Dear Small Church Pastor,
You probably have taught or preached from 2 Timothy 2:15, that verse in which Paul admonishes Timothy to study scripture so he could confidently instruct others about their meaning. You may have done special scripture studies with your people for years, even decades. There’s a possibility you hold one or more Bible studies weekly with those same people.
I have some questions for you—in all those years of preparing for Bible study with your people, how has your personal Bible study progressed? Do you even have time set aside each day in which you are not preparing sermons or group studies? Are you studying the scriptures for your own knowledge, your own confidence, your own understanding?
Let’s face the reality that our responsibilities as a pastor can interfere with our own personal Bible study. Knowing we have to be prepared to preach and teach from the pulpit/platform regularly causes us to focus on that one responsibility while neglecting our own growth sometimes. We want to be prepared with the right message at our main worship service. We want to make sure our people are being taught sound doctrine regularly. Therefore, we invest a great deal of time in the preparation needed for fulfilling those responsibilities. Sometimes, however, that great deal of time uses up so much of our time that we do not study for our own growth.
I know the Holy Spirit teaches us and preaches to us as we prepare for the sake of others. And that does help us grow as pastors and teachers. But that residual learning should inspire us to conduct deeper studies into God’s word for our own sake, not just theirs.
When was the last time you preached a message and did further personal study on the main idea of that message? How long has it been since you read through the Bible highlighting passages that seemed to jump off the page while you read? Have you ever realized you needed to learn more about what God says on a particular topic because that topic is directly related to your own life? Do you even have a daily devotional time when you ready, study and meditate on God’s word?
I’m usually awake way before sunrise. I discovered people don’t call you that early unless there is a serious emergency to be addressed. That means there is ample time to do Bible reading and study. One of my Bible apps sends a daily verse that is accompanied by a brief devotion. Another one sends a passage with a longer, more detailed devotion. I get a short spiritual reminder from someone I met while working on an intensive Christian weekend a couple of years ago.
I read them all, noting their main emphasis and how it applies to my own life. And I admit I have thought about how they connect to me and prayed after reading them as the Holy Spirit pricked my heart about something. I need these devotions. I need these scriptures. I need this time alone with God for my own growth. I have learned that when I grow personally, I’m a better disciple of Christ. And that makes me a better husband, father, grandfather and pastor.
You may not be awake as early as I am. But you have just as many hours in a day as I do, and you can carve out some time for personal Bible reading and study. Your sermon and lesson preparations are good and useful, but they do not always focus on your own life, needs, joys and trials. I encourage you to establish a personal regular Bible study time if you don’t have one already. Don’t put this aspect of your spiritual growth off until tomorrow. Start today.
Sincerely,
A Small Church Pastor