Inspired Trash Talk

Way to go, Conference! Way to go, Ministeral Department! Last week’s 3-day Ministers Meeting was GOOD. The Aussie Seminary Prof sent me home praying differently. Every meal was a recipe for ministry networking. And the singing...After only a few reps, fresh original songs blended young pastors, senior leaders and beloved classmates in full-throated praise...

Jim Moon, Worship Pastor

Collegedale Adventist

http://www.collegedalechurch.com

My favorite part? It had to be joining my pastor-son and his buds as we reflected and prayed about points from the podium.

Josh Woods, Chaplain

Georgia Cumberland Academy

http://gcasda.org

Matt Smith, Pastor

Marietta Adventist

http://www.bufordfamilysda.org

What snuck up on me was the impact of basketball trash talk at night in the gym! Classic professional trash talkers sap the courage out of opponents by claiming-then-proving their superiority. Pastors do it differently. Instead of demeaning jabs, defenders shout, “So sorry, Sean!” and “Too bad, John!” Only, some-times the taunter’s feigned disappointment inspires shooters instead! Maybe that’s where I come in. My play-by-play outbursts probably contributed more to pastor-on-pastor

round ball than my cumulative half dozen buckets, rebounds, and occasional blocked shot. I like to inject an audible when a player on either side has enough court candor to call a foul on himself. “Honesty! Integrity!” I shout! After a couple of those in our ministers games last week, Youth Pastor, Jason Vhymeister from Greeneville, Tennessee warmed my pastor’s heart but good! Jason Vhymeister, Youth Pastor

Greeneville, TN., Adventist

http://www.greenevilleadventist.org

“When I learned you used to shout that in the Greeneville Adventist Academy gym, I started doing it, too.” Well, the last time I made those rafters echo was 15 years ago! But, my simple proclamation of good sports-manship is being carried on by a younger generation. How gratifying! My 10-year min-istry in that church continues on. Those hundreds of Thurs-day Rec Nights with church and community youth left a mark! Some of my personal mission lives on. Even trash talk can be inspired! That makes me think of my Mentor, Jesus. Just before His lift-off from Olivet, Christ commissioned us to...

“Go and make followers of all people in the world… Teach them…everything that I have told you…until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ERV)

“Shout it like I shouted,” Jesus challenges! “Shout WHAT I shouted,” our Master Mentor appeals! “Punctuate the game you’re living in with talk that inspires!” “Make me proud that all the way down to The End, ‘everything that I have told you’ still gets shouted!” So what did Jesus proclaim? What are we commissioned to “keep on the radar?”

1. “Follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24, KJV)—We’re to teach people how to have a relationship with Jesus that saves and grows them to be like Him. [John3:16-17;17:3; 2Corinthians 5:21-26]

2. “Remember that I will send you…that power from heaven.” (Luke 24:39, ERV)—Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. Instead of our current slowdown “game tempo” where all we’ve got to celebrate is transfer and immigration growth, our Mentor commissions us to get the church praying again for the Holy Spirit Who alone can set it ablaze with revival, evangelism, and real kingdom growth! [John 14:16-18, 26; John 16:7-13; John 15:26]

3. “Always be ready...your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:32, ERV)—Our Mentor wants us to copy His focus on the Second Coming and the banishment of human suffering. [John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Titus2:13-14; 2Peter 3:9-13]

4. “Your brother will rise and be alive again…at the time of the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:23-24, ERV)—Jesus pointed grievers to an end-time resurrection reunion. He wants us to, too! Centuries after Jesus, Hellenistic phil-osophers like Plato introduced the immortal soul concept which has overwhelmed Jesus’ original teaching with the vastly pervasive theology of a free-floating soul which can communicate with those living. That leaves people vulnerable to Satan in our culture awash in witches, vampires, and supernatural superheroes. Final generation Christians are called to protect believers from the Devil’s onslaught of spiritualism. The Master Mentor has called us to echo ”everything that I have told you” including the way He explained death and the resurrection. [Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; Psalm 115:17; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1Corinthians 15:42-43,51-54]

5. “If ye love me, keep my commandments…The Sabbath was made for the good of the people.” (John 14:15, GNT; Mark 2:27, CEV)—Jesus honored the Ten Commandments including the Sabbath. He taught that the Commandments are eternal and will be kept by His faithful church at the End of Time. He serioiusly warned those who would teach that the Commandments are unnecessary! He anticipated anxiety-ridden societies whose citizens would certainly need Shabbat. [Matthew 5:17-19; Revelation 12:17; Isaiah 58:9,13-14]

6. “He…departed into a solitary place, and there prayed….’Our Father in heaven’…” (Mark 1:35, KJV; Matthew 6:9, NKJV)—Jesus often turned to His Father in Heaven for strength. By example, He recommended the heavenly “throne of grace” to all believers in “time of need.” With precision, Christ was crucified on the Old Testament Passover fulfilling His role as the Lamb of God. The New Testament claims for Him the title, High Priest and Judge of the living and the dead. When Christ returns, He will bring His rewards with Him, so even now He is evaluating the faithfulness and love of everyone who has claimed Him. Obviously, His roles in the heavenly sanctuary are highly significant for human salvation and those mentored by the Master will include this heavenly ministry and the other five Bible truths above when considering what the Lord's choice would be for your next sermon, lesson plan, Bible Study or children’s story. [Hebrews 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 22:12]

You can tell I find satisfaction that the inspired trash talk I started two decades ago in Greeneville, Tennessee has fresh legs and lungs to keep the message alive! It’s a simple sample of the pride Jesus must feel for us who take seriously His commission to…

“Go and make followers of all people in the world… Teach them…everything that I have told you…until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ERV)

Your friend,

Dave