Comments on: 40 Lessons from a 40-Year-Old Pastor (#21–#30)

By: Marvia

Marvia — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:53:08 +0000

Thank you for sharing your lessons. They are on target. I especially love # 25 & 28.

By: Shanna Crawford

Shanna Crawford — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:18:25 +0000

#30…I believe the pain involved with ministry is suppose to draw us closer to the heart of God…not push us away.

By: Tony Steward

Tony Steward — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:04:37 +0000

#27 is right on, if you don’t delegate authority you aren’t really delegating. Good stuff all around!

By: John

John — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:26:25 +0000

#22 Larry brings up a good point. Firing should be done with as much care as hiring. Motives should be checked with all parties involved. I tried calling a few people out in sin at a church (a pastor buying things that were frivolous for personal use on the church’s bill and that was emotionally abusive towards women) and due to me not being connected politically, I got fired. I even followed the Matthew 18 model. So due to some pastors not taking the time to see what was really gone, my life and my ministry have been greatly altered.

By: Good Advice to Heed « There and Black Again

Good Advice to Heed « There and Black Again — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:13:26 +0000

[...] him when he was just starting into ministry. (You can read the segments of his list here, here, here, and [...]

By: Larry

Larry — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:58:37 +0000

#22 -Can you give some details about what you mean by “fire quickly”? This could mean that if a person makes a mistake, you are quick to terminate them. It seems like such a strategy would leave people in fear for their jobs constantly.

I assume you mean that after prayer you realize that a person is not going to work out in a position, you fire them quickly instead of just keeping them around. (I certainly agree with not keeping useless dinosaurs around). What about moving people to other positions within the church?

By: Marcin Mizak

Marcin Mizak — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:44:34 +0000

Thank you again Craig.

By: Makeda

Makeda — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:55:53 +0000

Definitely #26 for me. I didn’t take off from my ministry job for nearly 5 years and I almost paid dearly for it. I learned the hard way that I dishonor God when I don’t allow seasons of rest into my week, my months and my years. The pride is my heart is slowly being removed but this something I will always have to be intentional about.

By: sid

sid — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:34:10 +0000

At 46 # 21 looks like:
When you have a tough decision and you think its the right one give it time in God’s hands and God will make it clear that you only thought you knew what God wanted.

By: Terry Foester

Terry Foester — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:27:01 +0000

Craig, I am loving #21. Thanks so much for that, just what I need to hear right now.

By: keri austin

keri austin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:42:17 +0000

#23 You can’t change people. Only God can.

IMO…A person won’t successfully change for any other person… maybe temporarily, but the only true change comes from when they WANT to change for God and the only way that happens is by His strength and guidance. That’s when it’s real.

thanks for sharing these, they are great to really absorb and internalize.

By: wayne

wayne — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:22:17 +0000

These are great! I hope you will publish all of them together when you are finished!

By: bob robbins

bob robbins — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:21:21 +0000

Thank you for sharing this list - it is helpful and encouraging. I really appreciate your insight on Don’t just delegate responsibility. Delegate authority.

By: John Ireland

John Ireland — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:06:18 +0000

Hey, Craig! This one for sure:

People will leave your church. People you love and trust will leave your church. Don’t take it personally.

This has seemed to be a bigger factor within the last couple of years, the years when we have grown the most.

Question for you: how do you determine when someone’s departure needs to receive some attention? that is, have you found there are times when a member’s/attender’s departure has prompted some reflection?

Have a great day!

By: Joe Jordan

Joe Jordan — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:53:12 +0000

Great insights–even at 40! Wait until you see what you’ll discover during the next ten years. Yikes!

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:53:05 +0000

26 is a good one… I’ve learned that it takes a security in Christ to take that time away. When our identity is in Him and not our job it’s easier to take the rest we need to be the best we can be.

By: Scot Longyear

Scot Longyear — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:32:14 +0000

Craig,

Great stuff as usual. In regards to #25 and #26, I just posted an article on the overworking of Pastors at http://reson8.org/2007/a-note-to-pastors-work-less/

Blessings and thanks for your blog!!!!

Scot

By: Bill Cecchini

Bill Cecchini — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:22:41 +0000

29. People will leave your church. People you love and trust will leave your church. Don’t take it personally.

Easier said than done. Any tips on how you handle this one?

By: aaron

aaron — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:07:55 +0000

wisdom. It’s good to be reminded on some of these.

By: Adam Diehl

Adam Diehl — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:05:35 +0000

Loving It!

On #21 - I just want to make a comment that the acting quickly only counts when you’re SURE its the right thing and its the right time. If you’re not sure, don’t act quickly, imo.

I’m only 23 and in ministry, and making a quick decision used to be very easy for me. I’ve learned to only make quick decisions when I KNOW its the right decision (as Pastor Craig mentioned) and I know its the right time.

Often we can get the right thing, but the wrong time. God’s timing is the only one that counts.