Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
Guest Post | The Benefits of Involvement by Nick Floyd
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Dr. Nick Floyd. Dr. Floyd is a Teaching Pastor at Cross Church.
A few years ago, Dr. Jeff Crawford called and asked me about my openness to serve on one of our Southern Baptist Convention seminary boards. At the time, Jeff was the Pastor at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith and was serving on the Southern Baptist Committee on Nominations, which elects people to the different boards across our convention of churches. A few months later, he nominated me to serve as a trustee at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I want to share a few of the benefits I have found while being involved on the board of Southern Seminary.
Benefit #1 – Relationships
The one thing I have enjoyed above all else is the relationships I have gained through serving on this board. I’ve had the privilege to be around people I otherwise wouldn’t have if not for this opportunity. I’ve had the chance to sit and watch leaders like Al Mohler and Dan Dumas up close. The common thing these men and others in the administration say to all of us who are trustees is, “Thank you for serving.” I feel like I have gained way more than I have ever been able to pour out. The number one thing I have gained is relationships that I believe will last for years to come.
Benefit #2 – Learning
My knowledge of Southern Seminary was honestly very limited. I did not attend Southern Seminary. I’m a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I had driven through the campus of Southern Seminary only once when I was in Louisville for something else. I literally did not even get out of the car. When I say I knew little about the seminary, I mean it.
I say all that to point out that one of the greatest benefits of being involved has simply been learning about Southern Seminary. I’ve learned about the history of Southern and the future of Southern. It has been a journey of learning that I have loved. The learning has gone way beyond just simple facts about a seminary in Louisville. I’ve learned things about ministry and leadership that will enhance my own ministry here in Arkansas. For that, I am grateful.
Benefit #3 – Connection
The final benefit has been that I have been able to make the connection that Southern Seminary has with the whole of the Southern Baptist Convention. It’s very easy to attend a Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting and never connect the dots between the work and ministries of all of our entities. This opportunity has given me a chance to see that the mission of Southern Seminary is no different than that of our other Great Commission Ministries. It’s the same mission as my own seminary, Southwestern, and all of our other seminaries. It’s the same mission of The International Mission Board and our other entities. This mission is the Great Commission! All of these entities have a unique role to play within the overall mission. What this opportunity has given me is a greater understanding of how it all connects together.
Get Involved
I want to close with a simple encouragement: Get involved. It’s very easy to sit on the sidelines and complain about things going on within the Southern Baptist Convention. I truly believe those who sit on the outside calling for change will be the ones who will never be able to influence change. Change in the Southern Baptist Convention will come from the inside out, not from the outside in. Get involved with one of our entities. Get involved with your state convention or local association. Just like our entities, we all have a unique role to play within the Great Commission. Are you playing your part?
Dr. Nick Floyd
Teaching Pastor, Cross Church
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Dealing with Failure as a Pastor
Dealing with failure is one of the most difficult challenges in the life and ministry of a pastor. Failing to meet our own expectations and the expectations of others can lead to an overwhelming sense of guilt.
Failure exists everywhere
Everywhere we look today, we see failure:
- Our nation’s foreign policy
- Our nation’s financial uncertainty
- Our businesses or churches, when certain goals are not reached
- Marriages that end in divorce
- Parenting that is inconsistent and ineffective
- Containing worldwide threats like the Ebola virus and the advancement of the terrorist group ISIS
Undoubtedly, failure is a part of life.
One thing I know
One thing I know is that we are all quite gifted in failure. I feel as the Apostle Paul, I am the chief of sinners; or in this case, I am the most experienced in failure.
I realize that when we struggle with failure, we can be overcome with a deep sense of guilt. But we also begin to hear the endless accusations of Satan as he accuses us personally, before others, and even before God Himself. This often leads us into a cycle of endless failure.
There is hope
Peter, one of the greatest men in human history, was a man who failed Jesus miserably, but was later raised up to be used of God extraordinarily.
- One moment, Peter was declaring Jesus as the Son of God and being commended by Jesus before others. The next moment, he was being rebuked by Jesus because of his false view of Jesus’ role in life.
- One moment, Peter was in the presence of Jesus, experiencing community with His Last Supper. A few hours later, Peter was denying he had ever met Jesus.
- Through his grief and devastation, God raised Peter up supernaturally as a picture of forgiveness, grace, and power; because through this man, the gospel was preached as the church was birthed into existence.
Therefore, since God did this with Peter, he can do it with you. There is hope!
You may feel you are the worst failure in ministry today, completely unqualified to serve because of some of your failures. Yet, God may have a plan for you that is far superior to what you have ever imagined.
Think on these things related to failure in life and ministry
1. Failure is not the end: Love forgives you.
Just as Peter understood God’s love, we need to understand God’s love.
Do you remember what Peter stated under the inspiration of God’s Spirit?
He wrote these words in 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
Pastor, above all, have an intense love for all people. Never let anyone outside of your circle of love. Why? Because God’s love covers a multitude of our own sins. Peter understood this as much as anyone. We need to understand it also.
Stop believing your failure is the end! It is not. Love forgives you. Therefore, forgive yourself. Forgive others. Let it go. Go forward in your life and ministry.
2. Failure can lead to a new future: Grace restores you.
What you may view as a major setback, God may want to use as a major set up for a new future for your life and ministry. How can this be possible? Grace!
Grace restores you! It takes that which appears to be broken and repairs it to God’s glory. Thank God, grace restores you and me!
We view failure many times as an enemy, but it is a great teaching tool. It points out our weakness and helps us see our deep need for God. Failure can help us chart a new future, all because of grace.
3. Failure is not fatal: The Holy Spirit empowers you.
Many pastors are so overwhelmed by their failure that they buy into the demonic words of Satan that declare failure is fatal. It is not fatal!
If it were, Peter would have been declared dead the instant of his denials.
Yet, the Holy Spirit raised him up supernaturally. He can and will do the same for you and me. The Holy Spirit wants to empower us to follow Jesus all the way to death, into eternal life and heaven itself.
Finally…
Please remember the next time you are overcome with failure, love forgives you, grace restores you, and the Holy Spirit empowers you.
There is hope for you and me.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.