Where The Name of Christ Has Never Been Heard

Meditations for the Season of Advent 

December 6, 2022

Where The Name of Christ Has Never Been Heard

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.

Romans 15:20

Read: Romans 15:14-24

It has been my experience that pastoral and lay leadership of churches can be divided into three broad categories. The first is a caretaker ministry. The goal is to keep the church doors open, to continue in the form and substance that the church has practiced for generations. The second is an entrepreneurial ministry. The pastor and staff attend many seminars and conferences to discern the latest trends and techniques in ministry and bring them home to try out on their congregation. The third ministry is Christ-centered, and Christ-empowered, all for Jesus. In this ministry, the pastor casts a vision based on what Christ has revealed to the pastor when they had a holy encounter.

The Apostle Paul had a holy encounter with Christ when he was on the road to Damascus. Christ gave Paul a vision and a heart for the Gentiles, and Paul never deviated from the course Christ set for him.

My Takeaway: During my pastoral ministry, and in my ministry today, it was and now is my heart’s desire to be Christ-centered, and Christ-empowered, all for Jesus. As I read today of Paul’s passion, I am convinced now, more than ever, authentic Christian ministry is Christ-centered, and Christ-empowered, all for Jesus. And this Christ-centered, Christ-empowered, all-for-Jesus Ministry is not at all limited to those called to preach or pastor. I believe every person who calls upon the name of Jesus for salvation, is called to their own Christ-centered, Christ-empowered, all-for-Jesus Ministry.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.