Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 333

Pray for Manning First Assembly of God

Location: Manning, South Carolina

Pastor: Larry Ambrose

Worship Time: 11:00 AM Eastern Time

Fast Facts: Manning First Assembly of God is located an hour and a half southeast of Columbia, South Carolina. This 30-year old church is proud to be family-oriented. Their “come as you are” atmosphere is emphasized on their website with the statement: “We don’t care what you wear, as long as you are here.”

Please pray for the church’s outreach event on September 29, called Game Day! The church is inviting the community to come be a part of their team, wear their favorite team’s attire, and stay after church for a tailgate party.

Also pray for several adult member shut-ins in need of strengthening and healing.

Website: www.manningfirst.com

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

Seven Reasons Pastors Burn Out

I heard the story again last week. A pastor I know announced his resignation. No moral failure. No severe crisis at the church. No major family problems. No sickness. He was simply burned out. That’s how he described it. He said he had gotten to the point that he was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other.

So he quit. Without another job. His church family was stunned.

I admit I haven’t seen recent statistics on pastoral burnout but, at least anecdotally, it’s high. It seems that hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear another story of a burnout victim in pastoral ministry.

Why?

What is unique to this vocation that causes such a dramatic dropout rate? May I suggest seven reasons from the hundreds of cases I’ve known through the years?

The 24/7 mentality. Many pastors can’t “turn off” work in their mind. Even on their days off, they are waiting for that next telephone call or next crisis. Thus, they never relax.
Conflict. I often heard it said that conflict is not the problem; it’s how we handle conflict. That’s true to a point. But if church conflict and criticisms are ongoing, pastors wear down. They eventually burn out.
Expectations. All pastors would be problem-free if they were omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Of course, no pastor can meet all the expectations of church members. But many try. And they burn out as a result.
Unwillingness to let go.  Several years ago I was with a pastor who was frantically trying to sort the mail that had just arrived. He was hurrying to go to his next meeting. I asked him why he didn’t let someone else take care of some of things he was trying to do. His blank stare was his answer. He quit ministry three months later and never returned.
No friends. Many pastors fail to develop meaningful friendships, people with whom they can “let their hair down.” Without such outlets, burnout is more likely.
Not suited for some tasks. This issue is similar to trying to meet everyone’s expectations. First, such attempts are physically impossible. Second, pastors are not equipped to do everything well. But many try and many fail.
No life outside the church. I am amazed at the number of pastors who have no meaningful hobbies or recreational activities outside the church. I am less amazed when those pastors burn out and drop out.

Do you see these seven reasons often? What would you add or change? What can we do to help pastors avoid burnout?

10 Things Pastors Like Most and Least about Being a Pastor — Rainer on Leadership #024

Podcast Episode #024

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This week on the podcast, Jonathan and I discuss my findings from a pair of recent Twitter polls I conducted. While not scientific, these anecdotal results describe the areas pastors love about pastoring—and the areas they do not.

10 Things Pastors Like Most

Seeing lives transformed.
Preaching.
Personal evangelism.
The people/members.
Developing new relationships.
Ministering in the community.
Ministering to members.
Casting a vision.
Staff relationships.
Mentoring or discipling one-on-one.

10 Things Pastors Like Least

Conflict and complaining church members.
Family challenges.
Busy work.
Members whose priorities are their own comfort and preferences.
Expectations to be present at all church functions and many social functions.
Non-productive meetings.
Expectation to be on call 24/7.
Confronting people who are sinning.
Problems with staff members.
Members who aren’t passionate about evangelism/reaching the community.

Episode Sponsor

This week’s podcast is brought to you by the HCSB Bible. Taking into account the significant advancements in scholarship, translation theory, and contemporary English usage, the HCSB will satisfy both those new to the faith and seasoned scholars. Visit HCSB.org for more information.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free autographed copy of I Am a Church Member.

Resources

I Am a Church Member
Seven Things Pastors Would Like Church Members to Know about Their Children
Seven Things Pastors’ Wives Wish They Had Been Told Before They Became Pastors’ Wives

Friday Is for Freebies: The Holman NKJV Study Bible

My giveaway this Friday is the brand new Holman NKJV Study Bible.

Holman Bible Publishers is excited to present the NKJV Study Bible, a new edition modeled after its own 2011 ECPA Christian Book Award-winning HCSB Study Bible, where every well-conceived study help is practically placed on the same page spread as the related biblical text. It also features 15,000 study notes, 141 photos, 62 timelines, 59 maps, 40-page concordance, 20 articles and essays on practical and theological issues, 16 illustrations and reconstructions, and 15 charts.

Other details of the NKJV Study Bible include a two-column text setting, center-column cross references, the words of Christ in red type, extensive book introductions, one- and three-year Bible reading plans, a notes section, four-color presentation page and family records section, and two-piece die-cut gift box.

All study features throughout the NKJV Study Bible are designed to put the emphasis where it must be—on making the Scriptures, God’s written Word, clear and understandable.

To enter the giveaway, tell us your favorite fall activity.

The deadline to enter is midnight CDT this Saturday. We will draw one winner from the entries on Monday morning.

By entering, you acknowledge and accept the terms of the promotion.

 

Notable Voices – September 26, 2013

8 Ways You Might Be Losing People in Your Sermons — Brandon Hilgemann

You likely see it every week. Someone in the congregation completely checks out while you’re preaching. While you may not be able to stop it from happening completely, these eight tips will help you keep listeners engaged during your sermon.

 

9 Start of the Week Thoughts for Leaders — Brad Lomenick

How you start your week often influences your attitude for the rest of the week. Brad shares nine tips for starting the week off right.

 

5 Reasons Why Our Small Groups Stopped Doing “Book Studies”, And I’m Glad — Mike Leake

Small group alignment is critical for a church to establish healthy, reproducible groups. Mike shares five reasons his church has aligned what their small groups are studying. The model his church uses is similar to what our Discipleship in Context team produces for dozens of churches around the country. You can find out more information about having small group resources produced based on sermon series or churchwide emphases at DiscipleshipInContext.com.

 

Conversations About the Craft of Sermon Preparation — Jonathan Dodson

In this podcast episode, Jonathan Dodson shares his process for sermon preparation and crafting.

 

A Prayer for Christian Bloggers and Writers — Joey Cochran

In a recent post on the power of social media, I wrote of the need for bloggers to come together online in unity more often. Joey’s prayer is one all bloggers should pray.

 

How Should we use Intuition in Decision Making? — Donald Miller

Intuition always plays a factor in leadership decisions. Sometimes for good. Sometimes not so much. Donald provides a framework on how to best use intuition when making decisions.

Seven Ways to Respond to Power Groups in the Church

In an earlier post, I suggested several types of power groups that exist in many churches today. I also noted that a power group per se is not intrinsically bad. They come in a variety of types and quality.

As many of you requested, and as I promised, I am utilizing this article to address possible ways to respond to power groups. My list is not exhaustive, but I do hope these seven suggestions are helpful.

Pray for the group. You might begin to see those people from a different perspective. Or God may positively change your relationships with those in the group.
Find commonalities with the group. A pastor recently wrote me about his experience with a power group in his church. He learned that two members of the group had been involved in ministries to abused children. He had led a similar ministry at a former church. He asked those two members to help him start a new ministry to these children. Now the pastor is in great favor with the group.
Work around the group. Ask the question: What is the primary concern of the group? Once you determine what the mindset of the group is, you can lead around the group. There will always be unlimited ministry opportunities; do those for which you are the most passionate while not offending the group.
Let the berry bucket take effect. The berry bucket is a metaphor to describe church members. “Older berries” are those who were at the church before the pastor arrived. “Newer berries” are members who joined the church after the current pastor was in place. Newer berries tend to follow the leadership of the pastor more readily. Sometimes you just have to wait for the power group’s authority to diminish.
View the power group as sheep to be shepherded, not enemies to be fought. One of the many mistakes I made as a pastor was to view certain members and groups as adversaries. Sure, many of them were a pain in the posterior, but they still were Christ’s sheep. I should have been more spiritually mature to see myself as the undershepherd rather than the opposing team.
Confront the power group if their sinning is bringing harm to the body. Please hear me clearly. If you do take this difficult step, you could lose your job. I have seen it happen too often. It is a bold step and a courageous step, but it can be a step that moves a pastor to the ranks of the unemployed.
Sometimes you have to leave. Would I recommend you leave a church if the power group is hindering the ministry of the church, and if all other attempts to move forward have failed? Maybe. I am always reticent to suggest that leaving is the only option. But the reality is that sometimes your departure is the only option you have left.

What do you think of my seven approaches? What have been your experiences? What would you change or add?

8 Commitments for Bible Study Leaders

By Chuck Lawless

I love teaching, especially when I’m privileged to lead studies from the Word of God. To be frank, though, teaching frightens me. It frightens me because teachers will be held to a stricter judgment (James 3:1). We have great responsibility, and with that responsibility comes accountability.

I am surprised, though, how little attention churches give to securing Bible study leaders and holding them accountable. Below are eight covenant commitments I would want them to affirm as they serve in the local church:

I will grow in my faith and devotion to God through consistent personal Bible study. Bible study leaders have a tendency to teach from our reserves; that is, we teach out of what we learned in the past, perhaps at a time when we more faithfully read God’s Word daily. It is wrong to assume we can take on today’s teaching task on the basis of yesterday’s power. As a teacher of God’s Word, I want my personal Bible study to be present tense and growing.
I will faithfully support the work of the church by regular worship attendance and financial giving. We teach not only with our words, but also with our lives. Bible study leaders who teach their group but who do not also support the church are likely growing their own kingdom more than God’s kingdom. As a Bible study leader, I want to model good churchmanship.
I will be holy, knowing that what others do not see is as important as what they do see. Teaching is a public act as we stand before others and instruct. Preparation for teaching, though, is quite personal and private. When there is unconfessed sin, we lack the power of God that should mark all teaching of the Bible. The unholy Bible study leader imparts only information, but the holy Bible study leader imparts life. I want to be holy, not only for God’s glory and my good, but also for those I teach.
I will teach the Word. This commitment is a non-negotiable, but Bible study leaders do not always practically keep this commitment. Conversations, food, fellowship, and prayer (all significant elements of a small group) consume the time set apart for teaching, and attention to the Bible is lessened. The wise Bible study leader takes the steps necessary to guard that time to focus on the Word. I want to meet my responsibility to lead the group clearly and intentionally to the Scriptures.
I will faithfully prepare to teach each week. Let’s be honest—sometimes it’s easy to teach when you’ve done it for a number of years. We can study a little (or not at all) and still teach something. The group members might, in fact, think our teaching is great, but we know something else: we are missing the full blessing of God because we’ve not given Him time to move us in our preparation to teach. I want to long for the blessing of God when I stand before others as a Bible study leader.
I will share my faith regularly and challenge the group to do the same. We must determine whether or not we will live what we teach. If we genuinely live what we teach, we will take initiative to tell others about Jesus. We will weep over non-believers because we trust the Word we teach. To not tell others is to reveal that our teaching is only for us and for people like us. It is to be selfish with the message we communicate. I want to faithfully reach out to non-believers because I believe the message I teach is life transforming. 
I will seek prayer partners and pray for group members each week. We need others praying for us because we need God’s power to make a difference through our teaching. We need someone praying for us, “Lord, do not let them lead in their own strength.” Genuine prayer is a cry for relationship, an admission of dependence, and a means by which we minister to others. I want to be a prayer warrior on behalf of the group I lead. 
I will strive to raise up new Bible study leaders and multiply my class. The evidence of good teaching is not only in the classroom; it is also in the lives of our hearers. The best Bible study leaders know their responsibility is to reproduce themselves in younger leaders—who will then start new groups. They might even take some of the best group members with them. If we cannot rejoice when that happens, our teaching is likely too self-centered. I want to train new Bible study leaders and start new groups gladly.

As Bible study leaders, we will answer to God for our service.  What other commitments would you include in your Bible study leader’s covenant? And, because covenants are usually two-sided, what commitments should a congregation make to Bible study leaders?

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary.

You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

Henry Blackaby and the Positive Power of Social Media

We received the information early Friday morning that well-known Christian author and speaker Dr. Henry Blackaby was missing. Because of his close relationship to LifeWay professionally and to many of us personally, we made the decision to change the blog schedule at ThomRainer.com and related social media so we could get the word out about Dr. Blackaby.

The hours that followed were tense and ultimately extremely gratifying. We would soon learn that Dr. Blackaby had a heart attack and became disoriented. Christians around the world were able to hear through social media of his latest purported location according to his credit card charges. Of course, we were praying that he was the one actually using the credit cards—and he was.

Social Media and the Unity of the Body of Christ

It was amazing to see Christians from various backgrounds come together in unity for this man so many people love. Whether the social media venue was Facebook, Twitter, blogs, or many other forms, we were united in purpose.

The level of disagreement and nitpicking among Christians was turned down dramatically for a brief season. The critical spirit that we Christians often exhibit for the world to see subsided. We were one with one purpose.

Social Media and the Power of Prayer

One part of the social media exchange regarding Henry Blackaby was informational. Through various venues, we learned that he was missing. We learned where his credit card was being used. We learned the make, color, and model of the automobile he was driving. And we would soon learn the license plate number on the car. All of this information going out through social media became instrumental in finding him.

The greater use of social media, however, was the articulation of prayers by hundreds of thousands of believers. You could be thousands of miles from a brother or sister in Christ and still have an awareness that you were praying together. Nearly 200,000 unique visitors visited this blog Friday. I was overwhelmed with the numbers of people expressing prayers in writing. Christians from all over the world were banded together for good and for God’s glory; the power of prayer was so clearly evident.

Social Media and the Glory of God

We are all well aware of the evil and hurt that takes place on social media. We Christians are keenly aware that our own witness is often compromised by the words we choose to write, and the invectives we hurl at one another.

But the problem is not social media; the problem is our hearts. We make a conscious choice to use this instrument for good or for evil.

The story of the disappearance of Henry Blackaby is a poignant and powerful reminder of what we Christians can do when we unite in love, even over something like Twitter or Facebook. Though Dr. Blackaby faces a road of surgery, treatment, and recovery, this story did have a good ending. He was found. He is safe with his family. For that we give thanks to God.

But even if God had not answered our prayers in the way most of us were hoping, this story would still have been incredible. Christians were united in purpose. Christians were united in prayer. Christians focused on our commonalities instead of our differences for a brief season.

Ultimately, the story of Henry Blackaby and the social media response was a reminder for all of us who call Christ our Savior. I for one can say without reservation that I was reminded that I am to do all things for His glory. And that includes my participation in social media. I pray that God will remind me to ask before I strike another key on the keyboard, before I write another blog post, before I comment one more word on Facebook, before I tweet anything or post a photo on Instagram, am I doing this for good or evil, for myself or for the glory of God?

Thank God for the safe return of Henry Blackaby. And thank God that we believers got to a get a taste for a brief season of what it means to come together for His purpose and His glory.

Pray for Morganton Baptist Church

Location: Morganton, Georgia

Pastor: Keith Jones

Worship Time: 11:00 AM Eastern Time

Fast Facts: Morganton Baptist Church will celebrate its 145th anniversary in October. Located in a former school, the church maintains a large food and clothing ministry, supporting the surrounding Appalachian areas in north Georgia, southeast Tennessee, and southwest North Carolina. This small congregation has seen people come to Christ through the food ministry and also through their youth ministry. They also host volunteer mission teams throughout the year.

Please pray for the church’s revival services scheduled for September 22-26. Also pray that their anniversary celebration in October will help them reach further into their community for Christ.

Website: www.morgantonbaptistchurch.com

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

Eight Types of Power Groups in Churches

This topic will cause some discomfort for many of you. The very thought of the presence of power groups seems contrary to the spirit and grace of the gospel. But power groups are very real in churches.

Perhaps our comfort level can increase a bit by calling the groups “influencers” rather than power groups. Choose your label. The fact of the matter is that most churches have a clearly known group that carries the most influence in the church. And it is not unusual for that group to have a clearly known leader.

It is common to assume that power groups are inherently bad. That is not necessarily the case. Some of them can be a part of the formal structure of the church; church polity requires them. But even some informal groups can be healthy for the church. Don’t assume a power group per se is negative. Here are eight types of groups. While a church may have more than one kind of group, only one of the groups will be the dominant power in the church.

Family owned and operated. Thousands of churches are dominated by a family and its extensions. I once served in a church where half of the deacons had the same last name. It is not unusual that the church was founded by a member of the family. And the family tends to stick together when they want things to go their way.
Work-around warriors. This group forms when there is a power or ministry void. Its formation is typically an indication of lack of confidence in the current leadership. They align themselves to get a job done they feel is not taking place otherwise. But the group rarely disbands after the perceived need or task is accomplished. They become an ongoing power group.
Benevolent dictators. These individuals or groups garner their power in the church from a variety of possibilities. But they really don’t want the power for themselves. Their desire is to use their influence for the good of the church as they can best discern.
Formal alliances. Often the power group in the church is the group who has formal authority in the church. They may be elders, members of the finance committee, deacons, or some other body of authority in the church.
Money managers. Because they have a position related to money in the church, this group sometimes uses their financial power to gain greater power in the church. The group may be called a finance committee, a stewardship committee, or a budget committee. But their authority to call the financial shots can result in significant other sources of power in the church.
Past-is-present protectors. The goal of this group is clear: fiercely defend the status quo. The group typically has a clear leader and numbers of eager followers. I recently heard one pastor talk about the problems he encountered when he changed the time of the worship service from 10:55 to 11:00. This group’s motto is “don’t mess with the way we’ve always done it.”
Ministry militia. This power group is known for its fierce devotion to a particular ministry in the church. Anything done to diminish the value of that ministry or to bring change that will impact that ministry will be met with stiff opposition.
Network systems. There are one or more people in the church that have uncanny networking skills. They intentionally connect to many people in the church. So when the leadership of the church wants to make a change, this group is critical for success because they are connected to so many other members.

What types of power groups would you add? What groups have you experienced in your church?

On Monday, I’ll address the issue of dealing with power groups.