Well, I know this is a little belated, but a week ago Monday I had the privilege to preach in chapel at The Master’s College before almost one thousand people. I originally had visions of starting a small revival on the campus, but as the day drew near, I merely wanted to get up and down without doing anything incredibly stupid. It was one of those feelings where you don’t foresee how you can go from start to finish without at some point looking like a complete moron. John MacArthur preached the chapel before on Friday, so I had to follow the president on Monday.
But how dare I doubt the goodness of our God. He pulled me through it in ways that I did not think possible. I was calm and comfortable. I didn’t lose my place in my notes. I only stumbled over one or two words and I said things that I hadn’t thought of before that fit perfectly in the flow of the sermon. I am most thankful that the Lord gave me joy through the whole process.
I spoke on Hebrews 12:1-2 and I showed how this passage gives us three strategies for how to endure to the end of the race. If you want to endure you must:
The best part of the whole morning was seeing my dad and Sean show up. I thought I saw my dad at the end of my sermon, but I figured that there was no way that he would have flown down. But afterward, Dad came up and gave me a hug and told me that he wasn’t the only one there. I was very honored to have both men, who have invested so much in me, come to hear me preach. I love them both. We enjoyed some In-N-Out and after four hours in Santa Clarita they made the drive back to the Northwest.
Last night, Grace Bible Church honored my parents for serving 25 years in ministry. It is quite a milestone and I am privileged to be their son. Ian and I were asked to record a message of congratulations and appreciation for Dad. I have posted the audio files of those testimonies and a rough transcript of what I said. I am so thankful that the Lord God Almighty has, within His gracious providence, chosen for our family to walk in His ways.
Ian’s Testimony
Micah’s Testimony
Dad,
Congratulations on 25 years at Grace. Even though I haven’t been alive that long, I still appreciate your commitment to this body of believers through the years. And as I think about why this occasion is worthy of celebrating I am brought back to the biblical concept of faithfulness.
You were the first example of faithfulness that came to mind.
I remember when I was first interviewing to be on SLC. I had just entered 7th grade and you had just become the administrator of the school. One of the questions they asked me was: How would you describe faithfulness? I couldn’t think about to put it into an abstract definition, but I could only think of it in action. And you were the first example of faithfulness that came to mind. Faithfulness to me was seeing you show up at church every week and teach your Sunday school class. I also saw that faithfulness wasn’t about doing something consistently with no heart in it, but you did what you did happily and without one word of complaint.
It is now a few years later and I can say that you are still the first example of faithfulness in my mind. You have remained faithful to the local church and it is a non-negotiable. I learned from you that the church was a priority and that serving in it was worth it. I saw you faithfully pursue people, counseling them and loving them. I have seen you faithfully love the Word of God, as you read it and teach it.
I have seen you faithfully love your wife and family. Mom was the love of your life and you never once wavered from that. You loved her through service and you served her in front of us kids. You continue to remain faithful to discipline, encourage, teach, and guide us. And for that I am grateful
Your faithfulness is simply a shadow of God’s faithfulness.
Of course, this celebration would not be possible if it were not for the faithfulness of God. It is He who has sustained you. It is He who was strong when you were weak. And it is He who has crafted you into the faithful man that you are today. Your faithfulness is simply a shadow of God’s faithfulness.
Thank you for loving Jesus Christ with all your heart and for being faithful and steadfast in his work, in the church and in the home. I love you, Dad. Congratulations.
I recently listened to a sermon by MacArthur in which he explained the single greatest element that has contributed to his spiritual growth. It really impacted my heart, so I wanted to share with you. It is definitely worth the listen. It is only about 5 minutes long.
excerpt from the sermon: Self-Defense from Sexual Sin by John MacArthur
"It is impossible for someone who never delights to reflect on the glory of Christ as it is revealed in the Scriptures to truly long for it in heaven." - Kris Lundgaard
"When I take counsel with my own soul about my sin, I both see and know that, to all eternity, I never could forgive myself, or endure myself, but for the all-satisfying and all-obliterating atonement for all my sin that has been made by the Son of God." - Alexander Whyte
The best part of the whole morning was seeing my dad and Sean show up. I thought I saw my dad at the end of my sermon, but I figured that there was no way that he would have flown down. But afterward, Dad came up and gave me a hug and told me that he wasn’t the only one there. I was very honored to have both men, who have invested so much in me, come to hear me preach. I love them both. We enjoyed some In-N-Out and after four hours in Santa Clarita they made the drive back to the Northwest.