Episode 12: Pastors and Criticism
Whether it’s directed at their preaching, leadership decisions, or theological positions, at some point pastors will experience some form of criticism in their ministry. How should pastors respond to criticism? How do they prevent criticism from affecting the way they see their people?
4 Ways to Pray for Your Pastor During Pastor Appreciation Month
Time has seemingly scrapped by since quarantine swept over all of us back in March. But even with the days slowly marching by, we have finally landed in October. This month we celebrate the Reformation and our kids get to run around our neighborhoods (hopefully) to chase after the spoils of Trick or Treating. October is also the month that many churches have set aside to encourage and uplift their pastoral staff through Pastor Appreciation month.
Faithfulness is Still the Goal
For years, I have heard other pastors, seminary professors, and popular conference speakers encourage pastors to pursue ministry faithfulness over “success.” This encouragement is needed because of the dangers of chasing arbitrary successes over trusting that our faithfulness is enough.
Episode 9: Pastors and Burnout (Part 1)
What is pastoral burnout and how does it start? How can churches protect their pastors from burning out quickly and for long periods of time? In this episode of Pastor Matters, Ronjour and Brandon discuss the challenges behind pastoral burnout and how pastors can get through these difficult seasons stronger than before.
Escaping the Burden of Pastoral Work
Pastor, do you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Do you toss and turn at night, restless over lagging attendance, non-existent baptisms, and deficient offerings? Do you stress and worry, half-present at the family dinner table because your mind is still at the office or the last deacon meeting?
Episode 7: Pastors and Mentoring Future Pastors
Is it the responsibility of the pastor to mentor future pastors? What are some ways pastors can shepherd the guy(s) in their church who feel a desire towards the pastorate?Join Ronjour and Brandon this week as they discuss ways pastors can invest in the next generation of church leaders and why it’s important that they do.
Episode 5: Pastors and Big Bad Wolves
We live in an age of distraction. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, pastors were in a battle over the formation of their sheep. Are churches losing this battle to form Christians because of media consumption? How has COVID-19 affected the way Christians are being spiritually formed?
The Pastor and Social Media
Social media is one of the greatest blessings of our time. It serves as a marketplace of ideas that allows a platform for Gospel advancement. But if we’re honest, social media can also be a platform that brings out the absolute worst in people. Such is the world we live in. And as pastors, such is the world we minister in.
3 Ways Your ‘Church Hurt’ Isn’t Being Wasted
A few days ago, I read a story about the baptism of King Aengus by Saint Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. I’m not a history buff, so I couldn’t tell you a thing about King Aengus, though it did make me hungry for a steak. I know a little more about Saint Patrick, but this article won’t be a history lesson about either one of these men.
Learning to Embrace our Weakness
Several years ago, I was going through a particularly painful season of ministry. Everything came to a head one Sunday morning. As soon as I finished preaching, I walked into a side room beside the stage, and I sat in the dark for twenty minutes. While sitting there, a few thoughts began to run through my mind.
How the Book of Daniel Brings Hope into a World of Chaos and Confusion
Navigating a pandemic, as a pastor, has been very difficult. Navigating a pandemic, amid incredible social unrest, during a presidential election year, with a church full of people who are suffering in various ways and confused, has at times, felt completely overwhelming. It’s probably necessary to offer a whole list of appropriate caveats before moving on. Over the last several months, pastoral ministry isn’t the only job that’s been difficult and overwhelming.
The Pastor and Exercise
As a teenager, I dreamed of becoming an exercise scientist and nutritionist. When I was nineteen, I had one year of college under my belt and was on my way to earning a couple of degrees in these fields with hopes of one day opening my own practice to help others build healthy bodies.
Pastor, Your Church Needs You to Take a Vacation
There are two types of sleep: BC and AD. Before Children and After Death. God does not take naps, but you might need one. Far too many pastors do not get a proper cycle of rest. In the fourth commandment, God set up a pattern of work and rest. This pattern goes back to the creation account in which God rested on the seventh day.
Free to Dream: Pastors and Imagination
Perhaps it started with The Phantom Tollbooth. I still remember reading the children’s fantasy novel when I was a child.[1] The strange, and at times bizarre, text captured my imagination. I sat eagerly with the hero as he drove his toy car through the mysterious tollbooth, and I was catapulted into a magical kingdom alongside him.
The Phantoms of Pastoral Ministry
I must confess: I am a pastor, and I have anger issues. No, not issues because of ministry or because of church members. Just issues — because I’m me. I want what I want when I want it. And if I don't get it, I tend to get mad. I’ve learned to hide it well, I think. But if you get close enough you’ll pick up on my anger. Yet God sees it all. I can’t hide from him. That even tempts me to anger. Goodness, I have issues. Can anyone relate?
How to Pray for Smaller Churches and Their Pastors During the COVID-19 Crisis
Since mid to late March, this has certainly been an interesting season of ministry for all churches and their pastors. I currently serve as a pastor of a small church in Louisburg, NC, which is 20 minutes from the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. This season of COVID-19 is unique as I try to strategically shepherd and care for my church members.
Struggling with Spiritual Disciplines
I imagine most church members would find it hard to believe their pastors struggle with practicing spiritual disciplines. If any group of people should excel at personal Bible reading and memorization, prayer, worship, evangelism, fasting, and a number of other important Christian exercises, it should be the shepherds.
Pastors, Keep Fighting The Good Fight
Do you ever feel weary from the battle of Christian ministry in this broken world?Think of the last few weeks: a global pandemic, extreme isolation, escalating counseling concerns, #AhmaudArbery, another beloved pastor’s death, and on top of all that the daily pressures of the church.Seasons like this remind me of why the Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to, “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). The Christian ministry is lived out on the battlefield of a broken world. Perhaps you are currently weary in this battle and could use encouragement to keep fighting. I would like to offer you an acrostic, F.I.G.H.T., that has been particularly helpful to me in difficult seasons. My hope is that it will aid you in your battle.
Chapel Rewind: Watch Your Life and Doctrine
Tony Merida, Pastor of Imago Dei Church Raleigh, preaches on how we don’t need more conference speakers; we need millions of faithful ministers who will saturate the nations with sound doctrine.
Pastor, Are You Successful?
Pastor, what is your personal definition of “success” as a follower of Jesus? This can be a tricky question, because, the line between your role as a pastor and follower of Jesus in probably blurry, like a chalk batter’s box after nine-innings of baseball. Often, you’re unsure where one role ends and the other begins.
Sign up for the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership newsletter now!
