This Poor Pastor's Podcast

Every pastor has things he loves and hates...if he is honest.  Anyone who tells you he loves everything about it just isn't being honest.  Anyone who tells you it is all bad just isn't paying attention.  In this extra episode, I want to share my top 5 things on each list, love and hate.  Enjoy!

Okay, I had a lot of great feedback from my episode on why I don't usually recommend Bible college to my young people.  I did, however, get some concerned questions regarding some of the things I said.  So I thought I would record a follow-up to my original episode.  I hope it provokes thought, and introspection...and maybe a little bit of heartburn.

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Hi, My name is Mark, and I am a quitter.  Well...I mean that I have quit things in the past.  I will probably quit things in the future.  Sometimes I think Pastors should quit.  Yep...I said it.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about when, and why I think it might be time to consider quitting.  You might not agree with me...but I want to have the conversation anyway.

Do you practice your skills as a Pastor?  Should you even be doing that?  What about the Holy Spirit? What role does He play?  Does practicing make you a performer instead of a Pastor?  Doesn't preaching three times a week give you all the practice you need?  All these questions and more, on this week's episode.

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So often I have let myself in for frustration, chasing an ideal. Somehow...I always come up short.  That is the thing about ideals.  We always come short.  The dream of pastoring an ideal church is no different.  It isn't going to happen...and you know what?  That's okay.  In this episode, I want to talk about ideals, the ideal church, and how to find joy in pastoring a less than ideal group of people.  I hope you'll join me. 

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In this episode, we talk about some additional considerations regarding evangelism, sometimes known as soul winning. I wanted to give you some ideas of things I avoid, and some things I try to do.  I desire to see people come to Christ.  I believe in persuading people regarding the gospel.  What I am trying to get away from, is the shady, high pressure, used car salesman techniques so often used in aggressive soul-winning presentations. Let's talk about that.

I came out of an "aggressive, soul-winning" environment. At the age of 15, I was introduced to weekly door knocking. I learned the sales techniques necessary to convince people to pray the sinner's prayer after a simple 5-15 minute presentation.  We learned the tactics to get around a "no" and get to a "yes".   I did it for 20 years.  Then I got burned out.  There had to be a better, more Biblical way.  That is the focus of the next two episodes. 

"Where do you recommend your church kids go to Bible college?"  

That is the question I was recently asked by another Pastor.  My answer?  "I don't recommend my kids go to Bible college."

Bible college is not for everyone.  Some Bible colleges shouldn't be for anyone!  In this episode, I will tell you why I think so. Feel free to reach out and let me know your thoughts on the topic at [email protected] 

I have a confession.  I am a critic.  I also hate criticism.  That makes things confusing!  Seriously though, criticism is one of the hardest things to deal with in Pastoral ministry.  The entire Bible is replete with stories of critics.  It is something we will always deal with this side of eternity.  I don't have any real solutions, just some helpful words, and the acknowledgment that I also deal with the same thing...and sometimes I get discouraged.  Let's commiserate together. 

(NOTE) Yesterday I took this episode down, with the intent to edit it and re-upload it.  I decided to let it stand as is.    Here is why.  I spoke with my friend whose post I read in this article.  I believe that his post doesn't accurately reflect his stand, as most posts don't, but since he has left his post up, I will leave this one.  Not out of animosity, but in the hope of encouraging conversation. 

This episode is part one of a discussion on the challenges regarding those leaving the legalistic ministry styles (of which I consider myself one).  Far too many times it is easy to become as legalistic as the groups we are leaving.  Paul, in Romans 14 makes it clear that we are brothers.  Those other men are God's servants, not ours, and we are not to judge or condemn them.  That, in a nutshell, is the subject of this episode.

Obviously, there are times we must call out wrong that is being done.  How to do that, and the challenge of doing it right, is will be the subject of the next podcast.  Stay tuned!