II. The Life of the Man of God in Relationship to His People
A. You must experience a growing measure of unfeigned love for your people.
1. Explanation of this principle.
a. Definition of this love: Unfeigned love is that gracious and principled disposition of goodwill which desires and practically seeks the good of its object at personal cost.
1 Cor. 13
1 Jn. 3:16
1) Gracious
Gal. 5:22
2) Principled
3) Disposition
4) Desires and seeks the good of its object(s)
Rom. 13:10
5) At personal cost
Eph. 5:25ff
Jn. 3:16
b. The quality of this love — unfeigned
1 Pet. 1:22
2 Cor. 6:6
Rom. 12:9
Jn. 11:35-36
c. The measure of this love — growing
1 Thess. 4:9-10
Phil. 1:9-11
2 Cor. 12:15
d. The objects of this love — his people and the unsaved within his influence
Acts 20:28
Heb. 13:17
1 Pet. 5:1ff
Rom. 9:1-5
2 Tim. 2:10
2. The importance of this principle in the work of the ministry
a. Because of the explicit teaching of 1 Cor. 13
b. Because of the general demand for evangelical law-keeping
Rom. 13:8-10
1 Jn. 3:17
c. Because of the specific nature of your office
1 Pet. 5:1-4
1 Jn. 2:6
Mt. 10:25
Jn. 10:11
Jn. 15:13
Rev. 3:19
Mt. 9:37
Lk. 19:41
d. Because of the constituted relationship between assured love and an open ear
Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1974, pp. 117-118;
Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1967), pp 336-338;
John Calvin, “Commentary on the Epistle to the Philippians,” in Calvin’s Commentaries, vol. XXI (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979), p. 30.
e. Because of the specific ways in which love exerts its influence in both the preparation and delivery of sermons
1) In fidelity to the text of Scripture
2) In logical order and transparency of structure
3) In searching application and riveting the Word to the conscience
4) In earnestness and pathos
1 Thess. 2:7-8
Acts 20:20
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1971), pp. 92-93;
C. H. Spurgeon, “On Conversion as Our Aim,” in Lectures to My Students (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1990), book II, pp. 185-186.
3. Practical suggestions as to its nurture and manifestation
a. As to its nurture
1) Cry to God for it.
Gal. 5:22
Lk. 11:13
2) Deliberately and periodically meditate upon those truths calculated to
produce it.
a) Their worth in the sight of God
Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1974, pp. 131-132.
b) The worth of a soul itself
Mk. 8:36
c) The sufferings and agonies of Christ for sinners
d) The true state of men
Acts 20:28ff
2 Tim. 2:26
b. As to its manifestation both in and out of the pulpit
1 Jn. 3:18
1) In words — express affection.
Affectionate language of the New Testament
Col. 1:8
2 Tim. 1:4
2) In deeds
a) Demonstrate an increasingly high standard of pulpit ministry
2 Cor. 12:15
b) Demonstrate a willingness to take initiative; be sensitive to their individual needs.
As in maintaining a good marriage, make phone calls, write cards, letters, make inquiries, etc
c) Have an affectionate relationship to children even as Christ had.
2 Cor. 12:14-15