My Biggest Takeaway from Polishing the Pulpit

We returned home yesterday afternoon from a wonderfully uplifting week at Polishing the Pulpit. Over 3000 Christians gathered in Sevierville, Tennessee for this annual event, and we were truly uplifted by great lessons and fellowship.

I gained so much, from sermon ideas to program “helps” to encouragement.

My biggest takeaway was not just from something I heard, however. It was from things that I saw.

What did I see?

• I saw preachers and youth ministers who are my age or younger. Ministers like Wes Hazel, Joey Sparks, Eric Lyons, Josh Ketchum, Gantt Carter, David Dixon, Robert Hatfield, Chris Clevenger, and many others I spent time with during the week were listening to faithful Gospel lessons and preparing to take these lessons home to help others. They are Tituses, who are faithfully preaching the truth of God’s Word right where they are.
• I saw preachers of all ages who are faithful to the Word of God and who are working–truly working–in places all around the world, no matter how difficult or stressful. They are Pauls, who are faithful both to the Word of God and to the working expectations of their respective congregations.
• I saw elders come from all over the country to hear practical lessons that will help them shepherd God’s people even more effectively. They are Peters, who are exhorting fellow elders and who are preparing themselves to feed the flock they oversee.
• I saw ladies of all ages scurrying from class-to-class, enjoying wonderful lessons that reminded them of their beautiful role in Christ’s Body. They are Tabithas and Lydias, who are oftentimes the very backbone of a congregation.
• I saw children and teenagers being immersed in lessons and activities that helped to instill God’s Word in their heart for hours each day. They are Timothys, who are not letting anyone despise their youth, but who are growing up saturated in the Word.
• I saw elderly saints–some with canes and walkers–listening intently to the preaching of God’s Word, still wanting to learn more of what the Lord desires. They are Johns, who are seeing heaven, but continuing to praise Jesus here.
• I saw missionaries like the Gaines family and John Farber, who go on trips both long and short, learning more that they can take throughout the world. They are Lukes, who know that “we” are in this together all around the world.
• I saw smiles, tears, hugs, handshakes, and listening ears, all showing great encouragement and concern for brothers and sisters from around the world. They are Barnabases, who build up the body no matter where they might be.

…and there was so much more.

These, though, led me to my biggest takeaway from the week. While I will continue to study and develop sermon outlines, and while I will shuffle through program and ministry ideas for weeks (and probably months) to come, there is one takeaway that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

My biggest takeaway from Polishing the Pulpit is one that is needed in every generation, but I think it is especially needed right now:

The Lord’s Church is going to be okay.

QUESTION: If you went to PtP, what were some of your takeaways?

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Photo credit: Bob Jagendorf on Creative Commons

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