TGC’s Ordinary Pastors Project seeks to find wisdom and honor in faithfulness, demonstrated in varied contexts. Learn more from the introduction by Matt B. Redmond. If you’d like to honor and encourage the ordinary pastor who shaped you, tell us about him in about 500 words and include a photo, or record a video testimonial of five minutes or less and send the link to [email protected].
Pastors draw upon various resources when preparing a sermon; those learned in formal training, as well as resources learned through the experiences of life. When thinking of a relevant illustration for a doctrinal truth, pastors often draw upon examples learned as a parent, spouse, or concerned citizen of a local community. Sometimes, however, pastors are challenged by their sermons after they are delivered.
Doug Rumbold, youth pastor of Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont, Illinois, preached from Mark 8:11-13 this past October. In this text, Jesus challenged the sign-seeking Pharisees about their rejection of him. As Doug preached, he asked rhetorically, “If I received no other ‘sign’ till the day that I die than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—would that be sufficient? Is Jesus sufficient?”
Only two months later, at the very end of December, Doug and his wife, Jessica, received the news that there 5-year-old daughter, Jada, had cancer. As a result, the last month has been filled with experiences that testify to the kindness and severity of God—all of which test one’s faith in the sufficiency of Jesus.
Doug has chronicled their family journey on his blog, allowing his people to see how an ordinary pastor responds to an extraordinary struggle through faith in an all-sufficient Savior. As Doug’s pastoral responsibilities have been adjusted to allow him time to be available to his family, the light of his ministry shines brighter than ever.
We never know the extent to which we will experience the pains and realities of our people. We do know, however, that the ordinary church is filled with men and women, boys and girls, who regularly experience the consequences of disease, broken relationships, misinformation, shattered dreams, etc. And in these times we need Christians who can not only teach about the sufficiency of Jesus, but also live out the same. Doug’s excellent sermons and great work with the youth have given way to an even better life of faith.
Here is an excerpt from his blog:
January 4, 2011
This morning as I sat reading my Bible, and praying while Jada lay asleep and before the onslaught of support (aka – Christian community) came—I had a vision of hope for my daughter (and for that matter, my family).
In Acts 5 the apostles were called into the council and beaten and told not to speak the name of Jesus. I have a vision for my family that says essentially, “Thank you, Jesus, that you have counted us worthy of suffering.” For it is too easy in times like ours to raise both of hands in anger at God for what appears to be an injustice. But, if we are not careful, having both fists clenched toward the heavens teaches us a one-sided view of suffering and trial. That view, sadly, is all about me (or in this case, Jada). We are encouraged in the Bible to express our anger or frustration with God (clenched fist), but let us not forget to keep the other hand open to receive the blessing from the affliction.
If the gospel was delivered with great pain to the Lord Jesus (difficult emotionally and spiritually—not to mention physically) how am I (or Jess, Jada, and Oliver) to expect that God would deliver the truth and depth of the gospel love he has for me without some level of affliction? The answer: we are not to expect anything less!
In Hebrews 2:10 it says that Christ was made perfect through suffering. You and I are made to resemble Christ MORE as we suffer. It’s just not our chosen vehicle.
Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?
In an age of faith deconstruction and skepticism about the Bible’s authority, it’s common to hear claims that the Gospels are unreliable propaganda. And if the Gospels are shown to be historically unreliable, the whole foundation of Christianity begins to crumble.
