monday morning pastor

how to get monday morning off the ground

Pastors expend lots of energy on Sundays.  They end the day worn out physically, mentally and emotionally.  Some would say, "Then go to bed early!"  However, that is easier said than done.  We are often too tired and keyed up to go to bed.  Often times we are so relieved to have the day's pressure off of our shoulders that we kind of give ourselves late Sunday evening as a reward to do some things we have been wanting to do.  Often it is to lay back and enjoy a few programs on television.

The next thing we know, the alarm clock is going off.  It is time to get up and start the week at the church office all over again.  You might want to consider going in an hour later to begin your day.  Psychologically you are rewarding yourself for a day full of good work the day before. 

Here are some things you might try to get Monday off to a better start:

Begin by anticipating your Monday morning on Friday afternoon.  Fight the temptation to race away from a messy desk.  Clean up your desk and leave yourself a to-do-list to make Monday morning a little more tolerable.

Begin with prayer.  If you have not had your quiet time at home or elsewhere, take care of the phones so you can pray and read your Bible.  All of Monday will be better once you have done those things. 

Start some soothing music

nyc churches shut out of public schools starting sunday

The state Senate overwhelmingly voted Monday 52-7 in favor of Bill A8800A/S.6087A but the NY State Assembly also has to approve its own version of the bill to successfully block the City and mayor's attempt to evict these congregations, located across all five NYC boroughs, from the public school facilities they have been using as their ministry homes. These public schools, located in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan, are used for private services by these small congregations when schools are not in session.

via www.christianpost.com

monday mornings are tough on pastors

Monday mornings are tough on everyone in ministry.  However,  I believe they are toughest on pastors. 

Over the past ten years it has been my privilege to be in a position to help pastors.  The uniqueness of my role allows me to stay in touch with pastors and receive calls from those who choose to seek me out for counsel and prayer. Generally, those who do, do so because of a trust relationship that has been built over time.  In this way they allow me the privilege of acting as their pastor in their times of need.

I have answered many a Monday morning phone call from a discouraged pastor on the brink of resigning his church or leaving the ministry all together.  Something happened the day before that acted as the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back."  Suddenly all hope of going on as pastor in that church has vanished.  The pastor can hardly speak and is suffering from a night without much if any sleep.

What do I do for a pastor in such a condition?  I listen.  I let him tell me the whole story with all it's twists and turns.  I say little mini prayers, inaudible, several times as I listen.  More times than not the pastor at the end of telling his story will say he feels better and adds he guessed he just needed to get some things off his chest.  He says it helps to talk to someone who knows what it is to be a pastor.

That may be exactly what you need to do.  Make friends with a pastor in the area that you relate well to.  Build trust enough to listen and pray together at least once a month.  You'll be surprised by the relief you feel just knowing that you have a friend to talk to and pray with who has experienced the kinds of things you have.

Monday mornings!  They can sometimes be really tough.  Reach out to a friend who will listen and who will pray for you.  You will be so glad you did. 

what is an essential church?

Sam Rainer writes this brief summary of his book, Essential Church - Reaching a Generation of Dropouts.

Why do more than two-thirds of churchgoing young adult Americans leave the church? Or to ask the question positively, why do one-third of churchgoing young adult Americans stay in the church? The answer to the latter question emerged from several years of research. Young adults are likely to stay in the church if they see church as essential to their lives.

reading books of the Bible to your church

“I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:27–28, NIV)

If you are anything like me you have thought about what it would be like to just read one of the letters of Paul to the church instead of preaching.  Am I the only one?  After all, weren't they meant to be read as complete letters?

I have on occasion (many years ago) surprised a Sunday evening crowd by reading the book of Ephesians or the book of Colossians in it's entirety in lieu of preaching.  I can vaguely remember that it went well each time but that I felt bad as if I had done something dishonest or wrong in not "preparing a sermon."

Paul, in giving final instructions to the church in Thesalonica gave the instruction "...have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters." 

Of course, the letter was instruction that the people needed to hear.  With readers and non readers in the church, this was the simpliest way to get the content of the letter delivered to everyone.  Later, I would imagine that even Paul went back and preached from it in bits and pieces.

Here's what I believe.

"where do we get such men?"

 
       Robert Krause

A pastor and a good friend left our midst this week to go and serve a church in another part of the state.  He had been an intregal part of the life and work of the Frio River Baptist Association for many years.  Now, after 15 years of faithful service, he has moved on.  He is leaving a hole that will not be easily filled.

When I was a kid I saw the movie, The Bridges at Toko-Ri.  In an emotionally charged ending the admiral asks the question of himself, "Where do we get such men?"  I think of that line often and even more so at moments like this.

Where do we get such men?

Robert Krause, served the Lord well during his 15+ years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Carrizo Springs, Texas.  It has been for me such a privilege to personally serve with him for 10 of those years.  He is a  man we love and respect around here. 

We pray that God will greatly use Robert and Laura in their new pastorate at First Baptist Church of Edna, Texas. 

Robert & Laura, we will long remember your service to the Lord here in South Texas.

*******************************************************************

For those who can't quite understand the significance of the question at the end of the movie, read on for a better explanation.

tomorrow's Christian leaders today

One day you will no longer lead the church you currently pastor.  You will be up the road somewhere with a brand new congregation busy learning new names and faces.  The problems of the church you now lead will no longer concern you.  One day, today’s church will have moved onto your resume as a church you once served.

Those of us with some gray hair have the ability to take a long look back and now see adults who were but children when we led that church long ago.  Sadly, some are out of church completely.  Yet, thankfully, others remain and are now leading that church. 

Here is where I am going.  Right now, today, the quality of leadership in those past churches has a whole lot to do with how you and I led the church back then.  There is no escaping it.  You and I will get some credit and some blame for how things have turned out in churches we once led.

STOP THE CAR!  We have arrived!  This is where I wanted us to come! 

Tomorrow’s Christian leaders are our pupils right now.  What we are teaching them now will form the building blocks for future Christian belief and service. 

We can still get this thing done right!

Next time we will discuss how to fill the glass with what God would want before it is too late!

the pastor and summertime

It’s here again.  It is the time of year to go camping, fishing, swimming and vacationing.  The operative word is “Go.”  We want ourselves and our church members to have the joy and reward of taking vacations and those trips to see family during the summer months.  

HOWEVER, that can lead to a few problems or should I say challenges for the pastor:

1. During the summer those less committed to giving a tithe at church will often spend those monies on themselves and their trips instead.  Pastors may want to remind their members of the importance of maintaining faithful giving throughout the summer months.  Learning to be consistent in giving is a process and should be mentioned throughout the year.
2. With so many gone on several summer Sundays, the pastor will often second guess himself and his own effectiveness in ministry.  We try and warn young pastors of this each year.  However, no amount of warning quite prepares you for the Sunday when the bottom falls out that first time.  Even seasoned pastors are susceptible to feelings of gloom when everyone seems to be gone during the summer.  
3. It is easy to become negative and project those negative feelings and attitudes on others.  We have all had the experience of things getting the best of us and letting “the ones who are there” have it with both barrels. Big mistake, but thankfully forgivable.

Summer is the time when we must be convinced of the value of “one.”  Although you may envision preaching next Sunday’s message to a packed house, be reminded that God is interested in each one individually.  Someone in attendance Sunday will be blessed and helped by your words no matter what the total number in attendance and no matter how much is in the offering plate! 

 

Driscoll: When Does Viewing Porn Disqualify for Ministry?

Open link to see this short video.

Driscoll: When Does Viewing Porn Disqualify for Ministry?.

Mark Driscoll discusses the important issues surrounding ministry, purity and qualifications for church leadership.

 

This video excerpt is from The Elephant Room.

what to do with sunday evenings

 

Is your church’s investment in a Sunday evening preaching service a blessing or a burden?  Before answering that, consider with me some options that exist in many churches today.

• Some churches have a strong Bible-teaching ministry led by their pastor.  Sunday evenings are much like Sunday mornings, only less formal.   All age groups are present. 

• Other churches offer nothing at all on Sunday evenings choosing to place their efforts on other time slots during the week.

• Still other churches do not have traditional worship services on Sunday evenings but instead are teaching different classes either on Sunday evening or another night of the week.  A New Believers Class is an example or even a Parenting Class for families in the community.

One is not better than the other.  Each church is free to decide the schedule and events most helpful to their people and those they are trying to reach. 

That begs the next question:  Is what you are doing on Sunday evenings the best use of your church’s and your pastor’s time? 

Our churches have a HUGE NEED to train or disciple our ever-growing-list of still undiscipled new believers.  Well over half of those in attendance on Sunday morning have never been taught the basics of how to be a follower of Jesus Christ. 

Could it be that a pastor with one sermon preparation time less each week could benefit the church more in the other things he would be free to do and teach?

Does every church need to change its Sunday evening?  No, of course not!  But, some do!