Podcast Episode #023
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I recently wrote a blogpost on the eight areas ministers are often unprepared for ministry. The post created quite a stir and brought with it a great discussion. These are areas almost all ministers will experience difficulty at some point in their careers. We look over the points I mentioned in the post and expound on some of the issues involved.
- Relational intelligence.
- Leadership skills.
- Dealing with critics.
- Family matters.
- Finances.
- Consumer mentality.
- Uneven expectations.
- Uneven spiritual growth.
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I might even suggest a differentiation in how we define “minister.” To me, there is the commonly held view of “minister” being a job title, with little difference than any other professional job title in our culture of commercialism and western models of business.
The definition which I place upon “minister” is simply one who serve, or gives what they have to someone who has not. With this definition in mind, we of course are all ministers, as with every interaction we have with one another we exchange something with one another whether spiritually (sometimes more difficult to see) or physically (usually more commonly seen).
How do you justify #4 Family Matters with verses like Mark 3:31-35, Luke 14:26, and Matthew 10:37. I’m not trying to trap you or criticize, but obviously Jesus’ words do stand in stark contrast to the “Family First” mentality. I have to believe the great sacrifices Christian men and women make for the Kingdom are not in vain. I’m thinking of church planters and missionaries whose choices result in less time at home and in the case of some missionaries the loss of life and creation of widows and orphans. How do you honor Christ as first and not allow the family to become an idol with a Family First mentality. I’m also thinking of a couple where the wife told the husband to get out of ministry so he could coach baseball and make more money so the family would have nicer stuff than a pastor’s salary afforded. He complied and left the ministry because in all things he believed “Family First.” There seems there does have to be some sort of balance or at least a healthy tension.