One of my goals is to write more to my fellow pastors and those who serve in the Lord’s church. After 30+ years of ministry in the local church, I offer the following lessons I have learned in ministry – some of them the hard way! Some of these are original to me. Some are “borrowed” from others. Some are a combination of the two. So, to my fellow pastors and church leaders, I offer up my top lessons…
1. Let nothing keep you from prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4)
2. “The ministry that doesn’t begin at home doesn’t begin.” – Adrian Rogers
3. The Pastor is to be a leader, so learn everything you can about leadership.
4. The 1 Thessalonians 5:14 principle: “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14, NASB95)
5. Choose two or three key things per year. “Take the bull by the horns” and get them done. (Titus 1:5)
6. When things are bad at your church, they aren’t as bad as they seem. When things are great at your church, it isn’t as great as it seems. Stay off the emotional roller coaster. Stay steady.
7. Manage your time or your church will.
8. People are going to leave your church no matter what you do, so let people leave while you are trying to do what needs to be done.
9. Accept the reality of criticism….
“If you aren’t being criticized, you must not be doing very much.” – Donald Rumsfeld.
“If you want everyone to like you, don’t lead. Go sell ice cream.” – Steve Jobs
10. Spend as little time as possible with negative people. Spend as much time as possible with positive people who want to do something.
11. Do what you say you are going to do. “Leadership is doing what you say you are going to do over and over again.” -Gary Fenton
12. When leading change, “look past” the problems and opposition to what will be gained on the other side.
13. Ministry hurts, so be ready to forgive a lot. Nothing is worth being bitter.
14. Have friends in the church, but remember it is lonely at the top.
15. Most pastors overestimate what can be done in one year and underestimate what can be done in ten years. Plan to stay and take the long view.
16. Never let anyone out of your circle of love.
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