Sam Rainer's Blog, page 16
March 16, 2022
The Ten Commandments of a Pastor’s Vacation
I realize vacations are a luxury. Plenty of bi-vocational pastors do not get vacations. Some full-time pastors get so much grief from their churches over vacation, they simply skip them. Time away is essential. Every pastor needs it, and every church should give it. If your church is gracious enough to provide vacation time, you should use the time to recharge.
For fun, I’ve put together a list of “shalts” and “shalt nots” for the pastor’s vacation.
1. Thou shalt take a vacation every year. It’s...
March 9, 2022
What Does a Humble Pastor Really Look Like?
Pride is a danger for anyone in authority. Pastors are as vulnerable as anyone.
Consistent pride disqualifies a pastor from ministry. The first chapter of Titus explains how a pattern of arrogance severely limits a shepherd’s ability to manage God’s house and lead God’s people. Any position of power comes with the trap of hubris, but the toxic effects of pride are especially hazardous in the church.
No church leader starts ministry with the goal of building pride. Yet, ironically, even the most ...
March 2, 2022
Don’t Succumb to the Great Resignation. Make Ministry Meaningful Again.
Not everyone has lost their sense of meaning in ministry. But the Great Resignation is teaching us many people would rather do something else that brings more fulfillment.
What is the Great Resignation? In the United States, people are quitting their jobs at incredibly high rates. As I write, over four million people a month are resigning. These unusually high rates apply to people in ministry as well, but I don’t think most ministers are resigning from ministry. I will call this phenomenon the ...
February 23, 2022
If Your Church Attendance is Stagnant Right Now, It’s Not All Bad
There are times when a church attendance plateau is a victory. I believe many churches are in a season of stagnation, and it’s not all bad. But first, a few caveats. Stagnation is not the goal, but a plateau can point to a future growth climb. Also, churches can be in denial about declines. Leaders should never ignore problems.
The first step on the plateau is to recognize where you are. Unfortunately, churches and leaders can tend to lack self-awareness. Don’t call declines a plateau. The defin...
February 16, 2022
Renewed Hope: How to Kickstart the Process of Church Revitalization
Hope is a term often used in a context of doubt.
When we say, “I hope my team wins,” there is a hint of disbelief. When we say, “I hope my church grows,” you know it’s not guaranteed. When I peer into the freezer and say, “I hope there is ice cream,” the grim knowledge of my kids’ appetites adds an element of doubt.
Biblical hope, on the other hand, conveys confidence and security. When the Bible uses the word hope, there is no inclination to doubt.
As we venture into 2022, let’s invest in bibli...
February 9, 2022
Five Strategies for Being a More Approachable Pastor on Sunday Morning
Some pastors are naturally approachable. They have a certain charisma that draws people. Other pastors draw in people like an open-casket viewing. People approach but with nervous hesitation. Most of us are somewhere in between these two extremes.
Your approachability as a pastor is not limited to Sunday mornings, but it’s an essential time when people will develop perceptions about you. For example, I’ve heard one comment over and over from people who meet me for the first time after I preach: ...
February 2, 2022
Five Ways to Be a Happier Pastor Right Now
God does not promise happiness, so believers should not feel entitled to it. However, I don’t believe God desires for His children to be unhappy.
Happiness is about your emotions, while joy is a God-given posture. The former often rises and falls based on external factors. The latter is an internal stabilizer provided by the Holy Spirit. Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit and a greater pursuit than happiness. But seeking happiness is not a fruitless endeavor.
Pastors should lead with their e...
January 26, 2022
The Right Way to Own a Ministry Mistake
I struggle with mistakes. It’s not that I fear mistakes. On the leadership risk tolerance scale, I lean towards taking more risks. Messes, mistakes, and outright failures come with taking regular, calculated risks. My struggle is not the fear of making a mistake. My struggle is the responsibility of owning the mistake.
My desire to be right supersedes my desire to take risks. In other words, I’m fine with admitting failure so long as I don’t have to deal with the problems it can create. So my at...
January 19, 2022
How to Put the Fun Back into Leading an Established Church
Leading an established church is not the trendiest of ministry endeavors. Most established churches aren’t trendy, but they can be a lot of fun. Obviously, the primary calling of the church is gospel work, not having fun. And leading some established churches is more tough than anything else. I’ve been forced to resign without cause by a group of people I thought were my friends, and I’ve been to the point of exhaustion. Ministry can be hard, but if you aren’t having fun, then you’re not a joyfu...
January 12, 2022
Nine Questions to Ask Before Visiting Someone in the Hospital
For the last two years, hospital visitation has been a challenge. That’s beginning to change, and it’s time to rethink the strategy for hospital visits.
When I started pastoring, I didn’t think much about the strategy of a hospital visit. I just went. In most cases, a simple ministry of presence is the key. However, there are some strategic questions to ask before visiting someone in the hospital. Perhaps these questions will help you be more effective when ministering to people in the hospital....
