Encounter : Nicky Gumbel

One day, I met Nicky Gumbel. It was completely unexpected.
I thought I would visit the HTB Onslow Square community and someone from the younger generation's leaders would speak. That's what happened. However, in the back row, an older gentleman was not listening to the sermon in the usual reverent manner. He was taking notes and was clearly actively engaged in thought.
"What on earth is he doing?" I thought. This is a completely intellectual approach. It is not really common among the audience.
Then there was a short break and I had the opportunity to approach the guy. Unfortunately, I had already spoken when I realized who I was talking to. One must be careful what one says. But anyway.
"Hi how are you? May I ask you, what are you doing? Are you making some notices... or... "
"Oh, I'm serving... checking (supervising) the sermon according to certain principles..."

Nicky and Pippa Gumbel There wasn't much time for real talking. But the point is that Nicky Gumbel didn't see himself as a retired vicar who just sits in church and enjoys the fruitful lives of the next generation.
Quite the contrary. The "certain principles" meant that the message heard contained the essential evangelium:
· the essential elements of salvation,
· the work accomplished on the cross,
· Christ, Who is always at the center of the message,
· personally addressing the listeners,
· inviting them into the Heavenly domain and family,
· giving them space/time to respond and decide whether to act in faith...
..and a few other similar principles.
What seemed like an intellectual approach was actually very much spiritual work. Moreover. The caring and pastoral heart that preserves the original vision of evangelization is clearly visible here.
Well. A servant will always remain a servant. According to the Bible, thinking is guided by the heart. {This is not a Bible verse, but the true functioning of the lebab the heart in God's kingdom}.
...
This is a form of "Soli Deo Gloria!"

Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?
Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded,* say, ‘We are unworthy servants;we have only done what was our duty.’”
Lk 17:7-9

^{*alignment with God's Word}