How should I teach?

So as I am coming up on the 6 months mark of working at Summit, and I still remember having the questions and doubts that I hear every minister has with his first job. The big one that continued to haunt me was "How should I teach?" when i say how should I teach I mean in the "style" of teaching...I don't know why this was a big one and as i look back i feel like a fool. So I began to think...i mean i could be a John Piper and loud and in your face, or maybe like a Francis Chan a funny and laid back kind of guy. All I desire is for the youth to like me, and want to listen. I want to be the serious, funny, deep but not to deep, knows the word but not a prideful show off, entertainment. As 6 month has gone by and me having this battle of style of teaching running in my mind i was blind sided by a verse. In 2 Corinthians 4:2 "But we renounced disgraceful, unhanded ways. We REFUSE to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God."

After reading this verse I was completely humble and broken. As I realized what I have been called to do. As a minister I am called to teach God Gospel....not to be showy, not to be liked by everyone in the world, or be "cunning" with my words, but simply teach his word. Here is where I began to find my foundation... I am to study His word, be faithful to His word, and teach only His word. Yes, I must teach and teach it well so anyone can understand, but does it mean I have to have the 3 points that all begin with the same letter, and have funny illustration from my own life. NO!!! Those are not the Gospel, those are not God's word. When we share the Gospel if we are not teaching the atonement, the cross, the blood, and Christ then we are not teaching anything but worthless banter and a false Gospel.

Now here I am blogging about this, and thinking...how many Churches in America have people preaching there life story and not the Gospel....It breaks me because i wonder if those youth will actually hear the real Gospel? If you are going into the ministry or involved in anyway (Sunday school teaching, or whatever) remember to study and teach the word. Do not compromise it for the sake that you can gain favor in their eyes. Or compromise it because it is not politically correct....

These points about the Gospel and what it is and how to teach it i feel is going to lead to some more blogs...

"The Beauty Of Grace It It Makes Life Not Fair"

The Cross

Mark 8:34 - And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Here in this one short verse is a call that is beyond our grasp. As i prepared for this lesson and this blog I hated it. I hated it because of the conviction, hurt, brokenness, and seeing how selfish I really was in my life. Here we have this commandment that says "If anyone would come after me (meaning Jesus) let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." What int he world does this mean take up my cross is it like the image I have on the side and literally carry a cross where ever I go, or is it put all the problem I have going on in my life and just put it on my back and carry it and say "Its ok...its for the Lord..." with the fake Christian smile added with it. Obviously i being sarcastic here. Then the question here what does it mean to bear the cross or take it up.

Well it goes back to what the cross it and the purpose of it. The cross is THE most shameful death that anyone could die. It was also the most painful death, where all human dignity is stripped from you and there is nothing left but you broken body and spirit. Only the worst of criminal where hung on the cross. It was so bad that the Roman emperor made a law that no Roman citizen could be crucified unless of treason. So having an understanding why the cross and what it stood for and how it was not a symbol of life as we have it now but a symbol of the most shameful death anyone could endure....and we are suppose to care it.

Now instead of beating the drum of the cross and what it stands for i want to talk about the walk we have of bearing the cross. Just as Christ walked down Calvary to the place where he was most certainly going to die. This walk with every step being mocked, beaten, and whatever else... this paints the perfect picture of caring the cross and dying to this world. Dying to this world but gaining eternity.

So my train of thought got interrupted so part two and the even more joyful side will be coming soon...

My first Blog

Well here I am sitting in my office blogging. I never thought that I would of broke down and opened up a blog, and after I made fun of so many people for it. (i.e Dave Snyder). I hope that through this great discussion and learning can happen. All for the glory of Christ. I don't really don't know what I will do for my first "real" post. However, I am excited to see what will come of it. For know I will leave you with basic information about me

My name is Channing, and I am a student at Boyce College as well I am the Associate Minister to the Youth at Summit Baptist Church. I'm studying Worldviews and Apologetics for the purpose of ministy. In case you haven't noticed I have been called to serve in ministry. I enjoy sitting around a camp fire and reading a good book with my friends. I know it doesn't sound to exciting but that is how we roll in Kennesaw. Also I love Kayaking and if you have never been you really need to check it out. Well that is the basic run down of my life.