Church

When a new minister was introduced for the first Sunday of his ministry, he was surprised and pleased to be greeted with sustained applause. Thanking them, he said that he hoped for a long ministry with them. He said that when there is applause at the beginning of a ministry, that's faith. When there is applause in the middle, that's hope. When there is applause at the end of a ministry, that's charity!

 

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J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.