The H.E.A.R.T. of Clown Ministry

Years ago I shared this message with clown conference attendees....

There are many things that people can live without.  Actually, I have a friend who had an apendectomy.  Did you know there are even parts of your body that you can live without?  But, there is one key organ NO ONE can live without. And that is the heart.  In the same way, a clown ministry will not survive without H.E.A.R.T..

Scripture shares much about the heart.  It says: 

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Proverbs  23:7

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”  Luke 6:45

Proverbs 4:23  “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

There are some wonderful clowns out there, with wonderful attitudes, who reach out and embrace the needs and the hurts of others. On the exterior, they may not appear different from what we call "gospel clowns."

            -they juggle the same

            -they pratfall the same way

            -they visit care centers and hold forgotten grandmother’s hands

            -they throw pies and get hit with pies

            -they look just as good in a competition

I propose that one of the major differences is the motivation of the heart. Does this mean that my clowning is superior to theirs? Does this mean that I’m a better clown than them?  I think not. But, it does mean that I have an eternal purpose for living, and clowning. It does mean that I’ve somehow embraced God’s forgiveness and He has embraced me...I have believed Acts 4:12.  “There is no other name under heaven, given to men by which we must be saved.” This has to do with the contents and the motivation of the heart.

#1.  In clown ministry, you  must embrace the heart of God in order to share the heart of God.

a.  by spending time with him....   it’s not a crash course!

b.  it’s like year old halloween candy...the candy starts to take on the smell and even the consistency of the other candy after it rubs against it long enough....
c.  do you take time to rub up against God consistently?

d.  vision is basically seeing things how God sees them....

e.  It’s wonderful in clowning when you KNOW what your partner is thinking. You only reach that level by spending time together! If you want to know what God is thinking, you need to spend time with Him too!

H.E.A.R.T. ACROSTIC

H & E - HUMILITY & EXCELLENCE

Psalm 33:3 says,  “play skillfully."  

Dr. Gordon Anderson says, "God doesn’t want you to be a humble failure. He wants you to be a humble success..."

Humility is not hard when you realize how great a God we serve...

When a clown realizes that through their presentation that an eternal difference was made in people’s lives, does the glory go to the clown? No.  The clown is simple, foolish, stupid. It's just that God often uses the foolish things of this world to accomplish his purposes.  (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

No. Obviously, if anything good comes of your performance, it’s because of the grace of God. Keep pursing and presenting excellence, but keep a humble attitude.

A  -  ATTITUDE OF SERVANTHOOD.

Philippians. 2:5 & 7  “Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus:  Who...made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness....he humbled himself...

In Luke 4:16-19  Jesus stood and quoted Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

            -  How many people do you know that need good news?  

            -  How many do you know that are poor?

            -  How many do you know that are imprisoned?

            -  How many do you know that are blinded?

            -  How many do you know that are oppressed?

            -  Let’s proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor to people....

We have come to serve.

R - Respond     

Respond as Christ would when you see a need. Respond with compassion.

In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul said,  “Christ’s love compels us...”

Ezekiel 11:19 “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them;  I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

God wants us to have a heart that "feels."  Not a heart of stone, but a heart of flesh that is sensitive.

                                   

Mark 12:30 & 31  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

If our hearts are gripped by love for God, it will naturally flow out to others.

T- Timing

The book of Esther recounts how this young lady stepped up to save her people.  Mordecai, Esther's uncle said,  “You are called into the kingdom for such a time as this!”

I.  sense of urgency 

Read Matt. 24:36-46   This passage declares that Jesus IS coming back. He wants us to be ready.

                                    

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not willing that ANY should perish...”So, we need to get busy sharing his love with others.

2.  patience 

A.  At the same time, I realize that some plant, some water...but God gives the increase.  (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)  It takes time before a plant is ready to harvest and some plants never ARE ready. We cannot force that.

B.  Francis of Assisi stated, “Preach the gospel at all times, if neccessary, use words.”

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - John Maxwell

 We would be wise to first establish presence, then proclaim afterwards. 

  

C.  You generally minister more through who you are...than by what you do. Know that the reality of Jesus can shine through.  "You are the light of the world," (Matthew 5:14)

Know that your actions speak loudly!

Lastly, be prayerful.  "In view of God's mercy...offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1)

Psalm 51:10  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 139:23  “Search me, O God, and know my heart...”