“Marcus, can you come a little early to services tonight? Ed and I want to talk to you about doing some preaching. We still can’t get a hold of James and we’re in a bind.”
Mr. Walt called him at
When Marcus told Lauren why they’d have to leave early, she jumped on the idea. “Marcus, you’d be so good at this!” Marcus shook his head, “I serve behind the scenes.” Lauren urged him, “Marcus, don’t blow this off. I know you. I know your heart and you know scripture. You could really do a good job. You could really help this church. And you are young and that might attract more young people. I’d be so proud of you.” She kept up like this while they got Micah into his car seat. And for the entire 15 minute drive into Rayville Marcus gave reasons why he didn’t want to be an “interim” preacher, and Lauren countered with reasons why he should give it a shot. She was really laying it on. And though he didn’t say it, her words made him hesitate.
When they pulled up to the church building, they saw the elders’ two cars already there. Lauren looked at Marcus and sighed a talking-to-a-brick-wall sigh. She got out of the car and opened the back door to get Micah out of his car seat. Lauren was strong-willed and persuasive, but she knew for Marcus’s sake and for the Lord’s sake she had to be supportive. So as the three of them walked into the church building Lauren squeezed his hand and said, “I’m with you. Whatever you decide.” That made Marcus feel better. He gave them both a kiss before he slipped into the office to talk to the elders.
If Marcus thought Lauren was working on him, he didn’t know what was coming. At first they just asked Marcus if he had considered preaching. Marcus just said, “No, it’s not my gift.” Then they built their case. They knew his background. They knew his repentance. They knew his family. They were impressed by what they heard the other night. They suggested maybe his gift was speaking. But the more they talked, the more Marcus was persuaded not to accept their offer. And the more they talked, the more Romans 12:6-7 crystallized in his mind.
When they finished, Marcus said, “Guys, I appreciate the offer. I was glad to help out the other night. But I don’t need to preach in order to serve God.” Mr. Walt came back with, “Maybe the church needs you to preach in order to serve God.” Marcus was getting a little uncomfortable now. Why was everyone putting the heat on him?
Mr. Walt nodded to Mr. Ed, the other elder, and they brought out the big guns. “We could support you a little. $100 for every lesson.” If there was ever any possibility Marcus would accept their offer it disappeared instantly at the mention of money. Marcus quietly opened his Bible to Romans 12 and read out loud, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving.”
He closed the Bible and told them about building Mrs. Hampel’s barn, about fixing Mrs. Louia’s sink, about repairing Mr. Silves’s lawnmower, about giving folks a ride to the airport, about setting a good example on the job, about doing personal evangelism, about spending time with his wife and his son.
“’If service, in our serving.’ That’s my gift. Preaching is important. But I don’t need to preach in order to serve God. It’s better to have a church full of servants than a church full of preachers, don’t you think?”
Mr. Walt chuckled, “That’s a sermon in itself.” He stood up and shook Marcus’s hand, “We appreciate you Marcus. Maybe you’d take turns preaching with some of the rest of us? Once a month or once every six weeks?” Marcus nodded, “I think that would be good.”
More about Marcus Redding’s journey of faith next week.
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