Thoughts on Ordination

Last night was a great night.  Yesterday I was ordained at the Southern New England District Council.  Throughout the evening I took several mental snapshots and made quite a few observations, which I hope to remember for life.

Probably the most vivid snapshot I took was when I was charged to "preach the Word" and handed my ordination Bible.  As I ponder what it means to "preach the Word" I am again drawn back to the book of Nehemiah.

In Nehemiah chapter 8 we see Ezra open God's law and read it to the people, and then in verse 8 there were some who, "read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read."  Part of the preaching here in Nehemiah involved making the scriptures understandable.

I pray that I can do the same.  I hope that I can be someone who always communicates God's Word in a clear way, so that people can understand and so that their lives can be changed.  The result of the clear explanation in Nehemiah was that the people celebrated because they understood (8:12) and the people repented and worshiped God (9:3).  I pray that the result of my teaching and and preaching be the same.


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2 thoughts on “Thoughts on Ordination

  1. I have enjoyed reading your thoughts on Nehemiah, especially as it relates to ordination. You are a great clear thinker and I enjoy your preaching!