The Rest of Faith
July 9, 2007
Rick Phillips made the mistake of asking me to give the charge at his installation as the twelfth senior minister of the Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC.
I chose the (admittedly unusual and presumably unprecedented) text of Hebrews 4:9-11 and spoke on resting in the finished work of Christ, on striving to enter the rest that yet remains for the people of God, and especially on remembering the call to Sabbath rest as a joyful duty for gospel ministers in general, and Rick Phillips in particular. We show our faith and fulfill our ministry as much by resting as we do by working.
Rick has vowed never to have anyone who knows him very well ever give him a charge again. But Sharon was deeply appreciative.
I chose the (admittedly unusual and presumably unprecedented) text of Hebrews 4:9-11 and spoke on resting in the finished work of Christ, on striving to enter the rest that yet remains for the people of God, and especially on remembering the call to Sabbath rest as a joyful duty for gospel ministers in general, and Rick Phillips in particular. We show our faith and fulfill our ministry as much by resting as we do by working.
Rick has vowed never to have anyone who knows him very well ever give him a charge again. But Sharon was deeply appreciative.
