Nearly everything I think I know about pastoral ministry I’ve learned from someone else.
Usually the learning has come in one-sentence statements mentioned in almost throw-away lines. Often it’s been driving along in the car talking about life and ministry.
I’ve been thinking about this recently and decided to compile a list of some of them. In no particular order, here are some gems that have served me for years in most cases.
“Remember: You preach for an audience of One.”
That was Peter Rochelle’s remark to me before I preached my initial sermon.
We certainly may preach to audiences of more than one, but we only ever preach for an audience of One.
With that remark, he helped me settle my highest loyalty as a preacher and drove a stake deep into the heart of this preacher’s fear of man. I’m forever grateful for that conversation and the path Peter set me on. He was my first model of exposition and pastoral care.
“Teach and pray. Love and stay.”
That’s a short summary of pastoral ministry from Mark Dever.
Teach the people God’s word. Pray down heaven on the people. Love the people. And, if possible, stay with the people over the long haul.
“Surround yourself with A+ guys.”
David Horner’s counsel to Peter Rochelle regarding selecting elders and deacons. Peter passed that along to us fellow elders who served with him.
That admonition fixed our eyes on 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 in our search for co-laborers. For 20 years now, it’s been a theme and it’s never failed.
In some ways it’s the heartbeat of Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons.
