Apparently I need to do better at ducking snowballs. We woke up to the white stuff this morning. Before Bible study we slipped outside for some fun and frolic. One of the sheep got a little frisky and pelted me in the noggin. Good thing I had my hat on.
But I’m not referring to my need to move with greater quickness in this post. Rather I have a far more serious matter of required excellence in mind as it pertains to the role of the pastor of a local church. Paul speaks to it in 2 Timothy 2:15.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
The Lord brought this verse to mind this morning as I heard yet another teacher here at Urbana handle the Scriptures in a less-than-tidy manner. Frankly, it has alarmed me how loose so many have been in their handling of their presenting duties. We have heard good things (this morning’s presentation of the gospel hit a doctrinally sound home run), but some of the ways the text has been manipulated at times to serve a foisted agenda in this conference has left me shivering in my already cold boots.
At that moment this morning I quietly heard the Lord say, not audibly, but intuitively, Curt, do your best as a teacher. Work hard in the study. When you stand in the pulpit for Me, do so prepared to drive a straight furrow through the field of any given text that I might may be glorified and each listener may have joy.
Lord, you make me want to be a better pastor.
curtheffelfinger.com 
It is abundantly clear to anyone who sits under your preaching that this very concern is at the top of your list (second only to the need to use the word “quotient” at least once). Indeed, as passionate as your preaching is, you are certainly a “careful” preacher, too.
Thanks for your encouragement, byu. I do try to keep my “careful” quotient high, but as for doing my best, he set the bar quite high indeed.
I once heard the pulpit referred to as “the sacred desk.” My family and I are so blessed to be under a pastor that truly takes his responsibility seriously, and holds his calling in such regard as to embody Col 3:23-24 daily!
Thanks, kind sir. You make me want to do better.