Marks of a True Ministry, Part 5

The point: Husbands and wives, consider if your children witness unbridled temper or lack of apology, which nullifies your witness.

Martin quotes from Pilgrim's Progress where Charity questions Christian about his family's lack of pilgrimage, asking if his 'vain life' dampened his words. Christian's answer, acknowledging his failings but asserting his carefulness not to give offense, illustrates the impact of a minister's life on his family's reception of the gospel.

and hearts of your children that are utterly canceling and nullifying everything that the Sunday school teacher has sought to place in that mind in the 45 minutes that they have them and in the brief time that I have them here and you are cooperating with the devil to just purge from the mind every thought of God and of holiness and of truth dear parent unless you can say to your children gather them around the table and say you children are witnesses of the genuineness of my holy life you're not a true minister as a parent you're not a true minister as a parent for that's the mark the indispe...

18:13 - 19:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin uses illustrations of a vessel for the master's use and McShane's quote about God's sword to emphasize the need for purity. He applies the call to blamelessness to elders…

Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:21, Martin uses the analogy of a master choosing a clean, fine crystal vessel for his choicest wine over a chewed-up plastic cup. This illustrates that God uses pure, prepared vessels to pour out the 'wine' of the gospel, emphasizing the necessity of holiness for effective ministry.

And then Paul says to Timothy in verse 21, If a man therefore purge himself from these, the vessels of dishonor, he shall be a vessel unto honor. Identified, and what's the next phrase? Meet, fit, equipped, prepared for the master's use. When the master comes into the house, and he wants to pour out his choicest wine to a guest, what kind of vessel does he use?

42:54 - 43:20 Read in full sermon

Driving home: According to the purity and perfectness of the instrument will be the success. It is not great talents, God blesses. So much as likeness to Jesus.

Martin quotes McShane's words about a cavalry officer keeping his saber clean and sharp, applying it to believers as God's instruments. This illustrates that the success of ministry is proportional to the purity and likeness to Jesus of the instrument, not just talent.

To quote some of the most famous words of Robert Murray McShane, some of you perhaps have heard them before. They're quoted in many places. And the reason they are is they're worth quoting. And so I make no apology for quoting them this morning.

44:23 - 44:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Students, do not let other kids know you have the same standards for social life or snicker at the same jokes, or your witness will be nullified.

Martin references a previous sermon's story about Elmer, a faithful witness on a construction crew. Elmer's holy, just, and unblameable life, despite taunting, convinced his cursing coworkers of the transforming power of the Christian life, illustrating the impact of consistent holiness.

At work, with our neighbors, the truth will have no power unless it comes through the holy life. We mentioned Elmer last week, the instrument in Ernie's life. Remember when Ernie spoke on the faithful witness taking the principles from Elmer's life. Remember what was at the top of the list when he went up to the mountain that day and tried to find out what did Elmer have that I need.

47:34 - 47:55 Read in full sermon