How can you really please your minister?  That is something that not many of us think about very often.  Now it is also true that we have far more to our spiritual life than worrying whether or not we can do what a pastor may desire.  But it is a good way to introduce a few posts on 1 John.  This small book toward the end of the New Testament is where we are spending our Sunday mornings so far in 2014.  John who writes this epistle may not be the local minister but he does write to a congregation near to his heart.  Make some time to read the first four verses of the very first chapter.  I think that our author is laying some groundwork on his hopes for the church.  He knows that false teachers are having their way at the moment so his words will be aimed at correcting those problems.  One can see a pattern of how to make a minister happy.  I say that for his hopes are the same as mine.

Times may change but the issues often remain the same.  Advances in technology, information or knowledge may continue to increase but the human condition seldom varies.  What was a problem for people 2000 years ago tend to remain the same.  That is one of the marvels of scripture.  God knew what needed to be said both then and now.  Humanity can often live at the level of the lowest common denominator.  We want just enough of faith or God to get by.  Punching our ticket to heaven is often the start and end of our faith.  Our life can be far more than that should we allow God freedom to work.  John's genius is in knowing the names may change but the obstacles remain the same.

Most people in church work today recognize five basic purposes to the individual life as well as for the congregation.  Seminars exist in abundance for anyone to grasp their meaning.  Here they are in no particular order.

• Worship
• Discipleship
• Fellowship
• Evangelism
• Ministry or mission.

Now we once would just focus on perhaps one or two of these for our growth.  We are still understanding that all five matter for a person or a congregation.  We need all of our senses to be considered healthy.  Logic would say we also need all five of these spiritual motives to also be fully functional.  It is also true that we can be stronger in one of these areas than the other.  But that is no excuse for being undeveloped in our journey.  Life was never meant to be aimless with no clue of when you arrive.  John and I would agree that being intentional in each part of faith means we have a depth that goes beyond the moment.  You do that and not only will John and I be happy but so will God.  Isn't that what all of this is about anyway?

Bro. Trey