Unless you are an extraordinarily laid back individual—one who seldom feels any pressure—you likely find yourself caught in a constant struggle being pulled this way and that during virtually every day of your pastoral ministry.
On the one hand, you feel challenged to continually provide your parishioners with a new and fresh sermon each week. You want your people to hear from God in a way that will motivate them to follow Him with more intentional devotion.
On the other hand, you also want to make certain that the focus of your ministry properly offers your congregants the opportunity to build a solid foundation of spiritual formation, one that will see them through both the really good times and the really bad times of life.
Many times you feel almost exhausted by the demands on your time and the amount of pressure placed on your God-given talents and abilities. You may wish that you had some trusted people on whom you could rely for fresh ideas and support.
Actually, such a group of “Aarons” and “Hurs” exist. Do you remember that story from Exodus 17:10-13:
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
The truth is that there are people in your congregation who will gladly partner with you to find new and creative ways of proclaiming God’s truth. These same people can also give you insight into the kinds of problems they must face in their everyday world—a world that is very likely quite different from your world as a minister of the Gospel.
I urge you to tap into that resource. Overcome your hesitancy and even fear about seeking help from those to whom you minster. You will find them open and willing, even eager, to help you.
If you would like to hear me talk more about this ministry-changing concept, I invite you to click the link on this page that will take you to my Sermon-Coach.com website and listen to Podcast No. 184. I have some very practical solutions that will help you reach out to your people and draw them into a mutually encouraging relationship.
———————————————
Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.
(319)
