Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 30

The New Golden Handcuffs for Pastors (It’s Mortgage Rates)

The real estate market is encouraging some pastors to stay put. For now.

Rising interest rates produce a “golden handcuff” effect on the housing market. Golden handcuffs refer to a set of financial incentives that employers use to encourage certain employees to remain with a company. These incentives are typically tied to some conditions that make it financially unattractive for the employee to leave the company before a specified date.

Many pastors locked in low-interest rates on their homes. Rates around 3.0% are common. When rates go to 6.0% or 7.0%, the interest payment doubles, which creates an incentive to hold your current loan. Moving to another location becomes less of an option. The new golden handcuff is the spread between the locked interest rate and the higher rate.

This phenomenon is widespread across many professions. Potential sellers hang on to homes because they have a low mortgage rate. Potential buyers are facing lower and lower inventories, minimizing their options. Construction of new homes is not happening quickly enough to keep pace with the lower inventory. Therefore, home prices stay elevated while interest rates go up. Many people, pastors included, are simply staying where they are.

Zillow reports the “tipping point” of this golden handcuff effect is a 5.0% mortgage rate. It is unlikely mortgage rates drop to 5.0% any time soon. Additionally, eight in ten mortgage holders reported having a rate less than 5.0%, and almost a third reported a rate less than 3.0%. We are in this pattern for the foreseeable future.

High mortgage rates can present challenges for individuals, including pastors, looking to purchase homes. This might make it more difficult for churches to attract and hire pastors, especially if the prospective pastors are relocating and need to secure housing in a new area. What are some options if you are a pastor looking to make a transition or a church needing to onboard someone?

This phenomenon has a greater impact in Sun Belt metro areas. Pastors in these areas are less likely to leave. The move to Sun Belt areas is harder because home prices have risen higher along with higher interest rates. Churches in these areas will likely need to do more to attract potential candidates.Increase the housing allowance provided to pastors. This extra financial support can help offset higher mortgage costs and make it easier for pastors to afford housing. But please don’t go lower on their salary to increase this allowance!Parsonages are increasing in popularity. Some churches own a parsonage or a house for the pastor’s use. Offering a parsonage can be an attractive incentive for potential pastors, eliminating the immediate need for them to purchase a home in the area. Our church owns four houses, and several staff members have utilized them.Offer a mortgage interest subsidy. The church can offer to subsidize a portion of the interest on the pastor’s mortgage, making monthly payments more manageable.Consider renting options. The church can offer to help with rent for a couple of years until mortgage rates go down. This option is more attractive in areas where home prices are stable and do not rise dramatically.Include a hiring bonus and relocation assistance. While these bonuses are not typical in the church world, they are common in other professions. A hiring bonus could help with the down payment on a home in the area. Churches typically help with relocation assistance, but the amount may need to increase. Offering assistance with moving expenses can help mitigate the overall costs associated with relocating and potentially buying a new home.Some churches are offering forgivable loans to pastors. Check the legalities and tax implications of such a loan, but this arrangement could benefit both the pastor and the church, especially if the church can hire and keep the right pastor for the long term.Bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors can be trained from within the congregation. One of the best places to look for pastors and ministers is among the people of your church. The bi-vo and co-vo models will only increase in popularity in the coming years.

This unique real estate environment will not last forever. But the golden handcuff effect is real and will impact hiring in the near term. As we have reported before, most pastors are getting close to retirement age, which only compounds the problem as they enter a stage of life where they are less likely to move.

The key is to be proactive, flexible, and creative in offering support and incentives to prospective pastors. By addressing the housing challenge head-on, churches can make their positions more attractive even in high mortgage rate environments.

This topic was first introduced in Church Answers Central (thanks Kevin!). At Church Answers Central, we cover these kinds of topics and questions every day. Church Answers Central is the world’s largest online community for practical ministry support. Get 24/7 answers to your church questions. Join a vibrant community of nearly 2,000 church leaders in a safe environment. Connect with top church health experts like Thom Rainer, Chuck Lawless, Sam Rainer, and others like you. Become a member today!

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Do I Really Need to Be a Member of a Church?

This question and its ensuing discussion continues. Do I really need to be a member of a church?

We need to first separate the concept of church membership from other types of organizational membership. Church membership is not like civic club membership, even though many civic organizations do have altruistic purposes. Church membership is definitely not like country club membership, where you pay your dues and expect perks in return. Sadly, many church members do view their membership like joining a country club. 

When that attitude becomes our perspective, we then start insisting on getting things “my way.” My style of music. My order of worship. My length of sermon. My ministries. My programs. You get the picture. 

Membership in a New Testament church is metaphorically like being a member of a physical body. You are but one part of a greater whole, but your part is vital for the overall health of a church. Read again 1 Corinthians 12. Look specifically at verse 27: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (ESV). 

Church membership, then, is a declaration that you are a part or a member of a greater whole. It is self-sacrificing and not preference-seeking. Here are five reasons why church membership is vital to the health of the church and those who decide to join a church. 

1. Church membership is a formal declaration of your commitment to a local body of believers. You are letting other members and church leaders know that you are committing to exercise your God-given gifts and roles within a local congregation. You are more than an attendee who comes and goes without commitment.

2. Church membership identifies you as a person who is under the care and pastoral ministry of the church. Ministry leaders cannot care for everyone who is in and out of the church. Their responsibility is to the clearly identified members of the church. Paul told the elders of the church at Ephesus in Acts 20:28: “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock – his church, purchased with his own blood – over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders” (NLT). The leaders cannot shepherd the flock unless they know who the flock is. 

3. Church membership is a commitment to come under the authority of the leadership of the church. A church member is not only under the shepherding ministry of the church, they are also under the authority of the leaders of the church. And though church discipline should be rare, the concept of church discipline by the leadership affirms and complements the concept of church membership. You cannot be disciplined from something unless you have committed to be a part of something. 

4. Church membership is an affirmation of the church’s beliefs and doctrine. It is not unusual for churches to have attendees who don’t fully affirm a church’s doctrine. Church membership, therefore, becomes a statement of affirmation that you identify with both the church and her members in what the church believes. One of the reasons many churches do not let non-members teach is that they have not committed to the church’s beliefs.

5. Church membership is a commitment to serve. When you become a part or member of a church, you are affirming the 1 Corinthians 12 metaphor that you will be a functioning member of the body. Read again verses 12-27 for a clear picture that the body of Christ, the church, is to be comprised of functioning or serving members. For sure, many people will attend our churches. But those whom God leads to become members are affirming that they have a functioning role in the church. 

Do I really need to be a member of a church? Absolutely. From Acts 2 to Revelation 3, the New Testament is about the local church in one way or another. The local church is God’s plan A for his ministry on earth, and He did not leave us with a plan B.

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Finishing Well: Navigating Leadership with the End in Mind

I had the privilege of hosting a podcast episode featuring the incredible Kay Warren, where we delved into life, leadership, and the art of finishing well after decades of leadership. One particular remark she shared has been playing on repeat in my mind ever since our talk. I asked her for some advice to pass on to young leaders about achieving a strong finish, and her response has stuck with me: “You have to know where you are headed. Finishing well is going to include 1,000 decisions in a day.”

In light of Kay’s wisdom, I’ve been reflecting on my own leadership journey and the need for an intentional pause from time to time to adjust, evaluate, and redirect my heart toward finishing well.

Know Where You’re Going

Back when I took my first steps into ministry, my heart was set on a straightforward and innocent dream: I longed to talk to people about Jesus and witness the incredible ways God would bring about His glory. That same hope and desire has stood the test of time throughout my two decades in ministry. However, the true essence of this journey lies in the moments that bridge the gaps between the incredible highs and the challenging lows. These are the everyday struggles and wounds that shape any leader’s path. Things like who we serve, where we are, or even our job description might change, but unless we stay focused on our direction, it’s easy to lose our way.

Kay wisely shared with me that she and Rick, from the beginning of their marriage in order to finish well, needed to choose what they would be marked by: integrity, humility, and generosity. 

Choose Character in the Mundane

Our personal growth isn’t solely forged through grand ministerial achievements or notable successes. Instead, it’s the culmination of the seemingly modest, everyday moments that truly mold us. Within these unassuming instances, a profound connection forms as God aligns our innermost desires, passions, and aspirations with His own. Whether it is the discipline of showing up on time to the office or a meeting, the grace exhibited when someone cuts in front of us in the grocery store line, or even our simple faith to give generously during a financially challenging month, it is in these unremarkable choices that our vulnerabilities and need for both faith and grace are laid bare.

Cultivate Your Inner Life More Than Your Abilities

Navigating leadership in these times often resembles operating as a trauma response team rather than conjuring up fresh initiatives and ideas. From grappling with limited volunteer sign-ups to managing staff dynamics and addressing critical feedback of members, the demands placed on you revolve around execution, strategy, and intensified effort. The lure to prioritize productivity and honing leadership abilities is strong, but it’s all too easy for your personal well-being and spiritual practices to be pushed to the background, invariably leading to an unhealthy outcome.

Just as important as it is to schedule meetings and training, it is equally as important to prioritize rest, time of connection, and silence and solitude.

Ultimately, your leadership journey is an intricate tapestry woven with your ministry goals, choices, and character. May you find inspiration in Kay’s wisdom to lead with intentionality, resilience, and a heart directed towards a strong and meaningful finish.

Listen to my conversation with Kay Warren here and check out other episodes of Season 2.

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Making the Decision to Go to Seminary: Six Considerations Before Going

They inevitably find their way into my office, excited about God’s calling on their lives. I’ve had several conversations with people wanting advice about attending a seminary (or a similar institution). God has called them to ministry. They feel seminary will add clarity to this calling. 

Perhaps. But before a seminary education can help with a calling, one must have a clear plan for seminary. After working through the spiritual aspect of someone’s calling, I typically offer practical advice. Though each person is different, I’ve summarized the highlights of what to do before deciding to enroll in seminary.

First, a seminary education is helpful but not necessary. You do not need a degree on the wall to minister to others. In fact, a healthy church trains good ministers from within, providing practical ministry experience with a solid theological foundation. Seminary can add to this training, but a formal education need not replace it. There are also other options like Church Answers University, which is a faster, more attainable, and less expensive way to receive theological education and practical ministry training (and your books are included in the price!).

If you still feel led to attend seminary, get a secular degree and a job first. I typically give this advice to young men and women in high school or college. Does God call some straight from high school to a Bible college and then to a church? Sure. Is it better to obtain a secular degree and begin honing relational skills in the workforce? I believe so for most people. Of course, many students balance this approach by getting a secular degree (such as finance) at a Christian university, which is a good option. The hard reality for many without experience in the secular workforce is difficulty connecting with people in the 9 to 5 grind (or is it 5 to 9?). A secular job not only allows someone to work through seminary, but it also forces future church leaders to interact with lost people in a workplace setting. Additionally, secular job experience gives you credibility within your congregation when you counsel them about busy schedules, bad bosses, getting fired, etc.

Regardless of when you attend seminary, start serving a local church immediately. The seminary is not a theological cocoon, slowly developing future leaders into beautiful, delicate pastoral butterflies. Ministering in a local church is messy, complicated, and relational—it involves a lot more time with people than books. You’ll never read your way to becoming a good pastor or church leader. If you’re called, then start serving now. And if you’re not willing to serve now, you’re not called.

Before you sign up for the first semester, understand your financial limitations. Ministry is more rewarding than I ever imagined—just not financially. Do not carry a load of crushing debt into your first (or second, or third) place of service. You will never freely minister while chained to massive student loans. Work days and attend night classes. Swallow your pride and be willing to receive help. It simply does not make sense to commandeer your actual ministry with a debt load that came from your ministry training.

Additionally, weigh your seminary options. With numerous programs, locations, and degrees, most likely, a seminary education exists to benefit your particular calling. Understanding what God has called you to do will help you be efficient in the classes you take. For instance, if you know God is not calling you to teach full-time, then the classes you take will be different from those whom God is leading to be Hebrew scholars.

Lastly, take the path of least resistance with the most challenging professors. Get done quickly. Pick an educational track that best matches your area of calling and can be completed in the shortest time possible. In other words, take as few classes as necessary. But in these classes, select the most challenging professors. It is better to take fewer, more intense classes than it is to fill a bunch of degree hours with easier classes. Your GPA may be lower, but your mind will be sharper.

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10 Things that Surprise Rookie Pastors

I’ve worked with students and graduates in their first pastorates for almost three decades. Over the years, I’ve often asked them, “What’s most surprised you about the work of pastoring?” In no order of priority, here are some of their responses: 

“How hard it is to prepare a sermon week after week.” What was so exciting the first time young preachers prepared a sermon can quickly become a grind when Sundays just keep coming. Pastors seldom get a preaching break unless they intentionally take it.“How hard it is to maintain a consistent quiet time amid the work of pastoring.” The work is never-ending. There’s always someone else to visit, some other meeting to hold, some other counseling session to lead. Finding alone time with God is not always easy.“How much seemingly little things bother some people.” Sometimes church members have “pet issues” they fight for, argue against, or bring up with every successive pastor. Frankly, they’re often insignificant issues—but they’re important to those members.“How often pastoring requires doing things I had not expected.” Some days, pastoring might mean moving tables in preparation for a meal, helping a church member who’s moving to a new home, or running the vacuum when no one else is available. Those things aren’t usually on the job description.“How many long-term believers have not really been discipled.” The more pastors dig into the lives of church members, the more they realize that many churches have done a poor job of making disciples. Even some leaders in the church are still babes in Christ—though they probably don’t recognize that fact.“How much people really appreciate the clear preaching of God’s Word.” There are always exceptions, but people really do want to hear a word from the Lord during the preaching event. Some, in fact, are hungry for it because they haven’t received it in the past.“How powerful it is when I know some members are really praying for me.” Something just happens in your heart when you know faithful, godly church members are interceding for you. Pastors can face hard times and lead through difficult situations when they know others have covered them in prayer.“How little I know about the regular assignments of ministry.” Young pastors know these assignments are part of the role, but they’re still learning how to do things like counseling hurting people, officiating weddings, overseeing funerals, leading meetings, and guiding staff. Most of the time, rookie pastors learn on the job.“How easy it is to get so busy I give too little time to my spouse and family.” Even those young pastors who set out to avoid this problem still find themselves wrestling with it. Nobody sets out to prioritize ministry over family—but still it happens.“How much joy there is in pastoring.” Despite other issues on this list, most rookie pastors I’ve worked with are surprised by the fun, excitement, and fulfillment pastoring brings them. My prayer is they never lose that joy.

Pastors, what most surprised you in your early years of ministry?

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The Great Leadership Shortage in Churches: Five Ways to Address It

One of the most common challenges we hear from church leaders, particularly pastors, is the need for more leaders in the church. The vacuum seems the greatest among elders, deacons, and teachers.

Many churches lost not only members in this post-pandemic world, but they also lost leaders as well. Of course, it is likely that these departures were not really leaders if their commitment to the church was so tenuous. 

The caveat for any solutions to fill leadership voids is that it does not happen overnight. But we are working with a number of church leaders who are beginning to see success in finding the right kinds of leaders. Here are five of the most common approaches: 

1. Every pastor should be mentoring two or three people at all times. Look at the pattern of Jesus. He called twelve men to follow him. Among the twelve, Peter, James, and John seemed to hold a closer relationship with Jesus. Though he preached to the masses, he prepared the New Testament church yet to come by mentoring a few. He taught them. He showed them. He had dialogue with them. He spent time with them. 

2. Pray for God to provide leaders. Perhaps you expect prayer to be a routine solution. There is a reason for that. God commands us to pray, and he shows us the effectiveness of prayer. Answer this question honestly: Are you praying on a regular basis for God to provide leaders for your church? God does indeed answer prayers. He can show you prospective leaders to mentor in your church. And he can send mature Christians to your church. 

3. Ask all of your leaders and mentees to mentor others. If you have two leaders you are mentoring, ask them to find two people to mentor when your time with them comes to an end. At that point, you will have two mentees, and the two leaders will have two mentees each. You have thus moved from one leader (you) to three leaders who are each mentoring two others. If you lost count there, that means you have nine persons who are either leaders or who are being mentored to be leaders. 

4. Evangelism should be closely tied to mentoring. If our churches are evangelistically lethargic, you should not expect new leaders. Many of your future leaders will be among the new Christians who will need discipling and mentoring. They can eventually become some of your most devoted leaders.

5. Don’t fill a leadership void with unqualified leaders. It is better to have a vacancy than to fill a leadership position with an unqualified person. You can get new leaders in your church, but you must be both intentional and strategic. Be patient. Wait on God. But patience and waiting are not synonymous with doing nothing. Keep mentoring, Keep praying. And expect God to take care of all of your church’s needs. 

I know many of you are doing a great job of raising up leaders. For the good of the Kingdom, share with our readers what is taking place in your church. What are you doing to get leaders in your church? 

Let me hear from you.

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How to Discern If a Church Member Is Guilty of Gossip

Gossip is a destructive force in the church. Once the rumors of gossip spread, it’s hard to correct if they are false. Even if partially true, gossip is always wrong because what is shared is inappropriate and hurtful.

Gossip fosters an environment of distrust and suspicion.Instead of focusing on productive work or conversations, individuals involved in gossip discuss improper matters about others.Gossip is often based on hearsay or speculation, which can lead to a distorted understanding of events or individuals.When someone becomes the target of gossip, it can severely impact health, leading to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.Gossip can create unnecessary conflict and tension between people. Misunderstandings and false rumors can cause rifts in relationships and can escalate to create a hostile environment.

People talk. They talk behind your back. They talk about you. They talk about your leadership decisions. It’s normative. Expect it. Are these conversations gossiping? Most of the time, they are not. Dialogue is not gossip. In fact, discussions are usually good signs. It means you’re doing something that causes people to talk.

How can you discern between gossip (clearly a sin) and conversation (not sinful)?

First, realize people need to talk to process. The church is a living organism. It’s more than an organization. Though leaders should have a communication strategy, not every conversation in the church is strategic. For people to process your vision and decisions, they need to talk about it. Some could even say negative things. Just because some might disagree with you and vocalize their concerns does not make them gossips. Let people process by talking for a season before you start making accusations.

Second, gossip is defined more by intent than content. Gossip requires a selfish motive. Most everyone needs information to think through an event. So, people ask questions. They call their friends. They talk to other leaders. If they want to gain this information for malicious motives, then it’s gossip. If they’re chatting to know how to help, then it’s not gossip. Before you leap to a conclusion about gossip, consider someone’s motives.

Third, it’s the leader’s responsibility to provide clarity. Something happens. Perhaps it hit the fan. A dust cloud forms. Think of this dust cloud as everyone’s dialogue. Confusion brings more confusion. People talk about their confusion. The cloud grows. It’s dark. No one can see what’s ahead. At this stage, most people are not gossiping. They are simply trying to find their way by talking to others. It’s your responsibility as a leader to provide clarity so the dust cloud settles. Grousing about chatter makes you the problem. Leaders who complain about conversations as if they are gossip create a clouded environment in which gossip forms. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Gossip is always destructive, but conversations are not gossip. Let people process by talking, even if it’s not with you. Before accusing the talkers of gossip, understand their intent. And it’s on you as a leader to provide clarity when the chatter stirs up dust.

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Five Hero Pastors

One of the greatest joys of my life is working with pastors. At Church Answers, we hear from tens of thousands of pastors every year. Most of these church leaders are unknown to the world except for their immediate church and, perhaps, their community. 

The pastors I know serve selflessly. Most of them are grossly underpaid, but they do not complain. They are on call around the clock. Sadly, some of them have not taken a vacation in several years. They try to smile when they hear it for the umpteenth time: “I wish I only worked on Sunday.” 

Because of my incredible blessing of working with and hearing from pastors, I have the joyous opportunity to hear directly about the lives of these church leaders. I want you to get a taste of what they do. And these stories are by no means uncommon. They are often repeated in churches every week. 

Here, then, are my five hero pastors from real life scenarios:

1. The pastor on a deathwatch. When the hospital called, the nurse informed the pastor that Jim would likely die within a few hours. Jim was a widower. He had no family. The pastor could not stand for Jim to die alone. He sat on vigil by his bedside for seven hours until this person he barely knew breathed his last breath. The pastor prayed for him in his last hours. He softly sang hymns for Jim. On occasion, the pastor would touch Jim’s hand just to let him know he was not alone.

2. The pastor who ministered to his fiercest critic in the church. When the pastor got the call that Byron had been in a terrible accident, he hurried to the hospital and waited with the family. He prayed with them. He comforted them. He encouraged them. He did not leave until the family received word that Byron would survive. Byron’s son asked the pastor as he left why he stayed with the family. “My dad has said terrible things to you” the son said. “He attempted to have you fired. He has made life miserable for you. Why are you here?” The pastor smiled and responded, “It is my honor to serve Christ by serving your dad. He too is a child of God.” 

3. The pastor who loved him unconditionally. At first it looked like an anonymous letter, at least by the appearance of the envelope. But when the pastor opened the letter, it was signed and full of venom. The writer of the letter was an atheist who heard the pastor preach on live streaming. The writer dared the pastor to meet with him. The pastor took the dare and had coffee with a young man full of hurt and anger. The pastor continued to meet with the man, even when he was attacking him verbally. After a few months, the relationship improved. Soon thereafter the young man became a follower of Christ. 

4. The pastor and his wife who gave away their last dollars. The church did not pay the pastor well. He and his wife could not even make it paycheck to paycheck. They had to depend on a local food bank to have food on the table. At the food bank, the pastor and his wife met a single mom who was in desperate financial straits. The couple looked at each other, thinking the same thing. They went to the nearby ATM and withdrew their last $30 and gave it to the single mom. By the way, it was this single mom who told this story after she became a follower of Christ. 

5. The pastor who stayed up all night and preached the next morning. I’ve heard stories similar to this one many times. The pastor was called on a Saturday evening to a home where a young man had locked himself in a room threatening suicide. Working with the police, the pastor spoke and prayed with the young man who finally relented and walked out of the room unharmed. The entire ordeal lasted almost eight hours. The pastor got to the church at 7:00 AM where he would look over his sermon for that morning and then preach with no sleep.

Your pastor is called by God to serve others. It is often a difficult life for the pastor and the pastor’s family. Criticisms are common. Finances are often challenging. Discouragement is pervasive. And words of encouragement can be rare.

Encourage your pastor.

Pray for your pastor. 

Love your pastor.

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Are You Asking the Character Question about Your Staff?

If you examine the job descriptions in searches for pastors, associate pastors, and church staff (as we have), you will find (as we did) an absence of expressed interest in character and a profusion of terms connected to skills. Job descriptions, even for senior pastors, have devolved into a can-do list. That is because we unconsciously value those who get stuff done, rather than those who exhibit godly character. Especially in the past fifty years, so many churches have hired on the basis of talents and skills and the capacity to “bring it” for weekend services. Somehow, we have equated ability with character. But when ability replaces character, we get toxicity in the boardroom and in the pulpit, and those toxicities corrupt the entire church.

In The Ascent of a Leader, which explores the topic of character in leadership, Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and Ken McElrath compare a “capacity ladder” with a “character ladder.” The former is a “task-driven organization, at the expense of people” and creates “people-users,” while a character ladder focuses on people and their success. On the capacity ladder, accountability means getting things done. Character, by contrast, focuses on depth of influence, living the truth, and protecting relationships. It sees failures in terms of development, not immediate results.¹

What does the Bible say about character? Jesus taught that a good tree [good character] produces good fruit. Bad character eventually reveals itself as rotten fruit, while good character over time will manifest itself as a sweet, juicy peach. Hear the words of Jesus:

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:16-20).

Though this isn’t hard to understand, some go too far with it. No human always produces juicy peaches, any more than someone always produces rotten fruit. Even as Christians, we never always behave in good ways. Therefore, Jesus exhorts his followers to examine themselves and others. That is, he wants us to become “fruit inspectors.”

Jesus also talked about character formation using the term heart. Again, consider his words:

The words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander (Matthew 15:18-19, NLT).

Though Jesus didn’t use the word ethos (character), so central to the philosophy of virtue taught by the ancient Greek thinker Aristotle, what he teaches is similar: our behavior expresses our character. That is, within reasonable limits, what we do tells others who we are.

In the writings of the apostle Paul, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit becomes the central reality of transformation. For instance, consider Romans 5:5: “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Further, in Romans 8:9, Paul says, “You . . . are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” And in 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul indicates that this Spirit-in-us is not simply individually or personally, but in the church corporately: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”

Jesus and the apostles all believed in the inner work of transformation, or character formation, which produces good fruit, or what we often today call virtue. Paul captures the essence of this virtue in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The ultimate virtue is Christlikeness. The Spirit in us transforms us into the image of Christ.

In a church, character matters more than culture. Character matters more than strategy. It is character that determines the very substance of where we’re headed. As one pastor friend said to us recently, “The question is, ‘Who are we becoming?’”

When you invite another person on to your staff, are you asking the character question?

¹Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and Ken McElrath, The Ascent of a Leader: How Ordinary Relationships Develop Extraordinary Character and Influence (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1994). The book has no page numbers. We are referring to chapter 4.

Adapted from Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer. Copyright © 2023. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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Reflections on My First Sermon after Twenty Years of Ministry

I preached Philippians 1.

After standing in the pulpit for a few awkward moments, I said, “Hi.”

“Hi.” The congregation responded.

It was a Sunday night service on a holiday weekend. My pastor was on vacation. The smaller crowd was the core. They knew what they were getting. I was twenty-three years old. Only now can I admit I preached that first sermon not having read the entire Bible yet.

Rookie preachers tend to go very short or very long. I was the former. I think I finished the sermon in under twenty minutes. My worship pastor would love for me to do that now.

“That was excellent. Thank you for sharing.” A sweet, elderly woman shook my hand.

“Son, you might have a future, possibly.” One of the deacons waved as he walked by me.

“Well, at least you didn’t mess anything up.” The Sunday school director smiled.

After everyone left, I asked my girlfriend, “How did I really do?”

“Why did you wag your finger at everyone the entire time? It was weird.”

“I did?! I had no idea.”

We married three years later. I no longer awkwardly point when I preach.

I do not remember how or why Paul Chitwood asked me to preach. Perhaps he saw something in me. More likely, no one else was available to fill the pulpit. Regardless, I knew that Sunday I had to preach—every week. Something in me (the Holy Spirit) prompted me to take every opportunity. I served bi-vocationally for three years, ultimately landing at a small rural church with six people.

Twenty years have passed since that first sermon. As I look back, several reflections come to mind.

The death of the traditional Sunday evening service has killed the opportunity for young, potential preachers to practice. I get why most churches no longer have a Sunday evening service, nor am I advocating for their return. But there are unintended consequences to any significant change in a church. The reality is Sunday evening was great practice for up-and-coming young preachers. These opportunities are now largely gone.

Younger pastors should master exegetical preaching before attempting topical sermons. I enjoy preaching topical sermons. Certain topics like addiction, religious liberty, and angelology are challenging to preach with only verse-by-verse sermons. The reality is topical sermons are far more difficult to write than exegetical sermons, if done well. (Topical sermons are easy to write if done poorly). I recommend young preachers spend a few years going through books of the Bible before attempting topical sermons.

Preaching is more a craft than science. For my first couple of years preaching, I wrote sermons as if I was dissecting a bug in biology class. I was careful, precise, and thorough. These sermons communicated the intended meaning of the text with all the details of a technical commentary, but they lacked inspiration. True craftsmen create works of art that inspire, and mastering a craft—sermon writing included—requires years of practice.

Your theology will change over the years. I often tell my church that I do not expect everyone to agree with everything I say every week. That’s what a cult leader expects of followers. In fact, I disagree with my younger self in many areas of Scripture! My eschatology and soteriology have changed. I am more open to the sign gifts now than in the past. I moved away from strong views of close or closed communion. If you preach faithfully, you will likely evolve in your views of Scripture as you learn more about God’s Word.  

Preaching is better when done to edify and not to educate. The sanctuary is not a classroom, and the parishioners are not your students. Should you learn something each week in church? Of course! But delivering and receiving a sermon is a different exercise than pedagogy. Pastors should edify the saints. While education is a part of edification, sermons should aim to inspire people to action guided by the Holy Spirit.

The New Living Translation is ideal for preaching and encouraging the church to read God’s Word. I have preached from a variety of translations. The NLT is perfect for reading aloud. The translation is the best balance of formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence. Most importantly, the NLT is a translation everyone of all ages can read together.

You cannot grow a church with good preaching anymore. I remember a few old-timers telling me, “Get good at preaching, and your church will grow.” This advice was accurate thirty years ago but no longer works. The days of large swaths of people coming to church to hear a good preacher are long gone. Sermons are critically important, but they alone do not grow churches.

“Just preach the Word” is not valid. I’ve heard this saying countless times. Frankly, it’s some of the most harmful advice anyone can give a young pastor. Shepherding a congregation requires far more than preaching. Preaching is only a fraction of what is required of a pastor.

Almost everyone listening wants you to do well. For the most part, your congregation is cheering for you as you preach. The curmudgeons may be vocal, but they are rare. Most people who sit and listen every week enjoy hearing you preach and want you to succeed.

It’s hard to believe I started preaching twenty years ago. In those twenty years, I have preached weekly except for about thirty Sundays. Rarely does a Sunday pass when I’m not in the pulpit. 

I hope God gives me another twenty years of opportunities.

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