Marks of a True Ministry, Part 6

Driving home: Frankly, if Paul were writing to us today, I don't believe he'd use this simile. For there has been such a breakdown of an embodiment of the biblical concept of the father's role in the home that this simile doesn't comm…

Martin uses the analogy of a lawyer handling objections like a shifty halfback to illustrate that similes only clarify if the audience understands the figure used, emphasizing the need to explain the biblical concept of a father.

Paul is using a figurative speech which you junior high school students who are listening to your English teacher can tell me is a simile. We did something amongst you that was like a father with his children. Now a simile is used in order to clarify a certain truth or statement. But the simile does that only if you understand the figure that's used. Let me illustrate. If I were to say that a certain lawyer handled the defense's objections in court like a shifty halfback wending his way to the court, through the secondary, that would mean nothing to you unless you knew something about football...

5:34 - 6:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Frankly, if Paul were writing to us today, I don't believe he'd use this simile. For there has been such a breakdown of an embodiment of the biblical concept of the father's role in the home that this simile doesn't comm…

Another analogy, a man huffing and puffing like an old steam engine, further illustrates that a simile's effectiveness depends on the audience's prior knowledge, reinforcing the need to define the father's role.

Let me illustrate. If I were to say that a certain lawyer handled the objections of the defense like a shifty halfback wending his way through the secondary. My simile is used in order to clarify a certain truth or statement. Or the simile is used in order to clarify a certain truth or statement. The this would mean nothing to a number of you younger fellows and girls here. I might say that the man came into the house huffing and puffing and wheezing like an old steam engine. Well, unless you've seen a steam engine coming to a halt or just beginning to start somewhere and have heard it's huffi...

6:45 - 7:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Paul's fatherly conduct is expanded upon, highlighting individual attention to each believer, varied instruction (exhorting, comforting, charging), and a specific end in view…

Martin humorously recalls a preacher who 'explainifies, mystifies, then puts in the rousements' to illustrate the stirring-to-action aspect of exhortation.

Well, it's the general word for instruction. Sometimes the word exhortation has the concept of comfort, sometimes it has the connotation of, you know, the preacher who said, among other things, I explainifies the text, mystifies it, then it puts in the rousements, you see, putting in the rousements. Sometimes exhortation has the concept of putting in the rousements, seeking to stir to action, sometimes comforting. So it's a very general word.

16:38 - 17:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second application emphasizes that pointed, varied, individual instruction is crucial for spiritual growth, especially after conversion. Martin illustrates this with a…

Martin shares a personal story about hearing his daughter Beth fussing downstairs and recognizing her need for fatherly instruction, even when she isn't asking for it. This illustrates the proactive, individual attention a father (and pastor) must give.

Oh, what a joy it is to give individual concern to my children when they come seeking. But there are other times when they don't seek it. In fact, the last thing they want is father's attention. Case in point, there are times when I'm up in my study, which is in the parsonage, as most of you know, and I wish I could turn my ears off when I'm up there, but I can't.

30:01 - 30:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Judge yourself in the light of the word of God, and if you cannot honestly justify your actions from scripture, stop and leave the consequences with God, trusting His provision.

Martin uses the example of Herb and Rosma, who sold their home and left a business to go to Bible school, trusting God to meet their needs while the wife stayed home with the children. This illustrates God's faithfulness to those who prioritize His word.

And I know in our own assembly, some who have sought by the grace of God to take that course of action and God has indicated. They're not here this morning, so I think I should use them as an illustration.

49:21 - 49:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by urging fathers to take the lead in their God-given role and challenges all parents to justify their actions by scripture, not rationalizations. He encourages…

Martin shares his own experience of early ministry where he had no guaranteed income, but God faithfully met all his family's needs, including rent and car payments, as they honored God with their tithes. This serves as a personal testimony to God's provision for those who obey.

Now I don't do that to exalt. To show this is not just a lot of talk. If I were to use our own example, I know what some of you think. Oh, what do you know about it?

50:24 - 50:32 Read in full sermon