Snapshots of a “Real Christian”
By Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Notice the Ignored or Seemingly Unimportant
“In your ministry, I hope you will form the habit of noticing the little guy. Taking time for those who don’t show a lot of promise. Understand as we’re moving through life, we’re ambitious and we are driven, and we are at times almost neurotic about getting our goals and objectives accomplished, it’s easy to kind of walk over some folks. Form the habit of not walking over anybody. Another great quality of Christ is He always noticed those that others would have walked past and ignored.”
Remember the Godly Who Led You to Faith
“‘Remember those who led you.’ Let me pause right there and have you do that. Call to mind the faces, the names of people who have led you. Pastors, teachers, coaches, parents, mentors, maybe the one who led you to Christ. Might have been your roommate in college. Maybe it goes back to your high school days. Someone who led you there as a model.”
Extend Love
“‘Let love of the brethren continue’ (Hebrews 13:1). The first snapshot is love for others. Love for people in the family of God. That would include being kind and affectionate, thoughtful, staying on good terms in our relationships. Showing ourselves as being genuinely interested in others. Helping them in unselfish ways. That’s all part of loving our brothers and sisters. How you doing there? Let’s just allow that heat-seeking missile to hit us in the chest today. How you coming along in your love life for others?”
Greeting an Angel
“One of the reasons I encourage people to reach out at our church and greet one another is because every once in a while, you’re shaking hands with an angel. You never know it. I mean, there’s not little wings getting ready to pop up out of their shoulders or something like that. But every once in a while, dropping in on our services, there would be an angel. Maybe two or three times in my lifetime that might happen. That kind of gives new meaning to greeting strangers, doesn’t it?”
Care for Strangers
“Care about people you don’t know. Folks in the grocery store. Somebody pumping gas as you’re there at the station pumping gas. Stop off at the dry cleaners, somebody is there, you speak to them. You show hospitality. You reach out. They’ll be surprised to know you’re in ministry because they don’t expect ministers to do that.”
Additional Resources
First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.
Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.
Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.
Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.
About the author
Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
