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Pipes and Reservoirs
- 01/24/10
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Yesterday I began reading Michael Emlet’s CrossTalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet. Just eight pages in I had to stop and reflect on this quote. Though targeted primarily at those who are in vocational ministry, I immediately saw its application even to my task as a father.
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A temptation in ministry is to think that just because we prepared a Bible study, a sermon, or a discipleship appointment (or wrote a book like this!), we are deeply engaging with the God of the universe. But that’s not necessarily true. It’s easy in ministry to live more as a ‘pipe’ than a ‘reservoir.’ That is, it’s easy to live merely as a conduit to others of the transforming truths of God’s Word, rather than as a changed and transformed reservoir who overflows with lived-out gospel truth. You wouldn’t imagine cooking meal after meal for your family without sitting down to enjoy that nourishment, would you? To paraphrase James 1:22, let’s not merely be hearers or speakers or counselors of the Word, but doers, first and foremost.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (10)
That is a great quote. I became aware of this problem in my own life when I was serving as a Young Life leader during college. I was spending so much time in ministry, but almost no time in personal devotion. Not only was my spiritual life dry, but my ministry, I think, was fruitless because I wasn’t connected to the Vine.
Just started the book as well…look forward to seeing your thoughts.
Great thoughts! I am passing this along to all my friends/colleagues in the “vocational ministry” of Christian schooling!
That’s a great reminder for ALL Christians, not just the ones in specific leadership roles.
Great quote! I see an example of this in woodworking. As a cabinet/furniture maker I can plan and speculate endlessly about how I should proceed in order to accomplish the goal of fabricating a piece for my customer (who is my boss). But if I don’t actually start, put into practice what I have learned, I won’t ever get anything built. Even when I make a mistake, I have an opportunity to learn more. Thanks for sharing this!
Resevoir christians are full and to overflowing. They store. They nourish. They overflow.
What a great contrast to the pipe Christian…narrow, going in one direction, constricted.
Great stuff
DavidRed Letter Believers blog”Salt and Light”http://www.redletterbelievers.com
My husband and I just finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago. Great insight throughout. Convicting and encouraging.
Thoughtful post. As a minister I wrestle with this. I think it’s a tension we’ll always have. I think it’s good to have the tension. It means we’re aware of the possiblitiy for settling into pipe people.
Excellent quote. Very helpful.
Thanks for the post. So true.
Blessings,Danny in Canada~~Check out my Youtube playlists of fun / deep videos (click my name)& my Twitter feed of links & thoughts @dvanderbyl.~~