Tag Archives: Pastoring

A Leader Should Have a Window and a Mirror

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I recently read Jim Collins’ fantastic little book, How the Mighty Fall. I would highly recommend the book for pastors, leaders, business people, or anyone who wants to learn and grow. Here’s an interesting thought from page 160. The right people display “window and mirror maturity.”

What does he mean? Here are his own words.

When things go well, the right people point out the window, giving credit to factors other than themselves; they shine a light on other people who contributed to success and take little credit themselves. Yet when things go awry, they do not blame circumstances or other people for setbacks and failures; they point in the mirror and say, “I’m responsible.”

This reinforces something that’s been swirling around in my mind for some time. Far too often I have seen pastors or leaders who use the window and the mirror in the wrong way. When things go well, they point to the mirror. When things go poorly, they point out the window.

While Collins’ book is not considered a Christian work, I think he has landed on two very important scriptural principles.  Continue reading →

Advice from My Preacher

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Yesterday at my church we honored my former pastor, Rastus Salter. He served as pastor of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA for almost 50 years. Did you hear that? Almost 50 years pastoring the same church. And now, I have the privilege of occupying that same pulpit.

What an encouragement! What a blessing! What an example! What a legacy!

I remember walking into my pastor’s office as a 17-year-old preacher boy asking for a bit of advice. The question went something like this – “If you could tell me anything about ministry, what would that be?” I wrote his answer in the front of my Bible. And yes, I still have the Bible. More importantly, his advice is etched upon my mind and heart. Here it is.

Continue reading →

Confidence in Leadership

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Pastor, what brings you confidence as you lead God’s people? Where does your confidence come from in leading a staff? In setting direction for a church? Casting vision? Creating momentum? Pointing the way? No doubt this is a huge task entrusted to the pastor/shepherd. It’s one that I do not take lightly.

The role of the pastor is wide and varied.  In previous posts, I’ve talked about the pastor’s role to love, lead, protect and feed.  I take very seriously the task of preaching the Word (we’ll save that for another post). But I think many pastors minimize their God-given responsibility to lead. If you are a powerful preacher and a solid theologian that doesn’t automatically make a powerful leader. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate strong preaching and proper doctrine. But it takes more than that to be a pastor.

Let me explain my situation. I recently returned to my home church to serve as the Senior Pastor. I have been called to lead the people of God at Second Baptist Church – many of whom have known me since I was a child. Several of the staff I serve with now were pastors here while I was growing up. My mom and dad attend this congregation as well. So, where does my confidence come to lead God’s people?

Does it come from my education? My pastoral experience? My gifts, skills, abilities and strengths?  Absolutely not!  My confidence in leadership comes only from my relationship with the Lord. It is only through studying the Word, spending time in prayer and following the Spirit that I gain the courage to lead God’s people onto His agenda.

You won’t find the courage, confidence and competence to lead God’s people in a textbook or a classroom. You will only find it at the feet of Jesus.

What about you? What brings you confidence as you seek to lead God’s people?

 

How Do You Prepare a Sermon?

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I’ve been preaching since I was 17 years old.  It dawned on me the other day – that’s half my life!  Hopefully I’ve grown and improved as a preacher since I started 17 years ago.  I know one thing for sure, my studying habits have definitely changed.  When I started as a senior in high school, I would write out everything on a small 5×8 notepad.  Then to study, I would write it over and over…and over…and over again.  After I had written the sermon about 5 times, I had it in my head and in my heart.  These days, my final product is printed off my MacBook Air.  Before printing it looks a bit like this…

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I probably spend 6-8 hours on a sermon – that’s start to finish.  Then, on Saturday night and Sunday morning I probably spend another 2 hours of study. Going over my sermon, small last-minute changes, internalizing the message.  Most of my preacher friends can relate to this picture below. (Although many of you are so much more advanced than me…you’ve moved on to digital commentaries, etc. I’m an “old soul” I guess. I love to have a book in my hand!)Image

But no matter how technologically advanced I get – using Logos Bible Software, Evernote, Microsoft Word and my MacBook Air, my sermon always starts like it has always started.  Very simple, very old-school, very plain and very…Mayberry. 

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Say what you want about me.  I’m stuck in the past, I’m missing out on the digital revolution, I’m killing trees. But this is pretty much how almost every sermon of mine begins – an open Bible, a blue pen and a yellow legal pad.  Am I the only one?

I Absolutely LOVE Being a Pastor

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The truth is, there’s nothing in this world I would rather do.  There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m doing exactly what I was created to do.  What an incredible feeling!  

Now, I love lots of things about being a pastor, but one of the simplest things doesn’t look like this…

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Instead, it looks a bit more like this…

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And this…

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And this…

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