Sixth in the series.
And He sent them out two by two.
I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit…. (I Corinthians 16:17-18).
Don’t try this alone.
If the Apostle Paul was the great role model for preachers–and he surely must be–then no minister of the gospel should ever go it alone. Look at the friends he mentions in Romans 16 and I Corinthians 16. The apostle was awash with friends.
Fifth in a series on The Effective Pastor.
“It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.”
“We preach Christ.”
They call you “Preacher” for a reason.
This is your primary calling.
You counsel people who are dealing with problems, but no one calls you Counselor.
You visit people in their homes and you minister to them during times of crisis, but they don’t refer to you as The Visitor.
You administrate and cast the vision for the church, but no one calls you the Administrator or the Vision-Caster.
They call you Preacher because nothing you do is as important or as critical to the work of the church as your preaching.
Fourth in a series on The Effective Pastor
“He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he who governs as he who serves…. I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:24-30).
When Bill and Carolyn Self wrote a book about hospitality in the church, they said the pastor and his wife should never eat at church dinners. Instead, they should circulate among the diners with the tea pitchers, serving people, getting to know everyone, greeting each person in the room.
That is so smart. And infinitely wise.
Such a minister and spouse can do as much personal ministry in one hour of pouring tea as they will do in a week.
Serving people. What a novel concept!
Third in a series on The Effective Pastor.
Every parent, every teacher, and every pastor has things they believe strongly about, lines they will not cross. Call them pet peeves or strong convictions, the leader will not go there.
As a pastor for over four decades and a minister for five-and-a-half, here are some statements you will never hear from me:
1. Will you lead us in a word of prayer?
The expression “a word of prayer” is a putdown. It minimizes the value of prayer and the effectiveness of praying. So, you will not hear me saying it.
Second article in a series on The Effective Pastor.
Now, it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught the disciples.’ (Luke 11:1)
The Lord’s people want to pray.
Most of the Lord’s people want to learn to pray.
You are the one to teach them effective praying, pastor.
You do know how, don’t you?
Granted, none of us do it very well. Even the great Apostle Paul said, “We do not know how to pray as we should” (Romans 8:26). So, we are not saying any of us do it as well as we should, only that we know enough to be able to help others.
Here are some thoughts on the subject….
(This is the first of a series of article on “The Effective Pastor.” )
This morning as I had breakfast in the hotel dining room, a tall blonde lady entered the room and called out, “Good morning, everyone.”
I figured she had to be the manager.
She was.
Terri told me later–as I sketched her–she had been on the job just two weeks. “Before, I managed a hotel in Opelika,” a few miles down the interstate. I complimented her on the way she greeted people. And I told her something.
I work with pastors. And I have to remind some that they are the manager of this enterprise. They are the chief greeter. The mood-setter. The actual worship leader.
They are the host.