Yesterday I shared with you Part 1 of this series; today we continue with the final two lessons from two years of traveling in the footsteps of some of the pre-eminent 16th century Protestant reformers.

Standing in front of the pulpit where both Hugh Latimer and Thomas Bilney preached (Church of St. Edward, Cambridge, dating back to 1510)

3. What we say in the pulpit has great power. (Hugh Latimer) 

Even in a day when there are a lot of “nones” in the church – where church is no longer considered relevant by a lot of people – there’s tremendous power behind what we preach, because of the Word of God. I was reminded of that a couple of months ago when I stood in front of the pulpit of Hugh Latimer. It was Latimer’s preaching in this pulpit that sparked the English Reformation. He preached publicly about the need for the translation of the Bible into English.

Death sketch from the Martin Luther Death House in Eisleben, Germany

4. They’re human – God used them and He can use you too! (Martin Luther) 

In Eisleben, Germany, you’ll not only find the Martin Luther birth house, but an unusual museum called the Martin Luther Death House. The exhibition documents the last hours of his life and the ailments he wrestled with, including kidney stones.

God will use you to spark a reformation in your church. God used the Reformers, despite the fact that they were human. God used them because they were human. The bottom line: God used them and He can use you too.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

P.S. What all these great reformers had in common – they all sought to abandon average in ministry, and that’s my challenge to you too! I originally shared these lessons in-depth on a live coaching call with my private Renegade Pastors Network. Our collective mission and focus is to abandon average in your ministry and personal life. I invite you to test drive the network for only $1.00 for the first 60 days and you will have access to monthly coaching calls like this one plus over $813.20 in free resources! Click here to start your test drive.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.