As a pastor myself, speaking to, I'm assuming, a few pastors and many worship leaders and

perhaps soloists, instrumentalists, those who are involved in Sunday morning and have

been through the gauntlet that has been the last 18 months, I speak to you who may be

weary as many pastors and many church leaders and many church staff people are weary after

these 18 months of canceled services and live stream and doing things remote and having

to jump through new hoops and worshiping masks and one thing after another.

And the backdrop of all that has been these divisive issues in our churches.

I know some of you may be very weary.

And this is your first time out, hopefully to get some fresh air at a conference like this

after what this last year and a half has been.

And my prayer this morning in these few minutes is that the good shepherd would restore

your soul.

Since Psalm 23, he makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters,

he restores my soul.

Psalm 51, that he would restore the joy in your work, in your labor.

Whatever it is, it's brought you to this conference, that labor, that interest, that work, the

God might be pleased to restore the joy or give you some fresh vision and inspiration

and joy for the work, weary as you may be.

So let me pray for us here and then we'll look at 1 Peter 5.

So Father in heaven, suffering and fiery trials and insults and conflict and division.

Your Apostle Peter was no stranger to them.

That's chapter 4.

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