3. I Don’t Need to
Be a Personable Servant. Ministry is people. One trap for many pastors
is to begin thinking they are a boss, a ram-rod. Someone in a place of
authority to tell “their” staff and “their” church what to do. But the only One
who owns the church is the One who purchased her with His own blood, and even
He came as a servant. We work for Him and His people. We are leaders who lead
by serving. Those wonderful co-laborers are people who work with us, not for
us. Jimmy Draper is right, “It is the difference between perpetuating an
autocracy and building a team.” Work hard at knowing people well. Ask questions
that show genuine interest. Write personal notes of encouragement. Return every
phone call. Each act of disinterest will be a cancerous enlargement upon the
ministry of the impersonal pastor. John MacArthur offers wisdom, “A true leader
is someone who demonstrates to everyone around him that their interests are
what most occupy his heart.” Do you want to be great? Be a servant. “Whoever
desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” (Matt. 20:26)
4. I Should Blame
the Congregation for my Leadership Failures. The frustrations of pastoral ministry
are legion. It is tempting to blame the people, but the truth is pastors are to
be thermostats not thermometers. I know of few feelings worse than preaching a
bad sermon. It’s easy to blame the people. “If they were just more lively,
responsive, or prayerful” says the preacher. Maybe you should stop thinking so
much about your performance and start spending more time in prayer and service
to the saints. “These stubborn sheep (and a few goats) just refuse to follow
anyone” comes to the frustrated mind. May we be reminded that frustration with
God’s people is what kept Moses out of the Promised Land. There is not much
which is more discouraging than a church that is not growing, other than one
declining. Sometimes these are due to factors beyond our control and we should
not be discouraged. Other times we have not shown Christ’s love and built
trust. Preach the Bible and love the people. That makes great leaders.
5. I Can Spend
Almost All My Time in the Office. One of the surest ways to dwell on all the
wrong things is to spend too much time in the office. Certainly, study and
prayer and administrative work demands a portion of office time. However, a
church office can become a dangerous trap. It can become a place of desolation
where reports come in about the complaints of the unidentified “they” and
“them”. It can become a place of isolation which prevents the pastor from doing
the work of an evangelist and the “work of ministry” (Eph. 4:11-12). Some will
say, “It’s my job to equip them and for them to go out and do the works.” How
will you equip if you don’t lead by example? Richard Baxter said the best time
he spent in sermon preparation was the time he spent personally visiting
people. The office can be a place where cancer grows. Get out in the sun and
“do the work of an evangelist.” Show the people how much you love them by
spending time with them. Follow the example of our Lord Jesus, friend of
sinners.
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