STRESS WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US, NOT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR GOD (Romans 8)
Grace, the unmerited favor of God towards those who deserve the opposite, is the heart of the Gospel. It is grace we must teach, and grace we must live in the ministry. So many pastors continually emphasize what the people need to do for God - give more money, pray more, study more, and volunteer more. The genius of Pastor Chuck's ministry is to emphasize rather what God has already done for us: Jesus loves us. He died for u. He rose from the grave. He ascended to the right hand of the Father where He ever lives to make intercession for us. He prays for us daily. His thoughts toward us are continually thoughts of blessing and love. He has forgiven us all our sins. He is always with us to help and guide. He has empowered us with His Holy Spirit, and He is preparing an eternal abode for us.
Teach the people what God has already done for them. Their hearts will overflow in love and gratitude that will manifest itself in loving service and devoted prayer.
Lead your people past yourself and into the arms of Jesus. They need Him, not you. At one point in my ministry, I got overwhelmed with a huge counseling load; then I realized I was training the people to rely on me, rather than the Lord. I repented of the sin, and started to emphasize His loving grace, letting them see Jesus clearly.
Seeing Jesus clearly should be the goal of every service, every study, every gathering. Our goal at Calvary Chapel Bible College is for every man and woman to know Jesus better when they finish than they did when they started. Our goal for the Conference Center is for every person who attends a retreat here to know Jesus better when they leave this mountain than they did when they came up. We want every student, every retreater, every room renter, every staff person, every visitor, to see Jesus clearly shining through us, to know His love and grace, and to get to know Him better.
Emphasize what God has done for us, not what we can do for Him.
