Fire In The Pulpit . . . A Testimony From Sunday!
Yesterday I entered the pulpit on the same day that I completed a round of antibiotics for bronchitis. This past week resulted in limited energy, with little to no voice, but still a full, normal agenda. While still able to maintain my overall fitness, each day was a struggle. Therefore, when I went to bed on Saturday night, I had no idea the level that my physical and vocal strength would be on Sunday.
My Expectation Grew
Yesterday morning, I had a meaningful, fulfilling quiet time, truly engaged with the Father. When I went to the treadmill for a one-hour jog while going over my message for that morning, I was not sure how I would do.
Energy was provided, voice was limited, but my expectation was growing.
You see, what I had within me was a growing ember, a text from Acts 2:1-13 that was catching great fire within my heart. By the time I climbed off of that treadmill, I knew, “God was going to let me preach this dynamic text and do so with fire!” How else could anyone ever preach Acts 2:1-13?
Even as I drove to our Pinnacle Hills Campus to deliver God’s message twice yesterday, my expectation continued to grow. Ever-increasing within me was God working in and through me, not just getting me through the day, but also prevailing against the enemy victoriously. I began to realize…
My Heart Was On Fire
Nothing can set a preacher’s heart on fire anymore than the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what was happening to me. I had experienced it within me, hundreds of times, but even with my limited physical ability this day, God was doing it again!
Friends, my heart began catching on fire this past Monday morning, in my study time, when the text started seizing my heart. I could not do anything to keep it from burning, for God was working within me, stirring me, changing me, creating in me expectancy! Yet, the winds of challenge happened during the week. I was not used to seeing the attacks rage in this way in some time. Physically! Yes, an assault on my physical energy, viability, and even voice.
But praise God, He is faithful! For that which He started on Monday morning in my study time, He finished yesterday morning! As I entered the pulpit with limited energy and voice, God miraculously strengthened both because my heart was on fire!
I Preached Like A Wild Man!
I tell you, I could not hold myself back at all. I could not measure out my energy and voice one service at a time. You see, I did not know for certain Jesus would not come between services so I laid it all out, holding nothing back!
Some would say, “Pastor, you preached like a Pentecostal preacher today!” Others would say, “Pastor, you preached like a wild man!” My friends, please know, you can call it what you want to call it, but yesterday fire entered that pulpit!
The Holy Spirit that awakens the Word of God within us and sets us aflame empowers us to preach with fire in the pulpit! Even with physical limitation, God is not limited! He is able! He never fails us!
Let It Happen This Week In You
Wherever you go this week and whatever you face, let this same fire burn within you and through you this week. It starts with a moment in God’s Word when His Word enters your heart like an arrow on fire. It continues with the Holy Spirit turning it into an ember that rages with flames.
Through you, His life and Word lives! Seek Him. Grab hold of the Word and let the Word grab hold of your heart! Appeal to the Spirit of God this week to set your heart on fire!
He did it for me. He can do it for you.
Let God Set Your Heart On Fire!
Ronnie Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
15 Days – The Cross Church School of Ministry
ronniefloyd.com welcomes guest writer Dr. Jeff Crawford. Dr. Crawford is the President of the Cross Church School of Ministry, which launches in August 2013, and he also serves as a Teaching Pastor of Cross Church Northwest Arkansas.
Fifteen days ago I left a thriving pastorate of seven years at my home church in Fort Smith, Ark. Grand Avenue Baptist Church is where I was saved. It is where I was baptized. It is where I was called to the ministry. And it is where I preached my first sermon while on a youth mission trip. Last year at Grand we baptized over 100 people (for the first time in over 20 years), had one of the largest giving years in our 78 year history, ended the year $200,000 ahead of budget, were a top 200 church in giving to Lottie Moon, and sent over 10% of our people on a mission trip somewhere around the world. Grand is going and blowing. So why would I leave such a church? Some have wondered if there was a problem. There wasn’t. Some have probably (and privately) wondered if there was a scandal. Nope. I am sure some people just think I am crazy. Perhaps, that’s debatable:) The gut honest truth is that it’s all about the call. In fact it’s always been about the call for me.
Answering God’s Call And Preparation
The call of God is a powerful thing. I was called when I was 14 years old. I made up my mind to make the most of my call and that included the best preparation I could find. I graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in philosophy. I went on to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for my masters of divinity in biblical languages and then to The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for my doctor of education degree, writing a dissertation on biblical literacy. That was my “formal” preparation. Formal preparation is important. But it’s not the only preparation. The informal preparation comes when the rubber meets the road. It comes in the local church. Along the way of my formal preparation I was fortunate to pass through many great churches in various capacities – youth, discipleship, singles, etc. I also passed through some bad churches. Not that the church in itself was bad, but the situation was not healthy. There was one point early on that could have ended my ministry had I allowed myself to become disillusioned by the experience. Let’s face it. Some churches just aren’t nice. And some church people and some pastors don’t really give a new college or seminary graduate much slack when it comes to learning HOW to actually DO ministry.
So How Do You Learn Ministry?
Enter the Cross Church School of Ministry. There is a need. A huge need. Needs tend to arise from holes. Something is missing. Something is not getting done. There’s a gap. A hole. A need. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And so have most all my friends in the ministry. In fact, since coming to lead the Cross Church School of Ministry I have had many conversations with pastors and colleagues in ministry. I can tell you that without exception they all identify with this hole of which I speak. They’ve seen it too…and lived it. In fact, it seems to be the elephant in the room that we all try to not talk about. Well, now we are talking. And not just talking, we are doing.
The Cross Church School of Ministry is for the called. The call of God is too awesome and too precious to not handle with great care. God’s called deserve the best preparation for the ministry to God’s people that is available. It is time for the informal to become formal. Because I am called, and because I understand this call, and because I have a heart for that next generation of the called, I have answered a new call – The Cross Church School of Ministry. It really does not get any more complicated than that.
And that brings me to the Church. I believe that the Church should own the preparation of those called by God. YES, there is a place for colleges. YES, there is a place for seminaries. That place is to come along side the Church and to assist the Church as it seeks to prepare the called – not replace the Church. Our problem has been this: the Church has passed off its role of preparing the called to the college and the seminary alone. They have owned none of it. And so we have what we have. Graduates who have excellent theological education and preparation but don’t have a clue how to actually do ministry. The answer to this problem is not in the college or seminary but in the Church.
Let’s Roll
And so Cross Church has begun a School of Ministry. We are officially 15 days old today. And my goodness what a 15 days it has been. If there was any doubt that God is in the Cross Church School of Ministry, these first 15 days should wash that away. I have had numerous young people, called by God, seeking me out via Twitter, email, phone, and even in person. They want to know more. And they are serious about preparing for their call. The Cross Church School of Ministry does not compete with our colleges and seminaries but complements them. In these first 15 days I have communicated directly with the presidents of all six Southern Baptist seminaries and various others. I have communicated with major regional universities. And after just 15 days, we have secured partnership agreements with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the College at Southwestern, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the College at Southeastern, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Union University, and doors have been opened wide for the development of similar partnerships with Oklahoma Baptist University, Ouachita Baptist University, Southwest Baptist University, Criswell College, Liberty University and Liberty Seminary. And we have also secured a tremendously exciting partnership with the North American Mission Board whereby we will become a major training center for church planters. Listen, if God is calling you to plant a church, you need to come to the Cross Church School of Ministry this coming fall!
So the stage is set. In just 15 days. We are ready to roll. We are ready for God called men and women to come to the Cross Church School of Ministry in August of 2013 to be a part of our first cohort of students. To experience our unique one-year residential ministry preparatory experience. And then to go out and change the world for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For more information on the Cross Church School of Ministry, contact Dr. Jeff Crawford at jeffc@crosschurch.com
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.