great this last week. You kept us awake...well, all but those 2 kids i think. lol. and I really understood what you were saying too. A girl in my cabin hated god whn she came to big sandy. But on friday night she was weeping with joy by the end of chapel. thx 4 being apart of tht!
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