Three Pastoral Tasks More Important Than Preaching
I don’t know if I want to say these things are more important than preaching, but I certainly agree they are vital and undercut the lie that if we just get the preaching right, everything else will take care of itself.
Derek, the Jesus Geezers and Gene Hackman
Steve McAlpine reflects on his friend, Derek, and draws some parallels with recent news about Gene Hackman and then some pointed application for the church.
Are You Binding the Wound or Aggravating It?
‘One of the privileges we have as Christians is the privilege of caring for one another—of blessing one another in our difficulties and comforting one another in our sorrows. In such “one another” ministry we represent God and extend love and mercy on his behalf. This is a precious and sacred ministry that falls to every believer. But it is a ministry that can be done well or poorly.’
The real mythology about contending in the Church of England
Dave Williams offers a clear and helpful response to a recent article in Evangelicals Now by George Crowder.
What Does Jesus Want Me to Do?
This one particularly thinks through where and how we should serve and discerning whether it is appropriate to pursue ministry jobs or not.
And all the people said… [inaudible mumble]
‘I probably said it at church today about 15 times. You might have said it slightly less. It’s a “religious” word. You find it translated in English Bibles 50 times, each time in connection with worship. What am I talking about? It’s the little word: “Amen”. It’s a Hebrew word that’s been carried straight over into Greek, and virtually all other languages, including English. It means: “Let it to be” or “this is sure to be”. But “Amen” is one of those words that doesn’t just mean something; it does something…’ This one looks at what that thing is.
From the archive: Assuming neither continuity or discontinuity
‘What is the ground of determining continuity or discontinuity across the covenants? I want to do this by drawing a bounded group around my brothers and sisters who (like me) subscribe to the doctrines of grace. Within our bounded group, regardless of our differences over baptism and just who belongs to what covenant (and whether they are even different covenants at all), all of us reckon with this question of continuity and discontinuity.’
I am totally in agreement with the message of the first linked article. In 52 years of stumbling along the Christian way I have heard about 3000 sermons, but none of them have helped with the spiritual and emotional difficulties encountered in life that personal nurturing guidance from a shepherd-pastor might have done – but of which I have had none at all.
This paragraph sums it up perfectly: “Preaching can provide general instruction, but personal discipleship and counseling offer individualized spiritual guidance that helps believers grow in their faith. Shepherding requires walking alongside people in their struggles, doubts, and victories. While a sermon may inspire, one-on-one mentorship transforms lives through direct encouragement, biblical application, and accountability.”
The interpersonal skills, wisdom, and compassion essential for doing this are far rarer than the ability to preach and teach the Bible. (Perhaps because the selection and training of ministers at a theological college weeds out people with these interpersonal skills and favours those who can write good theological essays?) Yet the ability to preach the Bible is commonly regarded as the most important factor when selecting a new church leader (for example in the practice of inviting a prospective new minister to ‘Preach with a view’). By this process it is easy to end up with a church leader/minister who is an excellent preacher yet pretty inept at personal pastoring – which I know from experience can be not very beneficial to a church.
In some churches, personal pastoral care may be delegated to other people such as small group/home group leaders – which can also have very mixed results. (Home group leaders may be selected because they have a home with a living room large enough to seat all the group members comfortably.) But this is the wrong thing to delegate, as it is vital to the wellbeing of the church. Far better to delegate the preaching/teaching to another elder or leadership team member with that gift – as the apostle Paul instructs: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching … [et al.] (Rom.12:6-8, RSV)
Thanks for your comment. I broadly agree.