Dr. Timothy Tennent: Listen to Your Own Preaching
When it comes to Asbury Theological Seminary, I have certain days which will always be etched in my memory. Let me share a few of them. I remember the day in the President’s Dining Room when we signed our first two Global partnerships (with schools in Kenya and Nigeria respectively). I remember the day in 2009 when we broke ground on Kalas Village. I remember all the children singing on the day we dedicated the Community House. I remember the day down in Orlando when we celebrated paying off the mortgage on our Florida Dunnam campus. It was a 2.5-million-dollar campaign and we came to the dedication day (which had been set “in faith” many months earlier) with over $325,000 still remaining. However, during the ceremony a couple came forward and pledged the remaining amount, allowing us to publicly burn the mortgage!
I could go on, but we all can look back on our ministries and remember certain red-letter days. Well, May 8th was another one for me, and for all of us who call Asbury our theological home. The re-dedication of Estes Chapel on May 8th was truly a glorious day. Let me express my deep appreciation to all our alums throughout “Asbury nation” scattered around the world who helped make this day possible. I have been asked dozens of times what my impressions were of the service, so let me share one personal story about the day.
If you were there, or you listened to the service online, or on our archives, you will know that at a certain point I temporarily lost my composure during my main address, as a wave of emotion swept over me. Let me share the back story behind that moment. As President, I am always the last one to walk into a big service like that because I am at the end of the Procession. Walking into Estes chapel was unforgettable. The place was packed out with standing room only in the back (overflow at McKenna Chapel as well).
The joy and presence of God in the room was powerful. It was an amazing experience.
As I got to my chair and looked out over all the students, staff, faculty and Trustees I felt a rush of emotion. This was only heightened when we stood to sing “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” followed quickly by “O, for a 1,000 Tongues to Sing.” I asked the Lord to help me keep my composure because in a few minutes I was going to stand and deliver my Estes Re-Dedication address entitled, “Fire from Heaven.” When I did get up and begin the address, at one point I began to lose my composure due to the sheer force of emotion which was surging in my body. However, the emotion was not over the renovation of Estes Chapel, or any of the celebrative events of the day.
My emotion was because when you preach (and I am addressing mostly preachers in this LINK article) all of you who are preachers will know that you do not close your ears when you preach. You are hearing the very message which you are preaching. I was preaching about the gospel and the power of the redemption which comes through Jesus Christ. I was also hearing the message I was preaching. I felt afresh the power of the amazing story of the gospel and was, again, touched that God had so graciously called me to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, however long you may have been in ministry, never close your ears to your own preaching. Always listen to the gospel you preach. Always be surprised anew at the glory of it all. Always stand in awe of the greatness of God that He stooped down to rescue you. This is the only way to end your ministry well. Keep listening. Keep hearing the gospel afresh. Never let the power of it grow stale in your heart. Because, in the end, the re-dedication of Estes Chapel, or any other red letter dates in our ministries, only have meaning because they are tied to this great story of redemption. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world to save us is THE red letter date for the whole human race! Thanks be to God!
And it was an incredibly powerful message! I felt so honored to have been in the room that day! To God be the glory!
Thank you Dr. Tennent for being real and encouraging us to express our emotions when we hear the truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I was there and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit showering grace upon all who love Asbury. Also, gratitude for all of the alums who donated with such generosity to restore this precious chapel. And when we sang “And let it be” I truly believed we raised the newly refurbished roof for glory to God! Thanks, President Tennent, for leading us with both head and heart.
Dr. Timothy Tennet,
First, I would like to thank you very much for giving a chance to experience Asbury spiritial journey. You have inspired me to go forward. I started my Asbury pilgrimage when I was 60. Eight years later I am still in the ministry of helping people and my colleagues to develop a better pastoral counseling minitry in plural Indonesian context.
Second, I would like to thank to Dr. Tom Tumblin who has supported Dr. Anthony Headley to visit to Indonesia and speak to my Indonesian colleagues several times in the past seven years. His visit and speaking has become an integral part of pastoral counseling ministry education and training in Indonesia.
Third, Indonesian Association of Pastoral Counselors (IAPC) which I minister as the Executive Director needs your prayers. We plan to have our headquarter office and training center in Yogyakarta Special Province. Now it is located in my house.
Warm greetings and blessings from the Island of Java, Indonesia.
Totok S. Wiryasaputra
My homiletics professor advised us to ask in regards to every sermon, no matter how difficult it might be, “Where is the good news in this message?” Thank you for the reminder.