Personal Growth

Discerning Truth

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

New ideas challenge our understanding. What do we do with new ideas? As a young man, I wanted things to be black and white. I wanted to know right and wrong. I accepted the teachings I received in my church and at home, as well as those I learned at Bible College. I held strong views about beliefs and practices of other churches based on what I had grown up with.

As I ventured into the world, I discovered speakers, authors, and churches who presented ideas I was not comfortable with because they were different than what I thought was right. There were times when the teachings I came across made sense. There were times I had to adjust my thinking because I was wrong, or at least not fully informed, about a certain belief.

How should we respond to new ideas? Let’s look at a couple of ways we often respond to new teachings.

It is new, so it is wrong.

There are some people who are convinced, as I was in my early years, that anything new and different must be wrong.  And if it is wrong, it must be avoided. These people will not accept anything new as true because it is not what they are used to or comfortable with. They will ban those books from their libraries and caution others not to listen to those speakers. In their desire to hold to the truth, they assume that they already have the truth and don’t need to be confused with new ideas. While well-meaning, this is a naïve attitude that prevents many good followers of Jesus from growing.

It is new and I don’t know if it is right or wrong.

Some Christians, when exposed to new ideas, aren’t sure if these are right or wrong, and either don’t want or don’t know how to determine if it is right, so they just choose to ignore the new idea. Maybe it’s too much work to figure out if it is true. Maybe they aren’t sure how to assess it’s validity. Maybe they are comfortable and don’t want anyone to rock the boat. Life is good, I know where I stand, I know what my church teaches, and my friends believe. I don’t need to check out anything else.

Again, this attitude keeps followers of Jesus from growing in their relationship with Jesus as they never struggle with new understandings of God or scripture. Spiritual growth assumes a deeper or further understanding of and obedience to God. This may include accepting something new.

It is new, but is it true?

Other followers of Jesus are aware that they do not have all the answers. They may have already experienced times where a new teaching has given them further clarity about who Jesus is or how He works in their lives. They are willing to do the work to find out if this new teaching is truth or not, and willing to accept and apply the new teaching if it is true.

Their attitude is “I don’t know if it is true, but I will check it out.”

And so they study scripture to see if what they have been hearing is consistent with scripture. They read other authors or listen to other teachers they trust to get advice from other believers. They take time to talk to God about what they have discovered, asking God to give them clarity about what they are hearing. They might consider how this teaching has been accepted by other churches or by some of the older writers.

These followers of Jesus do not just jump on the bandwagon because friends are or because a certain speaker endorses this teaching, but they take time to consider it carefully before accepting it.

I have benefited greatly from discovering teachings that were not part of my childhood or that of my church. I have learned to appreciate teachings on the gifts of the Spirit and learning to listen and hear from God. I have appreciated being challenged on my beliefs about the kingdom of God. I have come a long way from my theological roots, continuing to carefully learn and grow in understanding God and how He works in us. In my pursuit of a deeper intimacy with Jesus, I have had to grow in my understanding and learned to accept new truths along the way.

Discerning truth is not a quick and easy process, but it may be of great benefit to you and your relationship with God as you get to know more. Be willing to do the work of assessing the validity of new teachings you come across without discarding them too quickly.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

What to Do When You Have Nothing to Do

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

The life of a pastor is usually a very full one with many expectations placed on us. There is always another sermon to write or lesson to prepare or meeting to lead. There is another report that needs to be written and an appointment to keep. Even when no one else is placing requirements on us, we have priorities that we want to address. It is not often we experience a period of having nothing to do, but it can happen.

Summers are often slower times. Many programs break for a few months, and there are fewer demands from people as many are on vacation. There may also be fewer sermons to prepare as guest missionaries or ministry partners visit to share updates.

So what do you do during less busy times?

Take a vacation.

Summer might be the perfect time for you to take a vacation with your family or friends. Because there are fewer demands on you at this time, it is easier to get away. Fewer of your responsibilities need to be covered by someone else if you are gone.

Take an extra day off.

Most pastors work much more than a 40-hour work week, putting in many more hours than you are compensated for. When you have a slow day or week, why not take an extra day or afternoon off and surprise your family with a day trip?

Spend time with God.

All of us can benefit from more time with God. If you have time, book off an afternoon, or a day for a personal retreat. Read scripture, pray, go for a prayer walk, or practice a spiritual discipline or two. Ask God to speak into your life, showing you where you need to grow. Ask God to give direction for the next year.

Remind yourself of your priorities.

A slow day allows you to remind yourself of your priorities. It may be a time to evaluate how you have been spending your time. Maybe you need to realign your schedule or refocus on areas that have been slipping. Make sure you are doing the job God is asking of you.

Clean your office.

This may sound like a meaningless task, but there is something therapeutic in cleaning one’s space. Organize papers, throw out stuff that is cluttering your desk or shelves. This process helps you present a more organized feel to those who enter your office and also helps you to remove distractions.

Take your spouse on an impromptu date.

Has it been a while since you went on a date? Take advantage of the time you have and do something on the spur of the moment. Go out for a special meal or enjoy a picnic by a nearby lake or river. Take time to go for a slow walk, talking together about life and the family and your relationship with Jesus.

We are so driven as pastors that we sometimes find it hard to enjoy a slow day. Don’t let it go to waste or fill it with busy-ness. Do something meaningful and refreshing.

I hope you get to enjoy some slow days this summer!

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

I Can’t Do What God Can Do

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

I can’t do what God can do. God can do what I can’t do.

As a pastor, as a leader, I have come to realize that there are not many things that I can actually do to make people come to know Jesus, grow in their faith, learn to serve, or continue to pursue Jesus.

I can’t make a seeker surrender their life to Jesus.

I want people to come to know Jesus and put their faith in Him for forgiveness and salvation, but I cannot make them surrender their lives to Jesus; however, God can. John 6:44 is clear, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” God can draw people to Himself. He can soften the sinner’s heart and create a longing in them for a relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

I can’t make anyone fall in love with God.

Many Christians possess extensive knowledge about God and Jesus and could pass a test on the Bible and their understanding of who God is and what Jesus did to provide salvation. Unfortunately, I am realizing many of these same people do not have a real, alive relationship with God.  I can’t make anyone fall in love with Jesus or with the Heavenly Father, but God can draw them and open their hearts and spiritual minds to get to know him personally and learn to love Him. God can reveal Himself to them in personal ways that deepen their love for Him.

I can’t disciple people on my own.

I can teach people and do my best to lead them by example. I can try to disciple them in the way that Matthew 28:19-20 calls us to. But it is only God who can work in their hearts, and it is the Spirit at work in them that helps Christians continue to grow in their faith.

I can’t make people serve.

I can try to guilt people into serving, I can push people, but ultimately, for them to serve with God’s love, God must show them the need to serve and use their gifts and passions and skills for Him.

I can’t make a Bible lesson change someone’s life.

I enjoy teaching, but I have recognized that the impact of a lesson on the hearts of the students really depends on what God chooses to do in their hearts in that moment. God is the one who can use the words of the teacher in ways that He chooses.

I can’t make a church grow.

I love to see new people added to the church. I love to hear stories of churches that are running out of room because so many people are attending. I can try to use various church growth techniques, but I have realized over the years that growth depends on what God does in the hearts of people.

I can invite people to do something, I can try to inspire them in a certain direction, but I cannot make people do anything they do not want to do. Yet as I trust God to work, He does. He works in me, and through me, and in others, as I faithfully do what God asks of me. I need to serve Him faithfully, and I need to recognize the results have little do with me and are all about how God is at work in people’s lives.

Yes, we need to work hard and do our best, recognizing that we need God to work. There are many things we can’t do, but if God is the one who does the work in people’s lives, we can pray urgently for God to work in our church and the people we serve.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Earning Trust As A Pastor

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

As pastors, we can not expect that people will trust us simply because we are “the pastor.” People have been let down by too many leaders, by too many pastors, to automatically trust a pastor. Trust must be earned. Pastors, we can intentionally lead in a trustworthy manner so people will trust us.

As pastors, we invite our members to listen to and respond to our sermons. We challenge people to step up and volunteer in church ministries. We ask people to accept changes we are making to how we run services and ministries. If church members trust us, they will be much more willing to follow our leadership. If they do not trust us, it will feel like dragging a car through mud. Here are a few ways to earn people’s trust.

Be real.

Being real begins with leaders being self-aware and confident in who they are. They are open with people. They share their stories and let others know who they are. This involves letting people know what they care about and sharing their life ups and downs.

Pastors, you don’t need to hide who you are. People can tell when you are not being authentic. Don’t feel that you have to be perfect or have all the answers. If people feel you are hiding something they will be slow to trust you.

Be consistent.

Trustworthy leaders are clear about their expectations and consistent with their goals. When circumstances are difficult, trustworthy leaders don’t abandon their goals too quickly in light of other priorities. A trustworthy leader is the same person up front leading as they are when you interact with them over a coffee.

Make sure your words and actions match. Trust is threatened when a leader is unpredictable. Do what you promise. I just led our church through a vision and values clarifying meeting that I promised would take no longer than ninety minutes. I was glad when, as we were wrapping up, I looked at the time to see we finished in about eighty minutes. Keeping your word helps earn people’s trust. We need to be consistent in what we say and do as we lead.

Be curious.

Curiosity is important particularly for leaders in a new setting or role. People appreciate a leader who is interested in who they are, who their family is, and what they are interested in.

As a Transitional Pastor I begin with a new church every twelve to fourteen months. I make an effort to meet people and get to know them. I ask lots of questions. Some questions are about the church, but many are about the people and their lives and what they care about. People generally like sharing about their life, especially if someone actually shows an interest. Get to know what they are good at and what they enjoy doing in life. You may be surprised at the hidden talents and passions you discover, and in the process, you will be earning people’s trust.

Be available.

Leaders who hide behind their desk and closed doors portray that they are hiding something. An open-door policy and a willingness to share contact information makes followers feel like they can be trusted. Being available demonstrates that a leader cares enough about others to connect with them on their terms, and it communicates a desire to hear from them. Leaders who are available can answer questions, clarify instructions, and welcome feedback.

Be hopeful.

Trustworthy leaders inspire others to hope in the future. We have the best hope to share, Jesus! We have a confident hope of a present and future in His hands! Leaders, don’t get caught dwelling on past mistakes. Deal with them quickly so you can refocus on a positive future that inspires hope in those you lead.

Pastors, we are asked to lead congregations of people. Let’s work at earning their trust, so we can lead well and enjoy the journey together.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Kenotic Leadership: Leading with the Humility of Christ

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

The following is an excerpt from work I had to complete for a course on Kenotic Leadership as part of my work towards a Doctor of Ministry I am taking at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Kenotic Leadership includes both an emptying and a filling in order for it to be truly kenotic leadership. There must be an emptying (https://biblehub.com/greek/2758.htm) of oneself of privilege and power and authority; anything that will reflect leadership by force or coercion, and then a filling of the Holy Spirit, Christ in us.

In Philippians 2:7 the Apostle Paul describes the experience of Jesus Christ when he left heaven and became a human. In this description of humility, which Paul says we should all emulate, he describes the process Jesus went through as “emptying” (ἐκένωσεν), a letting go of his divine privileges and power in order to become one with the people he came to serve. This is about  “emptying of privilege not of essence.” (Gyertson) Jesus was still divine, but did not hold to that divine power and position in order to serve humanity.

In a Christian leader, the emptying must be accompanied with a filling. A person can have a brilliant mind and possess expansive leadership gifts and skills, but without commitment and Christian spirituality he or she will not be the leader Christ is calling for and the Christian movement needs.” (Dunnam, p. 15) The Christian leader must be filled with Christ, by His Spirit, otherwise you just have servant leadership (Bolman/Deal, p. 4) which focuses on the needs of those being served. Kenotic leadership is not first concerned about the needs of those being led, but about the priorities of Christ.

Nouwen describes Christian leadership in the future like this: “It is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest.” (Nouwen, p.82) He continues, “the Christian leader thinks, speaks, and acts in the name of Jesus.” (Nouwen, p..186) Dunham points out that Paul liked the phrase “in Christ,” using it or something similar “at least 172 times” (Dunnam, p. 19) in his letters. He emphasizes that this is about more than following Christ but about “being in Christ.” (Dunnam, p. 36) The emptying of ourselves of all our own power and privilege and personal goals but being replaced with a filling of Christ that draws us to a place of abiding in Christ.

Bolman, Lee G., and Terrence E. Deal. Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and

Leadership. Jossey-Bass, 2021.

Dunnam, Maxie. Christian Leadership: Speaking to God for the People, Speaking to the People

for God. Abingdon Press, 2019.

Gyertson, David. Foundations of Kenotic Leadership for Times Like These, 2019.

Nouwen, Henri J. M. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. Crossroad,

1989.

Preparing for Change #2: Prepare For the Projected Change

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

In a world where change happens whether we like it or not, people are sometimes hesitant to follow a leader into more change. However, they may be open to change if the leader provides compelling reasons.  I talked about that in the last blog post. Another way to help people follow your change leadership is to help them prepare for the change.

Provide Examples

Some people are more willing to adopt a change if they know what to expect. Helping churches visualize the change can take away some of their fear of the unknown. They may still not be sure about it, but at least they will begin to understand where you are leading them and what that change will look like. Visualizing requires the leader to carefully explain the change with enough details that the change begins to make sense, whether they actually can picture it or just understand the steps involved.

Recently, I was leading a church in communion. Their tradition was to have the elders serve communion by passing the trays of bread and juice down the rows and people helping themselves to a piece of bread and cup of juice. Everyone waited until everyone had been served and then the pastor led them to eat the bread and drink the cup together as a congregation.

We had decided to change things up a bit. I explained to the congregation that they would be coming up to the front to receive the communion bread and juice. I came down off the stage to where the people would be coming up to show exactly where the bread and juice would be. I walked over and pointed to the side of the aisle we wanted people to come up in and which aisle they could follow to go back to their seats. I explained that we would still wait until everyone was served and participate together.

I tried to use words to explain what was happening. I tried to make my explanation itself visual as I pointed to the appropriate places and aisles. And I reminded them of what was still remaining the same. I think I helped them visualize it because it worked very smoothly!

Answer Questions

People have questions about upcoming changes. If they are given the opportunity to ask their questions, they may be more open to the change. As their questions are answered, your church members will be more informed and hopefully their concerns will be addressed. A leader may anticipate several questions and should answer as many of those early in the process, but there will always be other questions that people want clarified. As they are given time to process the upcoming change, and as they can ask questions, you are including them in the change without it just being dropped on their lap.

Stock Traders In A Meeting

Invite Engagement.

While not every change may allow this freedom, you can often invite the church to participate in planning the change. There are times when a change may be so scary for people that they do not want to be part of it at all. Forcing change will usually only increase the resistance. Do everything you can to help people see why the change is occuring, what it will look like, and what their involvement will require.

Recently, our church leadership suggested we have a Prayer Sunday, where instead of a sermon, we have corporate prayer. When I introduced the plan for the morning, I made it very clear that no one had to pray. I told them they could even say “Pass.” At the same time, I invited them to pray, even a brief sentence prayer, and gave them an example. It was good to see that most people participated, and no one seemed too uncomfortable or upset by the change.

Changes mean we have to adjust something. The better you prepare those you lead for the changes you are planning, the more likely they will be willing to adjust to the changes. May your changes go well.

Keep looking up,

And Wiebe

PREPARING FOR CHANGE #1: Presenting the Case.

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

Change is a scary word for many people. Yet change is necessary if we want to continue to grow and respond to the world around us. Change gives the opportunity to improve with the hope of better results. Recognizing the value of change and helping others to do the same is an essential part of being an effective leader, as such, the next three blogs will be about leading change.

When we are leaders of change, we often assume people are following right behind us. We forget that, because of our role to lead initiatives and implement adjustments in order to see improvements, we often spend a lot of time thinking through changes before we introduce them to others, so what is familiar to us is brand new information to those we lead. We are prepared for it, but they are not. We need to be intentional and clear about what changes we are introducing, the reason for it, how it will look, and how we will evaluate it.

We want to invite people to change, not force them. It helps to give a clear idea of why each change is appropriate. Among the reasons for change may be a desire for creativity, a response to Biblical direction, or a reaction to statistical information.

Change and Creativity

I like trying new things, so I sometimes introduce change simply for creativity’s sake. I think there is a place for that.

Some churches have exactly the same order of service every Sunday. Everyone knows the order of announcements, prayers, singing, preaching, and so on. I like to rearrange the order of service because I think people respond to creativity. The same thing every time puts people to sleep. One member, who appreciated the creativity and variety told me, “I like coming to this church because I never know what to expect from Sunday to Sunday.”

I also like to arrange the service in different ways in order to highlight the theme of the morning in a unique and creative way. Celebrating communion is often done at the end of the worship service in the churches I serve. Sometimes, I move it to the beginning of the worship service so the rest of the service is a celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection as we were just reminded of in taking communion.

Change and Biblical Reasons

Sometimes churches need to make changes because they recognize they are not fulfilling a Biblical direction as best they could.

A church may respond to a sermon series on prayer with a renewed emphasis on prayer. They may ask Bible Study groups to pray. A church may make a prayer room available for after-service prayer. They may cancel all programs for a week to invite everyone to come to special prayer events.

A church may ask all their small groups to put a greater emphasis on outreach and inviting unbelievers because they recognized they weren’t doing well in reaching unbelievers. This is one way they are hoping to fulfill the Biblical mandate to share the good news with those who have never heard. Sometimes churches need to make changes that they believe God is inviting them into because of Biblical reasons.

Change and Statistics

Some reasons for change include statistics. We measure many aspects of life, including how we do ministry, by certain numbers.

A Sunday School class that has only two attendees may need to be canceled to give that teacher the option of serving in an area with greater need.. Giving to ministries or missions outside of the church may need to be stopped or postponed when the church is in financial difficulty. If the income does not match the budget, the necessary reductions need to be made. A church that does a demographic study of their community may recognize that there is a large number of people of a certain ethnic group in their community that has no church or church reaching out to them, so they develop a specific ministry effort to share Jesus with that group of people.

Whatever your reason for the change, whether one of the above or something else, be clear about it so that those who are affected may understand why this change is good and needed. May God guide you as you lead change.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Leading a Small Group with Discipleship in Mind

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

Much has been written about small groups as a valuable way to help believers grow. Churches often have unique names for their small groups depending on the priority of the group. Regardless of what these groups are called, churches that have small groups have an opportunity to disciple those in each group. As a leader, you can use your regular meetings to point everyone to Jesus again and again. This applies whether it is a task small group, friendship small group, or a Bible study small group. Here are a few suggestions for leading your small group with discipleship in mind.

  1. Pray together. Always take time to pray, even if it is just a brief time. Some members of your group may not typically pray in their day-to-day lives or may feel awkward or unfamiliar with praying. By leading in prayer, they see prayer modeled and may then learn how to pray themselves. So prayer will be an opportunity to bring requests to God as well as disciple people in how to pray.
  • Teach your small group to pray. Beyond modeling, you can show your group how to use prayers in the Bible as examples of how they can pray. You could start with the Lord’s Prayer, but there are many other prayers, especially in Paul’s letter and in the Psalms, which could be great examples for the amateur pray-er.
  • Read Scripture. Even if your group is not a Bible study group, you can still take time to read a few verses of scripture. This may be all the scripture some members read or hear that day. Remind them that God speaks to everyday situations. Even if your group is a task group that gathers to accomplish a certain purpose, such as a worship team that meets to practice for Sunday’s service, take time to read from God’s Word. If you are putting discipleship as a priority, then it is always appropriate to read scripture and pray.
  • Get personal. Sometimes we are so focused on the goal of the group, that we forget that we are all people who long for connection. We want to be noticed. We want people to express interest in our lives and concern for our well-being. Sometimes, in a Bible study, we jump so quickly to the Scriptures that we don’t notice that some members of the group are hurting, and others are excited about life and both want and need to share with someone. Take time to share something personal every time so you get to know each other and find ways of encouraging those who need it.
  • Teach something new. I used to think that discipleship only included teaching and equipping believers in “spiritual” things, yet discipleship can be very practical. A music small group may appreciate learning a new song, or a new creative way to engage their audience. A Bible study group may enjoy learning a new Bible Study method that helps them engage with scripture in a new way. Get creative, but look for ways to teach something new.
  •  Equip your small group. While this is connected to teaching something new, this specifically focuses on helping your group members improve a skill or grow in faith disciplines. The goal might be developing new Bible study methods that enable your members to move beyond just reading scripture to interacting and studying it. Maybe you can equip them in something practical such as how to buy a new Bible, how to make friends with their neighbour, or how to lead a small group so new leaders are raised up regularly.
  • Encourage your small group to consider God’s purpose for them. No matter what kind of group you lead, the believers in that group need to recognize that God has a purpose for them. Point them to scriptures that talk about loving God and loving others. Encourage them to try new things and see how God uses them. Encourage them to ask God about their purpose and then to live into it boldly.

No matter what kind of small group you lead in your church, each member needs to grow in their faith. Lead in such a way that they are discipled in the process.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Make Prayer a Priority

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

We have the incredible opportunity to talk with our Heavenly Father regularly. 1 John 5:14 tells us: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” We can come to God in prayer, not afraid of him, not afraid we are intruding on his time, or worried that what we are asking is too trivial for him to care about. As pastors, we need to help the members of our church know they can talk to God in prayer too, and often.

Personal Prayer
It begins with the pastor’s prayer life. If you are not praying, it will be difficult to lead your congregation in prayer, You need to lead by going ahead. You need to talk with God often – not just because you are a pastor, but because you are a follower of Jesus. Have a conversation with him. Expect him to answer your prayers. Talk to him about your own spiritual life. Talk to him about your family. Pray for your church members by name. Use a prayer list to help you pray for everyone. Pray for specific aspects of their lives.

Implement practices that will help you improve your praying. Schedule a regular time daily for prayer. Read books on prayer. Read the prayers of the Bible. Equip yourself so that you can equip others.

Hands of a man praying in solitude with his Bible.

Corporate Prayer

Make sure that your church is a “house of prayer.” Include prayer in any meetings you have. Make sure you pray in your services. I attended a church once where the sermon was on prayer and the only prayer in the service was a quick wrap-up after the sermon. That is not good. Yes, we need to read scripture, and we need to worship in song, but we also need to pray.

Schedule prayer events for the church throughout the week. Plan regular prayer meetings. If you have small groups, ensure that the groups are taking time for prayer. You could even give them a guide or a list of things to pray for each week or each month. The “prayer chain” has been replaced in many churches with more updated options, but find an app that works for your church where you can share prayer requests with the whole church quickly, calling on everyone to pray for certain needs.

Special Prayer Opportunities

It is good to plan special prayer events or focuses throughout the year. I have often invited the church to a “3-week prayer” focus on a certain theme or topic, providing a guide which includes a few verses of scripture and prayer requests to pray.

Setting aside a “day of prayer” can be a good way to focus the church on prayer all day for one day. Invite people to come pray together at the church early in the morning before they go to work. Invite people to connect to an online prayer event over the lunch hour. Have a special prayer service in the evening. Send out hourly prayer reminders and encouragements to keep people praying.

In one church, we did an all-night “prayer vigil” open to all teens and adults. We began with a Saturday evening prayer service. People signed up to pray for an hour. Some people came on their own, some came as a group. One group in the middle of the night was three teen girls. One group early in the morning was dads and their sons. People could choose to follow guides prepared for them to read and pray through. Then, Sunday morning, we had a Celebration Service where we worshipped God, and people shared some of what they had experienced and heard from God!!

Let’s remember that we have a God who loves us and wants to have a regular conversation with us. We can go to him with anything and anytime. And, Pastors, let’s make sure we help our church to pray too.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Pastors Are Doing Too Much!

/ thinkingoutsidethetextbox / Leave a comment

Pastors do a large part of what is required in the work of most churches; after all, that is their role. And pastors are quick to take on duties that are not part of their responsibility. Pastors face the temptation to do too much. They often do more than their job description asks of them, doing things that others in the church could do.

As time passes, pastors slowly add more tasks to their plate thinking it’s easier to take on one more duty than to find someone else to do the job, especially if they need to be trained to do it. Rather than train a volunteer to design and print the weekly bulletin, the pastor takes it on. After all, “it’s only going to take about an hour.” Rather than finding someone else to look after locking up on Sunday, the pastor just does it. Slowly, the pastor does more and more of what someone else in the church could be doing. And, in a sense, without realizing it, pastors are hoarding the work of the ministry.

A few churches that I have heard from that saw value in the time they had between pastors alluded to this tendency. They found the transition period was good for their church because when the pastor left, more people in the congregation felt the freedom to step up and serve.

Churches in transition may see new opportunities for people to serve in those extra duties that the pastor took on that were outside of his role. As they look for people to serve, new people are stepping up and getting involved. The work is shared with more people, and there is a greater sense of everyone playing a part.

Pastors, we need to delegate. This is discipleship. This is mentoring. This is equipping. When we show a volunteer how to lock up or do the bulletin, we are equipping them with information and skills they did not have and were not using before. When we train a volunteer to manage the prayer chain, we disciple them, helping them to be part of the prayer ministry. When we train others to lead small groups, we are discipling.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)

It is too easy for pastors to think that discipleship is only about spiritual things or helping people learn to share their faith. Pastors need to recognize that discipleship is about other parts of the Christian life too, the practical ways that people can learn to contribute to the work of the church and the expansion of God’s kingdom. Discipleship includes training someone to be an usher or training a new sound person. It includes training people to be good greeters.

Pastors have the responsibility of equipping their members for acts of service. In Ephesians 4:11-13, the Apostle Paul stated the roles of church leadership: “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Pastors must equip members to serve, so hand off some of the responsibilities you have been carrying.

Pastors, let’s not take on roles in the church that the Holy Spirit has gifted others to do. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer in the church. Help each member find their areas of gifting and release them to serve, even if it means a little extra effort on our part to equip and disciple them.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe