There IS Hope for Tomorrow (Titus 1:4-5)
Gary McManus, 11/05/2023Part of the God's Word is Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
November 5, 2023 When the Pastor Leaves/ Retires
Titus 1:4-5
Today the Pastor is preaching to myself. However,
It is hoped that you will overhear something helpful.
Note first: advice considered both Professional and
appropriate recommendations for clergy behavior when leaving
or retiring from a congregation: basically, separation.
The only exceptions are if the new Pastor requests
the retired Pastor’s participation in those services.
These are the rules of Clergy ethics.
Pastor wants to be supportive of the next Lead Pastor
of Daleville Christian Church.
Still, Pastor Gary does not plan to preach after retirement—
at all.
There are several reasons for that: . . .
That is Pastor’s hope and my prayer. It is time for a new crop
of preachers to help a new crop of Americans hear the Gospel
message of hope.
Deb and Gary may or may not live in Daleville.
Pastor wants to address you all about what he faces.
And here is the Biblical take on a Pastor’s retirement:
Jesus’ leave taking, Acts 1:9 with Acts 1:3. Jesus did
prepare the Disciples for His leave taking.
And the Apostle addressed his own leave taking
(Titus 1:4-5)
Jesus had offered some explanation for his leave taking:
John 16:7.
Notice other translations/versions of that verse
it is to your advantage that I go away;
it is for your benefit that I go away;
it is good for you that I go away;
Were the Disciples convinced? We don’t know.
Probably not. Why? They were human.
Our vision is often too limited and our imaginations
are often too small. . . Jesus CAN see a better
tomorrow. See Revelation 21:5.
Pastor has said: God wants to bring you something,
but if your hands are full, you can’t receive it.
We will have to let go of something so we can receive
what God wants to give us.
Pastor suggests that he is old “software” now.
But how often Pastor Gary has not been convinced
of the benefits of the NEW software.
God taught Pastor Gary this year; he just can’t do a
younger man’s job any more.
So let’s look at one of the Apostle’s leave-taking
mentioned in the letter to Titus. . .
So, in what way is this sermon today for me?
The toughest part of retirement is for me as a Pastor
who has cared for DCC by showing up, to begin
to back away as the NEW way to care for DCC.
And yet, that IS Pastor’ God given assignment
in retirement.
Pastor confesses that he has no idea what he’s doing.
But trust the Bible and trust the words of the Apostle.
And trust the words of Jesus. . .it is for YOUR benefit
that Pastor Gary backs away.
Pastor Gary and the Elders have read really sad
church stories of Pastor retirements.
So, stick to Jesus’ words. They were restated beautifully
In a choir anthem sung years ago here:
Feed My Sheep by Loonis McGohon arr. Robert Sterling
Amen.
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