Let Us Pray

I am re-reading this book at about a one-chapter-a-day pace this month. John Piper is a gift to Jesus' church. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals is a passionate plea from one pastor to others to fight against the domesticating, Spirit-quenching influence of professionalism in ministry.

Check out some of these chapter titles:

Brothers, Beware of the Debtor's Ethic
Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism
Brothers, Don't Fight Flesh Tanks with Peashooter Regulations
Brothers, Don't Confuse Uncertainty with Humility
Brothers, Tell Them Copper Will Do

Today my chapter was "Brothers, Let Us Pray." Lately I've been in many situations where I have been asked to talk about our new Christchurch. For instance, this morning at the school playground while sending Anna & Sophie off their classes, I spoke with 3 different parents about Christchurch. As I tell others about this great new little church, I am confident that God has called us to this, but I am so powerfully reminded that if God doesn't build this new church, we are dead in the water. So, let us pray. O Father, how we need you to call people to this church and to convert many sinners. We can't grow this church ourselves. We need you! Come, Holy Spirit, and do your work of regeneration among our friends and neighbors and coworkers who are spiritually dead so that they are born again spiritually and begin to worship you, O God, as you deserve. Jesus, this is your church and upon the rock you must build your church like it says in Matthew 16:18. Thank you that you are doing it and thank you for reminding us of our dependence upon you to do it. We trust you Holy Spirit for the power we need to be used by God in building this church. In Jesus' name we pray these things. Amen.

"A pastor who feels competent in himself to produce eternal fruit - which is the only kind that matters - knows neither God nor himself. A pastor who does not know the rhythm of desperation and deliverance must have his sights only on what man can achieve. But brothers, the proper goals of the life of a pastor are unquestionably beyond our reach. The changes we long for in the hearts of our people can happen only by a sovereign work of grace." [page 54]

"A.C. Dixon said, 'When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.'" [page 56]