If I Were to Preach at a Pastors’ Conference

Last updated on: November 14, 2013 at 5:25 pm by Scott Slayton

If I Were to Preach at a Pastors’ Conference 2013-11-14T17:25:39-05:00 Scott Slayton

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This post has been stirring in my heart for a couple of years. It’s not in response to any sermons that I have heard lately, but rather is something that has been eating at me since a sermon I heard at a Pastors’ Conference two years ago. Allow me to summarize the sermon for you, “Things stink in America right now. Things in America stink because the church stinks and doesn’t do enough to reach people. In particular, your church stinks and isn’t doing enough to reach people, and your church stinks because you stink and aren’t trying hard enough. However, if all of you would repent and be like me and my church then your church wouldn’t stink so bad.”

The preceding paragraph did not represent any actual quotes from the sermon, but it did capture the spirit of it. As this Pastor was yelling at us that our lost neighbors condemned us and represented our cold hearts, I found myself saying out loud, “I am not condemned. Because of Jesus, I am not condemned.” This experience changed the way that I thought about Pastors’ Conferences and how I would preach at one if I had the opportunity.

For most of my ministry, I assumed that preaching to Pastors meant telling them all of the things that they needed to do better. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most Pastors are men who are trying to follow Jesus, love their families, visit the sick, lead the church, read their neighbors, preach God’s word, and keep it all together. They spend their weeks getting feedback from people about how their preaching needs to change. They should work harder to make it more practical. They should work harder to make it more theological. They need to get the music more contemporary. They need to keep the music more traditional. They need to reach younger people. They need to make sure that they are not neglecting the older people. They need to visit more. (But remember that they are also supposed to be working harder on their sermons.) They need to lead the church better, but not be overbearing. You get the point. Everywhere the Pastor turns he hears what he should be doing better.

So this would be my Pastors’ Conference sermon today:

“Pastor, you spend your days comparing and thinking about how you are not measuring up. You constantly hear voices in your head telling you all of the things that you should be doing differently. You are thinking today about how you need to pray more, visit more, study harder, and lead better; all while not neglecting your family. Pastor, hear the words of Jesus today, ‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Pastor, rest in Jesus and who He is for you. Find your righteousness in Him and not in the ministry. Know that He does not condemn you and that you can cast all of your care and anxieties on Him because He cares for you. By all means, work hard for the glory of God, but do not work out of guilt or because of the voices in your head. Work hard because your labor in the Lord is not in vain. And work hard, not in the strength of your flesh, but in the strength that He supplies. Rest in Jesus, spend time in prayer, have fun with your wife and kids, study to preach, visit the sick, have your neighbors over for dinner, and then go to bed. Sleep deeply, knowing that God’s Spirit is at work even when you are not.”

For Further Reading:
Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome by Kent Hughes
The Pastor‘s Justification by Jared Wilson

The Ministry

Previous Post

November 5, 2013

Why We Should Be Characterized by Generosity

Next Post

November 20, 2013 President Obama, The Gettysburg Address, and Christian Outrage

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Books Church Life Marriage Parenting Photos The Ministry Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 March 2020 July 2019 April 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz