And, I would say that 100% of pastors have made that statement. 🙂
We as pastors, in well-meaning fashion, are always trying to motivate the members to total commitment to the ministries of the local church.
“We need nursery workers. If you would be willing to serve, just sign up in the foyer.”
“Pastor Matt could use some help with the teen ministry. If you would be willing to serve, please see Pastor Matt.”
“Pre-service prayer meeting is at 8:45. We need you there to pray. Can we count on you next Sunday?”
“VBS is soon upon us! Would you be willing to serve in teaching, safety, games, crafts, set-up, food, transportation, or counseling? If so, see Ms. Sandra to sign-up!”
Sounds all too familiar doesn’t it?
I know that in my 40 years as a senior pastor, I’ve been guilty of begging people into service. Here’s something I’ve learned that I hope will be helpful to you in your ministry.
“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
There are many, many blessings and joys of being in the ministry, but a common characteristics of being a pastor is loneliness. But does it have to be this way?
Loneliness in ministry can be attributed to . . .
A weak marriage.
A “Lone Ranger” mentality.
Isolation.
Fear.
Past hurts and unconfessed bitterness.
“The Elijah syndrome” (I am the only one . . . )
Keeping everything bottled up and refusing to share.
Not cultivating friendships outside of the congregation.
Just as loneliness is a common characteristic among those in ministry, I have found a common parallel . . . the lack of pastors intentionally reaching out to other pastors with the goal of developing different levels of friendships.
“Everything! I have many things for which I need prayer! My husband has been diagnosed with MS, two of my children have lupus, and my job.”
This was the response from our server at a Mexican restaurant recently when we ask if we could pray for her when we thanked the Lord for our meal.
People everywhere are hurting, needy, struggling, fearful, anxious, lonely, and despondent just like this server who was discouraged about life and having to work so hard for her family.
The greatest crisis for everyone without a personal relationship with God through Christ alone (John 14:6) is their inability to save themselves from an eternity in hell.
Last week, while watching the Barna Group webcast, 2024 The State of Pastors Summit, one set of statistics particularly grabbed my attention.
The mandate for the local church and its pastors in this age remains: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20). We are continuing the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:1-11), the One Who came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).
Pastor, . . .
Have ministry demands caused you to be so busy that you have forgotten people, especially those without Christ?
Have you been tempted to believe the lies of the devil and flesh that have dampen your heart for the Great Commission?
Are you possibly so discouraged and burdened down with care of the church and/or the current conflict that your eyes have grown dim to the plight of lost souls around you, maybe even next door?
Pastor, how about inviting another brother in Christ to lunch. Read the Scriptures or a book together. Then, when the server comes along, ask them how you can pray for them. This is discipleship that Jesus spoke about in the Great Commission.
Perhaps make a coffee shop your place to prepare your message for Sunday. (Just a gentle reminder, obedience has no excuses.)
One of the best ways to get the focus off yourself and perhaps your deep dive into discouragement is to go be a blessing to someone else. Christ that dwells in you endured great contradiction/hostility/insults from others (Hebrews 12:3). He is your life, your strength, your Shepherd. You are crucified (Galatians 2:20), so go live in and through Him!
Pastor, there’s a server and millions of others out there that need the gospel; that need you to just care for them. As the Lord continues to seek and to save, you follow His initiative as He lives His life out of you.
He had experienced a long, difficult week. Struggling to preach, his mind was tired, and his body was weak. By God’s grace he was giving it his all, but by the end of the service, his heart was weak and discouraged.
Discouragement comes in waves like low and high tides.
Discouragement attacks at weak moments.
Discouragement is the unwanted companion of most pastors.
As my wife and I have travelled here-and-yon the past six months, and I have spoken with many pastors on the phone, discouragement in the ministry is an ever-present temptation to which many succumb.
This statement or a form of it has been declared one too many times by none other than . . . pastors.
Recently, while eating supper with a group of ministry leaders, I made the comment that I love officiating weddings AND funerals. The retired pastor across from me responded with a look of disgust and disdain while shaking his head.
Now, you might understand why I love to lead weddings yet wonder about funerals. Let me share some of my reasons with the hopes of encouraging you, pastor, to see these as a positive opportunity rather than a drudgery. If they have become mechanical to you, then hopefully this will encourage you to serve in the newness of Christ.
The country road in front of my house begs for any power-stroked truck to manifest its prowess in an ever-increasing, swift, thunderous, exhaust smoke-billowing fashion!
Power! When needed to winch-out another vehicle stuck in the mud, a 2023 Ram 2500 truck with 410 horsepower would get the job done! Indeed, power to burn!
Are you both just living/existing under the same roof?
Recently I shared with my wife that one of the fascinations of our smartphone is the new information, pictures, reels, videos, livestream, etc. that can capture our attention from one frame to the next in rapid-fire, mesmerizing fashion.
Since marriage is a picture of the gospel (Ephesians 5:22-33), and we walk in newness of life in Christ day-by-day, moment-by-moment (Romans 6:4), our marriage should be one of paralleled day-by-day, moment-by-moment renewal. We should be intrigued with our spouse, the other half of us.
What does that look like?
One of the ways of walking in the newness of life in Christ is through keeping short accounts of sin. We are continual repenters (2 Corinthians 7:8-11), confessing our sins, coming under the blood of Christ and appropriating His forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9). This parallels marriage. Everyday our old sin nature is active and can rear its ugly head and we take the bait by sinning against our spouse. Then and there, we need to confess our sin to God and then to our spouse, turn from it, ask for forgiveness (not an apology), and walk in the newness of relationship.
This keeps a marriage fresh from anger, bitterness, grudges, criticism, jealousy, and other mental attitude sins. In exchange is the newness of freedom and restored fellowship, sin covered and not brought again, words of kindness, and the joy of the Christ-life in marriage!
So, is your marriage “hum-drum”? Be fascinated with your other-half today!! One way to do that would be to take a day trip! Let me suggest one in the area of western North Carolina.
Day Trip Enjoying the Scenic Route of Marriage:
Travel the Blue Ridge Parkway to the quaint town of Black Mountain, NC. Begin your day with a stop at the Blue Ridge Biscuit Company & Bakery, then head on over to the Town Hardware & General Store for a step back in time up to the present.
After strolling through the shops, have lunch at Veranda Cafe & Gifts. From there, walk down the hill to an intimate bookstore and coffee shop (downstairs), Sassafras on Sutton . Enjoy a book, a quiet afternoon and a wonderful cup of coffee! You can spend at least a couple of hours in this cozy, romantic shop. For supper, you may want to try The Pure and Proper.
Today marks a milestone in my life…..my 65th birthday!!
And we all say, “Where did the time go?” I mean, wasn’t it just yesterday I walked to kindergarten, graduated from high school, got married, had children, preached my first sermon, got my driver’s license, etc.?
Looking back over these years, the following and much more comes to mind.
fromapastorsheart.com 