1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,720 Hello and welcome back to the PHSA podcast. 2 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:11,720 My name is David Bigford. 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:13,580 I'm the pastor here at SalmonArm. 4 00:00:13,580 --> 00:00:17,760 This is a very special podcast series where I'm going to be sharing with you messages 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:23,280 from our most recent conference in Prescott, Arizona, the Beyond Limits Conference with 6 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:30,600 a theme of to preach the gospel in the regions beyond from 2 Corinthians 10-16. 7 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:37,000 I'm going to share all of the sermons from this conference series to include Greg Mitchell, 8 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:44,600 our head pastor, Joe Campbell, Richard Ruby, Tom Payne, and many, many others during this 9 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:45,600 series. 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,920 So I'll be sharing these with you over the next couple of weeks, and I hope you really 11 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,040 enjoy these messages. 12 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:58,000 If you'd like to see these messages in a video format, you can go to PrescottPottersHouse.com 13 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:04,360 where all of these will be available for you to view in a video format. 14 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,280 So without further ado, I'm going to go ahead and move on to the messages, and I hope you 15 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:10,280 enjoy them. 16 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:11,280 God bless. 17 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:25,160 Let's welcome Pastor Juan as it comes in, amen. 18 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:26,160 Good morning. 19 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,600 A blessing to be here. 20 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:42,520 I feel after the first two seminars like a basketball player where I'm cutting down the 21 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,560 right side of the paint. 22 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,960 They throw it up, and my job is just simply to grab it. 23 00:01:51,960 --> 00:02:01,000 And, you know, that's in, so Pastor Brown reminded me of something. 24 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:08,760 I'm debating if it's actually even going to be a title in one of the chapters of the 25 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:20,240 book I'm trying to write, but I was getting a haircut done in London years back, and I 26 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:30,200 was correcting the barber on the finer points of a flat top. 27 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:38,160 And I'd already witnessed to him, and his response is, you're pretty picky for a vicar. 28 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:44,760 And if you're not from the UK, you probably don't even know what a vicar is, but I'm 29 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:46,920 not being picky this morning. 30 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:53,360 I'm being helpful and really to put a cap on everything so far. 31 00:02:53,360 --> 00:03:03,600 Second Timothy chapter 4, I'm going to read in a moment beginning at verse 9 through 13. 32 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:12,420 Recently Pastor Alvin Smith and I were reminiscing along the lines of what I wanted to preach 33 00:03:12,420 --> 00:03:21,720 this morning, and he was reminding me when he was first saved, a 19-year-old airman stationed 34 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:27,480 at Davis Mountain Air Force Base in Tucson got saved. 35 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:37,800 Jesus radically changed his life, and one of the first books that he read was called 36 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:48,120 the Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman, and how soon afterwards he's blown away because 37 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:59,280 we had Robert Coleman come to our church speak Friday, Saturday, Sunday schedule, and he's 38 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,040 on the front row. 39 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:02,960 And he's, man, I read that. 40 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,280 That's amazing. 41 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:09,720 And it was a real blessing in his life. 42 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:20,360 Fast forward 40 years, and one of the brothers, Brother Taylor in our church, was helping 43 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:31,720 me with some research and sent me a text message of the portions that he's reading from that 44 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:40,080 same book, the Master Plan of Evangelism, 40 years later. 45 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:54,640 Our relationship with God, our ministry development, our ability to consistently feed the flock 46 00:04:54,640 --> 00:05:03,760 of God is greatly affected by the books we read. 47 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:14,760 And anyone of that mindset knows that there is a warm association with books that have 48 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:24,880 helped shape our faith, that have revealed to us more and more of Jesus, have helped 49 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:37,280 us and taught us to correctly interpret scripture so that we are presenting people with sound 50 00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:39,740 doctrine. 51 00:05:39,740 --> 00:05:48,240 They have been responsible for expanding a great deal of the height and the depth and 52 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:57,720 the breadth and the length of our walk with God and the work of the ministry. 53 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:03,560 I see Steve here and Harry and Pastor Nigel. 54 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:10,400 Well, any of us that have had the privilege over the years of going and preaching in the 55 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:19,440 UK, one of our aims, not just beyond the revival or the conference, wasn't we were there to 56 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:25,880 see the Queen, we were there so we could make a trip to Book Aid. 57 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:33,520 And there at Book Aid we could get our hands on some of the classic authors, English and 58 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:43,480 Scottish throughout the last two centuries, the J.D. Jones, the J. Stuart Holden, the 59 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:48,080 William Mackay, the Clarence McCartney. 60 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:57,480 And it's why our luggage going home weighed more than when we left and it should be reversed. 61 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:58,480 Because why? 62 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,320 It's loaded up with books. 63 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:19,920 Now you may think you're listening to a dinosaur, but our personal, our professional and our 64 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:31,960 spiritual growth is inseparably connected to our reading. 65 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:43,440 My early Christian development, my early years in the pastorate were shaped and helped by 66 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:54,640 the books and the authors that I invited into my life, the Vance Havners, the Oswald Sanders, 67 00:07:54,640 --> 00:08:04,440 the F.B. Myers, the Alan Redpath, the Clovis Chappell, the Warren Worsby, the Charles Swindoll 68 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:15,080 and Martin Lloyd Jones and R.T. Kendall, Paul Johnson and the intellectuals, Walter Isaacson 69 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:24,840 in all his biographies, David McCullough in his historical fiction, the John Krakauer 70 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:33,760 talking about the climbing and summiting of Mount Everest, William Manchester's classic 71 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:42,360 three-volume set on Winston Churchill called The Last Lion, the Malcolm Gladwells, the 72 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:49,800 John Stott, the Gary Inrigs, the G. Campbell Morgans, the R. Kent Hughes and I could go 73 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:58,680 on and I could go on, but all of that was deposited in my life, number one by the Holy 74 00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:09,840 Spirit and number two by my pastor for almost 50 years and his example and his library that 75 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:18,280 started me on a lifelong journey beginning with, and let me get this out of the way so 76 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:26,200 you think I'm somehow trying to supplant the Bible, beginning with, thy word have I 77 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:34,360 hidden in my heart, O Lord, that I might not sin against thee, that I rule for faith, I 78 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:42,480 rule for all of life is only one thing and that is the Bible, the inspired infallible 79 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:59,000 word of God. But when it comes to a pastor and his books, we must be very deliberate 80 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:10,520 and very strategic when it comes to our reading. Matt and Terry McDonald are here in conference 81 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:18,680 for years in our conference and they've expanded out to El Paso, I believe McAllen and other 82 00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:27,800 places, a ministry called Work of Ministry where during conference he supplies and sells 83 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:36,920 people books, many of which I've just alluded to and its value is not that he drops too 84 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:45,080 grand in of profit from a week of conference for world evangelism, the value is what is 85 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:55,520 imparted to the people who say I'm going to become deliberate about my reading. So look 86 00:10:55,520 --> 00:11:03,720 at 2 Timothy 4 with me beginning in verse 9 and I'm reading this from the New Living 87 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:13,920 Translation, Timothy please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he 88 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:22,820 loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescent has gone to Galatia 89 00:11:22,820 --> 00:11:31,320 and Titus has gone to Dalmatia, only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come 90 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:39,840 for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tycheus to Ephesus, when you come be 91 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:51,920 sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books and especially 92 00:11:51,920 --> 00:12:01,640 my papers. So let me begin and talk about the neglected regimen because the statistics 93 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:15,120 here are not encouraging at all. This comes from Hogwarts professor but 33% of high school 94 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:26,360 graduates never read another book the rest of their lives. And before you say oh my wow 95 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:40,760 it gets worse 42% of college grads never read another book after college. 70% of US adults 96 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:51,080 have not been in a bookstore and let me clarify my bookstore is Amazon just for expedient 97 00:12:51,080 --> 00:13:01,960 sake etc. but 70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last 5 years and 80% 98 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:10,840 of US families did not buy or read a book last year. And it gets worse as you look at 99 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:19,960 Gen Z the first generation of what is called digital natives who have never known a world 100 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:31,400 without social media they are reading less than previous generations and I have a graph 101 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:42,120 that shows a 20% drop in avid readers from the baby boomers to the Gen Zers. Now it is 102 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:52,920 very easy to say oh yeah the culprit and to put blame on screens and obviously they have 103 00:13:52,920 --> 00:14:03,680 had an immense impact on reading proficiency and all kinds of other things but like so 104 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:10,720 much in life you can't just grab the low hanging fruit you have to look a little deeper 105 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:19,320 there was an article that stood out why aren't kids falling in love with reading and they 106 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:29,080 didn't spend all the time talking about screens what they said is it is a lot about the way 107 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:40,280 they are being taught they are no longer being taught to read for fun. Now just that statement 108 00:14:40,280 --> 00:15:00,080 alone if you don't get it read for what? Fun? That's why I am preaching this. Enjoyment 109 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:10,920 the percentage of 8 to 13 year olds who said they read daily for fun has dropped by double 110 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:23,480 digits since 1984 and so to pirate a phrase inquiring minds want to know and here is our 111 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:37,720 text as Paul is writing from a Roman prison these are many believe 2 Timothy was his final 112 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:49,600 epistle these are some of his last words what is at the forefront of his thinking the first 113 00:15:49,600 --> 00:16:02,720 is obvious it is Timothy's companionship Timothy please come as soon as you can Timothy 114 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:11,620 I don't know for sure but it feels like my time is running out and if we are going to 115 00:16:11,620 --> 00:16:23,200 communicate face to face you need to make this a priority come quickly. He says bring 116 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:35,160 John Mark with you the glowing mark of restoration in the New Testament and we are in the restoration 117 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:46,720 business physical needs you know what you know the coat that really nice soft leather 118 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:54,960 one that I left with the carpets at Troas make sure you do a little detour pick up that 119 00:16:54,960 --> 00:17:10,160 coat he doesn't need it I am in jail I need to stay warm bring that coat and then also 120 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:25,200 bring my books and especially my papers I won't just preach at you I will preach at 121 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:39,000 me if I was in a Roman prison would that be my request bring my books and especially my 122 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:48,520 papers and he is writing to Timothy his son in the faith and he makes reference to Timothy's 123 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:57,920 own life long regimen 2 Timothy 3 how from childhood you have been acquainted with the 124 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:04,080 sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ 125 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:13,360 Jesus all scriptures breathed out by God and profitable for teaching for reproof for correction 126 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:21,240 and training and righteousness that the man of God may be complete to equip for every 127 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:31,640 good work if that is to in any way resemble you and I then we must like Timothy develop 128 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:38,600 a life long reading habit. 129 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:47,040 Brad East wrote an article called who are young Christians reading today and he specifically 130 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:55,400 has in mind the 15 to 25 year old age groups who are the people they are reading and he 131 00:18:55,400 --> 00:19:03,080 is asking it in a questioning way he is not postulating to have all answers but he said 132 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:11,160 the first answer that came to my mind is they are not reading most Christians in this age 133 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:19,120 range are not reading anything at all much less something that has thoughtful theology 134 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:28,520 and genuine spiritual content to it and then the second thing that came to mind he said 135 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:39,320 was well reading is being replaced with quote consuming content so now we do not have writers 136 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:51,040 we have content creators on YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, Spotify and so obviously people are 137 00:19:51,040 --> 00:20:00,040 listening they are watching they are scrolling but is anyone asking you know who are they 138 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:12,080 listening watching to what is it any good or is it complete drivel and then the final 139 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:22,920 answer is that a few of these 15 to 25 age group are actually reading real books good 140 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:33,560 books from authors that help connect you to Christ broaden your thinking challenge your 141 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:44,240 understanding the kind of books that push and prod you in your spiritual life stimulates 142 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:53,800 you to think and to dig deeper motivates you to reach out more determinately who are they 143 00:20:53,800 --> 00:21:02,600 reading you say well why should this be a concern why is this fitting well if you just 144 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:13,440 heard that sermon on people's minds you understand this should concern us big big time because 145 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:25,320 so much success growth and enjoyment in life is connected to a lifelong reading regimen 146 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:36,160 and if it is missing from your life you are missing out on so so much there are lots of 147 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:47,760 platforms today yes and I am not against them but reading a book is different from scrolling 148 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:58,120 a website it is different from watching a video or even listening to a podcast put yourself 149 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:05,680 in a position where 90 minutes I would make it longer but listen I don't want to be you 150 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:17,840 know go 90 minutes you don't move there is no screen and there unless you are reading 151 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:28,040 off of a Kindle give me a break I am not parsing things that where there is no sound except 152 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:44,080 the sound of you turning pages and I could go on and on the verified benefits of reading 153 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:53,160 books how they can positively affect your life but let me be cognizant of time and move 154 00:22:53,160 --> 00:23:07,400 on and talk to you secondly about the ministry parentheses life requisite and very strong 155 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:18,240 but very very true words were spoken by the great revivalist John Wesley who told young 156 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:33,960 ministers in his age either read or get out of the ministry he believed this was essential 157 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:45,640 for lifelong ministerial development and you know what I am looking around the best I can 158 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:55,440 there is no one who stands out with a sign I have already arrived I may be preaching 159 00:23:55,440 --> 00:24:03,840 to the choir to a great deal but I like preaching to the choir too as well as others. 160 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:12,520 A.W. Tozer commented about Wesley and said quote he read science and history with a book 161 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:22,960 propped against his saddle pommel as he rode from one engagement to another Oswald Sanders 162 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:31,800 in his classic book spiritual leadership devotes a whole chapter to the subject of the leader 163 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:41,040 and reading and he insists quote the leader who intends to grow spiritually and intellectually 164 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:51,840 will be constantly reading and I could list all manner of people that have deeply influenced 165 00:24:51,840 --> 00:25:02,720 my life and ministry G. Campbell Morgan where I developed a love for breaking down scripture 166 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:13,800 verse by verse almost word by word Philip Greenslade in his book leadership servanthood 167 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:22,040 and greatness delved the deepest I have ever read into the subject of discipleship and 168 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:31,800 leadership Joseph Tosini who just wrote with such clarity about how central the church 169 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:40,560 is to the purposes of God in the earth and what I am saying this morning is we must set 170 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,720 the bar high. 171 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:52,200 Pastor Foley I don't mind repeating the verse Colossians 3 16 let the word of Christ dwell 172 00:25:52,200 --> 00:26:00,040 in you richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom singing psalms and hymns 173 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:14,120 and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Books are tools and I use my 174 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:27,640 tools. There is an adage amongst builders you don't ever lend out your tools. And it 175 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:36,920 didn't just say in a casual way it said let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. It's 176 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:46,040 not talking about a sparse bank account but a burgeoning overflowing deposit of God's 177 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:56,680 word and wisdom in your life and ministry. If I could put it another way pastors must 178 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:10,760 be voracious bookworms because it means you understand your vocation which entails wide 179 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:20,400 and deep and consistent and sustained reading. The only way you're going to consistently 180 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:30,960 impart sound doctrine and understanding is if you take this aspect of life very seriously 181 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:43,040 and more than that you even develop an enjoyment. It was Harry Truman who said not every reader 182 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:58,480 is a leader but every leader is a reader. Harry Truman was considered a dark horse in 183 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:11,520 his political party as a candidate to follow FDR. He took office in April of 1945 and within 184 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:20,440 months he was going to face the greatest trial no human being up until that time had ever 185 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:30,480 faced a trial like Truman did which was the nuclear decision. He was going to have to 186 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:39,320 deal with the rebuilding of Germany and Japan. Now the challenge of the new atomic age the 187 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:48,920 beginning of the cold war and you ask how important was this man's life long reading 188 00:28:48,920 --> 00:29:00,600 habit started as a young boy in his later role as the President of the United States 189 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:10,360 and his own words tell us he said quote our public library in Independence Missouri had 190 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:19,920 about three or four thousand volumes including encyclopedias believe it or not I read them 191 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:30,560 all maybe and I'll just clarify or I'll interpret maybe I was a darn fool but it served me well 192 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:44,600 when my terrible trial came. General James Mattis was an avid reader and wherever he 193 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:54,120 was stationed in the Marine Corps across the globe he would bring books with him and I 194 00:29:54,120 --> 00:30:07,360 want you to hear why he did that because recently he wrote how unconscionable it is for a military 195 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:18,000 leader to be quote filling body bags while they learn by trial and error. He said they 196 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:26,400 owe it to their soldiers to learn as much as humanly possible from the experience of 197 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:37,040 history before trying to learn on their own to not pick up a book is a dereliction of 198 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:50,200 duty. Thank God that you know we're not sitting here you know facing the same kind 199 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:58,880 of trials that a Harry Truman or James Mattis but the point stands and that is whether it's 200 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:08,360 being the best employee the best investor the best spouse the best friend the best fellow 201 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:17,400 citizen the best ourselves is not just learning by trial and error when we can also pick up 202 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:35,680 a book and accelerate that process. Pastor Foley movingly talked about troubled minds 203 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:47,880 and the like but if good leaders are going to have a mind for God and that is not an 204 00:31:47,880 --> 00:32:01,040 automatic by the way if we're going to have a mind for God there must be a ceaseless appetite 205 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:12,560 for learning for self improvement for wisdom and for books that improve you as a human 206 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:33,360 being. We're without excuse. I know that not all reading is created equal. I have enough 207 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:47,960 books in my house to last four lifetimes. Have you read them all pastor? No but I have 208 00:32:47,960 --> 00:33:09,000 a serious book. Jones. One of the questions that needs to be asked at times is what books 209 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:22,680 have changed your life? They're not all equal. Greek philosopher Epictus said that he spoke 210 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:33,800 about books worthy of the focus of my energy and it was Sir Francis Bacon who really this 211 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:40,800 is brilliant. He said some books are to be tasted meaning you read the first chapter 212 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:53,960 you've read the whole book. Others are to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and 213 00:33:53,960 --> 00:34:03,880 digested. Those are the books that you get your pen out and as you're reading you're 214 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:12,560 underlying and me you know if I put a star and if it really moves me I put a double star 215 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:18,720 and sometimes just to shake it up I'll put an exclamation point and if it really you 216 00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:27,120 know jacks me up I'll put triple three exclamation points and then you know if I like it I just 217 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:36,600 circle the whole sentence. Some you mark up those are the books that you don't just read 218 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:45,400 right once you reread them and this is why H.L. Mencken said no one gets anywhere in 219 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:54,960 this world in any really an endurable manner without some recourse to books and I could 220 00:34:54,960 --> 00:35:05,080 put it this way as leaders what we're reading is leading us and before we segue you know 221 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:14,000 all of this relates to something critical why we are even gathered here this week and 222 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:23,920 that is the essence of who you are and who you are becoming especially Jesus' invitation 223 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:34,700 to become a disciple. The biggest mistake people make about discipleship and the words 224 00:35:34,700 --> 00:35:41,720 back in vogue everybody uses it now where years back nobody would touch it with a hot 225 00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:50,680 like a hot potato it was mentor but you know the biggest mistake is thinking discipleship 226 00:35:50,680 --> 00:36:00,600 is something that you're receiving something that happens to you but the word Jesus used 227 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:12,160 many of you know this is the word methodes which means learner and you can only be a 228 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:23,400 learner if you are the one doing the learning. If you are a disciple as in a learner that 229 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:32,920 means you are to be actively engaged in learning and it is your responsibility to take up 230 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:41,000 the mantle of self development not some kind of passive well I'm not being fed if you're 231 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:51,840 not being fed get out a fork and spoon and knife cook yourself some food and feed yourself. 232 00:36:51,840 --> 00:37:02,520 You know I've only been saved 25 years dear Lord. I'm just leaving church I've been a 233 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:13,280 Christian for 30 years three decades I'm just not being fed feed yourself brother sister 234 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:32,120 teenager. Let me close and talk about establishing another parenthesis enjoying a rhythm. Now 235 00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:49,040 I am preaching this from a place of experience but also from a place of need because I haven't 236 00:37:49,040 --> 00:38:04,520 arrived and also I'm preaching it from a place of guilt because trying to write a book has 237 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:24,000 completely upset my normal rhythm my normal pastoral reading rhythm. That's why at the 238 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:41,120 beginning of 2024 one of my goals slash resolutions mock resolutions but I do want to improve 239 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:57,880 those to have better discipline to be intentional to work at several related things. I brought 240 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:08,080 a picture first three real quick that is my office hold it there just for a minute that 241 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:20,480 is the right side just the right side of my office. Yeah that's a called a working man's 242 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:41,440 office number two okay that's the left side of the office number three and that's my desk 243 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:49,720 and I believe that is me son peri a ultimate meaning the natural right there empty cans 244 00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:56,760 because if you're going to work you're going to stay hydrated in the desert. It made it 245 00:39:56,760 --> 00:40:05,840 into the picture that may even be the servant I'm preaching right now on the screen I don't 246 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:32,560 know now having seen all that I wonder where did I pick that up. 247 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:37,760 And there's impartation because he did that Pastor Mitchell never taught me you know the 248 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:46,040 secret is piles and piles and piles go back you know go back a couple let's go back and 249 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:57,120 just see you know there's maybe not as many as he had but I'm still in the running and 250 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:14,200 okay so and so I mentioned this because I know where in my house and in my office and 251 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:27,720 in my desk books are located on my desk on the whether it's my desk right or left whether 252 00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:37,320 it's the two tables in the office the dining room the bedroom the butcher block where my 253 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:47,120 espresso machine for not somebody said four shot now this is for six shot you know only 254 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:58,120 once a day that's all and so but I know where these are and you know what it's like you 255 00:41:58,120 --> 00:42:05,600 know cats my cat takes things and hides things all over the house well I've done that I can 256 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:14,880 go and I know my pipeline right now on my desk on the left hand side is a book called 257 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:24,320 the self aware leader and it's in my pipeline because I want to read that because I have 258 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:36,280 been shocked by the lack of self awareness that many leaders have and even in my own 259 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:43,160 life and you know what if you know the Greek said know thyself while we know that secondary 260 00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:49,720 to the primary command which is no God but knowing God you better know yourself you better 261 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:57,880 be developing a degree of self awareness about who you are not read your own press clippings 262 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:13,040 or anything you better know who I am that's on the left side of my desk and then also 263 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:25,320 on back left are numerous books on finances and investments about 40 years too late but 264 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:34,880 I figure I better educate myself and then over on the right is a book by Adam Grant 265 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:42,360 called think again which is all about the critical art of rethinking you think you know 266 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:50,600 this or you don't know that you better practice rethinking what I believe I better rethink 267 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:59,240 and make sure that I'm on track and then there are books on that table on Hosea Habakkuk 268 00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:08,080 and first John which is the next books of the Bible that I want to do a deep dive into 269 00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:16,240 and then on my butcher block on top of the expresso machine are two devotionals so I 270 00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:24,400 can sit there and you know sip my morning coffee read these devotionals and then in 271 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:35,320 my bedroom next to my bed is a book by John Krakauer called when men win glory all about 272 00:44:35,320 --> 00:44:43,720 them on the name just slip the football player Pat Tillman thank you Pat Tillman who played 273 00:44:43,720 --> 00:44:50,660 for the Arizona Cardinals who left it all and joined the military became an army ranger 274 00:44:50,660 --> 00:44:58,640 was shot and killed in Afghanistan but the tragedy that followed is his higher ups covered 275 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:08,960 that up because he was actually killed by friendly fire and then next to that and this 276 00:45:08,960 --> 00:45:15,080 is for those rare occasions I haven't even you know it's been probably a year and a 277 00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:23,880 half sitting there is a novel by Daniel Silva all about an Israeli spy Gabriel Alon that 278 00:45:23,880 --> 00:45:30,680 when I want to do some brainless reading like I don't care if I remember a single word 279 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:37,840 I just want to enjoy myself relax a little bit that's there and then hundreds of others 280 00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:45,720 I haven't mentioned the point I'm making and then on oh I forgot the dining room table 281 00:45:45,720 --> 00:45:57,520 I said I better up I better up my game here and one of the classics by Leo Tolstoy the 282 00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:06,880 death of Ivan Ilyich because there is in there a powerful narrative on forgiveness. 283 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:17,760 It's why Aaron Thornton said they are the best friends we can ever have it is through 284 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:26,120 books that we open our minds improve ourselves and are strengthened in our intelligence broaden 285 00:46:26,120 --> 00:46:35,680 our horizons acquire wide and varying knowledge and are inspired to change our lives and the 286 00:46:35,680 --> 00:46:45,000 world around us and there is beloved a guideline we can all follow there are varying degrees 287 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:53,400 you know they told me about this Savanta that he can actually read he actually reads the 288 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:59,520 left page out of his left eye and the right page out of his right eye and he can read 289 00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:08,920 you know a whole page in eight seconds listen you may be like most of us slogging through 290 00:47:08,920 --> 00:47:18,840 but here's the guideline Psalms 119 103 how sweet are your words to my taste sweeter than 291 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:31,280 honey to my mouth what I'm saying is we can all improve no you don't have an eidetic memory 292 00:47:31,280 --> 00:47:40,320 a photographic memory you may struggle to remember what you read the not just the you 293 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:47,560 know not just the specific words but the title you may even struggle there but the point 294 00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:57,000 and then you may read slowly but you know the mistake is to say well why bother oh 295 00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:07,760 be encouraged brothers and sisters we can all improve our reading skills and there is 296 00:48:07,760 --> 00:48:20,320 a perspective and an encouragement to the man of God that I want to leave with you as 297 00:48:20,320 --> 00:48:29,160 I hope a powerful takeaway because I don't know about you I've been I've read something 298 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:45,760 and then forgot 99.76 you get discouraged but I read about two things I'm going to tell 299 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:56,880 you about the power of the 1% and the power of the 99% the power of the 1% came from 1981 300 00:48:56,880 --> 00:49:03,640 when John Piper was a young pastor and he's trying to encourage his Sunday school teachers 301 00:49:03,640 --> 00:49:10,800 who felt hopeless you know here we have a measly one hour to try to help these kids 302 00:49:10,800 --> 00:49:18,280 who watch countless hours of TV every week this is even before social media they'd be 303 00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:27,880 in absolute utter despair today and he talked to them about the immeasurable moment and 304 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:36,520 here's what he said to them I do not remember 99% of what I read I don't remember books 305 00:49:36,520 --> 00:49:43,640 whole and then here's what he went on to say it is sentences that change your life 306 00:49:43,640 --> 00:49:52,840 not books what changes the life is a new glimpse into reality or truth or some powerful challenge 307 00:49:52,840 --> 00:50:01,360 that comes to us or some resolution of a long-standing dilemma that we've had and most of those the 308 00:50:01,360 --> 00:50:09,120 insight the challenge or the resolution are usually embodied in a very short little space 309 00:50:09,120 --> 00:50:18,400 a paragraph or a sentence and whammo it hits home and we remember it and affects us for 310 00:50:18,400 --> 00:50:28,760 our whole life long it's the power of the 1% let's get real it's the power of the point 311 00:50:28,760 --> 00:50:48,800 1764% but then flip that over the other side of the coin and you have the power of the 312 00:50:48,800 --> 00:51:02,760 other 99% I don't I hope I'm talking to real people and generally you know a thousand 313 00:51:02,760 --> 00:51:09,360 or more pastor eyeballs on me freak me freaks me out but today I knew I'm right I'm right 314 00:51:09,360 --> 00:51:15,120 on you know all I have to do is grab the ball like I said after pastor Brown pastor Foley 315 00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:33,200 and just with authority you ever get discouraged that the people in your church you preach 316 00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:47,520 what you think should be enshrined for generations to come a message you slaved over it and you 317 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:52,560 know I don't know about these guys who you know they put messages together in an hour 318 00:51:52,560 --> 00:52:06,280 and a half takes me days weeks and you preach it and then 10 days later they don't remember 319 00:52:06,280 --> 00:52:23,800 anything you said what am I doing this for they didn't appreciate the brilliant alliteration 320 00:52:23,800 --> 00:52:40,160 that I just used regimen requisite rhythm oh and they don't remember that at all the 321 00:52:40,160 --> 00:52:50,200 only one who is impressed is you and your and my tiny pea brains I'm gonna live with 322 00:52:50,200 --> 00:52:57,360 the illusion that every words just bursting through with explosive dynamic power don't 323 00:52:57,360 --> 00:53:18,400 don't you know love is blind let me stay blind you know but here is the quote furthermore 324 00:53:18,400 --> 00:53:25,120 did we think the parts of the sermon of a church member doesn't remember has no formative 325 00:53:25,120 --> 00:53:34,240 effect surely the quote forgettable parts still matter how the pastor treats the text 326 00:53:34,240 --> 00:53:40,360 carefully explaining its meaning adorning it with good illustrations seeing in light 327 00:53:40,360 --> 00:53:47,640 of the wider world of Christian teaching driving toward an encounter with God all these practices 328 00:53:47,640 --> 00:53:55,920 shape the listener in imperceptible ways and then it goes on the same is true for books 329 00:53:55,920 --> 00:54:04,560 you don't remember Austin Carty says quote uploading information to our brains is not 330 00:54:04,560 --> 00:54:15,480 the main reason for reading and he makes this brilliant analogy anybody got an iPhone up 331 00:54:15,480 --> 00:54:24,880 here the first row somebody help me real quick okay let me see what's you know I don't want 332 00:54:24,880 --> 00:54:35,640 to case on it come on I want to give me you can tell okay so I can't go into a time I 333 00:54:35,640 --> 00:54:42,400 did this Sunday in my church the first phone only had one lens I thought oh that sister 334 00:54:42,400 --> 00:54:48,960 is and she was older she was a white hair like me because when you got this you don't 335 00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:57,000 need 55 lenses just take the picture and then the second person I asked gave me their phone 336 00:54:57,000 --> 00:55:03,840 it has two lenses well this has three and then when I was done somebody came up to me 337 00:55:03,840 --> 00:55:15,880 and showed me his phone it's got five lenses but the point is is that in the days when 338 00:55:15,880 --> 00:55:29,440 there was only one lens there's the image take it but now with various lenses the depth 339 00:55:29,440 --> 00:55:35,800 Aaron Rodgers I get the quarterback you know that used to play for the Packers is calling 340 00:55:35,800 --> 00:55:50,080 it okay sorry but with the different lenses there is what there's a depth there is a perception 341 00:55:50,080 --> 00:55:59,960 there is a richness that wasn't there before and that's what reading does to you and I 342 00:55:59,960 --> 00:56:07,080 and he goes on to say the filters on your phone's photo app older phones had only the 343 00:56:07,080 --> 00:56:12,860 image and nothing more no other lens to see it through but the variety of filters now 344 00:56:12,860 --> 00:56:19,640 available allow you to see the images in ways that draw out its richness and he ends with 345 00:56:19,640 --> 00:56:26,440 this the point is this the primary purpose of reading is not to be able to consciously 346 00:56:26,440 --> 00:56:34,520 recall what we have read it's to constantly keep refining the lens through which we see 347 00:56:34,520 --> 00:56:43,240 reality I had Michael tell me you know it was our IT guy that and media guy that every 348 00:56:43,240 --> 00:56:48,560 time someone asked you can you take a picture of it the first thing he does is clean the 349 00:56:48,560 --> 00:56:55,000 lens I haven't cleaned the lens in my phone for 30 years I don't know what you're talking 350 00:56:55,000 --> 00:57:06,360 about but it even though we don't remember 90% of what we read it still gets inside of 351 00:57:06,360 --> 00:57:14,920 us in ways we're unaware of and at depths we don't know we have it still enriches our 352 00:57:14,920 --> 00:57:29,160 filter even when we don't realize it's happening 353 00:57:29,160 --> 00:57:48,200 my closing statement mic drop time because you can debate what I'm preaching but you 354 00:57:48,200 --> 00:57:54,600 know what excited me the most is I saw I preach this Sunday morning I thought you know I don't 355 00:57:54,600 --> 00:58:02,760 always have the luxury of trying out my conference sermon rarely but I did and I'm seeing 12 356 00:58:02,760 --> 00:58:14,720 and 13 14 year olds at the altar I'm thinking oh talking about you talking about Jesus is 357 00:58:14,720 --> 00:58:33,000 mine for the rest of their life but let me take you to a scene un-eclipsed in its grandeur 358 00:58:33,000 --> 00:58:46,160 and its majesty Revelation 20 11 and 12 then I saw a great white throne in him who was 359 00:58:46,160 --> 00:58:55,720 seated on it from his presence the earth and sky fled away and no place was found for them 360 00:58:55,720 --> 00:59:06,120 and I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne and books were opened then 361 00:59:06,120 --> 00:59:12,960 another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged by what was 362 00:59:12,960 --> 00:59:23,920 written in the books according to what they had done you know it's a sin to even say 363 00:59:23,920 --> 00:59:33,480 this when I haven't even finished my first book but this is book number two the books 364 00:59:33,480 --> 00:59:54,280 were opened what books the books contained in God's library which contains everything 365 00:59:54,280 --> 01:00:12,200 you've ever done every thought you've ever entertained every tear you've ever shed every 366 01:00:12,200 --> 01:00:23,840 achievement that he's enabled you to accomplish every soul that has been eternally impacted 367 01:00:23,840 --> 01:00:39,920 for Jesus Christ that when this time finally arrives the books are going to be opened and 368 01:00:39,920 --> 01:00:51,520 in light of that Lord let my lifelong habit whether I'm a teenager young pastor and OG 369 01:00:51,520 --> 01:00:59,960 or part of the silent generation which is me and those older than me me and pastor Campbell 370 01:00:59,960 --> 01:01:13,000 that's about a few others sprinkled but a lifelong habit I forgot to tell you my title 371 01:01:13,000 --> 01:01:26,400 the title has to be because how are they going to post this without a title I did forget 372 01:01:26,400 --> 01:01:46,960 it's called read to lead and I want you to bow your heads with me this morning no accident 373 01:01:46,960 --> 01:01:58,280 God's handiwork is always so astounding the messages this morning God being a father to 374 01:01:58,280 --> 01:02:10,760 the fatherless the almost unparalleled miracle of the Gataring sitting cloth and in his right 375 01:02:10,760 --> 01:02:23,560 mind God desiring to give us a right mind and one of the tools at our disposal to do 376 01:02:23,560 --> 01:02:43,040 that is our reading habit I'm preaching largely to pastors if you think please let's get 377 01:02:43,040 --> 01:02:52,380 the record straight if you think everything I preached comes mysteriously out of the synapses 378 01:02:52,380 --> 01:02:57,880 and pastor Kevin you gave me a new word you're going to have to tell me later rather connected 379 01:02:57,880 --> 01:03:06,040 or whatever you know if you think all of it just mysteriously pops out of that and here's 380 01:03:06,040 --> 01:03:26,920 brilliant revelation to pop your balloon it is the fruit of a life long habit of reading 381 01:03:26,920 --> 01:03:33,880 and from all kinds of different sources I don't want to stay in an echo chamber I want 382 01:03:33,880 --> 01:03:46,360 to broaden my understanding always grounded in scripture always grounded in the will of 383 01:03:46,360 --> 01:03:58,320 God but one of the tools to having a sound mind my passion my pastoral passion is Romans 384 01:03:58,320 --> 01:04:13,600 12 verse 2 let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think it guides 385 01:04:13,600 --> 01:04:23,120 so much of my ministry something I deeply care about and have tried to impart to people 386 01:04:23,120 --> 01:04:34,360 at every level of service in our congregation are we thinking biblically are we coming more 387 01:04:34,360 --> 01:04:49,880 and more into possession of the mind of Christ and whether it is God revealing to you that 388 01:04:49,880 --> 01:05:04,560 unparalleled revelation that he is our father or whether it is the necessity of a sound 389 01:05:04,560 --> 01:05:05,560 mind 390 01:05:05,560 --> 01:05:12,360 Thank you for listening to the P.H.S.A. 391 01:05:12,360 --> 01:05:14,320 Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. 392 01:05:14,320 --> 01:05:19,000 Be sure to follow us on Instagram at pottershouse underscore salmon arm to keep up to date on 393 01:05:19,000 --> 01:05:23,560 what we are doing join the conversation and discover how Jesus Christ can revolutionize 394 01:05:23,560 --> 01:05:49,400 your life.