MBP 040: A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders – The Banner of Truth

Ministry Backpack Podcast Episode 40 Show Notes

Summary:  In today’s podcast, I talk about a “Backpack Essential” for Ministry: “The Banner of Truth.”

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SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND LINKS FROM TODAY’S SHOW:

2 Corinthians 6:7a
7 by the word of truth,[a] by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,” (CSB)

The essential that I want to talk about today is: The Banner of Truth.

In this passage, Paul says that “we have proven ourselves” by “the word of truth…”

“On first pass, it seems to be saying that ‘we spoke truthfully,’ but on deeper study, it becomes clear that it means, ‘We have faithfully and consistently preached the Gospel.'”

“Pervasive throughout their ministry was the consistent preaching, speaking, sharing, or making known the truths of the Gospel.”

“We should ‘Preach the Gospel Message’ as we have opportunity.'”

To Pastors/Preachers:

• Make sure that you make the Gospel message plain and clear every time you speak – Every. Single. Time.

“We never want to get to the point that we are so desperate for people to like us, respond, or to be so practical in our messages that we forget the ‘offense’ of the Gospel, itself. It is the word of Truth.”

• The Gospel message should be communicated as accurately as we can make it. We need to prepare for the messages we preach with great intent – with great study, and with how we communicate it.

“It needs to be compelling, but not propped up.”

“No one should ever visit our churches and leave with no clue about how to become a follower of Jesus; about Who Jesus is.”

Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – KJV

• Remember that sometimes the Gospel is offensive…It is what it is, and we need to let the Gospel be the Gospel and let the message of the cross be the message of the cross. It’s scandalous. We don’t need to make it sound better than it is. It is what it is.
• We should never feel the need to “water it down” in any way.

Though not “propped up,” our communication of the Gospel should still be compelling:

“Some people say, ‘Just get up and preach the Gospel, and that’s enough.’ And of course, that is true, but it’s only half-true. If it was really as simple as that, you could get up, read the Scripture, then sit down.

“If you really care about anybody understanding the message, you need to make it compelling. What a disaster to make the most powerful, important message in all of the world come across as something that is dull and lifeless and meaningless!”

“Make it compelling. Let the Gospel message be so much a part of who you are that you are passionate about it. Passionately share the Gospel message!”

“Have a banner flying over your whole ministry – the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  You’re not ashamed, it’s in the forefront, and it’s clear what you are about.”

To Christian Leaders who are not Pastors/Preachers:

• “The Banner of Truth,” the Gospel message, should also be pervasive in your ministry.
• All Christian Leaders should be able to share the Gospel message. You need to know how to lead someone to Jesus.
• You need to be able to share the Gospel, and not just with your life.

“Some people say, ‘The loudest message we preach is the one that we live.’ And that is certainly true, but we don’t want anybody to be confused. We don’t want people to think, “Man, they sure are a good person,” but they have no idea why.”

“Your life needs to support what is coming out of your mouth, but the Gospel still needs to come out of your mouth.”

Romans 10:17
“So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – KJV

• Use “One Verse Evangelism” whenever you have an opportunity: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – KJV  – It’s the Gospel in a nutshell.
• It means sharing stories with your team, the people that you lead, about opportunities you’ve had to speak about Jesus. You’ll inspire, motivate and be an example for them.

Why Don’t More Christian Leaders Share Their Faith in Jesus?

“One of the reasons that is most cited is simply ‘fear of rejection,’ but I’m not sure that that is the biggest reason. I think that sometimes there is fear – but not just the fear of rejection.  Sometimes it is the shame of unconfessed sin and an ‘unworthy’ life… The fear is that’s going to swing a spotlight on their own life and they’re nervous about that.”

“It could also be that the Gospel message itself has not fully gripped their soul, and so it’s not an ‘overflow’ thing.”

“Our ministry should happen out of the overflow of what God is already doing in our life.”

Suggestions:

• “Refocus on verses like John 3:16, that often become like a picture on the wall: When you first put it on the wall, it had all kinds of meaning and power and you thought it was an amazing thing. But over time, you’ve walked past it so many times, or you’ve become so familiar with it, that it no longer captures your attention. You’re no longer overwhelmed by the power of it.”
• “Revisit the Gospel message so that it is clear and pervasive in your life.”
• “Get rid of the fear that’s associated with that by confessing anything that needs to be confessed to God.
• Realize that He has covered your ‘unworthy’ life, and that none of us are worthy to share this Gospel message. Make it all about Him, and less about you.”

The Banner of Truth: An absolute essential for Christian Ministry.

Join the conversation on this topic by commenting or leaving questions below. If you have a question that you’d like to have heard on the podcast, record your question, and upload it to Google Drive, Dropbox, Box or some other cloud based site and send the link to [email protected]

Music Provided by “Artist Unknown” – https://artistunknown.bandcamp.com/ 
& “Rasputin1963”

Previous episodes in this series:

#004 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: A Higher Standard

#008 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Resilience

#011 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Purity

#014 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Understanding

#018 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Patience

#021 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Kindness

#024 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Sincere Love

#040 – A Backpack Essential For Christian Leaders: Supernatural Movement

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 Johnny Leckie is a Christ Follower, Husband to Leona, and Father to Matthew, Melissa & Michael. He is also a Church Planting Pastor, Musician, Artist, & Blogger. He’s a big fan of Coffee & Bacon and is currently planting a Church in Aurora, Colorado called Compass Church.  He is the founder of MinistryBackpack.com.

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