Pastor's Blog - Entries from October 2009
SatSaturdayOctOctober31st2009
Learning More Practical Ministry
Another week is complete and yet another week of learning. Tuesday was a great day as we worked through Revelation 3:7-13 with Pastor James. He gave us a lot of great insight as showed us how he works through a passage when he is preparing a sermon. What a priveldge to sit under one of the best expositors in our country. I am learning a lot about the process of moving from explaination to illustration and application. Pastor James has a great ability in this regard. I am very excited about seeing how God uses His Word through Pastor James this weekend.
We also had an opportunity to practice baptising. One of the campus pastors pretended to be a person wanting to be baptised. So then we all took turns entering the tank with him and going through the process of receiving his testimony and then baptising him. It was a great learning process as he presented different scenarios that have been seen through the years.
We also learned about how to do hospital visitation in an effective way. In a way that is a blessing to the patient, the family and the doctors and nurses. What a blessing to think through this important aspect of the ministry. Folks that are sick and families that are mourning deserve the best possible care from their Pastor.
We also had the opportunity to sit and observe a leadership meeting for the 5 campuses. Although this meeting is on such a larger level than I may ever see at HBC Calgary, it is very helpful to think things through how to lead a leadership team. There are many things that I have gleaned through having the opportunity to sit in on these meetings.
In our classroom time we have been evaluating old sermons done by each of the guys in the class. This is done to think through how the sermon could have been formed better. This is a humbling but very important practice. We also discussed the structure of the sermon.
This weekend I will have the opportunity to be with Pastor Rick on Sunday morning, learning from him and how he ministers on Sunday morning. I will also attend a small group Sunday afternoon.
Another great week. Praying for those who have commited to be a part of the core team. Each night as the girls go to bed we have a family prayer time and we have been praying for a different family each night. What a blessing to be a part of the body of Christ! Have a great weekend as you worship the King of Kings!
Trevor
FriFridayOctOctober23rd2009
What a Week!!
I will attempt to sum up a very full last week. First let me just say that it is a tremendous blessing to serve the Lord with Harvest Bible Chapel. I flew home back to Calgary just over a week ago. In my time in Calgary I had meeting after meeting lined up for my 4 days back. It was so encouraging talking with the folks back home about Harvest Bible Chapel Calgary. I met with Pastors, family and old friends. The body of Christ is so great. Whether we have just seen someone or whether it has been years since we have seen one another there is such a great bond that we share as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Meeting after meeting I witnessed the Lord's hand in each. It is also very humbling to see the lengths that some people will sacrifice in order to be a part of what the Lord is doing with us. Some people drove 2 hours one way just to support us. Others sacrificed their time and money. I am convinced more than ever that the Lord is at work and that it is His desire that H.B.C. comes to Calgary. We had our open house on Sunday night and we had a great turn out. The result of that meeting is that there is now 19 adults and 16 children who have expressed their desire to be a part of the core team. They will be part of the team that will be responsible for launching Harvest Bible Chapel Calgary in September 2010. Wow! Very cool!
I flew back to Chicago after getting 2 hours of sleep on Sunday night. Once I arrived I got see my girls for an hour or so and then I was off to a night with the Harvest Bible Fellowship. Senior Pastors with Harvest Bible Chapel from all over the U.S. and Canada met for a few days. The first night we a great time of fellowship getting to know one another over some pizza and then we had a great time of conversation around a campfire. I learn so much as I listen to these godly men wrestling through Biblical issues.
Tuesday we examined the different elements that make up a Harvest church. It was greatly encouraging to think through ministry and think about how God wants His church to operate. We discussed in detail the 4 pillars and how they are seen pragmatically in the church. Also great to think through the importance of assimilation and small groups (discipleship). The day was very enriching. Tuesday evening all the pastors hopped on a bus and we went to downtown Chicago and enjoyed a night of fellowship together over some ribs. I was really blessed by learning how God is working in different cities in the U.S. and Canada. What a blessing to be a part of the fellowship.
Wednesday morning we discussed a variety of issues that Pastors encounter...things like preaching, how to have a high impact service and a variety of other issues. Wednesday we discussed the process of choosing elders. We had a great discussion and I was really reminded of the gravity of the position of being an elder. The rest of the week we have continued learning more about preaching.
To say the least we have had a full week. Tough to break things down much further without feeling I will have you snoozing by the time that you finish reading this blog. I will close for now and Lord willing I will have my next post before too long.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
WedWednesdayOctOctober7th2009
Preaching Phase Begins
I'm excited to now be in the preaching phrase of the training that we are receiving. This phase will be over the next seven weeks. This week we are working on sermon outlines. When looking at a passage there are a few things to consider. First, you need to determine the context of the passage. You need to read the verses previous and following in order for you to understand the flow of thought of the author. This prevents reading things into a passage that the writer never intended. The next thing that you want to ask is: what is this passage about? What is the subject or the hub of the passage? Then having determined the subject, we need to determine what the passage says about that subject.
I love God's Word! It is so rich! As we worked on different outlines I was struck by the fact that the more a person reads a passage the more he discovers. Truly, God's Word is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb.4:12).
It is my prayer that all who would read this blog would have a hunger and thirst for God's Word. I pray you will be disciplined to meet with God each day, reading His Word and seeking Him in prayer. If your daily quiet times have been lacking or if they have been non existent, reset your priorities and take time to be in God's Word. I guarantee you will not regret it. God has revealed so much to us in His Word. Paul in His letter to Timothy reminds us of the importance of the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
Pastor's Blogby
A window into the heart and mind of the Senior Pastor for Harvest Bible Chapel Calgary.
© Harvest Bible Chapel - Calgary