Ep9. The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way and No Little People by Francis A. Schaeffer
In this ninth episode of the Berean Bookclub, we chat through two essays: The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way and No Little People, written by Francis A. Schaeffer.
In these essays, Schaeffer teaches believers how to rely on the Holy Spirit—not personal effort or status—in matters of service and leadership. He focuses on how we walk in the power of the Spirit, essential to this is our deep recognition of our need and dependence for God to work in us. This will produce humility and promote true Spirituality, as he terms it, which leads to the Lord’s work being done in the Lord’s way, instead of mere activism. Overall this book reorients us to seek the Lord and do his work being content with his results instead of falling prey to the world’s measures of success in ministry. A short accessible book recommended for all Christians. In this episode we speak through what working in the Lord's way means, the place dependence on God has in our work, the false comfort behind the frantic activity, the cost dependence on God has on us, equating size with success, the importance of commitment and consecration in any place, being extruded into higher offices, the basic relationship between all Christians and two reasons why Christians should pursue the lesser place.
Quotes:
"If we put activity, even good activity, at the center rather than trusting God, then there may be the power of the world but we will lack the power of the Spirit."
"Nowhere more than in America are Christians caught in the twentieth-century syndrome of size. Size will show success. If I am consecrated, there will necessarily be large quantities of people and dollars. This is not so. Not only does God not say that size and spiritual power go together, but he even reverses this (especially in the teaching of Jesus) and tells us to be deliberately careful not to choose a place too big for us. We all tend to emphasize big works and big places, but all such emphasis is of the flesh. To think in such terms is simply to hearken back to the old, unconverted, egoist, self-centered Me. This attitude, taken from the world, is more dangerous to the Christian than fleshly amusement or practice. It is the flesh."
"Though we are limited and weak in talent physical energy and strength, we are not less than a stick of wood. But as the rod of Moses had to become the rod of God, so that which is me must become the me of God. Then i can become useful in God's hands. The scriptures say that much can come from little, if the little is consecrated to God. There are no little people and no big people in the true spiritual sense, but only consecrated and unconsecrated people."
"To be wholly committed to God in the place where God wants him, this is the creature glorified."
"The basic relationship between Christians is not that of elder and people or pastor and people, but that of brothers and sisters in Christ. There are different jobs to be done and different offices to be filled but we as Christians are equal before one master."
"Each Christian is to be a rod of God in the place of God for him. We must remember throughout or Christian lives that in God's sight there are no little people and no little places. Only one thing is important: to be consecrated persons in Gods place for us at each moment. Those who think of themselves as little people in little places, if committed to Christ and living under his Lordship in the whole of life, may by Gods grace change the flow of a generation. and as we get on a bit in our lives, knowing how weak we are if we look back and see we have been somewhat used of God, then we should be the rod surprised by joy."