Several years ago, in my previous pastorate in North Georgia, I was making visits one hot Spring afternoon. I drove to the home of a lady who visited the previous Sunday. She lived a mile or two off the main highway.
I located her house, knocked on her door, and no one answered. I left my card with a note, returned to my car and noticed a loud hissing sound. My tire was going flat.
It was so hot. I was wearing nice clothes and I really didn’t want to change that tire in those clothes, so I decided to make a run for it. I drove for several minutes and got back to the main highway.
I was halfway between my house and a service station. Turning right would take me to my house. I could change my clothes and then my tire.
Before I knew it, she appeared at my trunk, so we pulled out the tools and the spare and met at the flat. She got those lug nuts loosened in no time, jacked up that car, we pulled the flat tire off and put the spare tire on, placed the jack back in the trunk, and I thanked her.
If I turned left, about five minutes away was the service station and I could let them change the tire. I turned left and drove slowly towards the service station, but not for long.
My tire was too flat and I pulled off the road. Suddenly, this little sports car zipped around me, and parked in front of my car. Out jumped this attractive brunette in her workout clothes and she came bouncing back to my car saying, “Can I help you?”
“I have a flat tire and I was trying to make it to the service station. Can you give me a ride? I’ll get them to help me change my tire.”
She said, “I know how to change a tire.”
I said, “I know how to change a tire, too, but it’s hot and I’m in good clothes and I thought I’d let them change my tire.”
She said, “No, I’ll change your tire.”
Before I knew it, she appeared at my trunk, so we pulled out the tools and the spare and met at the flat. She got those lug nuts loosened in no time, jacked up that car, we pulled the flat tire off and put the spare tire on, placed the jack back in the trunk, and I thanked her.
Then she said, “I usually don’t stop for men, but I thought you were a woman.”
My mouth dropped open. “What about me made you think I was a woman?”
She said, “Any man knows not to drive on a flat tire.”
I said, “I know not to drive on a flat tire, but I thought I could make it.”
Then she continued, “Aren’t you the pastor of First Baptist Church?”
Since I wasn’t the pastor of First Baptist Church, I sheepishly said, “Yes, I am . . .” Maybe when she told this story she’d get her pastors mixed up.
Then I told her the truth, and she remembered she had visited our church as a young girl. Either way, in her mind I was the pastor who didn’t know how to change a tire.
There are some things we simply ought to know.
There are some things every believer ought to know.
Every believer ought to know the Bible. The best way to know the Bible is to read it every day and hear it preached every Sunday.
Every believer ought to know the promises of God. Herbert Lockyer recorded 7,457 promises found in God’s Word. If you read one promise a day, it would take you over 20 years to cover them all. Every one is precious.
Every believer ought to know how to share his or her testimony of coming to Christ. Maybe yours is not dramatic, but you still have a story to tell about your life before you met Christ, how you came to Christ, and your life now that you’ve met Christ.
Every believer ought to know the importance of supporting the local church with one’s faithful presence, prayer, participation and tithe.
Every believer ought to know basic biblical doctrine.
Every believer ought to know how to lead someone to Christ.
Every believer ought to know his or her spiritual gifts.
Primarily, every believer ought to know Jesus better and better every day because he or she has a growing relationship with Him.
Paul said in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Him . . .” Do you?
(David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. The church family gathers at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 and worship at 10:55 a.m. Visit them online at www.mcdonoughroad.org and like them on Facebook).