Hello and welcome back to the PHSA podcast.
My name is David Bigford.
I'm the pastor here at SalmonArm.
This is a very special podcast series where I'm going to be sharing with you messages
from our most recent conference in Prescott, Arizona, the Beyond Limits Conference with
a theme of to preach the gospel in the regions beyond from 2 Corinthians 10-16.
I'm going to share all of the sermons from this conference series to include Greg Mitchell,
our head pastor, Joe Campbell, Richard Ruby, Tom Payne, and many, many others during this
series.
So I'll be sharing these with you over the next couple of weeks, and I hope you really
enjoy these messages.
If you'd like to see these messages in a video format, you can go to PrescottPottersHouse.com
where all of these will be available for you to view in a video format.
So without further ado, I'm going to go ahead and move on to the messages, and I hope you
enjoy them.
God bless.
Let's welcome Pastor Juan as it comes in, amen.
Good morning.
A blessing to be here.
I feel after the first two seminars like a basketball player where I'm cutting down the
right side of the paint.
They throw it up, and my job is just simply to grab it.
And, you know, that's in, so Pastor Brown reminded me of something.
I'm debating if it's actually even going to be a title in one of the chapters of the
book I'm trying to write, but I was getting a haircut done in London years back, and I
was correcting the barber on the finer points of a flat top.
And I'd already witnessed to him, and his response is, you're pretty picky for a vicar.
And if you're not from the UK, you probably don't even know what a vicar is, but I'm
not being picky this morning.
I'm being helpful and really to put a cap on everything so far.
Second Timothy chapter 4, I'm going to read in a moment beginning at verse 9 through 13.
Recently Pastor Alvin Smith and I were reminiscing along the lines of what I wanted to preach
this morning, and he was reminding me when he was first saved, a 19-year-old airman stationed
at Davis Mountain Air Force Base in Tucson got saved.
Jesus radically changed his life, and one of the first books that he read was called
the Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman, and how soon afterwards he's blown away because
we had Robert Coleman come to our church speak Friday, Saturday, Sunday schedule, and he's
on the front row.
And he's, man, I read that.
That's amazing.
And it was a real blessing in his life.
Fast forward 40 years, and one of the brothers, Brother Taylor in our church, was helping
me with some research and sent me a text message of the portions that he's reading from that
same book, the Master Plan of Evangelism, 40 years later.
Our relationship with God, our ministry development, our ability to consistently feed the flock
of God is greatly affected by the books we read.
And anyone of that mindset knows that there is a warm association with books that have
helped shape our faith, that have revealed to us more and more of Jesus, have helped
us and taught us to correctly interpret scripture so that we are presenting people with sound
doctrine.
They have been responsible for expanding a great deal of the height and the depth and
the breadth and the length of our walk with God and the work of the ministry.
I see Steve here and Harry and Pastor Nigel.
Well, any of us that have had the privilege over the years of going and preaching in the
UK, one of our aims, not just beyond the revival or the conference, wasn't we were there to
see the Queen, we were there so we could make a trip to Book Aid.
And there at Book Aid we could get our hands on some of the classic authors, English and
Scottish throughout the last two centuries, the J.D. Jones, the J. Stuart Holden, the
William Mackay, the Clarence McCartney.
And it's why our luggage going home weighed more than when we left and it should be reversed.
Because why?
It's loaded up with books.
Now you may think you're listening to a dinosaur, but our personal, our professional and our
spiritual growth is inseparably connected to our reading.
My early Christian development, my early years in the pastorate were shaped and helped by
the books and the authors that I invited into my life, the Vance Havners, the Oswald Sanders,
the F.B. Myers, the Alan Redpath, the Clovis Chappell, the Warren Worsby, the Charles Swindoll
and Martin Lloyd Jones and R.T. Kendall, Paul Johnson and the intellectuals, Walter Isaacson
in all his biographies, David McCullough in his historical fiction, the John Krakauer
talking about the climbing and summiting of Mount Everest, William Manchester's classic
three-volume set on Winston Churchill called The Last Lion, the Malcolm Gladwells, the
John Stott, the Gary Inrigs, the G. Campbell Morgans, the R. Kent Hughes and I could go
on and I could go on, but all of that was deposited in my life, number one by the Holy
Spirit and number two by my pastor for almost 50 years and his example and his library that
started me on a lifelong journey beginning with, and let me get this out of the way so
you think I'm somehow trying to supplant the Bible, beginning with, thy word have I
hidden in my heart, O Lord, that I might not sin against thee, that I rule for faith, I
rule for all of life is only one thing and that is the Bible, the inspired infallible
word of God. But when it comes to a pastor and his books, we must be very deliberate
and very strategic when it comes to our reading. Matt and Terry McDonald are here in conference
for years in our conference and they've expanded out to El Paso, I believe McAllen and other
places, a ministry called Work of Ministry where during conference he supplies and sells
people books, many of which I've just alluded to and its value is not that he drops too
grand in of profit from a week of conference for world evangelism, the value is what is
imparted to the people who say I'm going to become deliberate about my reading. So look
at 2 Timothy 4 with me beginning in verse 9 and I'm reading this from the New Living
Translation, Timothy please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he
loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescent has gone to Galatia
and Titus has gone to Dalmatia, only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come
for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tycheus to Ephesus, when you come be
sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books and especially
my papers. So let me begin and talk about the neglected regimen because the statistics
here are not encouraging at all. This comes from Hogwarts professor but 33% of high school
graduates never read another book the rest of their lives. And before you say oh my wow
it gets worse 42% of college grads never read another book after college. 70% of US adults
have not been in a bookstore and let me clarify my bookstore is Amazon just for expedient
sake etc. but 70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last 5 years and 80%
of US families did not buy or read a book last year. And it gets worse as you look at
Gen Z the first generation of what is called digital natives who have never known a world
without social media they are reading less than previous generations and I have a graph
that shows a 20% drop in avid readers from the baby boomers to the Gen Zers. Now it is
very easy to say oh yeah the culprit and to put blame on screens and obviously they have
had an immense impact on reading proficiency and all kinds of other things but like so
much in life you can't just grab the low hanging fruit you have to look a little deeper
there was an article that stood out why aren't kids falling in love with reading and they
didn't spend all the time talking about screens what they said is it is a lot about the way
they are being taught they are no longer being taught to read for fun. Now just that statement
alone if you don't get it read for what? Fun? That's why I am preaching this. Enjoyment
the percentage of 8 to 13 year olds who said they read daily for fun has dropped by double
digits since 1984 and so to pirate a phrase inquiring minds want to know and here is our
text as Paul is writing from a Roman prison these are many believe 2 Timothy was his final
epistle these are some of his last words what is at the forefront of his thinking the first
is obvious it is Timothy's companionship Timothy please come as soon as you can Timothy
I don't know for sure but it feels like my time is running out and if we are going to
communicate face to face you need to make this a priority come quickly. He says bring
John Mark with you the glowing mark of restoration in the New Testament and we are in the restoration
business physical needs you know what you know the coat that really nice soft leather
one that I left with the carpets at Troas make sure you do a little detour pick up that
coat he doesn't need it I am in jail I need to stay warm bring that coat and then also
bring my books and especially my papers I won't just preach at you I will preach at
me if I was in a Roman prison would that be my request bring my books and especially my
papers and he is writing to Timothy his son in the faith and he makes reference to Timothy's
own life long regimen 2 Timothy 3 how from childhood you have been acquainted with the
sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus all scriptures breathed out by God and profitable for teaching for reproof for correction
and training and righteousness that the man of God may be complete to equip for every
good work if that is to in any way resemble you and I then we must like Timothy develop
a life long reading habit.
Brad East wrote an article called who are young Christians reading today and he specifically
has in mind the 15 to 25 year old age groups who are the people they are reading and he
is asking it in a questioning way he is not postulating to have all answers but he said
the first answer that came to my mind is they are not reading most Christians in this age
range are not reading anything at all much less something that has thoughtful theology
and genuine spiritual content to it and then the second thing that came to mind he said
was well reading is being replaced with quote consuming content so now we do not have writers
we have content creators on YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, Spotify and so obviously people are
listening they are watching they are scrolling but is anyone asking you know who are they
listening watching to what is it any good or is it complete drivel and then the final
answer is that a few of these 15 to 25 age group are actually reading real books good
books from authors that help connect you to Christ broaden your thinking challenge your
understanding the kind of books that push and prod you in your spiritual life stimulates
you to think and to dig deeper motivates you to reach out more determinately who are they
reading you say well why should this be a concern why is this fitting well if you just
heard that sermon on people's minds you understand this should concern us big big time because
so much success growth and enjoyment in life is connected to a lifelong reading regimen
and if it is missing from your life you are missing out on so so much there are lots of
platforms today yes and I am not against them but reading a book is different from scrolling
a website it is different from watching a video or even listening to a podcast put yourself
in a position where 90 minutes I would make it longer but listen I don't want to be you
know go 90 minutes you don't move there is no screen and there unless you are reading
off of a Kindle give me a break I am not parsing things that where there is no sound except
the sound of you turning pages and I could go on and on the verified benefits of reading
books how they can positively affect your life but let me be cognizant of time and move
on and talk to you secondly about the ministry parentheses life requisite and very strong
but very very true words were spoken by the great revivalist John Wesley who told young
ministers in his age either read or get out of the ministry he believed this was essential
for lifelong ministerial development and you know what I am looking around the best I can
there is no one who stands out with a sign I have already arrived I may be preaching
to the choir to a great deal but I like preaching to the choir too as well as others.
A.W. Tozer commented about Wesley and said quote he read science and history with a book
propped against his saddle pommel as he rode from one engagement to another Oswald Sanders
in his classic book spiritual leadership devotes a whole chapter to the subject of the leader
and reading and he insists quote the leader who intends to grow spiritually and intellectually
will be constantly reading and I could list all manner of people that have deeply influenced
my life and ministry G. Campbell Morgan where I developed a love for breaking down scripture
verse by verse almost word by word Philip Greenslade in his book leadership servanthood
and greatness delved the deepest I have ever read into the subject of discipleship and
leadership Joseph Tosini who just wrote with such clarity about how central the church
is to the purposes of God in the earth and what I am saying this morning is we must set
the bar high.
Pastor Foley I don't mind repeating the verse Colossians 3 16 let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom singing psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Books are tools and I use my
tools. There is an adage amongst builders you don't ever lend out your tools. And it
didn't just say in a casual way it said let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. It's
not talking about a sparse bank account but a burgeoning overflowing deposit of God's
word and wisdom in your life and ministry. If I could put it another way pastors must
be voracious bookworms because it means you understand your vocation which entails wide
and deep and consistent and sustained reading. The only way you're going to consistently
impart sound doctrine and understanding is if you take this aspect of life very seriously
and more than that you even develop an enjoyment. It was Harry Truman who said not every reader
is a leader but every leader is a reader. Harry Truman was considered a dark horse in
his political party as a candidate to follow FDR. He took office in April of 1945 and within
months he was going to face the greatest trial no human being up until that time had ever
faced a trial like Truman did which was the nuclear decision. He was going to have to
deal with the rebuilding of Germany and Japan. Now the challenge of the new atomic age the
beginning of the cold war and you ask how important was this man's life long reading
habit started as a young boy in his later role as the President of the United States
and his own words tell us he said quote our public library in Independence Missouri had
about three or four thousand volumes including encyclopedias believe it or not I read them
all maybe and I'll just clarify or I'll interpret maybe I was a darn fool but it served me well
when my terrible trial came. General James Mattis was an avid reader and wherever he
was stationed in the Marine Corps across the globe he would bring books with him and I
want you to hear why he did that because recently he wrote how unconscionable it is for a military
leader to be quote filling body bags while they learn by trial and error. He said they
owe it to their soldiers to learn as much as humanly possible from the experience of
history before trying to learn on their own to not pick up a book is a dereliction of
duty. Thank God that you know we're not sitting here you know facing the same kind
of trials that a Harry Truman or James Mattis but the point stands and that is whether it's
being the best employee the best investor the best spouse the best friend the best fellow
citizen the best ourselves is not just learning by trial and error when we can also pick up
a book and accelerate that process. Pastor Foley movingly talked about troubled minds
and the like but if good leaders are going to have a mind for God and that is not an
automatic by the way if we're going to have a mind for God there must be a ceaseless appetite
for learning for self improvement for wisdom and for books that improve you as a human
being. We're without excuse. I know that not all reading is created equal. I have enough
books in my house to last four lifetimes. Have you read them all pastor? No but I have
a serious book. Jones. One of the questions that needs to be asked at times is what books
have changed your life? They're not all equal. Greek philosopher Epictus said that he spoke
about books worthy of the focus of my energy and it was Sir Francis Bacon who really this
is brilliant. He said some books are to be tasted meaning you read the first chapter
you've read the whole book. Others are to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and
digested. Those are the books that you get your pen out and as you're reading you're
underlying and me you know if I put a star and if it really moves me I put a double star
and sometimes just to shake it up I'll put an exclamation point and if it really you
know jacks me up I'll put triple three exclamation points and then you know if I like it I just
circle the whole sentence. Some you mark up those are the books that you don't just read
right once you reread them and this is why H.L. Mencken said no one gets anywhere in
this world in any really an endurable manner without some recourse to books and I could
put it this way as leaders what we're reading is leading us and before we segue you know
all of this relates to something critical why we are even gathered here this week and
that is the essence of who you are and who you are becoming especially Jesus' invitation
to become a disciple. The biggest mistake people make about discipleship and the words
back in vogue everybody uses it now where years back nobody would touch it with a hot
like a hot potato it was mentor but you know the biggest mistake is thinking discipleship
is something that you're receiving something that happens to you but the word Jesus used
many of you know this is the word methodes which means learner and you can only be a
learner if you are the one doing the learning. If you are a disciple as in a learner that
means you are to be actively engaged in learning and it is your responsibility to take up
the mantle of self development not some kind of passive well I'm not being fed if you're
not being fed get out a fork and spoon and knife cook yourself some food and feed yourself.
You know I've only been saved 25 years dear Lord. I'm just leaving church I've been a
Christian for 30 years three decades I'm just not being fed feed yourself brother sister
teenager. Let me close and talk about establishing another parenthesis enjoying a rhythm. Now
I am preaching this from a place of experience but also from a place of need because I haven't
arrived and also I'm preaching it from a place of guilt because trying to write a book has
completely upset my normal rhythm my normal pastoral reading rhythm. That's why at the
beginning of 2024 one of my goals slash resolutions mock resolutions but I do want to improve
those to have better discipline to be intentional to work at several related things. I brought
a picture first three real quick that is my office hold it there just for a minute that
is the right side just the right side of my office. Yeah that's a called a working man's
office number two okay that's the left side of the office number three and that's my desk
and I believe that is me son peri a ultimate meaning the natural right there empty cans
because if you're going to work you're going to stay hydrated in the desert. It made it
into the picture that may even be the servant I'm preaching right now on the screen I don't
know now having seen all that I wonder where did I pick that up.
And there's impartation because he did that Pastor Mitchell never taught me you know the
secret is piles and piles and piles go back you know go back a couple let's go back and
just see you know there's maybe not as many as he had but I'm still in the running and
okay so and so I mentioned this because I know where in my house and in my office and
in my desk books are located on my desk on the whether it's my desk right or left whether
it's the two tables in the office the dining room the bedroom the butcher block where my
espresso machine for not somebody said four shot now this is for six shot you know only
once a day that's all and so but I know where these are and you know what it's like you
know cats my cat takes things and hides things all over the house well I've done that I can
go and I know my pipeline right now on my desk on the left hand side is a book called
the self aware leader and it's in my pipeline because I want to read that because I have
been shocked by the lack of self awareness that many leaders have and even in my own
life and you know what if you know the Greek said know thyself while we know that secondary
to the primary command which is no God but knowing God you better know yourself you better
be developing a degree of self awareness about who you are not read your own press clippings
or anything you better know who I am that's on the left side of my desk and then also
on back left are numerous books on finances and investments about 40 years too late but
I figure I better educate myself and then over on the right is a book by Adam Grant
called think again which is all about the critical art of rethinking you think you know
this or you don't know that you better practice rethinking what I believe I better rethink
and make sure that I'm on track and then there are books on that table on Hosea Habakkuk
and first John which is the next books of the Bible that I want to do a deep dive into
and then on my butcher block on top of the expresso machine are two devotionals so I
can sit there and you know sip my morning coffee read these devotionals and then in
my bedroom next to my bed is a book by John Krakauer called when men win glory all about
them on the name just slip the football player Pat Tillman thank you Pat Tillman who played
for the Arizona Cardinals who left it all and joined the military became an army ranger
was shot and killed in Afghanistan but the tragedy that followed is his higher ups covered
that up because he was actually killed by friendly fire and then next to that and this
is for those rare occasions I haven't even you know it's been probably a year and a
half sitting there is a novel by Daniel Silva all about an Israeli spy Gabriel Alon that
when I want to do some brainless reading like I don't care if I remember a single word
I just want to enjoy myself relax a little bit that's there and then hundreds of others
I haven't mentioned the point I'm making and then on oh I forgot the dining room table
I said I better up I better up my game here and one of the classics by Leo Tolstoy the
death of Ivan Ilyich because there is in there a powerful narrative on forgiveness.
It's why Aaron Thornton said they are the best friends we can ever have it is through
books that we open our minds improve ourselves and are strengthened in our intelligence broaden
our horizons acquire wide and varying knowledge and are inspired to change our lives and the
world around us and there is beloved a guideline we can all follow there are varying degrees
you know they told me about this Savanta that he can actually read he actually reads the
left page out of his left eye and the right page out of his right eye and he can read
you know a whole page in eight seconds listen you may be like most of us slogging through
but here's the guideline Psalms 119 103 how sweet are your words to my taste sweeter than
honey to my mouth what I'm saying is we can all improve no you don't have an eidetic memory
a photographic memory you may struggle to remember what you read the not just the you
know not just the specific words but the title you may even struggle there but the point
and then you may read slowly but you know the mistake is to say well why bother oh
be encouraged brothers and sisters we can all improve our reading skills and there is
a perspective and an encouragement to the man of God that I want to leave with you as
I hope a powerful takeaway because I don't know about you I've been I've read something
and then forgot 99.76 you get discouraged but I read about two things I'm going to tell
you about the power of the 1% and the power of the 99% the power of the 1% came from 1981
when John Piper was a young pastor and he's trying to encourage his Sunday school teachers
who felt hopeless you know here we have a measly one hour to try to help these kids
who watch countless hours of TV every week this is even before social media they'd be
in absolute utter despair today and he talked to them about the immeasurable moment and
here's what he said to them I do not remember 99% of what I read I don't remember books
whole and then here's what he went on to say it is sentences that change your life
not books what changes the life is a new glimpse into reality or truth or some powerful challenge
that comes to us or some resolution of a long-standing dilemma that we've had and most of those the
insight the challenge or the resolution are usually embodied in a very short little space
a paragraph or a sentence and whammo it hits home and we remember it and affects us for
our whole life long it's the power of the 1% let's get real it's the power of the point
1764% but then flip that over the other side of the coin and you have the power of the
other 99% I don't I hope I'm talking to real people and generally you know a thousand
or more pastor eyeballs on me freak me freaks me out but today I knew I'm right I'm right
on you know all I have to do is grab the ball like I said after pastor Brown pastor Foley
and just with authority you ever get discouraged that the people in your church you preach
what you think should be enshrined for generations to come a message you slaved over it and you
know I don't know about these guys who you know they put messages together in an hour
and a half takes me days weeks and you preach it and then 10 days later they don't remember
anything you said what am I doing this for they didn't appreciate the brilliant alliteration
that I just used regimen requisite rhythm oh and they don't remember that at all the
only one who is impressed is you and your and my tiny pea brains I'm gonna live with
the illusion that every words just bursting through with explosive dynamic power don't
don't you know love is blind let me stay blind you know but here is the quote furthermore
did we think the parts of the sermon of a church member doesn't remember has no formative
effect surely the quote forgettable parts still matter how the pastor treats the text
carefully explaining its meaning adorning it with good illustrations seeing in light
of the wider world of Christian teaching driving toward an encounter with God all these practices
shape the listener in imperceptible ways and then it goes on the same is true for books
you don't remember Austin Carty says quote uploading information to our brains is not
the main reason for reading and he makes this brilliant analogy anybody got an iPhone up
here the first row somebody help me real quick okay let me see what's you know I don't want
to case on it come on I want to give me you can tell okay so I can't go into a time I
did this Sunday in my church the first phone only had one lens I thought oh that sister
is and she was older she was a white hair like me because when you got this you don't
need 55 lenses just take the picture and then the second person I asked gave me their phone
it has two lenses well this has three and then when I was done somebody came up to me
and showed me his phone it's got five lenses but the point is is that in the days when
there was only one lens there's the image take it but now with various lenses the depth
Aaron Rodgers I get the quarterback you know that used to play for the Packers is calling
it okay sorry but with the different lenses there is what there's a depth there is a perception
there is a richness that wasn't there before and that's what reading does to you and I
and he goes on to say the filters on your phone's photo app older phones had only the
image and nothing more no other lens to see it through but the variety of filters now
available allow you to see the images in ways that draw out its richness and he ends with
this the point is this the primary purpose of reading is not to be able to consciously
recall what we have read it's to constantly keep refining the lens through which we see
reality I had Michael tell me you know it was our IT guy that and media guy that every
time someone asked you can you take a picture of it the first thing he does is clean the
lens I haven't cleaned the lens in my phone for 30 years I don't know what you're talking
about but it even though we don't remember 90% of what we read it still gets inside of
us in ways we're unaware of and at depths we don't know we have it still enriches our
filter even when we don't realize it's happening
my closing statement mic drop time because you can debate what I'm preaching but you
know what excited me the most is I saw I preach this Sunday morning I thought you know I don't
always have the luxury of trying out my conference sermon rarely but I did and I'm seeing 12
and 13 14 year olds at the altar I'm thinking oh talking about you talking about Jesus is
mine for the rest of their life but let me take you to a scene un-eclipsed in its grandeur
and its majesty Revelation 20 11 and 12 then I saw a great white throne in him who was
seated on it from his presence the earth and sky fled away and no place was found for them
and I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne and books were opened then
another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged by what was
written in the books according to what they had done you know it's a sin to even say
this when I haven't even finished my first book but this is book number two the books
were opened what books the books contained in God's library which contains everything
you've ever done every thought you've ever entertained every tear you've ever shed every
achievement that he's enabled you to accomplish every soul that has been eternally impacted
for Jesus Christ that when this time finally arrives the books are going to be opened and
in light of that Lord let my lifelong habit whether I'm a teenager young pastor and OG
or part of the silent generation which is me and those older than me me and pastor Campbell
that's about a few others sprinkled but a lifelong habit I forgot to tell you my title
the title has to be because how are they going to post this without a title I did forget
it's called read to lead and I want you to bow your heads with me this morning no accident
God's handiwork is always so astounding the messages this morning God being a father to
the fatherless the almost unparalleled miracle of the Gataring sitting cloth and in his right
mind God desiring to give us a right mind and one of the tools at our disposal to do
that is our reading habit I'm preaching largely to pastors if you think please let's get
the record straight if you think everything I preached comes mysteriously out of the synapses
and pastor Kevin you gave me a new word you're going to have to tell me later rather connected
or whatever you know if you think all of it just mysteriously pops out of that and here's
brilliant revelation to pop your balloon it is the fruit of a life long habit of reading
and from all kinds of different sources I don't want to stay in an echo chamber I want
to broaden my understanding always grounded in scripture always grounded in the will of
God but one of the tools to having a sound mind my passion my pastoral passion is Romans
12 verse 2 let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think it guides
so much of my ministry something I deeply care about and have tried to impart to people
at every level of service in our congregation are we thinking biblically are we coming more
and more into possession of the mind of Christ and whether it is God revealing to you that
unparalleled revelation that he is our father or whether it is the necessity of a sound
mind
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