In this week’s chapter and sermon on Everyday Church, we looked at the idea of “Everyday Pastoral Care”. We saw how this is a practical outworking on the “earnest love” that the Apostle Peter exhorts us to have for one another in 1 Peter 1. In this chapter, we come across four liberating truths that are both good news for when we are being pastored along with being good news for when we are pastoring. The four liberating truths are as follows:
God is great, so we do not have to be in control.
God is glorious, so we do not have to fear others.
God is good, so we do not have to look elsewhere.
God is gracious, so we do not have to prove ourselves.
We also see a helpful chart on page 82 of Everyday Church that shows us these four truths along with their contrary indicators. These contrary indicators are what we exhibit when we are failing to believe one of more of these truths:
God is great, so we do not have to be in control.
Contrary Indicators:
You are overbearing
You are inflexible or risk averse
You are impatient with people
You avoid responsibility
God is glorious, so we do not have to fear others.
Contrary Indicators
You avoid confrontation
You crave approval
You behave differently around certain people
You pretend or hide your true self
God is good, so we do not have to look elsewhere.
Contrary Indicators
You feel mystery is a burden
You often complain
You make people feel a burden of duty
You don’t stick at things
God is gracious, so we do not have to prove ourselves.
Contrary Indicators
You take criticism and failure badly
You find it hard to relax
You are proud or envy the success of others
You make people feel guilty
As you read this list and the corresponding Contrary Indicators, where do you see yourself most? The good news is that there is none of us who is perfect. We all have one or more areas where we struggle with unbelief. This is why we need to be in community with others who are on the same pastoral journey.
Take some time this week to talk thru this chart with one of more brothers and sisters in Christ and seek to pastor one another with these truths as you continue to learn to walk with Jesus in everyday life.