Chapter 2 From Popularity to Ministry

Matthew 4:5-7 Then the Devil took Him to the holy city,2 had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”

Jesus refused to be a stunt man. He did not come to walk on hot coals, swallow fire, or put His hand in a lion’s mouth to demonstrate that he had something worthwhile to say.

--pg 54

“Do not test the Lord your God.”

--Matthew 4:7

Q: Have you ever tested God? How? Why?

Stardom and individual heroism, which are obvious aspects of our competitive society are not at all alien to the church. There too the dominant image is that of the self-made man or woman who can do it all alone. --pg 56

Jesus never said He could do it alone; on the contrary He always pointed to the Father. That, I believe, is a healthy way to be accountable, but not take responsibility for that which we do not have a hand in. Leadership should be healthy for all, not just leadership. All should be fed, not just followers. Nouwen speaks into balance … it is clear that a whole new type of leadership is asked for in the church of tomorrow …

Notice that there is not a suggestion that the church should be dismantled or cease to exist … but that it should be transformed in the way individuals are by grace. This will, indeed, require a new breed of leadership!

Q: What will this new leadership look like?

(Hint: an organizer is not always a leader)

It is Jesus Who heals, not I

It is Jesus Who speaks words of truth, Not I

It is Jesus Who is Lord, not I

It is Jesus Who sends us, not I

It is Jesus Who heals, not I

It is Jesus Who gives life, not I

--from pgs 58-61

It is better that we do things together so that we are not tempted to take responsibility or credit … that Jesus is glorified.

If there is a downside to the established body within the church it is that Jesus quickly gets taken out as the head. We decapitate the body …

A body without a head cannot survive. We must reestablish or reattach the head so that the body will function, and that it will not be a corpse.

Q: What did Jesus say about corpses?

“Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” --Luke 17:37

I, for one, will not be a vulture. How about you?

How will we do this?

Confession and forgiveness are the concrete forms in which sinful people love one another.

--pg 64 the

--pg 67

Q: what exactly does that mean?

I think it can be a separation from our spiritual lives by means of temptation. The more spiritually inclined we are the more of a problem this is for the enemy. Conventional wisdom would tell us that the more spiritual we are the better off we will be. Better off, but not “an easier row to hoe” using the agricultural metaphor. Paul tells us this story:

Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

--

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

All leaders need to have a place where they can share their deep pain and struggles with those who do not need them, but can guide them. This is a mystery.

--pgs 69-70 note: where Nouwen uses the word mystery, try substituting grace.