Article Library

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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Be Found Faithful in Your Calling

“By the way, I should have gone on to read that second verse where it says it is required of us that we be found faithful, trustworthy. That is the word. It suggests a dogged refusal to jump ship. A determination to stay at it. To row, row, row our boat. To stay at it year after year, place after place, in season and out of season. You know the text. Whatever the setting, stay at it faithfully doing what you do. Doesn’t even say fruitfully. Says faithfully staying at it. Through hardship. Through criticism. Through hate mail. Through boredom. Through sickness. Through ingratitude. Through sacrifice. It’s all part of the role of a steward and an under-rower. It’s part of being faithful. That’s what’s in front of us. That’s our calling, so settle it in your mind. This is our future. This is what we do.”

Boasting Has No Place in the Life of a Christian

“In this same context, the apostle speaks against boasting. It has no place in our lives. No place whatsoever. Not even little subtle hints toward ourselves. Little self-serving remarks, little unguarded moments where we take the credit. None of that. Inappropriate, out of place, not good.”

Learn the Bible

“So, it is in ministry, the one who works deeply in the realm of God’s mysteries fussing around in the book that we all love that intrigues us and holds our attention like no other literature on earth so that we might have prepared well, the meal that will be served, whether to a class or a congregation or a small group of those living in the bush, we call it. Or those in the military or wherever God calls us. You’re training for that, so learn it well.”

Greed Begins with a Thought

“It all begins in the brain, in the mind, in the imagination. Thinking, well, I’d like to have a couple of nice new suits. I mean, I don’t need $3,000,000 but half a million wouldn’t be bad. You see, when you begin to rationalize, you could talk yourself into anything; even another woman who isn’t your wife or another man who isn’t your husband. Or another church that isn’t God’s call for you. Or another role that He doesn’t have for you to fill.”

Don’t Mess with Secret Sin “Be sure your sins will find you out. You mess secretly with pornography—it’s going to catch up with you. It isn’t a secret. And if you’re doing that, it’s only a matter of time. Don’t live a lie. Don’t let us help you cultivate a habit that’s going to ruin the very thing we’re trying to prepare you for. Don’t go there. Tell yourself the truth.”

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 finger tips. 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.

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