Olivet Nazarene University Digital Commons @ Olivet Preacher's Magazine Church of the Nazarene 12-1-1990 Preacher's Magazine Volume 66 Number 02 Randal E. Denny (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Denny, Randal E. (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 66 Number 02" (1990). Preacher's Magazine. 608. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/608 This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preacher's Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY/1990-91 BENNER LIBRARY Olivet Nazarene Universi K A N K A K E E , ILLINOIS THE GOD WHO WAITS ^ HOW IT HAPPENS THE WAY DOVJUjmA - WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY IS BORN AGAIN* CHURCH GRO! VERSUS Mjjj^ A PASTORS PRAYER Heavenly Father, strengthen the bond between Your servant and his people. — Sharpen the vision before us. — Undergird our trust with the reality of Your Word. —Fill us to overflowing with the joy of Your salvation. — Wrap Your almighty arms of love around us and hug us close. And then turn us loose to touch Your world with the abiding presence of Your Holy Spirit. A m en! — Delbert L. Bieber SUITABLE FOR FRAMING PASTORAL MINISTRY: THE ARENA OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE by Randal E. Denny Spokane, Wash. iding home alone at mid­ got in my car. I arrived at another Jesus. Seeing the faces of my people night, I reflected on the day. home by 9:45 p.m . Unexpected death in need helps me prepare the mes­ R . The morning hours were had stolen away a mother. She had sage from God’s Word. I am not inter­ spent working on a sermon in thebeen found dead, alone. Official esti­ ested in “making the Scriptures rele­ Psalms— one of six favorites select­ mates placed her death as having oc­ vant,” but in helping my people see ed by my congregation. By noon I sat curred three days earlier. The son the tremendous relevance of the with good friends who proudly and daughter, both married, had Scriptures in the arena of human ex­ showed me their new baby— born at gathered with their families awaiting perience. home. They rejoiced with broad my arrival. There is often that mix­ During my days at seminary, Dr. grins over the arrival of a girl to com­ ture of emotions— sorrow over be­ V. H. Lewis spoke in chapel. A line he plement their three sons. A beautiful reavement and delight in reminisc­ quoted from Milton has stuck with family sharing with me a beautiful ing over a life that had influenced me for all these years: “The hungry event! the family in special ways. I listened. sheep looked up and were not fed.” By two o’clock I sat with a retired Death is reality. People hurt. But, With God’s help, I have tried with couple in their front room. She had once again, the human experience of diligence to feed my “hungry sheep” fallen down a flight of stairs— at the death and bereavement has given me on the nourishing Word of God. church. The bruises and bumps and opportunity to build bonds of love Richard Baxter lectured at Yale Uni­ cuts proved the harshness of her tum­ with my people. I’m not so good with versity long ago with this admoni­ ble. This couple have been faithful answers; but having experienced tion: “Boys, preach to broken hearts supporters of the church and of me, loss myself, I am comfortable just be­ and you will always be up-to-date!”1 their pastor. If the doors of the ing with them. Probably I never feel Perhaps you’ll join with me in the church swing open, they are some of more like an agent of God, His per­ prayer Harry Emerson Fosdick said the first to arrive. Do you need a Sun­ sonal representative, than entering before getting up to preach: “Some­ day School teacher? She’s tremen­ into the dark night of grief to stand where in this congregation is one dous! Do you need a room painted? beside the people I love. person who desperately needs what I He’s a professional— the fastest I’ve In a sense, that was not a typical am going to say; O God, help me to ever seen. We prayed for her soon re­ day. I’ve been a pastor long enough to get at him.” $ covery. learn that there are no typical days. At eight o’clock I stood on the plat­ Yet that one day had brought me into form of the sanctuary with a groom the arena of human experience— and his best friends as we watched from birth to death. Do you know the bride and her father march with what powerful thought struck me as delight down the aisle. The couple I drove home at midnight? I’ll tell are upper-class students at Northwest you! I felt honored to be selected by Nazarene College. It seems God is di­ God himself to tell the best news my recting them toward urban ministry. people w ill ever hear. The good Eight years ago when I came to my news of Jesus brightens the whole church, she was a giddy, talkative, en­ arena of human experience, from ergetic junior high girl. I’ve had the birth to death— and beyond! I don’t NOTE 1. Robert Schuller, Your Church Has Real Possi­ privilege of watching her grow into have enough Sundays left to answer bilities (Glendale, Calif.: Regal Books, a division of Christian womanhood with a sense questions nobody is asking. The Bi­ G/L Publications, 1974), 131. of mission in life. Inwardly I rejoiced ble says, at the powerful symbolism as bride There is a time for everything, EDITORIAL NOTE: and groom lit the unity candle togeth­ and a season for every activity un­ In the section The Minister’s Mate, er— an enactment recalling God’s in­ der heaven: a time to be born and a a letter is printed that I received tent for marriage: “For this reason a time to die, . a time to weep and anonymously. The message of the let­ man will leave his father and mother a time to laugh, a time to mourn ter broke my heart. I could not sleep and be united to his wife, and they and a time to dance, . a time to that night. The heartache expressed will become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). be silent and a time to speak (Ec- haunted me. I decided to let you, the After completing the legal mar­ cles. 3:1-2, 4, 7). readers, have an opportunity to help. riage documents and obtaining all My involvement in the arena of hu­ The Preacher’s Magazine will print the proper signatures, I excused my­ man experience gives meaning to some of the important suggestions in self from the wedding reception and God’s call to preach the good news of an upcoming issue. DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1 SUITABLE FOB FRAMING A Pastor’s Prayer Delbert L. Bieber ifc t ? Preacher's MAGAZINE EDITORIAL Pastoral Ministry: Volume 66 Number 2 December/January/February 1990-91 The Arena of Human Experience Randal e. Denny 1 PULPIT MASTERPIECE Editor Randal E. Denny The God Wfao Waits J. Wallace Hamilton 4 PASTOR, BE ENCOURAGED Assistant Editor Cindy Osso Keep Your Perspective c. Neil strait 7 Consulting Editors PREACHING Bill M. Sullivan, Director Division of Church Growth A Remedy for the Illustration Blues Stanley h. Purdum 8 Church of the Nazarene Wilbur W. Brannon, Director Rehearsing Your Sermon R oiiand r. Reece 9 Pastoral Ministries Church of the Nazarene CHRISTIAN MINISTRY Wayne E. Caldwell, General Editor The Wesleyan Church Recovery and Rehabilitation: Hope for Pastors Who Go Down in Flames! D on ald m. jo y 10 Contributing Editors General Superintendents On the Road Again: Pennsylvania Pastor Church of the Nazarene Eugene L. Stowe Enjoys His Motorcycle Angela Eiweii Hunt 15 Jerald D. Johnson John A. Knight MINISTER'S MATE Raymond W. Hurn William J. Prince A Christmas Gift Thelma M. Chandler 16 Donald D. Owens Superintendents Letter to the Editor Anonymous 17 The Wesleyan Church O. D. Emery PASTOR’S PERSONAL GROWTH Earle L. Wilson Lee Haines He Is Lord-on Monday? Arthur L. Rouleau 18 Harry C. Wilson Fred Wenger Superintendents How It Happens: The Way Down 19 Evangelical Friends Church Jack C. Rea PASTOR’S PROFESSIONAL GROWTH Maurice Roberts Robert Hess Desperate Alan Nelson 20 Howard E. Harmon croft m. Pentz General Superintendent Why Pastors Resign 22 Churches of Christ in Christian Union THEOLOGY Robert Kline The Governmental Theory: An Expansion General Conference Secretary Brethren In Christ Church J. Kenneth Grider 24 R. Donald Shafer CHURCH GROWTH Do You Take This Church . ? David p. Markeii 28 Cover Photo: Mark W. Lisk Wednesday Night Bible Study Is Born Again Alt unidentified Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible. New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, Lisa Ausley 30 1984 by the international Bible Society, and are used by permission. EVANGELISM Quotations from the following versions are used by per­ mission. The Making of a Disciple Lee m. Haines 32 The Amplified Old Testament (.Amp.), copyright© 1962, 1964 by Zondervan Publishing House.