Christian Ministry: Who Should Be In It?

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin opens with prayer, expressing gratitude for Scripture's guidance on church order. He then highlights the widespread confusion regarding who should enter Christian…

Martin describes common, superficial reasons young men claim a call to preach: a verse 'leaping out' of the Bible or a 'flutter in the left ventricle' during devotions. This illustrates the widespread confusion and lack of biblical understanding regarding a true call to ministry.

A all over his face, and he says to his pastor, Pastor, I'm convinced I'm called to preach. Well, if the pastor has courage to even question his statement, which many don't, they feel to do so would be blasphemy. They say, now, son, if you're old enough to call him son, and it's great when you get to that age. It gives you a little more sense of clout.

1:30 - 1:56 Read in full sermon

The point: If you cannot say that you are the husband of one wife, not only on the marriage certificate, but in your heart and eyes, you have no business being in the ministry.

Martin shares his observation of many ministers falling morally, noting that it begins not with the act but with allowing 'more than one woman in his mind,' emphasizing the importance of internal purity for the 'husband of one wife' qualification.

I know a little something. I've lived long enough to see the tragedy, the tragedy of man after man falling in love. In the area of morals. My friend, it doesn't start overnight.

16:35 - 16:49 Read in full sermon

The point: We must manifest as ministers the power of the Gospel before we ever open our mouths to be its official spokesman.

Martin points out the notorious problem of ministers having dysfunctional family lives (spoiled children, bitter wives) due to neglecting their families for 'almighty ministry,' illustrating the failure to meet the 'rule his own house' qualification.

We must be those who are orderly, sober-minded, people that rule well our own houses, having family life that is an example of godliness, having family life that indicates we know how to be loving and yet firm and firm and yet loving. We know how to take care of nurturing our wives while filling all our other responsibilities, to nurture and care for our wives, to nurture and care for our wives, to share and give direction to our children, to be intimate with them so that they love us as their dads and yet to be such leaders that they have that respect for our authority. And Paul argues if a m...

17:55 - 19:07 Read in full sermon

The point: If I can't preach with my wife's eyeballs on me and my kids and know that their conscience is listening to me with peace, I'm through. I'm done! I'll quit the ministry.

Martin shares his personal commitment that if he cannot preach with his wife and children (even adult children) listening with a clear conscience, knowing he lives what he preaches, he would quit the ministry. This illustrates his conviction about the minister's family as a testimony.

I've met them all over the country, preachers' wives that are bitter and resentful because their husbands are so busy with their almighty ministry they have no time to nurture and cherish their wives. And their wives sit there Sunday afternoon after Sunday and have to bite their lip to listen to that character preach.

19:08 - 19:29 Read in full sermon

The point: If I can't preach with my wife's eyeballs on me and my kids and know that their conscience is listening to me with peace, I'm through. I'm done! I'll quit the ministry.

He asks if a minister has a good testimony from his bank (paying on time) or neighbors (being thoughtful and caring), illustrating the practical implications of having a 'good testimony from them that are without'.

And that consistent high standard of personal godliness must not only be seen by the church, but verse 7 says he must have a good testimony for them that are without. The bank where you got your loan to get your set of wheels, you got a good testimony?

20:14 - 20:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details the requirement of a proven ability to lead others with wisdom, grace, and authority, with the home serving as the primary proving ground for leadership over…

Martin describes his wife as not a 'wimp' and having a 'good head,' explaining that leading her requires wisdom and grace, not just authority. This illustrates the nuanced leadership required in the home.

I'm glad my wife's not a wimp. She's got a good head.

24:04 - 24:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details the requirement of a proven ability to lead others with wisdom, grace, and authority, with the home serving as the primary proving ground for leadership over…

Martin recounts his practice of having a 'personal judgment seat' with his wife annually, where they ask each other for areas of needed change. He shares how his wife recently 'zinged' him, illustrating the humility and accountability required in leadership, starting at home.

And it hurts. It hurts. We try to have a practice at least once a year, having what we call our personal judgment seat. Well, we get away for a few days, and one of the questions I ask her and she asks me is if there's anything about me you could change as far as you see the Word of God, what would it be?

24:40 - 25:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details the requirement of a proven ability to lead others with wisdom, grace, and authority, with the home serving as the primary proving ground for leadership over…

He uses the analogy of a wife's changing life stages (menopause, grandmotherhood) to illustrate that understanding and leading people (sheep) is an ongoing, adaptive process, not a static one.

Husbands, dwell with your wife according to knowledge. And just when you think you're getting to understand what that complex, human being is, called a woman, and we have one here, so I have to be careful what I say. Just begin to think you're learning how to dwell with her according to knowledge. And lo and behold, she starts into the change of life.

25:24 - 25:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Every man who aspires to the ministry is responsible to make a sober self-assessment of himself in the light of the word of God.

Martin tells the story of Belton Brevard, a brother considered for eldership, who restructured his devotions to pray through Psalm 139 and then expounded 1 Timothy 3 qualifications to his family, asking for their honest assessment. This serves as a powerful example of sober self-assessment with accountability.

Every man is responsible who aspires to the ministry to make a sober self-assessment of himself in the light of the word of God. Let me give you an example of one of the most wonderful examples of this we saw just recently in our own congregation. The dear brother, Belton Brevard is his name. I was talking with one of the brethren here earlier.

30:15 - 30:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The ministry is either the most subtle form of personal indulgence in an easy job, or it is the most demanding, draining, flesh-wuthering task on the face of the earth. It's one or the other.

He contrasts ministry as either 'the most subtle form of personal indulgence in an easy job' for those who 'bluff it' or 'the most demanding, draining, flesh-wuthering task' for those who take it seriously. This illustrates the two possible approaches to ministry based on one's desire.

Men, let me state it as bluntly as I know how. The ministry is either the most subtle form of personal indulgence in an easy job, or it is the most demanding, draining, flesh-wuthering task on the face of the earth. It's one or the other. If you've got a gift to gab and you can bluff it, and you've got people who've never heard real preaching, never seen real elders functioning, you can get by and collect your salad.

34:17 - 34:53 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You're willing to live transparently and pour your guts out for people only to have them to turn around and see your open, pulsing heart and stick a knife in it, spit on you, and walk away.

Martin uses the vivid metaphor of opening one's heart and pouring out one's guts for people, only to have them 'stick a knife in it, spit on you, and walk away.' This illustrates the cost and pain of true pastoral ministry.

But if you take seriously what it is to be a shepherd to God's people, what you mean is you're willing to open your heart and take on all of their burdens and make them yours. You're willing to live transparently and pour your guts out for people only to have them to turn around and see your open, pulsing heart and stick a knife in it, spit on you, and walk away. God alone knows. The knife wound's here.

35:00 - 35:30 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You're willing to live transparently and pour your guts out for people only to have them to turn around and see your open, pulsing heart and stick a knife in it, spit on you, and walk away.

He uses Paul's analogies of being like a 'nursing mother' and a 'father' to illustrate the constant, demanding, cherishing, and admonishing work involved in shepherding God's people, emphasizing the 'sanctified desire for the task'.

That's why Paul could say, laboring night and day. He said, I admonished you day and night with tears. In 1 Thessalonians, he says, I was with you like a nursing mother. Oh, the demands upon a nursing mother.

35:49 - 36:04 Read in full sermon