What are the things you should be doing, or the person you need to become now to prepare yourself for moving into ministry full time?1. Are you shepherding people at different levels:a. Do you meet with people who can bring you nothing right now - you are just believing in the value of caring for people. We are called to love people - period. Not, love people if they can give you something of benefit. Not, love people who are able to make up some deficit of your own.
b. Do you have puppies. Are there people inside and outside of the church that are seeking out your leadership? Have you raised some people up to serve under your ministry so that they stand in the gap for you when you are not able to be around?
c. Do you meet with people who are qualified and effective in their ministry post - and are they willing to follow you?
d. Do you make yourself available to people in authority in your local church?
2. Are you a servant-leader? Do you get offended easily?a. Have you sat at the lowest seat at the table long enough without trying to move your seat up towards the head of the table yourself. If you are trying to advance yourself you are already setback. If you are able to humbly say "show me how to serve," and if you do not get your "briefs" in a bunch when people pass you over - you are probably nearer your goal then it might appear. In our church the humble are always advanced - while the clamoring individual seem to find themselves held back. One can be humble and passionate in offering one's body and energies to service - but pride is seen in the one that is easily offended or hurt. This is a sign that more training is to come.
b. Has your leader offended your sense of personal worth? If so, you may not be ready to serve.
c. Are you available to serve in all the small areas? If you take care of the big things and the small things - it is a sign that you see the things a pastor needs to see.
d. Even if you are not recognized by leadership - do you find a way to humbly lead others in the church?
3. How's your shepherding resume look so far?a. Have you done family & is your life in order as a whole. Do you have a wife and kids? If you have a family and can prove that they are developing into healthy people who can relax, discuss kingdom concepts intelligently and with joy - and are not starving emotionally, intellectually, socially or financially - then you will have a better chance of succeeding. Nothing causes you to grow like long term two way relationships. If you have been through the fire of marriage and family and are thriving - there is a good chance you may be able to pastor others.
b. Have you been faithful to pastor/shepherd/mentor people.
---Do you do it regularly?
---Do you have a strategy that moves people to fall deeper in love with Jesus?
---Do the people you meet with start meeting with others?
c. Do you have an intimate relationship with Jesus
---Are you joy filled - and people see it
---Are you spending regular time with Jesus - in His Word, praying, with His people
---Do you go out and tell people about Jesus - if you are with Jesus you will be talking to people in the streets as he did.
4. How is your demeanor?
a. Do people trust you?
b. Do godly people look up to you?
c. Do you appreciate and praise those in leadership over you?
d. Do you have a problem with the pastor regularly?
e. Have you ever gotten to the point of disillusionment in the church - but still humbly cared for and praised it anyways? Diestriech Bonhoeffer, in the book "Life Together," reminds us that true Christian community doesn't begin until you reach the point of disillusionment in achieving your own hopes and dreams, and disillusionment with your local community as a whole. Not until a person reaches that points - and THEN still chooses to love the community is there any chance for authentic Christian community.
f. Do you talk bad about leadership and people in the church behind their backs.
g. Are you generally optimistic about Jesus' work in your local community? Do you trust him to make up for any deficiencies a church might have? And are you willing to stand in the gap for the areas where there is a deficiency, or trust God to work the community through these limitations?
Labels: Lessons learned from being a pastor