Some Things I Have Learned
Reflections and Insights from My Years in Ministry
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

• Character is more important than “charisma”.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians (Acts 17:11).

• That being said, “charisma” — that is, genuine Holy-Spirit giftedness — is very much needed in our churches and our ministries.

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1).

• Faithfulness is a priceless virtue in Christians.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV).

• Jesus Christ loves the Church; so should we love His Church.

...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25).

• It’s far more important to please God than to please man.

We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4b).

• Don’t be intimidated or swayed by man’s judgment of you. Take to heart the apostle Paul’s words:

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment (1 Corinthians 4:3, KJV).

• God put the Levites into retirement at age 50 (Numbers 8:24-25). This should remind us of how important it is that we train the next generation to replace us.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2, KJV).

• Your first mission field is your children. Raise them “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

• My first pastor taught us that our three top priorities should be (1) God, (2) family, and (3) ministry — in that order. I agree totally.

• A husband selflessly and devotedly loving his wife is, I believe, the single most important key to a happy marriage.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25).

• What I call “The Three C’s of a Happy Marriage” are commitment, companionship, and communication.

• God is not looking for sprinters, for flashes-in-the-pan. Rather, he desires long-haulers, committed believers who are “finishers”.

The race is not to the swift (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7).

• It is a joy beyond description to see your grown-up children serve God on their own. Make every sacrifice needed to raise your children to know and serve the Lord.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth (3 John 4).

• With every passing year I am more convinced than ever of the truth of the popular Christian poem: "Only one life, 'twil soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

• The supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are never carnal. It is people who are carnal. And the Corinthian church was not called carnal because of their spiritual gifts, but because of their personal divisiveness and sectarianism (1 Corinthians 3:1-4, KJV).

• Preaching alone does not fulfill the Great Commission. It also requires the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power.

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

...our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit... (1 Thessalonians 1:5a).

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