Tag: pastor

  • Letter #62 (The Local Shepherd–2)

    Dear Small Church Congregation,

         I mentioned in the last letter the concept of a spiritual umbrella that needs to exist in Christ’s body.  We know the Father sent the Son, who, in turn, asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to His (Christ’s) body.  There is a spiritual covering that exists because of the work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that covering must be present in order for the Body of Christ to function properly.  We know Jesus is the Head of the Body, and it is His presence, His covering, His spiritual authority, that must be present for the Body to be complete and operating as He desires it to operate.  That presence, covering or authority is what I am referring to when I speak of the spiritual umbrella needed by every part of the Body of Christ, by every congregation and, by direct implication, every individual part of that body.

         I also mentioned that the local shepherd, the pastor, provides a spiritual covering and first line of defense against the devil for the local congregation.  Allow me to explain this statement.  God gave certain “people gifts” to the overall body of believers.  These include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  Each of these gifts has a particular function to perform within the Body of Christ.  The function of the pastor is to be the shepherd for the local group of disciples who gather for worship.

         The local shepherd is God’s gift to that individual congregation.  However, the congregation is not in charge of the pastor.  They do not “own” the pastor.  They should not dictate His duties, nor should they supervise him like a committee supervises someone under their authority, because the shepherd is not under their authority.  He is under the authority of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  God is his umbrella of spiritual authority if he is not part of a fellowship or denomination that has governance over its members and provides them with ministerial credentials.  If he is part of such a group, then that larger group will be his spiritual umbrella, and the group will be answerable to God for how they lead, protect and guide the pastor.

         Regardless of whether the pastor is covered directly by God or by a group that provides an umbrella of covering, the pastor is responsible for providing the spiritual umbrella for the local congregation.  If you can picture this—God’s umbrella covers the pastor or the credentialling group, and then the pastor covers the congregation.

    (It would be a good idea to read Psalm 23 now before continuing.)

         As the one who is the spiritual umbrella and leader for the local congregation, the pastor serves the people in a manner that is similar to how Jesus led his disciples by being a shepherd to them.  The pastor doesn’t simply teach the people.  He guides them to the best spiritual food possible.  He leads them according to a shared vision for their future.  He helps them grow spiritually and makes sure they are drinking from the spiritual fountain flowing from the presence of the Holy Spirit.

         The pastor also protects the congregation (his flock) from the devil’s attacks.  He goes before them as they journey with Christ, finding the safest, best places for them to graze and bed down for a season until the Holy Spirit leads him into new territory spiritually, and possibly physically.  Additionally, the shepherd corrects the sheep (disciples) when necessary, and, when necessary, he disciplines those who attempt to go on  their own path, instead of remaining on the path God indicates they should follow.

         The pastor helps the flock increase by helping the sheep (disciples) to create new disciples through fulfilling the great commission.  It’s not the pastor’s job to make disciples for the flock by himself.  (A shepherd cannot have the sheep the members of the flock are supposed to have.)  He helps the sheep make new disciples by encouraging them to go out of the building and tell people about Jesus.  When a new person arrives because some member of the flock has led them to Christ and brought them into the fold, the pastor can then care for and help that new sheep to grow spiritually.

         If a congregation’s members have chosen to submit to the leadership of a pastor, instead of desiring that weekend evangelist who visits the sick for them, they have chosen their spiritual umbrella, their guide, the one who is responsible for their spiritual and physical well-being.  They should not expect the pastor to seek to please them.  They should seek for the pastor to help them become as mature spiritually as possible, and that will include times when the pastor does not please them, because pleasing the flock is not the shepherd’s job.

         Their choice of a pastor is a reflection of how much they should be willing to submit to God’s leadership through the pastor.  If they will honor the pastor and get a good understanding of what the local shepherd is supposed strive to achieve, then that congregation will experience spiritual and, probably, physical growth.  It’s not a given that they will fill their building to overflowing, but it is given that they will mature spiritually and become more like Jesus as they follow their local shepherd, their pastor.

         We’ll look at what can potentially happen spiritually and physically when a congregation does follow their pastor in the next letter.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #61 (The Local Shepherd)

    Dear Small Church Congregation,

         I have a question for you.  Do you want a pastor (a local shepherd), or do you want a weekend evangelist who leads people to Jesus for you and visits the sick?  The answer to that question will determine how far you grow spiritually.  It also will determine how long any numerical growth will last in your congregation.

         May I be honest and blunt with you?  If you are seeking the weekend evangelist, you have doomed your congregation to failure.  The desire for a weekend evangelist often reveals that the congregation does not understand the role of a pastor as opposed to that of an evangelist.  The spiritual and physical growth you expect the weekend evangelist to bring to your congregation will probably not last when that dynamic minister decides to leave your presence.  Allow me to elaborate for a moment.

         If the leader is the only one bringing in more sheep (more disciples) to the fold, too many times those sheep are connected only to that leader.  More often than I like to recall, I have witnessed a great preacher lead numerous people to Jesus and encourage them to become involved in the ministry of a congregation, but the congregation had not accepted those new people as an integral part of their group.  They loved to see them at services so the numbers were higher, and they would let them do as much work as they wished to do, but the “core group” of the congregation simply did not accept them into their number.    

         The core group had not been involved in the “birthing” of the new sheep.  They had wanted, even expected, the weekend evangelist to do that.  When the time came for the leader to move on to the next season of ministry, the new sheep too often left with the leader or shortly thereafter.  Their connection to the congregation had been severed, and they didn’t feel like they were part of the “core group.”  And, in reality, they never were.

         If a congregation desires to have a local shepherd, a pastor, and understands the Biblical role of a pastor, then the dynamics for spiritual and physical growth have the opportunity to change dramatically.  People who want a pastor (shepherd) must be willing to fall under the pastor’s authority, which exists spiritually and physically.  They must be willing to be corrected and guided as much as they want to be encouraged. 

         There’s something else about those who want a shepherd to lead them.  They understand that they are the primary ones to birth new sheep into the fold.  (As a disciple of Christ, the pastor will work to lead people to repentance and forgiveness, but the shepherd should never be responsible for birthing the sheep that the sheep are supposed to birth.  That’s not his job description.)  They understand the shepherd’s primary focus is to guide, feed, water, protect, correct and nurture the sheep.

         A congregation that honestly seeks a pastor has a much better chance of growing spiritually and physically.  They know the shepherd will be led by God to be committed to them, and they, in turn, will commit to the shepherd’s leadership and authority.  They have come to understand that, in order to succeed as a congregation, they will have to be under a spiritual umbrella, and that umbrella, that protection and first line of defense against evil that wants to harass them, is provided by the pastor.

         I’ll speak more about the local shepherd and the connection between the congregation and the shepherd (pastor) in the next letter.  Until then, it is my prayer that your congregation has sought a pastor and not a weekend evangelist.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #51 (Whose Church Is It?)

    Dear Small Church Congregation,

         I saw a t-shirt recently with the statement, “I Love My Church.”  I thought, “how nice.”  The person “loves” attending a worship service at that church facility.  Or does the person “love” the people who worship there?  Or does he/she “love” the activities or the youth group or the music team or the style of preaching from the pastor? 

         Just what constitutes “loving my church?” 

         As I thought about this question, I remembered a situation that occurred in the city of Corinth in the New Testament.  Some of the attenders were associating their faith with the apostle Peter.  Others were connecting with the orator Apollos.  Still others were saying they were following Paul.

         Paul asked a simple question of the people:  (Paraphrased)  Did Peter or Apollos or I die for you?  He did this to refocus the people on who it is who should be the center of their worship.  Paul pointed out that only Jesus should be followed and worshipped.   

         Let me get back to the t-shirt.  Is the church a facility, a set of programs or a following of one particular pastor?  Your automatic answer should be an unqualified, “NO.”  The church described in the New Testament is not a place or a building.  The church is not a denomination or a fellowship or an association of congregations.  The church is not a man-made construct.

         The church originally began as a synonym for all the disciples of Christ.  It was the assembled believers in Jesus.  It was referred to as the bride of Christ.  It was what made up his “body” on this earth after Jesus ascended to the father and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the believers.  It was the physical,  living, breathing, ministering group of people to whom Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel (good news).

         The “church” did not belong to a human.  It belonged to Jesus, because he paid for the people who made up His church with His blood sacrifice on Calvary.  It (everyone in the world who believes in Jesus, has repented of sins and been forgiven through faith in His name) still belongs to Jesus.  The church is His!

         That means it’s not ours.  The body of disciples is not ours to do with as we please.  It is not ours to control, to manipulate or to regulate to a set of rules. 

         Since the church is not ours, how should we approach the concept of being part of the church?  Allow me to recommend something to you.  Stop equating the world-wide group of people who follow Jesus with a building or a denomination or a certain pastor.

         A bit of history so we can get this concept into perspective—the disciples of Jesus did not construct buildings into which to gather for services for about 200-220 years after Jesus ascended.  (ChristianityToday.com)  Fast forward to the early settlers in North America—buildings were constructed for general community uses, and those uses included worship, education and civic meetings.  Many towns during the expansion westward had buildings dedicated to worship, buildings which doubled as the local school because they were used to teach people how to read scriptures.

         As time passed, the buildings were called “church houses,” and later the “houses” part was dropped and shortened to “church.”  That one word was then used to represent the followers of Jesus in general, not referring to the building, but to the people.  However, the term eventually took on the location meaning instead of the people who met there.

         Back to today.  The vast majority of the people who attend worship services refer to “the church” as the location of the building and not the people in the building.  They say they are “going to church” when they actually mean they are gathering at a location for worship.  But the worship has been overshadowed by the location.

         Many I have encountered are more concerned about the building, the programs, the events and the pastoral staff than they are about being a part of the body of Christ, the church of the living God, the bride of the coming King. And that concern has prompted people to take ownership of the building, programs, etc. because they have invested their time, talents and treasures in constructing and maintaining these things in what they consider important aspects of spreading the gospel of Christ to all the world.

          People begin to look at anything they invest themselves into as being “theirs.”   I fear it is for this reason that some say, “I love my church.”  They mean they love being part of a particular group in a particular building promoting a particular doctrine under the leadership of a particular pastor because they have invested significant amounts of time and money into the upkeep of that building, administering the programs, cooking meals, cleaning the bathrooms, mowing the lawns, playing the instruments, sitting on the pews/chairs, attending business meetings and a multitude of other activities that focus on where they are instead of who they are and whose they are.       

         I’ll say it again—I fear some have forgotten what the church is and whose church it is.  We’ll look at congregations who remember the “who” and “whose” in the next letter.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #47 (Announcement)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         This letter is more of an announcement than it is a topical letter directed to small church pastors.  The first forty-six letters were designed to encourage and motivate those individuals who lead small congregations.  Beginning with Letter #48, I will address small church congregations, including their lay leaders and members at large.

         It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will direct my thoughts as I attempt to encourage and challenge small church congregations in several areas that have a direct impact on the operation of a small church. 

         In way of introduction to Letter #48, allow me to challenge every member of a small church to do something that will be difficult to do, but will benefit their congregation immensely.  I challenge you to drive onto your facility and to look at it as if you were attending a service there for the very first time.  Look at the buildings and grounds.  Look at the signage directing people to where things will occur during the service.  Look at the foyer, the bathrooms, the overall appearance of the sanctuary and even the walls from the entrance to the back of the platform.

         And pay attention to the attention given to you by people you do not know well.  Notice how greetings are done.  Notice who talks to whom and for how long.  Notice the general attire of the attenders.  Listen to the music and watch the music leader(s).  Pay attention to the flow of the service, the presentation of the sermon and the responses by the attenders to how the pastor ends the service.

         Take a good, long, intentional look at what goes on before, during and after the service.  The title to next week’s letter to small congregations is “First Impressions.”  We’ll deal with that topic after you’ve paid your “first visit” to your worship service.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #46 (Revival)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Many pastors schedule a yearly “revival” during a particular season.  Some contact an evangelist, possibly the same one each year, to have that person come to encourage and motivate the congregation.  Others bring in two or more speakers for a series of worship services that will hopefully challenge the congregation to spiritually walk closer to God.  Unfortunately, a few rely on revival services to bring in new attenders who they hope will stay connected after the revival.  They get the new people to attend by inviting well-known speakers who have dynamic ministries established in other geographical areas.

         With such a variety of reasons for scheduling revivals, a couple of serious questions need to be asked before one is scheduled:  First, “Why have a revival?”  Second, “Who should dictate when the revival needs to occur?”

         The simplistic answer to question number one is that what seems to have died out spiritually needs to be revived, renewed and rekindled, like a physical fire that is only glowing embers needs to be rekindled with fresh fuel in order to burn brightly again.  The Holy Spirit anoints people to be evangelists for the sake of encouraging, motivating and challenging the body of Christ.  These special ministers are one of the people gifts given to the assembly of believers in Jesus by God.  Their function is to do that rekindling of the fire of the Holy Spirit in a congregation.  And thank God that He has anointed individuals to do this very service for the sake of the body of Christ.

         What about that second question above?  Who should initiate a revival, whether it is set for one service, three nights, a week, two weeks or open ended to last as long as is needed.  (Those last two durations do still occur in other countries, just seldom in this country nowadays.) 

         Allow me to give a couple of examples of revivals that were started in the past as a point of reference to the answer for question number two.

         #1—The story is told of a pastor who was impressed by the Holy Spirit while preparing for a Sunday morning service to simply read the entire book of Ephesians to his congregation and then to open the altar for prayer.  The following Sunday morning, when it came time for the sermon, the pastor asked everyone to open their Bibles to Ephesians Chapter 1, Verse 1 and to read along silently as he read aloud.  When he completed the final verse of Ephesians, he said it was time to pray and that the altar was open to anyone who felt it necessary to talk to God to make sure a right relationship existed between them and God. 

         The altar filled with weeping, groaning, repentant people who were revived spiritually through the public reading of the letter to the church at Ephesus.  The repentant attitude among the congregation lasted for weeks as the Holy Spirit revived His fire in their hearts.  (This is not fiction; it actually occurred.)

         #2—My wife’s best BFF ever, who has since this story passed into the presence of her Savior, related that once their pastor had announced he was stepping down from his ministry at that location.  The church leadership began a search for a new pastor, but a new pastor had not been chosen when it came time for their current pastor to leave.  They assured him the congregation would be okay with his leaving and continued the pastoral search process.

         That process included having prospective pastors minister for one or more Sunday services, while the leaders handled the remaining services and activities of the congregation.  During the process, through no planning by the congregational leaders, the members or the prospective pastors, a revival among the members broke out, flowing from week to week in every service held, regardless of who was leading it.  The revival spirit remained in the congregation for several months, with the congregation increasing in number and spiritual maturity, even in the absence of having a definite pastor.  When the new pastor was selected, he arrived to a congregation in full revival mode.

         Now, for my answer to question number two–It is my opinion a revival should be set up when the Holy Spirit indicates it should be.  The only way I know of learning when to schedule a revival is to pray, talk to God, listen intently to His voice and be open to opportunities for revival to arrive through God’s timing, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and, when appropriate, God’s evangelists.  It has been my experience that a “Holy Ghost Revival” that is initiated by the Holy Spirit will do wonders for the spiritual, and possibly physical, growth of a congregation.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #45 (Frustration)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Everyone, including small church pastors, experiences frustration from time to time.  That nagging question of why isn’t anything noticeable happening yet?  The feeling that prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and back to the floor.  Constantly worrying if the right choices have been made about volunteers, outreach efforts and even sermon preparation. 

         Frustration often enters the picture when there are no new specific goals set and plans formed after achieving original goals.  It can appear when a congregation, or the pastor, becomes complacent toward commitment because of familiarity with systems, programs and people.  Frustration also takes hold when routines and traditions become so engrained that doing something new is automatically rejected as “too different,” and those seeking change begin to feel unnoticed or dismissed.

         Sometimes the frustration is so great a person wants to scream.  But you know that won’t change things.  (It might temporarily relieve some tension, but you know it’s not lasting.)

         So, what can you do when the frustration mounts?  Well, for starters, after you pray and honestly talk to God about how the frustration is making you feel, you can ask yourself some questions that might help you focus on the cause of the frustration.  That effort could lead to a path for handling it.

         For example:  What is your vision for your congregation?  Are you working toward that vision as a team, or is this a “one-man-show” effort?  Does your leadership team have specific goals and plans of action for achieving those goals?  Are you expecting the miracles you are praying for, or are you just going through the motions of asking without committing to seeing the miracles become reality through God’s power as you do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do?  Are you keeping track of and celebrating the small gains as you pray for physical and spiritual growth?

         After you ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly to yourself, share the questions with your congregation’s leaders.  Get their answers.  Compare them to your own.  Then discuss how everyone working together can overcome the feeling of frustration you have. 

         I believe you’ll discover they have their own frustrations, too.  Honestly and openly talk to each other about what can be done in order to overcome what they feel could be holding back the spiritual and physical growth you all seek and deeply desire for your congregation.  Remember that communication and the development of trusting relationships is vital to the success of any group, but this is especially true for congregations that are experiencing frustration, either in the pulpit or the pew.

         Frustration can be overcome through prayer, thoughtful introspection and open discussions with everyone affected by the frustration.  Failure to approach frustration as a problem the Holy Spirit can help you solve will only lead to more debilitating frustration.  So, stop being frustrated and take action.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #44 (Rain)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Having planted quite a few gardens over the years, I understand the value of rain for a garden as compared to water that comes from a well.  Veggies and fruits will grow when there is well water applied to them, but they just fare better when they get sufficient rain during the growing season.

         The same principle holds true when it comes to spiritual rain.  Spiritual growth can occur in a congregation when there are Bible studies, testimonies and good singing during the music portion of a worship service.  However, there just seems to be greater strides made for the Kingdom of God when a congregation is exposed to anointed preaching during that part of a worship service.

         Just as a garden needs well water when there is little rain, a congregation needs those Bible studies, testimonies and music to keep them going forward during times when anointed preaching may only happen once a week.  I’m not saying the other aspects of being a disciple are not important, or that they cannot be anointed and useful for spiritual growth.  I am saying that I believe anointed preaching will do much toward helping the congregation grow spiritually because preaching is the primary form of communication that is used to encourage, exhort, correct, challenge and inspire a congregation.

         In order for the pastor to deliver that anointed preaching, the pastor must first be nourished and helped to grow spiritually through an outpouring of spiritual rain into that individual pastor’s life.  That rain will occur if the pastor is consistently, with a contrite and open heart, studying scripture, praying and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring growth in his own heart’s garden.

         Please notice this—a pastor can only lead the congregation into spiritual territory that he has entered himself.  A pastor cannot take people to spiritual growth that he has not already experienced.  When the pastor stops growing from spiritual rain that is watering his own soul, the congregation will stop growing, too.  If the pastor is in a drought, the congregation will be in one, too.

         However, when that rain is falling into the pastor’s life, his own growth will continue, and the congregation will benefit from his growth.  The pastor will receive the spiritual power he needs to lead his congregation forward into all the Holy Spirit wants to pour out into that congregation.   

         Allow me to encourage you to diligently, every day, seek the spiritual rain from the Holy Spirit.  Open your heart, mind and spirit to be filled regularly with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  Commit yourself to prayer and fasting.  Commit yourself to deep, deep study of and meditation on God’s word.  Do everything you can to let the spiritual rain you need flow!

         When rain falls on a garden, it grows better.  The same holds true for the spiritual garden of a pastor and the congregation when the spiritual rain falls.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #39 (Treasure–2)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         There is a financial “rule of thumb” that deals with living within your means and has been around for a long time.  It states that finances should be arranged in a 10-10-80 ratio.  The idea is that, when it comes to budgeting and managing your treasure (money and other resources), you should give ten percent away (that’s your tithe), save ten percent and live from the remaining eighty percent.

         I understand that in today’s economic environment this rule sounds unreasonable, if not entirely outlandish.  The numbers don’t immediately seem to add up, considering existing incomes.  If a household makes $800 per week, that would mean tithing $80, saving $80 and living on the remaining $640.  If that system is followed for four weeks, you would have given $320 to God’s work, set aside $320 in savings/CD’s/IRA’s etc., and used $2,560 for living expenses.

         Here’s where your use of money is affected by your priorities.  If you will make a list of everything you spend your money on during the four weeks, you will see where it’s going and what you consider important. 

         Consider this example:  Housing/Utilities–$1,000; Vehicles–$750; Groceries–$600.  We’re up to $2,350.  You now have $210 for incidental expenses for the month.  This is a very simple budget, but I feel you get the idea.  That $210 will always be spent on your priorities.

         I remember when Kathy and I were first married.  We both came from working class families that had only one income coming into the household.  We had seen our families live modestly, because they had to do that.  We had realized our families had sacrificed taking care of some of their own needs in order for us to have a “better life.”  That realization became a foundation for our own lives.

         I remember eating out once a month, if that often, while I was working my way through college.  I remember that when Kathy and I married, we had a little over $25 in the bank, and most of that was spent on a dress she could wear as a bride and then wear to work the next week.  I remember the first time I made up my mind that we would tithe and then when we began automatically saving some of my paycheck for a rainy day, and both decisions were made with a degree of doubt that it would work out.

         I remember doing without luxuries.  I remember not buying new cars or trucks—ever.  (We’ve been married almost 52 years, and we have never purchased a brand-new vehicle.)  I remember having one nice suit of clothes for special occasions.  The rest of my closet was for work.  The old work clothes became my “grimy jobs” clothes.

         I understand having to do without.  I understand how there can be more month than money.  I understand working two jobs to pay the bills.  However, that lifestyle in our early years–all the tithing, all the saving, all the doing-without–has paid us dividends that I cannot completely describe except to say God made a way and has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.  That lifestyle required some sacrifice on our part, sometimes serious sacrifice, but it has paid off in the long run, and, again, I give God the glory for His faithfulness over our years together.

        I challenge you to list all your monthly income and determine how much should be the tithe, how much should be placed into a savings account of some sort and how much you have left.  Then I challenge you to write out your expenses—every single thing you buy on a monthly basis, from your phone to your usual snacks.  Total it all up.  Now subtract the expenses from the 80% of your income.

         Do you have any money left from the 80%?  If you don’t, if you’re sitting with a negative balance, you are spending more than you are making.  If that’s the case, it’s time to take a serious look at your priorities.  Ask yourself what you can reduce or eliminate.  If you decide to reduce something, please do not make that something your tithe.  (Reduce your savings, if absolutely necessary, instead of reducing your tithe.) 

         If you cannot see how you can possibly live within your income, you need to seek counsel from a Christian financial professional.  The road out of financial bondage, debt and continual frustration may be long and require much self-discipline, but it will be worth it.  Your treasure can be a blessing, not a burden, but it will take submitting your lifestyle to God and allowing Him to work in you, for you and through you.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor 

  • Letter #38 (Treasure–1)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 state, “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”  Notice that the statement indicates your heart goes where you put your treasure.  In other words, where you invest your finances or other resources will reveal your priorities.

         If you will look at your banking app or your check register or whatever else you use to keep track of how you spend your money, you will see fairly quickly what you consider to be the important things of life. 

         We all know we have basic needs that have to be met—food, shelter, clothing and other needs essential to our existence.  Those are given expenses.  However, if you will look past those items to your expenditures other than those survival needs, you can see where you are prioritizing your spending.  Identify those things.  Then write them down somewhere and take a close look at the list.  These are your priorities.

         Now ask yourself a few questions:  How many of these things are luxuries instead of necessities?  Which items are purchased so I can keep up the appearance of success?  How many duplicates are there that are not essential to my existence?  Am I investing money in things that are satisfying desires and not needs?  How many of these items can I live without? 

         Two final questions:  Can I shift expenditures so I am benefitting others instead of myself?  How can I better use my money to benefit the Kingdom of God?

         If you can honestly answer these questions and make some decisions about how you are investing your money, you will be on track to using your money more efficiently and for better results, not just for yourself, but for the cause of Christ, too.

         Now, allow me to approach one of the controversial topics about money—tithing and free-will offerings.  Are you tithing and generous in your offerings?  If yes, great.  Keep doing that.  If not, start.  There is a definite spiritual principle involved in tithing and giving offerings.  You are demonstrating faith in God’s ability to help you survive on 90% or even less, depending on your offerings.  Remember all your blessings originate in God and His bountiful supply to His children.  The 100% came from Him.  It’s His anyway.  And God looks for our obedience in this area of using our money.  (Remember Malachi’s statements to Israel?)

         If your mind and bank account scream that you can’t make it on less than 100%, don’t listen to them.  If you honestly answer the questions about your spending from above, you should see areas in which you are spending money that does not just need to be spent.  There is a possibility that money should be your tithes and offerings.

         Allow a few examples, if you will.  How many times a week are you eating out instead of cooking at home?  Is lunch in a restaurant or out of a packed lunch from home?  Is the coffee shop one of your stops on the way to work, or are you bringing a thermos with a beverage you brewed for much less money?  How many full outfits of clothes are in your closet?  How often do you change vehicles and start financing all over again?  When was the last time you fixed something, instead of replacing it?  Do I need to continue?

         Please notice something about giving into God’s work—this will require obedience and self-discipline on your part.  It will require you to submit your desires and wants to God, as much as your needs, and to ask Him to show you how you can fulfill His will when it comes to your finances.  Please, please, work out your own giving through His guidance, and avoid the temptation to compare your giving to what others give.  The amount is not the critical aspect here.  The obedience is the important thing.  Obedience to God in giving will be rewarded.  It might not come this week or next month, but the reward will come.  God always honors diligent, persistent obedience to His spiritual principles.

         Another thought on this topic—be sure your people see you put your tithes into the offering plate or box or whatever system you use.  If you’re using all digital offerings and tithes, tell them that you have sent yours in and they can follow suit by making a few clicks, too.  Explain to them how to use the digital giving portal.   If you expect your people to give into the work of God, you need to show you are doing that, too.

         (This is probably enough to consider for this letter.  More about treasure in the next letter.)

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #35 (Priorities)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 both state, “Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also”.  It can also be said that you invest your time and your talents in those things that are important to you.  In other words, you will put your time, skills and money into those areas of life that you consider important enough to require your focus and devotion.  These areas can be referred to as your priorities.

         I don’t watch much television, but I recently happened to see part of a football game that was televised from a large outdoor stadium.  It was snowing and, based on the clothing people were wearing, quite cold.  According to an article from the New York Times from September 5, 2025, the average cost of a ticket to attend such a game is $279. 

         The typical pro game lasts about 3 hours.  That does not include driving time to and from the game or any side trips for meals or the famous tailgating parties.  Attending the game would essentially take the better part of a day and would, all incidental expenditures considered, involve a hefty empty space in each attendee’s wallet.

         Based on the money and time investments, I would venture to say that attending that game was a priority for the people sitting on those snow-covered bleachers. 

         Humor me and allow another example from a situation closer to home, so to speak.  A young couple we know came to worship complaining about not having enough money to repair their malfunctioning HVAC unit.  They talked about how their month seemed to always be more than their paychecks.  I knew the husband had a very nice newer truck, and the wife had her own vehicle, both with payments.  Then the wife said two statements that shed some light on their financial situation.  She first commented that they were going to be short on finances the whole season and did not know where they would get the money to pay all their bills.  Secondly, she revealed they would soon take a trip to a theme park that would cost them over $1,000 for a weekend stay at the park.  She had unintentionally revealed their priorities.

         Please do not misunderstand me.  There is nothing wrong with attending a sporting event or going to a theme park.  I have participated in similar activities.  However, I do understand we all will rationalize our “priorities” from time to time to make ourselves feel good about our expenditures of time, skills and money.  I’ve done that, and I dare think you may have, too.

         Here’s the rub with this priority topic—when we set our priorities, what do we use to establish a standard for setting those priorities?  Where do we draw the line on using our talents?  How much is too much to spend for something not already budgeted?  What is “wasting time” as opposed to “using time wisely?”

         Our priorities will determine the paths we take in life.  When we realize this fact, we should determine if our priorities are lined up with God’s will for our lives.  We must ask ourselves if our priorities demonstrate that we are living according to God’s call to minister to others for His kingdom’s sake.  We must take a serious look at those things we consider to be most important and determine if they coincide with what God says should be most important.

         Serious stuff, right?  Absolutely!  So, where do we turn to find out what God wants us to establish as our priorities?  You know the answers—scriptures and prayer.  But how often do we not go to those sources when we promote things in our lives into the position of being priorities?  How often do we do what we want, instead of seeking God’s guidance on how important something should be in our lives?

         Please do not take this letter as a personal condemnation.  It is a challenge.  Allow me to challenge you to sit down with whatever you use to take notes and begin to list where you spend your money, how you use your skills or talents and where you invest your time.  These three indicators will show you what you consider a priority.  Once you have done the identifying, then prayerfully go to scripture and seek God’s guidance on what you need to keep on the list and what you can reduce or eliminate from the list.  Remember, your priorities will motivate you and influence what you do, where you expend your energies, and how you invest your resources.  Just be sure your priorities agree with what God wants you to consider important.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor