What drives you to your knees in prayer? A pastor friend said, as I was listening to him describe a remarkably difficult time in his pastorate, that this event was certainly causing him to pray, and in his words, “anything that makes you pray is a good thing.”
Adobe Stock Photo. Do not publish.
I’ve heard pastors jokingly say that they would love ministry more if they didn’t have to deal with people. There are days when I understand that perspective, but I also know that most of us have to learn to be patient with church members.
BCM leaders have a time of worship during the Baptist Collegiate Network Leadership Summit at First Baptist Collierville, Tenn.
Baptist college and university work has been a mission of Southern Baptists for over 100 years. Whether you know it as the Baptist Young People’s Union, Baptist Student Union (BSU) or Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) the mission is still important and critical to the future of Baptists and your church.
Adobe Stock Photo. Do not publish.
Since we planted Redeemer in 2008, we have reached many young people—which means we have had lots of young leaders. Roughly half our Sunday attendance is in college or just out of college.
I’ve heard pastors jokingly say that they would love ministry more if they didn’t have to deal with people. There are days when I understand that perspective, but I also know that most of us have to learn to be patient with church members.
On August 25, 1974 a pastor in southwestern Ohio baptized me as a new believer. A 12-year-old classmate had shared the Gospel with me almost a year earlier, and God’s Spirit worked on my heart for all the intervening months. One week prior to my baptism, God made me His child when I gave my life to Him the best way I knew how as a 13-year-old.
I’ve seen it a lot – church members who get angry at someone and then stay that way. I’ve seen people refuse to talk to each other at church, as if their silence is a godly adult reaction to disagreement. My heart breaks when I see such reactions because I’ve seen bitterness consume people for years.
I wish I could say that every pastor I know – and I know a lot of them – never struggles with consistency and faithfulness in spiritual disciplines like Bible study, prayer, fasting, etc. That’s not the case, though. In fact, I know so many who struggle that I’ve begun to take notes about some of the reasons they struggle.
I’m blessed to serve in various roles, and I love each of them. But, that fact also means I’m busy. If I don’t manage my time well, I quickly find myself in trouble.
Do you lose your passion to reach the lost? These eight questions will help you think about restoring your burden to reach those who don't know Jesus.
I confess I’m writing this post today for my own sake. I have a couple of older men in my life who walk with what I call “Holy Spirit confidence.” That is, they simply know God, hear from God through His Word and His Spirit, and trust Him with abandon.
I don’t typically talk about a minimum time of prayer we should pray each day. I’m more concerned that we pray than I am about how long we pray. At the same time, though, I suspect most of us need to pray more each day.
I wonder what most pastors would answer if you asked them this question: “What’s the toughest ministry lesson you’ve had to learn?”
Forty-three years ago last month, I began full-time ministry. Looking back, I realize now how many misperceptions I had about ministry then.
