tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655521.post1951622553595528347..comments2024-02-23T17:09:12.957-05:00Comments on bethquick.com: The Pastor as ProphetBeth Quickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171030571583683180noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655521.post-76070464344251017662008-02-03T08:05:00.000-05:002008-02-03T08:05:00.000-05:00Ephesians 4:15 refers to "speaking the truth in lo...Ephesians 4:15 refers to "speaking the truth in love." Prophets are often - not <I>always</I>, but often - called to challenge and/or warn those to whom they are sent. But just as it's important for pastors to be able to preach those challenging truths (as you've mentioned), it's also important for prophets to be able to care for the people to whom they are called.Clixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04460380696875928585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655521.post-29323854387370912022008-01-30T17:06:00.000-05:002008-01-30T17:06:00.000-05:00beth, this has nothing to do with being a prophet,...beth, <BR/><BR/>this has nothing to do with being a prophet, but i just wanted you to know that i've spent the last 30 minutes or so browsing your blog and i really like it! i particularly loved the honesty of your post from december 10 called 'things i keep meaning to do' or something like that. i will be checking back in regularly to see what's new, and i have linked to your website from my blog, too. <BR/><BR/>grace and peace,<BR/>greg.greg milinovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494018362755379449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655521.post-7885183534480673582008-01-29T23:25:00.000-05:002008-01-29T23:25:00.000-05:00I feel myself called more to prophet than to "harm...I feel myself called more to prophet than to "harmless priest" but also am constantly reminding myself that prophets need to figure out how to say things in a way people can hear, which isn't always (or even usually) how I would prefer to say them. I find that to be the hard part. I would prefer to be more direct and sometimes harsh, but that's not what people are going to hear and not what's going to open them to God's Spirit moving--instead they'll often end up defensive and angry. As would I, frankly...yes, a challenge indeed.Terihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838436991138846332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655521.post-58271169461262148552008-01-28T23:21:00.000-05:002008-01-28T23:21:00.000-05:00As a pastor, I do think of myself as a prophet. A...As a pastor, I do think of myself as a prophet. As I prepare sermons, I find myself looking for what God has to say to us, and it is often something that we need to change. So far, my experience resonates with Matt's comment. I think many people desire to be respectfully challenged. However, on the flip side of this, I have recently been challenging myself to remember and embrace that the words of a prophet should not always be unpleasant. Christ brought good news, and I am trying to be sure that is what I share--even when I offer a challenging sermon I want to check to see that I do so in a way that points to the grace that empowers us to respond faithfully.Eric Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03192391202653980730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655521.post-90671534268179708762008-01-28T21:06:00.000-05:002008-01-28T21:06:00.000-05:00Speaking as a lay person (indeed the lay leader an...Speaking as a lay person (indeed the lay leader and chairperson of the leadership council for my congregation) I look to the pastors to provide spiritual guidance and scriptural relevance, and not just in their sermons. We need to be challenged and prodded lest we become comfortable and complacent sitting in our pews.Matt Akinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128968098310203472noreply@blogger.com