ALL the World's a Stage?

Tony Ares, in his very positive review of the new James Brown biopic, added this spiritual observation: It never ceases to amaze me how church folk confuse great vocal chords with solid character. This flick paints a picture of how some of these folks singing the gospel are as separated from Christ as Judas himself. (http://afreshword.org/post/93735808778/movie-review-get-on-up)

I don' disagree with Tony at all, but I would add at least two more classes of church folks to his observation:  Preachers and Financial-givers

We all know that preaching (combining prophesy, teaching, ministering, and exhorting) is a spiritual gifts. Just read Romans 12: 6-8.

But if you read the same passage a little more slowly, you’ll see that giving is also a spiritual gift.  The church has some anointed givers--- people like Lydia (Acts 16) whose widest impact on the gospel will be underwriting missionaries and evangelists. 

It’s too, too easy for Preachers and Givers to become performers.

So remember:

The sanctuary is not a stage. 

The offering is not the weekend’s take.

Worship is not a Gig.

The prophetic voice doesn’t turn on and off based on a payment schedule.  Just ask Balaam (Numbers 22-24).

The content, quality--- or length  of our preaching should not be determined by audience size, preferences, income, or enthusiasm. 

We answer to God for how we use our gifts, not to a local manager or a group of church groupies; and the integrity and holiness of our personal lives is very much part of how God evaluates how we have used, or misused the anointing.

And though we often recount that church is not a social club, we need to also remember that church is not a publicly traded company in which your influence is proportionate to your financial investment. 

The biggest tithe doesn’t buy you a controlling vote.  Just ask Simon (Acts 8).

Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8: 20-23)

You answer to God for how you use your gift of giving and for how you live your life---- regardless of how impressive your gift was.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.   

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  “ (Matthew 7: 21-23)

You don’t want to finish a “career” as a popular preacher or a revered patron only to stand before the Lord and discover that He’s the one person who doesn’t recognize you.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church (5220 Myron Massey Boulevard) in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to  

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

Sorry, Bro. I CAN’T Help You.

“Don’t put your pastor on a pedestal.”

“Worship God, not the preacher.”

“Remember, he’s just a man, just like you.”

We repeat the above clichés to remind people that clergy have limits, to warn admirers not to GIVE too much to the preacher.   That’s a danger, a real possibility that I’m sure happens in some congregations.

But most of the preachers in my circle of friends do not have to worry about their congregations forgetting their limits and GIVING too much.  Most of us have to worry about people forgetting our limits and EXPECTING TOO MUCH.

Acts chapter 2 records the great Day of Pentecost, when the disciples of Jesus, led by Peter and the rest of the Twelve Apostles (clergy) had launched a Holy Spirit empowered revival in Jerusalem.  Peter had preached a powerful, multi-lingual (Acts 2: 5-14+) sermon that brought 3,000 new members into the New Testament church (Acts 2: 41).  The new church then launched a campaign of giving that brought in huge donations to support new community ministries to the poor (Acts 2: 44, 45).

So it’s no wonder that in the very next chapter, a brother on disability stopped by the church to ask Bishop Peter and Apostle John to give him “a little something just to help me out for a little while.”

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ^And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; ^who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. (Acts 3: 1-3)

Everyone in Jerusalem had heard about the phenomenal growth of their church.  When you have great worship, and great fellowship, and new people joining every day then word gets around. 

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ^praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2: 46, 47)

So here was this disabled brother already waiting in Peter’s and John’s office when they arrived to prepare for worship----- and he assumed, he EXPECTED these two preachers to have some money. 

Cause: “If your church is growing then you must be getting PAID.”

Cause: “Preachers make all the money.”

Cause: “If ya’ll can help all those folks, you must have some money to help me.”

Cause: “You’re the pastor, ain’t you?  Then you decide what they do with the money.”

But wait.  Remember where we started.

Pastor is just a man (or woman) ----- like you.  A human with utilities, a lease, bills, debts, and a credit score that may be way lower than you suspect.

An anointed man or woman of God draws from a bottomless well of Holy Spirit power, but not from a bottomless, self-refilling bank account.

Most preachers receive a salary, that is not keyed in proportion to the wealth of the church.

And, a deeply ministry minded church may give away quite nearly as much as it takes in.

Plus there’s the fact that most churches have their own institutional utilities, lease, bills, debts, and (yes) credit score.

And though far too many preachers are stingy and selfish.  A negative response to your request does not necessarily mean that the preacher is being stingy or selfish.

Sometimes it just means that the preacher is BROKE.

^And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” ^ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ^

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have...”  Acts 3: 3-6)

Peter said, “Sorry, bro.  I ain’t got it.”

Because he didn’t.

No preacher should be treated like he/she is entitled to everything from you. 

And no preacher should be treated like you’re entitled to everything from him/ her.

Sometimes a preacher doesn’t give material help because the preacher just CAN’T.

But.

But the truly anointed men/ women of God should not be judged solely on their capacity to provide immediate material assistance. 

The truly Holy Spirit called preacher operates in a realm of spiritual power and authority that can reach deeper than your overdue power bill and get to the root reason why you keep getting behind on your bills.

Truly called clergy are not gods, but we do work for God.  And our Boss  has authorized us to effect change in a willing heart---- change that won’t necessarily have a job waiting for you in the morning but can open the door for deliverance from the addictions, anger, and foolish decision making that got you fired from the last 3 jobs.

But, of course, that’s not what you expected when you stopped by to ask for help.

^Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (Acts 3: 6, 7)

When God calls a man or woman to be a shepherd of God’s people, the Lord already knows both the limits of the shepherd and the needs of the flock.

God knew that Peter and John would be broke on that Sabbath afternoon even though their church was experiencing exponential growth.   But God also knew that what the disabled beggar needed most wasn’t a donation. He most needed deliverance. 

The man stood on his own legs for the first time in his life.  He walked.  He leapt.  He launched into a freestyle praise dance.  He became a living testimony of God power, God’s grace, God’s provision. (Acts 3: 8-10)

But he was still broke.

The answer may be, “Sorry, bro.  I ain’t got it,” but that should only be the beginning of the answer.  And if it isn’t, keep asking. 

Ask, “Well, what did Jesus give you to give me today?”

Receive that.  It might be even better than what you asked for.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church (5220 Myron Massey Boulevard) in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

WHAT KIND OF MISSIONARY ARE YOU?

In the CME Church and other traditional African-American denominations, we have an organization called the Women’s Missionary Society and we have an expression:  “Everyone is a missionary.”  But in our churches, being a “missionary” doesn’t always mean what you might think it means.  So what does being a missionary mean TO GOD?

Originally delivered at Bass Tabernacle CME Church for the Tuscaloosa District of the Women’s Missionary Societies, this message poses the question: WHAT KIND OF MISSIONARY ARE YOU?

It’s not a question for certain groups in the church, but it is a question that EVERY Christian must personally ask an answer.

So, listen well.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer, and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church and the executive director of SAYNO (Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

If you enjoy our work, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.

Mail all contributions to:
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

I’VE GOT GOOD NEWS & I’VE GOT BAD NEWS

The good news is that I found a way to increase my upper body strength and balance in just 6 weeks.  The bad news is that it involves me breaking my left leg and getting put on crutches for a month-and-a-half.

Good news.  Bad news.

Jesus used the pattern of good news and bad news in the earliest recorded sermon/ Bible study He preached.  That message was/ is critical for our understanding of the foundational spiritual principles of life.

So listen well, church.  I’VE GOT GOOD NEWS & I’VE GOT BAD NEWS

Podcast Powered By Podbean
---Anderson T. Graves

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church

Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
Email us at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com   
Friend Pastor Graves at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves
If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order.

Mail all contributions to:

Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

 

BLESSING AT THE SCHOOL INTERSECTION

At certain times in my life, God has positioned me with a particularly gifted group of people who are only together in a certain place for a limited time.  Those intersections of person, place, and anointing teach you things about your work and yourself that you could not have learned any other way.
 
I like to think that those intersections happen for all of us.  I know that when they happen we often don’t realize how special the moment was until it’s passed.

This past Friday night I realized that I had been at such an intersection, ironically in a context that supposedly excludes God.

Friday night, the youth praise dance team of the church I pastor performed before a packed house at the most powerful youth worship service I’ve ever been a part of.  The worship was at Anointed Remnant International Ministries, which is pastored by Rev. Willie Bradley.  I worked with Pastor Bradley/ Lt. Col. Bradley  when he was commander of the JROTC unit at Stanhope Elmore High School.

The youth conference was sponsored by the Gateway Youth Initiative, a ministry of the church pastored by Rev. Emmett Johnson.  I worked with Rev. Johnson/ Sgt. Major Johnson when he was JROTC instructor at SEHS prior to Pastor Bradley.

The M.C. for the youth conference was a young brother named Jhae Ray.  Brother Ray was my office aid while I was assistant principal at Stanhope Elmore High School.

The offering was blessed by a young minister named Damian Williams, who was a student while I was A.P. at SEHS.

The praise team that led devotion included 2 other graduates from my time as A.P. at SEHS.

The adult praise team of the host church was led by a man my wife taught at Carver High School.  His wife, one of the lead singers of the praise group, was my student at Carver Jr. High School. 

As youth choirs, soloists, praise teams, and youth preachers came forward to minister in an evening of mind blowing praise, prayer, and petition, I saw student after student and graduate after graduate who love Jesus with all their hearts and are deeply and dynamically engaged in the work of their churches.

We complain sometimes about the government taking God out of the schools, but I don’t think God ever actually left.  

I think that a lot of people in our schools stopped talking to God, but He never stopped being there.  

All the while some of us have been acting as if God was gone from public education, God has continued to work with and work on those of us who still seek him at school.  All the while God has continued to save, anoint, call, and commission students and educators to serve Him in magnificent ways.

I realize now how blessed I have been to walk the educational halls I’ve walked.  I see a little more clearly that Holy Spirit filled Christians in the public school system are not the powerless, nearly extinct species that we thought they were. 

I don’t quite understand it all yet, but I do see that those intersections inside the public school were more than progressions in a professional career.  They were Divine appointments as part of an eternal agenda. 

It’s not “just” school.  It’s an intersection of God’s people involved in God’s agenda.

I’ll remember that.

You, remember that.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a pastor, writer, community organizer and consultant for education and ministry.

Call him at 334-288-0577
Email him at atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend Anderson at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order.

Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116