The Goal Envisioned

The point: To impart an accurate awareness of what we are attempting to do in the Trinity Ministerial Academy.

Martin uses the hypothetical scenario of a stranger asking about the Trinity Ministerial Academy to illustrate the need for the congregation to have an accurate and intelligent understanding of its purpose.

Suppose you were to walk out of the building this morning and a total stranger were to meet you. And as you engaged in conversation, this stranger began to ask you about, about Trinity Church, when it had its stated meetings, what its various ministries were. And in the course of responding to his question, or her question, you said, well, we have a Trinity Ministerial Academy. And they were to say, Trinity Ministerial Academy, what's that?

2:52 - 3:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second main question: 'What are the identifying marks of Christ's gift of a pastor-teacher?' He begins by expounding 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, establishing…

This story illustrates how a single act (picking up paper) can be misinterpreted, emphasizing that character traits require observation over time and in context, not just isolated acts, to be truly evaluated.

a life of proven balanced godliness proven many of these things can only be known over some time exposure character traits are not evaluated in terms of a given act in isolation from successive acts in that given area and in conjunction with other successive acts in other areas that indicate that this is not just an abnormality for instance you might see a man out your front window every morning when he walks by your house he bends over and picks up what seems to be just a piece of scrap paper and you gain the impression he is a most considerate and thoughtful and selfless person he picks up s...

39:15 - 40:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He said, you have spent the last 20 minutes desperately trying to get something out of your head instead of effectively getting something into mine.

A young preacher struggling to communicate effectively is told by an older, able preacher that his problem is trying to get something 'out of his head' rather than 'into mine,' highlighting the importance of clarity in communication.

Third Timothy 3.3 So he went to an older, well-known preacher. Very able preacher. And he bared his heart to him and said, Dr. So-and-so, I just don't know what's wrong with me. I just don't seem to be coming across. And I wonder if you can help me. He said, all right, young man, I'll try to help you. He said, now, preach to me here and now the sermon you preached to your people yesterday.

52:34 - 53:26 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He said, you have spent the last 20 minutes desperately trying to get something out of your head instead of effectively getting something into mine.

An old man identifies a preacher's 'unction of the Holy Ghost' by his shuffling feet, humorously illustrating how people can mistakenly attribute spiritual power to physical mannerisms, rather than true spiritual energy.

Like that silly old man, you remember, that came to the preacher and whispered in his ear, I know you must have the unction of the Holy Ghost upon you. And the young man said, how do you know that? He said, I watched your feet.

55:20 - 55:32 Read in full sermon