Comments on: 40 Lessons from a 40-Year-Old Pastor (#31–#40)

By: Bulletin Board: Everybody…especially college students « DaVinci’s Classroom Blog

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:28:19 +0000

[...] http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2007/12/06/40-lessons-from-a-40-year-old-pastor-4 Published in: [...]

By: » The Most Important Thing - The Art of Living - Brad Ruggles

» The Most Important Thing - The Art of Living - Brad Ruggles — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:19:50 +0000

[...] The most important thing in the world for me isn’t the church, my job (or lack thereof), or whomever I try to impress on this blog. When I stand before God his first question isn’t going to be how good of a job did I do Pastoring a church. My first responsibility before God is how good of a job did I do being a loving husband and father. To borrow a quote from Craig Groeschel, “Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, not yours.” (from 40 Lessons from a 40-year-old Pastor) [...]

By: Shanna Crawford

Shanna Crawford — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:14:38 +0000

I love hand written “thank you” notes…and hand written “get well” notes

By: James Mathews

James Mathews — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:31:57 +0000

Happy Birthday Pastor Craig. You and those you lead are making a huge difference in the lives of others.

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 01:31:35 +0000

I’ll add one: A firm handshake makes a huge first impression!

By: Makeda

Makeda — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:30:02 +0000

#37 Always be caught speaking well of others

This is something I am working diligently on. If I am honest with myself I don’t always speak well of others and it is something I repent to the Lord of frequently in my quiet time. I am learning to let the Holy Spirit convict me when I start talking badly of others and more than that I’m learning to respond by shutting up

By: Terry Foester

Terry Foester — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:12:53 +0000

I’ve learned that by preparing hard to lead worship, then letting go of everything (say Saturday night)…allows room for the Spirit to move. I finally found a good balance between planning and following the Spirit. The more prepared I am, the more I’m able to be led by the spirit while leading worship.

Thanks for all your ideas Craig. You inspire me.

By: Yhonce

Yhonce — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:57:33 +0000

“Hand write thank you notes.” This brings me back to the times I would hand write my mom letters and then mail them to her even though we lived in the same house. These lessons are really great and I’m going to print them off so I can look at them every so often. Thanks Pastor Craig.

By: Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:13:49 +0000

Thank you to all of you for your comments. I’m enjoying hearing what speaks to you as well as the wisdom you are sharing.

I’m sorry I haven’t been able to comment much this week. We’re in the middle of our annual all-staff event.

Thanks again for participating!

By: Brian Moon

Brian Moon — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:02:14 +0000

I have really enjoyed the 40 things at 40. I am a 28-year old church planter and all of those things are speaking into my life. Much needed! Thanks! Happy Birthday from one December baby to another!

By: My Bride « There and Black Again

My Bride « There and Black Again — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:46:17 +0000

[...] December 6, 2007 My Bride Posted by Spencer under marriage, quoting Craig Groeschel has been writing a couple blogs on the 40 things he wishes someone would have told him when he was just starting into ministry. (You can read the segments of his list here, here, here, and here…) [...]

By: jeff leake

jeff leake — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:45:18 +0000

I really agree with talking about Jesus every time you speak. That is where the life changing power lies.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:00:19 +0000

Thanks Craig. As a twenty-something trying to do ministry, hearing these things from guys who have gone before me really helps and encourages me. I wished more pastors and leaders would invest in young guys coming up, because we really do need the help, and I think it is also very helpful for the ones giving the advice.

Thanks again.

By: Patrick Sievert

Patrick Sievert — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:55:34 +0000

Hand written notes. Oh, those hand written notes. I do a lot of duck hunting, and most of it is on private ground.

A few years ago, on the last day of the season, I found this place that just had ducks pouring into it all morning.

So the next year, I called the landowner up before opening weekend and asked if I could go hunting. He warned me not to shoot toward his cattle and not to tear up his fence and not to drive in his pasture, and finally, after about five minutes of warnings, cautiously allowed me permission.

After the hunt, I sent him a thank you card.

A week later, I called him up to ask if I could go again. He openly allowed me to go and asked me to stop by his house after the hunt. When I did, he showed me six more places that he had that I could hunt on. All because I wrote him a thank you card!

I do have one to add to you list, Craig: “Call people by name.” It makes all the difference in the world.

By: Jody Earley

Jody Earley — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:39:34 +0000

Great stuff. My favorites are 10, 18, 20, and 26. I will be turning 30 in March so I hope to keep all of these lessons with me. By the way, Happy Birthday.

By: Kyle P.

Kyle P. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:12:19 +0000

#2 reminds me of a quote I learned from a traveling evangelist. It goes:

“Pastors must always live in the glass houses their words have built.” - Tommy Oaks

#36 - I had to lay down my dream job for my wife several years ago (she was battling some health issues at the time). God told me “If you can’t take care of your own bride, how can I trust you with mine?”

By: John Atkinson

John Atkinson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:48:49 +0000

A couple of hard lesssons learned the hard way.

1. Learn to say no when it’s the right answer, even when it relationally stings.

2. It’s impossible to lead well if you’re not in the Word all the time. I’ve failed here before and it never turns out well.

3. Learn from those who have gone before you. No since making their mistakes again.

This one may be your best Craig!

“Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, not yours.”

By: Kevin Bussey

Kevin Bussey — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:14:12 +0000

Great stuff,

I would add be yourself (who God wants you to be) not what people

Be real

By: John Ireland

John Ireland — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:49:57 +0000

#31 and #36, big time…

If it is not about Jesus, even during a message taken from OT, what is the point?

The truth of #36 came in high-def (so to speak) for me shortly before my wedding last year. My relationship with Christ is the only one that should take precedence over the relationship with my wife.

Thanks so much for these, Craig! How about a .pdf version with all 40?:)

By: Stacey

Stacey — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:40:42 +0000

Bless you heart!
Thank you for being the example in all these things.
Hand written notes are such a bonus…I love giving them as well as getting them!!