Dr. Scott's Corner | ECA International

FYI...periodic notes from Dr. Scott

Dr. Scott A. Lemenager
Special Assistant to the President & CEO
Evangelical Church Alliance

23 January 2020

Free quotes to use

Life is Learning

Reality Matches Rhetoric

Excellence is Expected

Closer to God Builds Resistance to Evil

Simply Steadfast

12 Words for Life

Trust Jesus Deeply, Follow Spirit Daily, Attend Church Weekly, Marry Strong Believer

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8 January 2020

I heard a recent sermon that included the following for your fitness check-up

The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12-13 and the Apostle Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 1:3-10 to make effort through God's power to be fit in your Christian Life. So

What is your pattern

What is your priority

What is your plan

What is your progress

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3 January 2020

Have you decided to take your Fitness Check Up? More to come.

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1 January 2020

The role of the Pastor is not so much to come and teach the things most Christians have never known but it is to remind one another of the things we must never forget.

The solution is not in methodology, the answer is in theology. The knowledge of God gives grounds for a methodology that may make an impact on those under your care.

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Mistakes I made in Ministry

I did not leave soon enough--although I wanted to stay at some of my ministries I can look back and realize that I should have trusted the Lord and moved on sooner than later.
I tried to please too many people--I am a people-pleaser and that is a problem when there are some people we will never please.
I tried to do too many things--A jack of all trades is a master of none is a proverb that I should have followed more closely, but that is because I also saw many things with a critical eye and knew what to do to fix it. Perhaps I was an ADD or ADHD boy growing up and didn't know it.
I believed success was up to me--this is what so many of us in ministry forget...the ministry is the Lord's and he will make it succeed or fail, but as one of my profs in college used to say, "Failure is the back door to success."

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Good things about ministry

I was allowed to help many people.
I saw the joy in people succeeding because I helped.
It was joyful to see the "light" turn on in some of my disciples.
Finding some people that wanted a deeper life in Christ.
Personal spiritual growth by sermon preparation.

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Our recent Year End Gathering has taken place and the sermon encouraged us to consider 3 categories of ministry.

Am I a slave to Christ? Is that due to fear of my past, present or future life or ministry?
Am I a Mercenary to my agenda? What does my personal reason to do ministry amount to?
Am I loving God because I have the integrity of Heart? Ps 78:70-72 showed us that David had the integrity of the heart.

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I heard this from somewhere and wrote it down.

Recognize gifts belong to Christ and His people, they are not for us, but for them. (Gifts are a Trust)
We speak as uttering the very words of God.
Everybody will not like you so don't try to be liked by everybody. Grow your increasing awareness that ministers are here to please God and not "Man." You might say, "I will be your servant but you will never be my master."
Serve God with the strength he gives so that you may praise our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Do you listen to podcasts? I heard a good one from Alister Begg. He said the "Call" is both inward...you testify to God's leading, and outward...a body of believers recognizes the gifts of the "Called" one. In Ephesians 4:11 and 12 we are to Shepherd...know your flock, spiritually and relationaly, know the Bible. The Shepherd/Teacher helps everyone to grow in the knowledge (of the Bible) not to know everyone. We are also called as "Teacher." Balanced, spiritual instruction that helps the flock become mature in Christ. Sound instruction is not story telling or magic, but it is hard work.

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John Piper has said "Baptism is the outward expression of calling on the name of the Lord in faith. The water is a picture of the cleansing, but faith is what unites us and forgives us."

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We had a woderful and joyful time in Pittsburgh for our fall Gathering. Here are some notes from the sermon on Psalm 25. Proposition: Every Minister needs to set their heart on God's Wisdom. Transition Statement: We will find that need met in the (4) four major themes of Psalm 25.

Protection...vs 1-3 and 15-22 Protect me
Guidance...vs 4-5 and 8-10 Guide me
Forgiveness...vs 6-7 and 11 Forgive me and Remember me
Prosperity...vs 12-14 Instruct me

The Fear of the Lord is the focus of all the Wisdom Literature and this is the outcome from being forgiven.

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What are you listening to? I'm sharing my smart phone apps that truely help me in my connection to current issues and historic teachings. We may not always agree with each and every podcast or teaching, but a good minister needs to know what is on the airwaves.

albertmohler, refnet, reasonablefaith, ligonier, RZIM, pragerU, moodyradio

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I have been thinking alot about the recent apostasy of some leaders in the Christian Church. One of my daughters sent me this blog article and I think it speaks loudly to the issues we face. https://cogentchristianity.com/2019/08/13/skillets-john-cooper-on-apostasy-among-young-christian-leaders/

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Statement of Doctrine

One of the reasons the ECA asks each applicant for a brief SOD is to be sure that you can adequately answer the most basic questions of our faith. If you know someone is applying to the ECA, remind them that we are not going to teach our applicants what to say. Nor do we accept plagiarized material. Always keep studying.

Here are a few important points to remember from our recent Annual International Conference in Charlotte.

Mike McCormick reminded us of "Who Planted the Trees?" 1. Tragedy to Triumph--seeds for the future are planted in the leader that often experiences tragedy. Remember HALT--Short-term pleasure can amount to a life of pain. Protect against being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired.

Dave Richardson encouraged us to develop the tools to discern the truth. Truth corresponds to what is real. Truth and reality must cohere. All people work with assumptions and there are 3 types that reflect our view of truth. #1 Only the Physical exists, #2 Only what is non-physical is real and important, #3 Two things are real; the Creator (non-physical) and his creation (physical). Everyone is a person of faith and every institution promotes one of these types. Know who is speaking into your worldview.

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What are you reading this summer? Here are my current selections that I'm working through;

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Reason for Church

Some time ago I was reading an article in the Federalist when I came across a thoughtfull piece that I pass on to you.

If you read it take it with a proverbial grain of salt. https://thefederalist.com/2017/03/03/5-reasons-millennials-never-go-church/

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Dual Credentials

The ECA respects members and prospective members who may need to carry dual credentials. Membership and credentials are concomitant with the ECA. An ECA member with dual credentials is asked to honor first the ECA Tenets of Faith, Ministerial Ethics, and ECA Constitution and By-laws.

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I want to be a Giant Killer

At our recent Gathering in Goodyear Arizona, I had the privilege of giving the charge to our candidates and the audience in attendance. 1 Samuel 17 is the narrative of David and Goliath. The writer reminds us that our battle can be. won, "not by sword or spear, but by the will of God, for the battle is the Lord's." Nevertheless, we know David picked up five (5) stones. In his lifetime David faced a total of five Giants. Here are five principals we learn from David's encounter with the Giant. They are like his five stones.

1. Tests come more than once

2. Understand you are not alone

3. Let others help you

4. Intentional accountability leads to success

5. Praise God always

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The Trinity-Why does the ECA ask for specific beliefs in a Statement of Doctrine? Many well-meaning people think nothing of the Church having clear statements on the Trinity. The ECA has historically followed the first four great ecumenical councils of the Church. These helped the early church and help us today.

First Council of Nicaea in 325

First Council of Constantinople in 381

First Council of Ephesus in 431

The Council of Chalcedon in 451