Being the Church @ Work

Preached by Ps Jude Blayney

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[ Pastoring People ]

2 Timothy 3:10-17

What being a pastor is not?

Its not public preaching

Its not public teaching

A true pastor needs to embrace the principles of a man of God. Today, more than in any other generation before, we need to lift the profile of fathers and mothers in society. True pastors are just that, mothers and fathers to a stolen generation.

Today we know the existence of a stolen generation. This was where one culture enforced its values and decisions on another generation. Many children had part of their heritage stolen from them. In no way do I want to diminish the gravity of that period of history. But I believe what occurred to the Aboriginal children was an outward working of an inward problem. This problem in society had begun through the process of moving away from its true Christian values into the murky waters of faulty promise. Promises of a peace. Today we have a generation, including all cultures that are growing up without their true mothers and fathers. Almost 40% of Australian children are growing up either estranged from or having little access to their parents.

Through government policy and the voice of a minority changes have been made to law that have halted regular religious education in schools, allows rampart abortion, and encourages divorce, same sex relationships and the over all down grading of Christian values throughout society. We have a whole generation who need God. They have had a Christian heritage stolen from them.

This stolen generation needs pasturing. Its needs people, like you and me to rise above our own insecurities to accept responsibility and be the church to the world. The world needs us as the church to be pastors in our workplaces, in our neighbourhoods, in our shopping centres, in our everyday lives.

75% of Australians believe they have a Christian heritage and want to believe in Christian values. Yet less than 5% of people attend church. It’s time for the church, the real church, the people to take the church to the people.

Today’s message is about being a pastor in your workplace. It’s about pastoring a stolen generation. You can apply this to your home, your family, and your neighbourhood.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

How can you be a pastor in your workplace?

1. Be a Listener
Verse 10 "you have carefully followed my doctrine."
For someone to carefully follow someone’s doctrine they have to be a good listener.

Most people today want someone who will listen to their own story without comparing it to theirs.

Listening involves not placing your life above that of another.

If we learn to listen we will hear the heart. It will speak. Sometimes, just by listening about the mundane allows us to have the key to the heart.

2. Longevity

Verse 14 "You must continue in the things that you have learned."

This is where we have a consistent approach to life’s challenges. It’s just like the old saying ‘keep on keeping on’.

Many people today change jobs every 5-7 years. They need some level of consistency some level of normality. As you show that you display Jesus Christ to them. Remember "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever." Hebrews 13:8; it’s the Jesus in you that is consistent. Ask Him to help you be like Him in consistency. For as you do you display another one of the amazing characteristics of Our Lord.

3. Learner
V14 "You must continue in the things which you have learned."

Being a learner will allow you to embrace others life experiences. It communicates a willingness to walk with them.

An old friend once said 'If you are teachable teachers will come'. People will see that you are willing to learn and change. This in some ways is an oxymoron. We are meant to be consistent and also changeable. Only Jesus was this. We have the greater one in us.

4. Lover
V10 "carefully followed my manner of life in love."
How can we love people at work?
a. Find out and remember their birthdays?
b. Shows acts of kindness. Eg. Carrying things, lifting things, helping them with their tasks.
c. Loving life

People are constantly looking for a love of life. They think it’s I things or their acquisition but we know it’s in a person. Jesus Christ.

5. Loyalty
V 15 "from your childhood." Now that’s loyalty.
Let your yes be yes and your no be No. In other words if you give your promise follow through with it.

Most people recognise that once loyalty is broken it takes at least 3 times as long as before to restore it. And further, once it has been broken, a very high proportion of the time it is broken again. Aren’t we so glad that God’s word says, "If you confess your sin He is faithful and just to forgive us." 1 John 1:9

Loyalty with God is not an issue but with people it is.

6. Logged On
V16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
That the man (woman) of God man be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work."

If you want to pastor the world, be a student of the word. Paul says if know the word we are equipped for every good work. Pastoring is doing every good work. Now I believe it is all about attitude. If we carry the attitude that I have enough knowledge of the word then we fail to grasp the power of fresh revelation from God. God gives us revelation from His word for our equipping. Yes we are built up by revelation, but we are also equipped.

If you want to get information off your computer you must log on. If you want to be equipped for pasturing, then get into the habit of logging onto God’s word. It will equip you for your life.

Being a pastor is first about 'who you are' and second about what you do. Who you are comes from God’s word, His living word changing, lifting, and empowering you for your calling.

Being a pastor is a part of the amazing commission of sharing the good news with the world, with a stolen generation. As we be pastors in our spheres of influence we give hope, life to a huge stolen generation in the world.