Pastor Kevin McGuire's 25th Anniversary
Hebrews 13.7-8
Introduction
1995 is a very important year in the life of Christ Community Church. That is the year that God called Kevin McGuire to pastor here. The care that Jesus Christ has had for this local church – his body and bride – through Pastor Kevin McGuire is what we’re celebrating today! I can attest first hand that this church has never been healthier than it is today, financially or spiritually. Some of you old timers are thinking, “what about when there were more people or more activities?” Take it from someone who grew up here. Take it from someone whose life and livelihood revolve around this church, Christ Community Church has never been healthier than it is today.
Now before anyone starts to get self-righteous about where this sermon is going. We’re not here to worship Kevin McGuire for the health of this church. King Jesus has brought us safe thus far and he will lead us home. That being said, Jesus has brought us here through this faithful under shepherd. Pastor Kevin’s faithfulness and leadership are commendable and honorable. And so in light of this special occasion my encouragement for the body this morning comes from Hebrews 13.7-8.
If you’ve been reading the Bible reading challenge that my brilliant and beautiful bride put together for us, this week we read through Leviticus and Hebrews. Pastor Kevin and I preached through the book of Hebrews together a few years ago so this shouldn’t be too hazy for you if you were here then. But let me give you a quick review so we have our bearings. The book of Hebrews is most likely an apostolic homily. It’s about how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Here at the end of the sermon the author gives some different ethical imperatives, encouragement for Christian living. And so let’s see what the Spirit and the Word have for Christ Community Church this morning.
Remember
The Spirit left two imperatives in this verse. The first is to remember. Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. The author of Hebrews commands the church to remember their leaders who taught them the Word of God. Some may had died. Some may have been imprisoned for the gospel. Some may have moved on to plant other churches. But they are commanded by Spirit-inspired apostolic command to remember.
There is a strong biblical theology of remembering. I’ve given it some consideration but if you want to dive more deeply into this idea talk to Brett, he has thought carefully about a theology of memory. After the flood Scripture says, But God remembered Noah (Gen 8.1). When she was barren the Bible says then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb (Gen 30.22). When Israel was enslaved in Egypt God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew (Exod 2.24). The thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom (Luke 23.42). When Christ left us the Eucharist he commanded us to do it in remembrance of him (1 Cor 11.24-25).
Remembering, thinking, contemplating is healthy. It is good for us to remember God’s faithfulness and to worship him in response. This is nowhere more clear than those whom God has used to teach us his Word. My heart is grateful when I remember Pastor Kevin McGuire. I remember being in high school and Pastor Kevin would always go out of his way to talk to me, to ask me about Lamphere High School and marching band. I remember being flattered that one of my pastors actually seemed to care about some random high school kid. I mean this man taught and preached to the whole church. This is the guy who did the super long prayers during offering, and he cared about me.
I remember when I started thinking about going to Bible College. In God’s providence I sat down with Pastor Kevin in what was his office (which is now my office) and he walked me through 1st Timothy 3. I’ll never forget December 12, 2012 when Pastor Kevin called me and asked me to come pastor with him. He said I don’t want you to be a youth pastor or an associate pastor; I want you to come pastor. He told me he valued my gifting and thought it would benefit our church. And since then he has consistently taught me the Word of God.
There’s no doubt that certain memories are coming to your mind now. Think on this today. How has God used Pastor Kevin and Valerie to bless or encourage you? Thank God for that.
Church, there are many things we should be grateful for about Pastor Kevin and his wife Valerie. But the first thing is that he has taught us the Word of God. And for those of us who have been raised here, those say, under 50, we have grown up with this man teaching us the Word of God. Remember that.
Imitate
The second imperative in this verse is to imitate. You can’t see it in English but the author of Hebrews is actually using alliteration. The Greek word for remember is Μνημονεύετε and the word for imitate is μιμεῖσθε. That’s actually my gift for Pastor Kevin on this 25th anniversary. No one loves alliteration more than he does and now he can see it in Greek! μιμεῖσθεis where we get the word mimic. When you remember your leaders, as you’re considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith.
After my dad Pastor Kevin is my hero. He’s the Paul to my Timothy. When I was pastoring in Kentucky I was in my early 20s and the church didn’t have any Elders. I was completly on my own. After awhile Andrew came down and he served as a bi-vocational pastor but we were both young. I remember telling my college roomate, I wish I could be in a church with an older pastor who could mentor me. It wasn’t too long after that that Pastor Kevin called.
And for Bethany and I, one of our self-conscious efforts is to imitate the faith of Kevin and Valerie McGuire. Their perseverance in marriage and ministry is worthy of double honor. You heard their boys earlier, what pastor doesn’t want to hear something like that from their grown children? Church, imitate the faith of these people as they follow Jesus.
And that’s why the next verse is connected. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. It’s not as if the author of Hebrews throws in a random disconnected statement on Christology. Imitate their faith because it is in Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ is the same today as when he spoke the world into existence (Gen 1; John 1). He’s the same as when he met with Abraham, and spoke to Moses on the mountain. He’s the same as when he stood with the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. Jesus is the same as when he was concieved by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He was the same through his sinless life, death, burial, and resurrection. As he ascended to heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the Father, he is the same. When he will return to raise the dead, judge the world, and make all things new, he will be the same; Yesterday, today, and into eternity.
Conclusion
You know, the election is coming up and everyone is at each other’s throats. In this depressingly divisive climate can we all agree on one thing? 2020 is the worst. Yet as the church we can take comfort in this Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. This is the good news that Pastor Kevin McGuire has given to us the last 25 years of his life. He has taught us the gospel and he has given us his life. Remember him. Imitate him as he follows Jesus. 25 years. 1995-2020. When you say it that way I guess 2020 isn’t that bad.