Leaders of the Church — Bob Hoekstra

We're now going to look at issues of church leadership. Church leadership critical issue in the Word of God and in life in the body of Christ. We look first at One of two studies the first call leaders of the church.

Then second we'll look at strategic leadership issues. First concerning leaders of the church. It is true that too often in the church world Church leadership is patterned after the world. So often We find that the choice of leaders in the church world is on the same basis.

Of how the leaders in the world are chosen gifted talented influential Strong businessmen, whatever it is good politicians. Often when they come to the Lord and come to the church, it's like ah, they are the leaders maybe.

But not necessarily so. There are many who are leaders in the world. Who even after they're saved do not become leaders in the church? It's a whole different kingdom leadership Arises on different issues and sometimes a leader in the world will become a leader in the church, but it's not automatic but sometimes we treat it almost as automatic and often.

Once selected as leaders in the church leaders sometimes function in the church much like leadership in the world. The Lord's Kingdom is not of the world. Even in the realm of leadership selection and the principles of ministering are going to be different.

What we need is a biblical Spiritual perspective. What should be behind the selection and operation of leadership in the church. Would be issues such as we have looked at previously in our the church how Jesus builds its studies.

Leaders in the church should be developing Along lines of the head and the body. The head and the body that's how the church develops the relationship between Each Christian and the Lord and then as we live in him relating to one another leaders in the church Should develop through their relationship with the head and Their ministry one to another in the body.

And we must see that behind all that we're looking at in this issue of church leadership. Let's look for a moment in 1st. Timothy 3 at Leadership positions in the church see how the Lord has arranged it.

Leadership positions. 1st. Timothy chapter 3. 1st. Timothy chapter 3 verse 1. This is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop he desires a good work. Here's one of the terms of leadership in the church a bishop.

It could be translated overseer a bishop or an overseer. Let's keep that in mind. And look at chapter 5 verses 17 and 18. Let the elders Who rule well be counted worthy of double honor? Especially those who labor in the word and doctrine that is teaching for the scripture says.

Quote you shall not muzzle an ox. While it treads out the grain and the laborer is worthy of his wages. Here we have a different term elder an elder. The elders here we see are to rule. The governing of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is basically placed into the hands and lives of elders.

They are to rule. And we're told here That those who rule well Are to be considered worthy of double honor. What would the double honor be. Well certainly. Certainly respectful following that would be a strategic kind of honor.

But verse 18 makes it very clear. It's a little play on the word honoring it has to do with giving value or giving compensation. So it would be financial honoring. The laborer is worthy of his wages. Especially those who labor in the word and in doctrine.

Those who labor especially in the word and in doctrine. I believe that this is speaking primarily Of the ephesians 4 11 picture the pastor teacher. There are elders in the church, but there are some elders who are pastors and teachers.

And those who are pastor teachers. Those are the ones who are to be considered worthy of double honor. When a church starts to provide compensation that is taking folks into vocational christian ministry.

It's the pastor teacher. I believe the scripture says the church should start out with. We made a mistake on this in the church. I first pastored in dallas. We had a huge facility in a small church body and it took a lot of attention to take care of that facility.

And there were four of us as a volunteer staff that started this church of a few dozen folks. And when resources began to come in We started to compensate. Financially the brother who was in charge of the facility because it took so much time.

It just seemed to make practical sense. But it overlooked the word of god. It got the priorities out of order. And the facility got more and more attention. But the sheep got less and less attention. And it finally dawned on us and some of the other men they said Bob, I think we should be setting apart more of your time.

For the ministry of the word and teaching. And just see if anybody will help out any time. In keeping the facility clean and maintained and all of that. There are vocational christian servants and there are such in the church and they are the ones That are considered worthy of double honor.

That's where we start out others in the Church life can certainly become vocational servants where their job is their ministry. But I think this sets the priority. The priority of the ministry of the word through those who minister in leadership.

Now an interesting thing we've seen a few terms bishop. That would be episkopos. Could be translated overseer and then elder presbyteros. And if those sound like kind of denominational terms. They have become that.

We've gotten words in the church like episcopalian. And presbyterian and those become Types of church government it seems and awful often it in awful. Maybe that's a good word. Forgive me lord if that's wrong, but often Often We treat it like kind of a multi-level hierarchy of church government you know, we think of the episcopalian or presbyterian kind of a hierarchy of order and.

And you even get religious organizations where you've got deacons elders bishops Cardinals and you can go right on. To the pope himself, you know hierarchy of leadership. Though there are different terms in the word.

The fascinating thing is really it's just the elders who are to rule not the board of deacons. Not a person the pastor not the congregation, but the elders who rule. Well but the interesting thing is.

The scriptures actually use these terms synonymously about the same persons in their role in office. Just describing different aspects of what those persons in that office of leadership do. Where do we find that in the word of god documented?

More than one place but acts 20 is one of the clearest acts. Chapter 20 in acts chapter 20 verse 17 Gives the setting. From myletus that is the coastal town near ephesus. He the apostle paul sent to ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

What is happening here. Is paul the apostles on his way? To the last trip to jerusalem. His last trip he thinks by ephesus and he calls the leaders down for a little kind of mini church leadership conference.

And they're called here the elders of the church the presbyteros. Let's go further verse 28. Therefore take heed to yourselves. And to all the flock. Among which the holy spirit has made you overseers.

There's the other term episcopos bishop overseer. And look what they are commanded to do to shepherd. The church of god which he purchased with his own blood to shepherd. That's the word from which we get pastor.

So right here in this one passage. Elders are then called overseers and they're told to pastor. Those are three of the basic terms in church leadership pastors overseers elders. Really they're the same people.

It's not a hierarchy. It's one group of leaders. Just given different perspective in each term. The overseer would be the one who the aspect of seeing over the whole life of the church. The presbyteros the elder the spiritually mature.

And then the pastoring by the same people the shepherding and caring and then the pastor teacher I believe is what we often call the senior pastor. That is the one who takes the role of leading. How? By feeding.

Leading by feeding the word of god the pastor teacher. It's a pretty simple arrangement. Had a friend in dallas when I pastored there. He understood all of this clearly. But he used to love when he'd see me, especially at a group gathering he'd go.

Hey bishop bob good to see you, you know. And folks it was a bishop here, you know, he knew that was just. You know just one other way to indicate a church leader a pastor and overseer. Yes, I was a bishop once.

But those who lead the church as elders they are bishops which just means overseer. They are elders there to be the spiritual Mature ones. And they are to pastor shepherd feed the flock. Pretty simple really leadership position of guiding the church.

Where do the deacons fit in. Well, they come here later in first timothy first timothy chapter 3 where we began first timothy 3 8. Likewise deacons must be reverent not double-tongued and so on but just the term deacons now.

We'll look at qualifications later. Deacons literally that word could be translated servants and when you look at act 6 where Perhaps we have a picture. I personally believe as many do that. It's sort of the prototype the first appointing of deacons servant helpers acts chapter 6.

The church was growing but a complaint arose the disciples multiplied. And the hebrew widows were getting their food but the hellenists the greek gentile widows were not. Getting their daily distribution of food consistently.

So the 12 the leaders of the church functioning the apostles then functioning in that first church. As the overseers elders pastor teachers, they called the congregation together and and said, you know, we're the leaders, but we can't Set aside our ministry of the word to serve at the widow's tables doesn't mean that it's unimportant for people to have their needs met.

It's just a Prioritizing of role and it was not right for them to spend their time ministering to this need. So verse 3 they asked that the brethren seek out among themselves seven men of good reputation full of the holy spirit and Wisdom whom we the leaders may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer into the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose steven a man full of faith the holy spirit and philip procorus nicanor teman parmenas and nicholas a proselyte from antioch whom they set before the apostles.

And when they had prayed the apostles prayed over them laid hands on them appointed them to this role of helping. Then the word of god spread and the number of disciples multiplied greatly In jerusalem and the ministry of the word went on unhindered by things that could distract the ministry of the word.

But it's still important, but god had others to take care of that. And I do believe that was the first appointment of deacons. Deacon Is really a servant role. To help out leadership in a certain area.

One of the titles of elder pastor is overseer. Those in that role see over the entire affair of the church. There are those called deacons. That is servants. Who serve and assist those who see over all of it?

How do they help by taking an area of it? You brothers the widow's tables. You brother sister the nursery. You the music ministry or whatever and those are the deacons that help in the service of the leadership of the church.

It's not a hierarchy of leadership. It's really the lord is the head of the church. Jesus said one is your master. You're all brothers. I mean the hierarchy in the church is so simple. There's the lord and all the rest of us.

I mean, it's so simple. But in that other level of all the rest of us, we take different roles and functions. He's the master. But he calls out some in the flock. To press hard after him as under shepherds and through the words say Here's the voice of the shepherd.

Come on. This is the way he's going. It's not lording over people. It's right among them leading the way. And then there are servant helpers who'll take different areas of the care of the flock. It is so simple.

It's so beautiful. It's astounding how we've complicated it in the church world. So that's a little picture of leadership positions. Elders pastors overseers. And then deacon helpers. Let's look for a moment at leadership qualifications.

Back to first timothy chapter three. Leadership qualifications. Interesting list. This describes the kind of lives the lord is preparing and shaping and equipping to use. It doesn't describe perfect people.

Only the lord was the perfect man. It does describe people maturing and being transformed. Noticeable significant presence of spiritual development. First timothy three verse one. This is a faithful saying.

If a man desires the position of a bishop, that is an overseer. He desires a good thing. It's not a bad thing to desire that office nor is it a bad thing being desired? Of course motives have to be checked but if god's calling us to that ministry no surprise if a desire develops to serve that way because God works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure.

And a spiritually mature brother will be delighting in the lord Psalm 34 and the lord will be giving him the desires of his heart, you know Psalm 37. Verse 4 the lord will be giving those desires in his heart.

That's the way it works. So it's not bad to desire that. But motives are always an issue. Some desire it for prestige or position or power or influence or who knows what a man can desire such a thing for.

But it's not per se bad it's a great way to serve the lord if that's what the lord is calling to but. A bishop overseer then must be blameless again, not perfect. But not something in a person's life that can be taken to the word where it's forbidden.

And yet there it is taking place in that person's life characteristically consistently the husband of one wife the husband of one wife. Not just the obvious not having multiple wives. But really probably not even remarried invalidly.

I mean some men go from wife to wife to wife. That's not right. Oh, there are some conditions in which the lord grants the ending of one marriage, but they're very limited and very specific. But I think even more than that.

Just think of it in the very Terms given the husband of one wife. Is a man really being a husband? To that wife. Many men aren't they're married, but they're not being husbands. You know, they just stop at home and get their food and clothing, you know.

They're not being husbands. And some they show a real care for women. But it's more than just a silly flirtatious way. They're not really devoted to their one wife. I think all the way from improperly.

Married or remarried or improperly relating to our own wife. All of those would be violations of this. How a man relates to his wife is a real key issue in church leadership also temperate moderation in their lives.

Sober-minded. Not silly clowns. That doesn't mean we can't have great humor. I mean god has built into us great humor and and you can I mean you can even look at the teaching of jesus. He said some things that just had to provoke kind of oh my god, you know.

You're straining out a net and swallowing a camel and they're and the disciples listening. Oh my god. I mean, it's a very humorous picture, but it's a true and a sad picture at the same time. And there's both humor and soberness in it.

But some I mean there's some just pastors that are just let's face it kind of stand-up comics, you know. Well praise god for the gift of humor and some use it profoundly. Well I mean you can really make a point with humor, but you can also totally distract.

And even beyond that just general deportment in the family of god, you know. Some just love to be nothing but a constant court jester. And I kind of like humor and this is one I just need to be reminded of you know.

There's a lot in the kingdom of heaven to be exceedingly serious about. You know not holiness is sourness, you know. And if you crack a smile your face will break and you're disqualified from office or whatever.

But this is still a significant issue. Sober-minded. Of good behavior not doing crazy things. Hospitable. Willing to receive people into our lives. Now, here's a real strategic one able to teach. You know why we'll just glance at the qualification for deacons.

The reason I say glance is not because it's unimportant, but because the lists are so similar. But you know what? This qualification does not appear In the qualifications for deacons. This is a very strategic difference.

Why. Because a deacon doesn't have to have aptitude ability gifting to teach the word to function as a servant helper over a given area. You don't have to be able to teach the word to be sure the widows get their food.

You don't have to be able to teach the word to be sure the nursery is given care and love and attention. But if you're going to shepherd the flock. You've got to be able To teach the word of god. Very strategic qualification.

Not given to wine. Oh those who have their lives influenced by Alcohol and all how can they lead the church not violent? Not greedy for money. Well, there's a big one. Billions of dollars. Are made out of the motivation of greed in the religious world.

It's tragic. And so often of course god's name is signed on. I mean, that's how you really get people moved and stirred. Those who just have to have money and they're chasing money and they're after money.

They're not to be leading the church. Earlier we saw not violent now we have the other side but gentle. The shepherd's gentle. He's not shoving around the sheep, you know, or kicking the sheep, you know.

He's leading the sheep and caring for the sheep. Not quarrelsome. The flesh loves to argue. Oh not that we Shouldn't become willing to contend earnestly for the faith. But even that must be done in gentleness and humility not covetous not desiring things that others have.

Here's a big one. One who rules well his own house. Having his children in submission with all reverence. For if a man does not know how to rule his own house. How will he take care of the church of god?

A real insight as to whether a person Is ready for leadership in the church is how is he leading in his home? His home is like his little mini flock. You know, he has he has a few sheep there. Especially his wife, but even the children.

And how is he doing there again? Not that there has to be perfection in the home again. Only the lord jesus was the perfect one and we are to be those being perfected. Being made more and more like him.

But if it's chaos at home if it's rebellion with the kids everywhere you turn left right and center with the kids at home. Then the lord is saying That's a home to pray for and minister to and lead. It's not a home in which a leader is yet being developed.

A lot of insight. On leadership preparation can be seen by what's happening in the household. Verse six. Not a novice, you know, not a brand new believer. Lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil which was pride and self-exaltation.

Satan said I will be like the most high god. He thought he deserved a throne like god. New believers pushed too rapidly into leadership. They can succumb to that temptation of pride. And we err sometimes on this in the church, especially if a person is famous rich influential.

They get saved. They're just thrown out in front of everyone. It's cruel to do that to them. And it's unwise for the flock of god. Verse seven. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside that is unbelievers.

Lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. It even matters in church leadership. What the unbeliever thinks when they look upon that person that's an interesting thing, isn't it? How we select leaders in the church, especially when it comes to pastor elder deacon overseer.

Really has so much to do with character qualities. First timothy three. Eight through thirteen goes right on into deacons. Likewise deacons must be reverent. Not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy for money.

And the list goes on and it's very similar very similar verse 10. But let these also first be tested then let them serve as deacons being found blameless couple of things here the fact that the list for deacons.

And later their wives some would say that's talking about deaconesses someone say it's the wives of the deacons either way. The point is the list goes on very similar to elders. Think about that. We sometimes say the elders they take care of the spiritual affairs of the church and the deacons the practical affairs.

I've said that at times and I and I see an aspect of that in the word, but more and more I think that sometimes that is. Somewhat inadequate and almost misleading because it almost gives the impression the deacons aren't into spiritual ministry, you know.

Elders pastors spiritual care of the church deacons the practical things. Well in a sense. Yeah, it was a practical affair to get the food to the widows, but Remember these men had to be full of the spirit full of wisdom and faith.

It isn't just a matter of spiritual and practical. All ministry must be spiritual. Some is the spiritual feeding of the sheep through the word that really sets it apart from just getting Practical care out but it has to be spiritual men.

In spiritual ministry and I think when you look at the list of qualifications the same kind of character Is expected in deacons as in pastors elders overseers. And then verse 10 let these also first be tested.

Then let them serve as deacons or servant helpers of the overseer leaders of the church early on in ministry. I personally and those who labored with me. We made some big mistakes in this area. What we often did was well way back.

We kind of had you know nominations and voting for deacons. Well, that's an invitation to disaster. I mean you talk about bringing a political convention into the body of christ. The church that I got saved in actually they did that too it was a congregational rule and leaders were nominated and voted upon and One year after I was saved I was nominated and voted as a deacon in the church.

Well, I was no more ready to be a servant helper to the overseers. It's a popularity thing. You know, I was on staff in the church before I was saved and got saved. It's good for staff members to get saved.

And and the the church loved my dad very much it seemed like wherever the lord took my dad he was just Tremendously loved he was such a a generous loving man. Never knew anyone as generous as my dad and his whole ministry was based on giving.

And uh, so people loved him. And you know, here's chaplain ray's son, you know bob, you know, oh he'd be a great deacon not so. Not so I mean the crazy things that can come. When you bring a political approach from the culture into the church.

Well, then how do we find deacons? Well, we we tried another approach in dallas. We just selected some that looked like they might be good deacons. It's kind of a neat guy, you know. Let's give him a shot at it.

Overlooking a very key verse. Let these also first be tested. Those you think who might be moving toward that direction let them be tested. How. So just let them live in the church of jesus christ. Don't even hold an office or a position in front of them.

Just let them be tested by how they walk with the lord relate to the head. And how they minister one to another. We found it's a tremendous blessing god has given here let them first be tested then let them serve as deacons.

You know how we felt the lord was saying they'd pass the test. When they were a virtual functioning deacon without being appointed. Then all we did we just recognized god has raised up a deacon. It got to be so easy.

And we made very few mistakes after that. Because we were watching what god was doing we weren't guessing what might work. And I think that's kind of the spirit behind this though. There's no tight system on how to apply this firsthand, but I think that's the spirit behind it.

Let these also first be tested. Then let them serve as deacons being found blameless. If you notice there's not a problem in their walk in service. Hey, the lord may be raising up a deacon there. But this issue of deacons they do not have to be able to teach the word.

But they do need the same character as elders overseers. In leadership qualifications primarily these are the issues. Character qualities. Proper relationships and testimony. Spiritual maturity. Family life.

Those are the issues. What is not in view is a long list of talents and abilities. Worldly influence and position is not a qualifying advantage often. It's a disadvantage. It doesn't prohibit people from being leaders, but often it's a hurdle to their growing in humility and spiritual maturity.

There's great danger for the church when exceedingly talented influential able gifted humans. Are thrust into the leadership of the church? Great ability lacking spiritual maturity is great trouble in the body of Christ and Often a lot of church trouble comes from that very source.

Very able people are just swept into leadership. But they don't have the spiritual maturity or the calling upon their life. And they don't walk in the enabling of the lord. They kind of draw on the natural resources of the flesh.

And you can't mix the flesh and the spirit and leadership is to be a spiritual calling now for some moments that remain. Let's look at some leadership priorities. Some leadership priorities. Biblical realities that are strategically vitally important In the lives of leaders in the church.

These are important issues for all believers. But those who take leadership There's a multiplication of importance in these matters in their lives. Luke chapter 10. Luke chapter 10 verse 38. Now it happened as they went that he entered a certain village.

And a certain woman named martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called mary who also sat at jesus' feet and heard his word. But martha was distracted with much serving. And she approached him and said Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?

Therefore tell her to help me. And jesus answered and said to her martha martha. You are worried and troubled about many things but one Thing is needed. And mary has chosen that good part. Which will not be taken away from her.

What an important issue this is in priority for leadership in life and service. It's really a picture of living and serving with our heart and focus and hope at the feet of jesus christ. Martha was diligently serving the lord, but she was worried and troubled about many things.

She was distracted with her much serving ministry. Ministry is a great thing. But ministry can even be a distraction From higher issues like the lord himself. And the one we're serving Can get eclipsed By the service that we think we're engaged in for him.

And the ministry becomes the thing and it's so big and all-consuming. That we're even distracted by it. It's interesting. Martha's in the kitchen. She's laboring. Mary's out there sitting at the feet of jesus.

Martha's getting kind of distracted and perturbed it seems and she goes out there to get this straightened out. And the impression is that she's thinking i'll just bring this to the lord's attention and she'll just shoo mary right in there.

We'll get the help we need in the kitchen. What a shock it must have been to her when she says lord don't you care that my sister's left me to serve alone. Oh poor me in service. Wasn't that off on the feeling.

Therefore tell her to help me. Surely expecting jesus to go. Mary, let me let's be practical, you know. In the kitchen Martha's swamped. And not that we shouldn't help each other and not that what martha was doing was wrong.

But it's a matter of priority. What is more important? What a shock to martha when jesus turned and said martha. You're worried in trouble about so many things and parenthetically I might add now i'm going to tell you something that's going to blow your mind one Thing is necessary.

This is a powerful truth the one necessary thing. It's almost hard to believe it at times. Why. Because there are often a thousand things that are important. And beyond the thousand things that are important, they're usually ten thousand things that are urgent.

And the important and the urgent. Can so easily eclipse the one necessary thing. This is a challenge to every believer. But especially so to those who lead. If those who lead miss this. No surprise if most others will miss it.

This is one of the ways god can really use us to lead direct people. By example word and teaching. To keep the one necessary thing In the heart and center of all that takes place in our lives and our ministries.

The one necessary thing what is it? It's the good part that mary chose. And could not be taken away from her. She was sitting at jesus feet and hearing his word. Now because this is the one necessary thing I believe the big implication here is.

It's totally portable totally adaptable to every situation in time. Sure a great pure specific full. Entering into this could be our private devotional time with the lord just sitting at his feet. No distractions nothing else.

But in those seasons of life like say a newborn. Or toddlers, you know, just tell your two and three-year-olds, you know, mama will be back in 30 minutes. Well, there'll be no house when you return, you know.

You know those kids need that constant care, but this can still be going on in the heart. There are all kinds of conditions. Someone might be hassling someone might be in in prison you know and and vicious guards kind of you know beating on the bars or or Putting screeching sounds in.

I mean you might not have your classic quiet time. Or you're out marching on a chain gang all day in in captivity or something. Since this is the one necessary thing. It's got to be totally portable and adaptable to every situation.

It's got to be a heart matter not just a procedural or ritual matter. And I do believe the sweetest application of it. Is that personal quiet time but it must be more portable and adaptable than that.

So that even when we go out into action or service or action or service is demanded of us for various reasons. And it would be unkind unloving and irresponsible not to go into action. Our heart can still be at the feet of jesus christ.

Jesus said Man can only live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god. And there mary sat receiving life itself. From her lord speaking truth into her heart and life. That's always the priority always.

Well, we can get this confused again. I don't mean to tell too many horror stories about the church. I was saved in but There were some horrific things, you know. I mean, I praise god. I was there because I got saved there, you know.

And i'll forever thank god for that. And the pastor who got the gospel out. But I remember one day our dear pastor did something very interesting this passage brings to mind. And we're prone to do things like this.

He lined up all of the servant women in the church who were hard laborers. And he had big purple badges for them. And pinned them on them in front of everyone and then we gave them great thanksgiving.

And on that badge was an amazing statement. I remember it though. It happened umpteen hundred years ago. It said the royal order of martha. Whoa, wait a minute. And his point was as he expounded this these are the ones who really get it done, you know almost putting down.

The one with the heart of mary, you know the royal order of martha. Yeah, it's good to be a laborer like martha. But if we labor like martha, let's keep the heart of mary. And we can exalt in the church just busyness.

We knew a lot of those women. And praise god some of them were martha's their badge should have said God is giving me the heart of mary. They were mary's mary heart with martha laboring, but some. Were just frantic martha's, you know.

And kind of irritated at others. Who didn't roll up their sleeves and get in as deep as they did? This is a staggering thing to kind of sort out. I mean who would ever imagine that there's one necessary thing.

When the elders at calvary chapel of irvine had walked out of pastor chuck smith's office with my ministry card in their hand. Chuck had given it to them. I'd been getting to know him that year in 82.

They were without a pastor at irvine and went to see pastor chuck he gave them my card said I think this brother could probably help buy you over there. We just come from dallas, texas. They did call and subsequently asked if we'd pray about coming to pastor the church.

Do you know what hit me in that? Because then we were also doing living in christ ministries full-time like we have been now the last five or six years. Then on a much smaller scale. Though we thought that would be our ministry the rest of our days.

The big thing that hit hit me was this Lord, my heart's drawn to these people. You've given me to some degree the heart of a pastor. I love the shepherd by teaching. And we can probably carry on living in christ ministries which was really on our heart from the previous church the Radio tapes and conferences and all and concentrating on some of the topical studies that we felt were so critical.

But here's what hit me. Lord if I go back into pastoral ministry, am I going to become reverend martha? Because I knew from 14 years of pastoral ministry. That no one is more likely a candidate for getting distracted in ministry than the pastor.

No one does more than the pastor. No one in the church is expected to do more. And many many say pastor. I know you're busy, but could you please you know, and it just keeps multiplying, you know. And that's fine, they're totally free to ask such things but it can just mount and build.

And often many in the church kind of have this subtle misconception that hey, that's what we're all supporting him for anyway, you know. He does the work we pay the bills. It's a very worldly perspective.

But it's easy to think that way unless our mind is renewed and we're transformed in our thinking. So pastors can get buried and you who are pastors, you know what it's like. Any given day you can have a thousand issues arise.