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Serving Habits of Spiritually Healthy Pastors

This article was first published before the COVID-19 pandemic affected the US. Pastors, if you are reading this and serving your congregation faithfully in these unique times, then let me commend you! I think our service to the church in the coming days/weeks must be more prayerful and focus on communication. Church members, if you are reading this, know that your pastor is under a unique set of pressures as he tries to serve you and the church through this. Pray for him. Pray for your church. Find ways to serve. If you are able continue giving to your church during this time. One of the challenges he will face in these days is the pressure of finances. It is unavoidable.

At first glance, you might think this is a no-brainer article for pastors and church leaders. Of course, pastors serve. Isn’t that our job?

But there’s a difference between the outward actions of serving and the inward spirit of a servant. Christ desires not only that we serve His church, but that we have His mind and put others first.

In previous articles, I addressed the worship habits and learning habits of spiritually healthy pastors. These traits, coupled with a habit of serving others, allows us to embrace the mission of Christ to become His followers in action and attitude.

HABIT #1—USE TIME AND TALENTS TO REGULARLY PUT OTHERS FIRST. 

Most of us who have a ministry career get the concept of service. The word minister means “to serve.” Our gifts, abilities, calling, and responsibilities are service-oriented. 

To preach is to serve the church in teaching and prayer ministry (Acts 6:4). The habit I’m suggesting here, however, isn’t always outwardly visible. 

As pastors, we should have a motivation to serve that goes beyond being noticed by others. Visiting a sick church member, caring for a family during a funeral, or preaching each week are visible ministries.

Serving with our talents and gifts are vital, but what about when no one sees us? Do we serve with our time in these moments? Do we have the character of a servant? 

For example, if you’re married and have kids, do you serve your family by helping out around the house, guiding your children in their chores, and taking the lead when discipline is required?

Do you serve others in your community and church when no one else sees? To have the mind of Christ is to put others first and serve regularly. 

Compare your heart and serving habits to Mark 10:45 and Philippians 2:4-8. We’re called to not just look like servants, but to be servants. 

HABIT #2—CONSISTENTLY PROTECT THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH.

Difficult deacons, selfish church members, and churches that run off pastors all have a bad reputation.

But unfortunately, as often as I hear about another church that’s run off a pastor, I hear about a pastor who’s left a church in shambles. 

Without the character of a servant, the patience of a shepherd, and the wisdom of Christ, it can become easy for pastors to conclude they’re the ones in charge. Not true. 

Christ alone is Lord of His church. The pastor is to shepherd, oversee, feed, and guide the church, but not rule the church.

Pastors who appear to serve out of ego affirmation aren’t protecting the unity of the church. Pastors who rule like dictators aren’t protecting the unity of the church. Pastors who unwisely stir up unnecessary conflict aren’t protecting the unity of the church.

If you have the role to lead a church, you need the character to match it—a heart that serves and a desire to help the church grow in spiritual health and unity. 

HABIT #3—CONNECT WITH MISSION PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. 

If churches must get outside their walls to minister to the community, so should pastors.

Most pastors and church leaders have enough going on inside the church to keep them busy for weeks if not much longer. Our congregations wouldn’t be disappointed to have our time, attention, and effort focused on them.

Of course, ministry to our church through preaching, shepherding, and leading is of primary importance. But if we expect our congregation to serve faithfully in the community and the world through mission and organizational partnerships, then we must lead by example. 

Find a local mission organization where you can serve regularly (maybe with your small group or another group in the church), as well as a national or international mission partner with whom you can participate in mission service outside your local context.

Serving outside your church opens the door for evangelism, models service to your church, and reflects the example of Christ.

Originally published here at LifeWay Facts and Trends.

Photo by Jeremy Yap on Unsplash

Monday Meditation: Unprecedented Times?

Today begins a devotional series that I will post during these days of social distancing. My aim is to reflect on a few thoughts and draw our attention to Scripture. At the conclusion, I will leave you with some applications as well as questions for reflection.

Are we really living in unprecedented times? The world in 2020 has never been more connected globally through travel and technology. The world in 2020 contains billions more people than at any other time in history with regard to international disasters. So, in one sense COVID-19 and its implications for public health, social contact, and the global economy are unprecedented. But, are we really living in unprecedented times? The answer is a qualified yes.

Throughout world history, wars have devastated continents. Diseases have ravished nations. Consider the Spanish flu of 1918 that killed more than 50 million people worldwide. Or consider the Bubonic plague of the Middle Ages that decimated the population of Europe. Or look back to biblical history. Consider the flood from Genesis 6-9. Or look at the millions of Hebrews wandering through the wilderness for 40 years. Or explore the survival of the ancients through famine and hunger. The human race has been through things similar to this and come through them.

If we look at the flood as analogous to our current situation, you might wonder if this coronavirus pandemic is God’s judgment. Let me offer another qualified yes. We can interpret what God says, but cannot presume to read God’s mind. The Genesis flood was judgment. God said it was. God has not spoken in that way regarding the coronavirus. However, here is the qualification. Because we live in a fallen world, creation itself is under the curse of sin.

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Romans 8:19-21

Disease, suffering, illness, pain, difficulty, depression, war, violence, hunger, famine, catastrophic weather, and the like are reflections of the fallen, sinful world in which we live. Had Adam and Eve not sin, creation would have remained unblemished, and humanity would know none of these things. Yet they exist, because sin exists. Thus, the coronavirus is, at least in a generalized sense, an aspect of God’s judgment on a sinful world.

So where does that leave us as we cope with the interruptions, fears, and separation caused by this pandemic?

Let me offer a few specific applications drawn from Noah’s story.

  • Walk with God. God considered Noah blameless. This means Noah lived a life of humble confession and willing obedience. Take the time you’ve been given during this pandemic and develop your relationship with God. Read the Bible. Pray. Journal. Lead in family devotions. You can begin with Genesis 6-9 if you’d like and answer the reflection questions below.
  • Reflect on God’s holiness. God judged the world with the flood because the world was increasingly wicked and idolatrous. Was God’s judgment here vindictive, mean, extreme? I don’t believe so. God’s judgment teaches us that God is more holy than we can ever imagine. We like to think of God as love, and he is love. But we must remember that he is holy, supremely holy, gloriously holy.
  • Make sure you are on the ark. This sounds a bit weird, but track with me. Noah and his family were protected on the ark. While God does not promise us protection from contracting the coronavirus, nor does he promise to keep us from dying if we do, God does promise eternal life. Being under God’s protection means being in Christ. Do you have assurance of eternal life? If not, read the letter of 1 John. It’s a letter all about knowing that you know Christ. You can message me on this blog or through the social media platform I posted it on. I’d be happy to chat with you about eternal life.
  • Be faithful. It took Noah years to build the ark. He faithfully obeyed because he trusted God. I’m not sure what the next few weeks look like for all of us. But wherever God has put you, be faithful. Your faithfulness might be the courage or gospel witness someone else needs.

I would recommend reading Genesis 6-9 sometime today or this week. Then take some time and reflect on the following questions. I’ve been journaling through this experience. Journaling your answers might just be a way to build your faith during this unique time.

  • How do you think Noah felt when God told him to build the ark?
  • What kind of answers do you think Noah gave when people asked him what he was doing?
  • Describe how it would feel to have your entire family participate with you in a mission like building an ark?
  • Noah spent years building the ark, 40 days on the ark during the rain and flood, and then more than a year on the ark afterward. Do you think his experiences were always pleasant?
  • Imagine some of the sights, sounds, and smells during Noah’s time on the ark?
  • Put yourself in the place of at least one family member. Consider how they might have reacted, spoken, or what they must have been thinking. Journal the thoughts you think they might have had.
  • What kind of things do you think Noah and his family were anticipating at the conclusion of their trip on the ark?
  • How difficult would those final weeks have been with the ark resting on land, but not being able to exit?
  • Imagine their worship and sacrifice when they finally left the ark?
  • What kind of things will you thank God for during this experience and after this experience is over?