What pastors wish church members knew
Pastors have many roles in their church ministry, one of the most important of which is preacher. Pastors admit preaching is the most enjoyable, and the most difficult, part of their job. They confess that preaching God’s Word proves a huge responsibility for them and puts great pressure on them.
One pastor stated, “Every week, I am faced with three great responsibilities: a Sunday morning sermon, a Sunday evening sermon and an effective Wednesday night Bible study. They must be fresh, not sounding redundant and trite. They need outstanding illustrations, as well as practical, thoughtful applications of the text. Those are awesome responsibilities.”
Many pastors wish church members knew the effort and study they put into the weekly sermons.
In spite of the joy and reward of preaching, pastors admit it often creates frustration, fear and tension in their lives. One pastor said, “How frustrating and challenging it is to have the task of providing an engaging, Spirit-filled message each week while my church members compare my preaching to the best and brightest preachers on TV and radio. I feel as if I have to compete with them to keep my congregation’s attention.”
Some pastors admit they feel a lack of confidence in their sermon preparation and delivery. They often feel inadequate in their role as preacher. “I don’t feel I’m a strong preacher,” one pastor said. “My worship leader is a reluctant volunteer. There’s only one of me and I have limitations. I need help with preaching and worship.”
Another pastor said, “My church thinks my preaching is too old-fashioned and not up-to-date. I sometimes wonder if they’re right.”
Pastors face numerous challenges as they prepare sermons and preach:
• Preparing sermons that meet the spiritual needs of the congregation
• Keeping sermons fresh and yet scripturally based
• Being evangelistic in their sermons while still teaching mature Christians
• Preaching week after week without becoming dry
Pastors know that when they climb into the pulpit, they must preach a God-inspired, biblically accurate message that “speaks” to everyone in attendance. The sermon must be simple enough for a schoolchild, edgy enough for a teenager, learned enough for a Ph.D. and so on. It is no wonder most pastors confess that preaching God’s Word is a huge responsibility and source of great pressure.
What you can do to help your pastor:
• Pray especially for your pastor as he studies and prepares his weekly sermons. Tell him you are praying for him.
• Encourage him as he seeks to communicate with so diverse a congregation.
• Listen attentively as he preaches. Maintain eye contact and let him know you are hearing him.
• After the worship service, tell him what you appreciated about his sermon.
• Thank him often for his dedication to the task of preaching God’s Word.
Denise George is the author of ‘What Pastors Wish Church Members Knew’ and numerous other books. Denise and her husband, Timothy George (founding dean of Beeson Divinity School), are members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church. For more information, visit www.authordenisegeorge.com.
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