Bob Temple Speaking at Rivers of Joy Baptist Temple

 

 

Sunday August 26 2012 Service

Romans: Five Verses on Adoption

Five Verses on Adoption

from Challies Dot Com by Tim

The word “adoption” (Greek huiothesias) occurs only a few times in the New Testament, and each time it refers to God choosing a people for himself. Though there are not a lot of references to this word, there is a good deal we learn from them about the doctrine of adoption.

1) God adopts those whom he loves and has predestined to be his children

”In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

2) It is through Jesus Christ that God’s children are adopted

“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

3) God adopts his children so that he might display the glory of his grace

“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

4) God has secured this adoption by his Spirit

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15)

5) God will complete this adoption when he renews our bodies, thus making us eager for Christ’s return

“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23)

For more on the doctrine of adoption, I recommend Reclaiming Adoption, edited by Dan Cruver, or Adopted for Life by Russell Moore.

Romans 8:28 Notes from August 19 2012

HOW DO WE KNOW IF ROMANS 8:28 APPLIES TO US
ROMANS 8:28-30
Charles e Whisnant
August 19, 2012
How can we know that Paul’s statement , “All things work together for good…” is true with respect to us, as to how I may know that this is true of us.
Now I do like to teach with a theological intent, so did the Apostle Paul, but really most of the time Paul was interest was primarily pastoral.  
Sometimes many deal with theory of something rather than how is it practice.  But you need to combine them, there is always a practical intention.  The intent of course is to help you in a practical way, with your problems and struggles.]
The message should not be only for the mind and understanding, but also for the heart and will.  One needs to have understanding yes, but also the will to accomplish what he knows to be true.
So how do we know this promise is applied to us? We certainly as Christians often quote this verse.
First we need to know whether all this applies to us, and if we conform to the description that is given of the people to whom this does apply, because it does apply to a certain people.
WHO DOES THIS PROMISE APPLY TO:
1A    THOSE WHO LOVE GOD
So we can ask the question why does Paul describe Christian folks in this manner. “ Why did he not just say “All things work together for good to them who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ’? Of course that is just as true of Christians. So why does he instead say those who love God?
Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 2:9  9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
I would say, to a degree in order to contrast the Christian with the non-Christian. Romans 8:7  says 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  
Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Here Paul gives a disparity between those who say they are Christians and those who really are.  Some believe that been a Christian is simply those who have in their mind regarded that they are saved by it been a matter of intellectual acceptance of truth only.  They have in their mind just said they are Christians.  There is really no real love relationship experiences with Jesus Christ.  
The problem with unbelievers or non Christians is not that in reality do hate God. Here is the only two alternatives in the Scriptures about who is and who is not a Christians. Either you love God or you hate God. The non believer hates God (in God’s terms) and the Believer  “loves God.”
In other words the Believer goes beyond just believing in God,  and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the term Lordship does not bother him, and the idea that God saved Him does not bother him. To say as a Believer you believe that your salvation was by the sovereign will of God and for His pleasure is not offensive to you.
James 2:19b “The devils also believe, and tremble.” And devils are not Christians so there need to something added to the description of a Christians.  “They love God.”
For this verse to apply, “Are you a Christian…that loves God?”
“Well” you might say, “I have always believed in God” but that belief may be of no value whatsoever: it is not of necessity Christian belief.
A person could be a theist., I mean he could have the belief that one God created and rules humans and the world, and not necessarily accompanied by belief in divine revelation such as through the Bible. And not be   a Christian. You can have an intellectual assent to the truth about God and have certain belief about the truth about God and still not be a Christian.
Isn’t it true that not every one who says they are a Christians are indeed one.
So Paul is going to help us know who is a Christian and who is not one.
So what is the test to know who is really a Christian?  What assurance do I have that this promise is for me?
Well one is that you are going to love God, with all your heart, soul, and mind Matthew 22:37
 
Love is here all all-encompassing.  I am going to love the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior, Prophet, Priest and King. I am going to live Him, with my whole personality – soul, mind, heart, body, all my strength. The test of my salvation is do I love the Lord.
What then does it mean to love God?  
Some people’s definition of love certainly is different than any kind of love I know.  There is certainly a lot of illustration that we could give about how love in some people’s mind would be hate in other persons mind when they say they love them.
Some people think that they love God or  Christ because they have some emotional experience feelings.  You know they felt something at the end of one of Johnny Edwards songs. I would say one of my sermons, but then I know better. That is not love.
You will and do experience emotions for sure, Love does include emotions, but its more than emotions.
     
I Google image “God and your emotions”
Yes there is an emotional feeling when one things about how much we are blessed, and have been graced. But our love is action, and we are driven by an inward desire to please the Lord with all our being. Our feelings are real, our emotions are real, and that leads us to love the Lord in the way that God wants us to love Him.
Yes I love the bible, but I love it to the point I am going to read it, and obey it.
Ray Anderson 1934-2011 said “For those who think business exists to make a profit, I suggest that they think again. Business makes a profit to exist.  Surely it must exist for some higher, nobler purpose than that.” Interface Co.
What is so loudly perpetuated is just the opposite.  What we have is a marketing machine which only serves as a short-term needs of shareholders; to make more money next year than the year prior.  We are mesmerized by the illusion but disinterested in the reality.  
Steve Jobs understood that, as human beings, our first relationship with anything is an emotional one. “A device isn’t just a sum of its functions, it’s something that should make you smile, you should cradle, you should love, you should have an emotional relationship with.”
There is a difference between hardware and software. Digital and physical are vastly different things to bring to life.  The point with Stephen  Fry is have an emotional relationship with the way it works, not the device itself. And if it gets wet or the display shatters into a million pieces, we don’t skip a beat when a brank new one magically appears from behind the counter. What Steve Jobs led Apple to develop was elaborate, delicate, and over engineered hardward as pedantically designed as the software itself.
Hardware is tools and implements, the equipment and devices that make up a computer system as oppoed to the programs used on it.  
Software is the applications and programs for the computer.
Goodness how did I get on this topic. What is the point?
Maybe there is a difference between having that hardware (the Bible) and using the software (the Word of God). I wonder if that is a stretch in application.
Back on the topic at hand.
Are we to have an emotional love for the local church? When I say that I love the hearing of the Word of God? Does it bring emotional feeling?  Do I undergo an emotional feeling when I am in a church service? Hope so, but that is not all love is.  Love of God is much deeper than emotional feelings.  
You certainly can experience emotion, and believe that you are loving God and yet show later that you do not love God at all. That certainly happens all the time. Tears at the altar does not compute in the reality of life outside this bulding.
The Lord makes it quite clear that you do not love God at all.  John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
There is no value in talking about love unless we keep the commandments.
Well theoretical I love the Lord, really.  Love is practical.  Here is true love of God, you will have a desire to please the Lord, and to live to his glory and to keep His commandments, and to be like Jesus.
     

 
Google Image
Love like Jesus
So do you belong in this group of those who “love God?”
The writer Paul, I put forward to you chose the term because it is all-inclusive and leaves no uncertainty. He does take us right to the heart of the matter, so that we may be quite sure as to where we stand.

So why did Paul use the “love” rather than “believers?”
One of the best way we can know if we love God or not, is our reaction to life.  There are many who say at first that they love the Lord, (at a church altar, or in their home with someone who invites them to be saved) only to find themselves in living life and say where is God?
There are those who at first seem to have believed the gospel and to be enjoying the Christian life. But when the trails and difficulty of life comes upon they, they give up on the gospel.
They cannot face that test, they feel they have been let down.  They entertained the thought that to be a Christian meant that you would never have any troubles and problems, so the moment of trials come they say, “There is nothing in Christianity after all.”  And turn their backs upon it.  They do not love God.
Here is who you know in one way that you love God.  You lose everything you have in a forest fire. You are told that you are no longer needed in your position at work.  You just learn that you have one month  to live. You learned that your child was shot at school today.
Are you going to be like Job or Job’s wife. Remember the story of Job.  “The reason Job is happy and loves you is because he is so blessed.” The devil said.  You know the story, tell it.
Job 1:21-23  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charge God foolishly.
    Job 13: 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
I might not understand, but I know that God is love.  Then you have stood the test.  
Notice that Paul introduces it here in the context of trials and troubles, and problems, when we are in the state and conditions in which we “know not what we should pray for as we ought.” But we know that “all things work together for good to them that love God’ to those who can go on loving Him when everything seems to be against them, and everything seems to testify against the face that God loves them. They still love Him.

The greatest proof of God’s love to us is in the fact that we love Him
 First John 4: 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
We would not love him if He had not first loved us. So if I find myself in love with the Lord, with all my heart, should, mind, and life, I then have an absolute proof that He loves me.  
That is the very thing that Apostle Paul is telling these Christians .  So it is wise for us to put it in terms of our love to God.  No man would ever have loved God unless God first of all loved Him. Therefore if we can prove by our love to god that God loves us, we can be absolutely certain that everything will be overruled by God for our good, and for our benefit, and for our ultimate glory.  
If in the light of these things we can say that we love God, then the promise that “all things work together for good to them that love God’ applies to us.

Romans 8:28 The Promise Applied To Whom? part two and three

Romans 8:28 How Do You Know This Promise Apply To You

 

HOW DO WE KNOW IF ROMANS 8:28 APPLIES TO US
ROMANS 8:28-30
Charles e Whisnant
August 19, 2012

How can we know that Paul’s statement , “All things work together for good…” is true with respect to us, as to how I may know that this is true of us.

Now I do like to teach with a theological intent, so did the Apostle Paul, but really most of the time Paul was interest was primarily pastoral.

Sometimes many deal with theory of something rather than how is it practice. But you need to combine them, there is always a practical intention. The intent of course is to help you in a practical way, with your problems and struggles.]

The message should not be only for the mind and understanding, but also for the heart and will. One needs to have understanding yes, but also the will to accomplish what he knows to be true.

So how do we know this promise is applied to us? We certainly as Christians often quote this verse.

First we need to know whether all this applies to us, and if we conform to the description that is given of the people to whom this does apply, because it does apply to a certain people.

WHO DOES THIS PROMISE APPLY TO:

So we can ask the question why does Paul describe Christian folks in this manner. “ Why did he not just say “All things work together for good to them who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ’? Of course that is just as true of Christians. So why does he instead say those who love God?

Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 2:9 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I would say, to a degree in order to contrast the Christian with the non-Christian. Romans 8:7 says 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Here Paul gives a disparity between those who say they are Christians and those who really are. Some believe that been a Christian is simply those who have in their mind regarded that they are saved by it been a matter of intellectual acceptance of truth only. They have in their mind just said they are Christians. There is really no real love relationship experiences with Jesus Christ.

The problem with unbelievers or non Christians is not that in reality do hate God. Here is the only two alternatives in the Scriptures about who is and who is not a Christians. Either you love God or you hate God. The non believer hates God (in God’s terms) and the Believer “loves God.”

In other words the Believer goes beyond just believing in God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the term Lordship does not bother him, and the idea that God saved Him does not bother him. To say as a Believer you believe that your salvation was by the sovereign will of God and for His pleasure is not offensive to you.

James 2:19b “The devils also believe, and tremble.” And devils are not Christians so there need to something added to the description of a Christians. “They love God.”

For this verse to apply, “Are you a Christian…that loves God?”

“Well” you might say, “I have always believed in God” but that belief may be of no value whatsoever: it is not of necessity Christian belief.

A person could be a theist., I mean he could have the belief that one God created and rules humans and the world, and not necessarily accompanied by belief in divine revelation such as through the Bible. And not be a Christian. You can have an intellectual assent to the truth about God and have certain belief about the truth about God and still not be a Christian.
Isn’t it true that not every one who says they are a Christians are indeed one.

(First set of notes from the message).

Charles e Whisnant begins fifth year at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

August 2008 officially became pastor/teacher of Rivers of Joy Baptist Church. Now we begin our fifth year as Pastor/Teacher.  The last four years I have taught about 700 lessons. We have 208 services a year and I speak about 175 times.

While I certainly have enjoyed teaching in the book of Romans and Philippians, and now Luke, the book of Daniel and topical on Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, the book of Proverbs, and Genesis 1-3. I want to stay fresh each week.

I prepare each week notes/outline of each sermon I teach, which sometimes is four lessons a week.

Also recording the messages on a simple digital camera each week.  Then I take the  video home and put the lesson on Vimeo and YouTube.  It does take time for this task. but I really enjoy doing this.

Then there is the preparation of each sermon. I prepare each lesson, usually by typing the lesson.

I know most of my time has been in these area of ministry.  I am with our people three times a week, and teaching four times a week.  The fellowship with them is generally in church.

We have a group of people who come in all the services. We have now a wonderful group of people who come to learn the Word of God and do desire to be faithful in their Christian living.

And in theses four years we have had our Assoc. Pastor Bill Bower who has been a blessing for the four years that we have been here.  Then Johnny Edwards have also been singing for us in all four years.  The Bob Temple who was responsible for us becoming pastor has been with us also for the whole time.

I might also say these folks have been too. M/M Grant, M/M Dawkins, M/M Ramey, Ms Fields,  Mr. Lemaster, Ms Tumberson, and others who have come since we have been here.

I am not sure how you would address just how much success we have had.  There are of course disappointments for sure.  We have not seen new people come, we have not seen people saved,  we have had a number of visitors come.  But what we do have is a very loving group of believers.  Yes there have been some struggles along the way, but I believe we have come to the place where w are a strong spiritual group of people.

Luke 1 The Angel Sent From God To Tells Mary About Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 8:28-33 The Called

A PROMISE YOU NEED TO KNOW
THE BELIEVERS SOLID HOPE
Romans 8:28-30  #45.126
Charles e Whisnant, August 12, 2012

WHAT YOU KNOW CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS.

Romans 8 is one of the best chapter on Christian Eternal Security of the Believer.  We see that in 35-36.

Who is going to separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecutions, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  NOTHING SHALL.
Differing Translations

THE BIGGER THE BUILDING THE BIGGER THE FOUNDATION

THE BUILDING OF ROMANS 8:28

1.    Bad People
2.    Already Elected
3.    Completely Atoned for
4.    Overwhelmingly called
5.    Never falling away.

A SYNOPSIS APPETIZER OF THE FOUNDATION

WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS GREAT PROMISE IN ROMANS 8:28 WHO CAN CLAIM” THIS?    

EXPOSITION OF ROMANS 8:28 PART TWO

TO THOSE WHO LOVE (25) GOD

It’s interesting that Paul does not say “those who believe in Him.” But it says “those who love Him.”  This shows the difference between the Christian and the unbeliever. Those who “simply believe in some God or other, those who made a profession of faith which is very different than those who “make believe and make the possession of faith.

TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED

Romans 9:11 gives us a good definition of being called.
And 2 Timothy 1:9 says God who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.”

“THE CALLED” are the ones who have accepted a calling or an invitation to become a guest or member of a select group. We have been invited by God in the proclamation of the Gospel to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ. No one seeks after God. We did not first go to Christ, Instead, He called, He invited us.

Paul speaks not of an internal call to the gospel, but of the inward call of the Holy Spirit. In theology we term this “effectual calling.”  No one will love God unless God first changes the disposition of the heart through the work of the Holy Spirit.  The capacity to love God is not natural to fallen humanity but must be supernaturally granted by the Father, who takes the initiative in restoring us to Himself.  The regenerative work of God must precede the act of repentance and faith. Only by the divine initiative is anyone saved.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “CALLED”

Vs. 30 tells us: And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified.”  And we know what that means:  “Justified”- Acquitted. Pardoned, Treated as righteous. His children. If you have been called you are justified. CF. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

IN THEOLOGY IT’S CALLED THE EFFECTUAL CALL OF GOD.

So Paul teaches that when the gospel is preached, God calls some so powerfully that their hearts and minds are changed about Jesus Christ and they embrace Him in faith and love.
When God “calls” it’s a powerful call.  Like when Jesus said to Lazarus. “Lazarus, come forth!”  The call of God is power to produce what it commands.  It is an effectual call.

WHY ROMANS 8:28 IS SO CERTAIN FOR THE CALLED:

Because of the one who is doing the calling.  Let me put it this way:
God did not put out a massive worldwide email mailing , or a massive Facebook “UPDATE” saying “to whom it may concern” inviting all to the banquet where all things work together for good.  No God Himself drives up to your front door, walks in picks you up, puts you in the car, drives you to the banquet of Romans 8;28, gives you the banquet garment of love , and then seats you at the right hand of his Son.  ( (Piper)      Listen, we do ourselves a great service when we embrace the doctrine of God’s sovereign, effectual call. MacArthur, Spurgeon, Sproul, Whisnant, Piper, York, Bower, Samson, Paul

TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE 4286

I would say this. The call of God originates in God’s purpose not ours. It is not like “God I want to be saved, because this is what I want to do.” No. God has His own purposes not ours.  God has a much higher purpose that governs his call. When God drove up to my heart’s door back in 1954 it was according to His purpose and will to do so.  “Had He waited for me to have a purpose of salvation, I would still be on Facebook.”

Pastor or Staff Worker Being Fired

I have been fired a number of times:

(and not in order of the events)

Wooster Baptist Temple by the Pastor for doing a good job. 1970-71. I have never been back.

Connersville Baptist Temple by the Pastor because the Pastor believed I should be a Pastor in another church. 1978-1980. The church members did not know why I was ask to leave town. The Pastor left, and I have been back twice since, good church.

Portsmouth Baptist Church, the Pastor said they didn’t have anymore money (that was a good one) 2003. I was ask to leave but the Deacons said no. The pastor finally quit and now I am welcome back. I did not leave town and am still in town.

Bigelow Church, fired by the Elders before I had a week under my belt.  I did not leave town and am welcome to come to the church.  I was not the Pastor but had a new position that did not every get off the first floor.

Pleasant Valley Ranch Camp, fired by the Board becasue I would not go against the senior pastor 1974-76. I was going to Manssfield Baptist Temple, I preached there several times and worked with the Pastor, and taught the College and Career class, and had a great time teaching the class.

I pastor two Southern Baptist Church Lusby Mills, the old deacon was not very happy at the growth in the church and I left. Then another Second Baptist Church, the real reason that was stated by the Deacons who were very good men, was that I was not a good southern baptist preacher, and than I had a little trouble with Wal Mart.

Victory Baptist Church, Assco. Pastor was not ask to leave but was the people were not happy with the me. In fourteen months we had 201 first time visitors, are church grew to 275 from about 120. The Pastor did not want me to resign. I go back to the church anytime.Good people and a good Pastor.

Thank goodness I had a little better time in First Baptist Church in Kansas, I did manage to stay as Pastor/Teacher for  16.4 years. Had a wonderful time, loved the people, still do.  Invited to come back anytime. Have preached there several times.

Ashland Ave Baptist Church, fired by the Assoc Pastor at the request of the other Assoc pastor who agreed with the Senior pastor, because they felt I was not cleaning the lady bathroom well enough. 2001. But I did stay in the church and after the Pastor left I was able to teach the Adult Sunday School Class.

Madison Baptist Church, Pastor for 3.4 years. The church had twelve our first Sunday, and we went over 100.  I resign myself. I have gone back several times and am welcome. 1971-74.

 

 

Currently I am the Pastor/Teacher of Rivers of Joy Baptist Church since 2008 and its been a challenge but we are doing good. I guess I might be here for a while or until I get where I can’t preach. Love every week there.

Oh I was fired at Southall Baptist Church in Danville, VA in my second year of Seminary. The Pastor didn’t like it that I was doing a reasonable good joy with the youth.  I was only 19 years old at the time.  He had be sign a paper saying he was a good man. He wasn’t.  1967 was the year.  I have never been back.

You know you would think I have a problem with Senior Pastors.  I have always had a good relationship with the people in the church, but its always been the pastor who is out of order in their pastoral ministry.

And one other place I worked was Roanoke Baptist Temple, where I was the youth pastor ans assoc. under by Dad, Everette Whisnant for 27 months. I loved every minute when I was there from in the 10 and11th grade of high school, before I Dad died in 1966.

Was not fired at Fellowship Baptist Church, in Roanoke, VA in 1966

 

 

I was not fired at West Handly Baptist Church in Fort Worth. 1968

Was not fired at Gideon Baptist Church in Fort Worth under Dr. George L. Norris for 42 weeks as Bus and Children’s Director.

Was not fired at First Baptist Church in Haltom City, Fort Worth in 1976.

So that give a brief history from 1964 to this present time in August 2012: that would be 48 years.

MY DAD EVERETTE THOMAS WHISNANT

HERE IS FOUR WAYS NOT TO SAY WHEN FORCED TO LET A STAFF MEMBER GO

Many churches today are being forced to let staff members go. This is a tough call, one no senior pastor wants to make. But senior pastor, if you do have to let go of a staff member, I’d suggest you realize that there are some phrases that sting when voiced, phrases that are often misconstrued as lessening the blow.

1.     “This is going to make it possible for you to find the right place for you at this time.” What the staff member is probably thinking is, “I thought we all prayed about this when you hired me. You even asked me if I’d be a long-timer or if I’d be moving on when something better came my way. We both thought this was the right place for me. Please don’t act like God has a greater plan for my life. You’re just using God-talk to rationalize the decision you and the elders have made.”

2.     “This really hurts me to have to do this.” When a senior pastor says this to the person they’re dismissing it sounds as though they’re asking the person being dismissed to minister to them. The person who needs to be ministered to is the person who’s already wondering what their family will do when the severance package runs out.

3.     “If we had more money we could keep you.” In many settings, the staff member who is about to be without a job may be thinking, “If you were willing to give up a small portion of your extravagant salary, the church could afford to keep me.”

4.     “I’m really going to miss you.” When you make this statement you lead the staff member to believe that you had a great friendship, not just a working relationship with them and that you’ll miss their abilities and personality. The way to judge whether or not you should use this statement is if you know in your heart of hearts that, 1) you really need them in order for the church to function an all pistons, and/or 2) you really do love them and what they bring to the team and that they help in creating a chemistry that is vital to the team. By the way, if you’re the senior pastor… if you realize that these two things are true, back up and regroup, do anything in your power to keep this staff member. You can’t be sure the next person you hire will be able to be this person, the church won’t be nearly as effective and efficient without them, and they are vital to the chemistry of your team.