Things I have learned along the way…
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Your primary responsibility as a pastor is prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4).
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Sheep bite.
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Faithful preaching does not guarantee church growth.
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Just because there is a crowd does not mean there is a church.
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Nothing is as good as it seems; nothing is as bad as it seems.
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Don't assume anything.
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All church fights are bad. But some church fights are necessary.
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It happens after prayer.
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The most important people in a pastor's life are those he can have an honest conversation with.
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Be careful of giving members multiple positions of authority in the church.
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Ministerial success cannot be determined by the size of a pastor's congregation.
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Preaching can get you into trouble. And preaching can get you out of trouble.
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No one is indispensable.
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The better the worship is the better my preaching is.
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Pick your battles carefully. Every hill is not worth dying on.
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People will remember how you treat them long after they have forgotten your sermons.
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Prominence and significance are not the same thing. The one who is in front of the line is not necessarily the most important person in the line.
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If you take care of God's business, God will take care of your business.
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The pastor who is always available will be of no use when he is available.
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Doing pastoral care should be seen as a means of maintaining a pastoral heart.
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If you can keep from preaching, do it.
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The pastor is just as responsible for the doctrine being taught from the choir loft as he is for the doctrine being taught from the pulpit.
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Congregational leaders who view their role as representing the members will be a problem.
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There are no better minds, only better libraries.
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Be a friend to other pastors and preachers, even if they are not friends to you.
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Strive to make it easier for the next guy who comes to pastor that comes to pastor the church than when it was when you arrived.
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You will only get what you negotiate, not what you deserve.
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If they don't trust you, you can't lead them.
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View pastoral ministry as a marathon, not a sprint.
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Never buy the lie that the church will not survive if you are not there.
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If you guard your character, your reputation will take care of itself.
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Beware. People who loved you when you first arrived may change their minds. Don't panic. People who dislike you when you arrive may also change their minds.
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Don't be impressed by titles, degrees, and accomplishments. People are people.
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Make friends with books. They will never leave you nor forsake you.
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Do not read anonymous mail or unsigned letters.
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Learn to live with criticism.
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You cannot lead people and need people at the same time.
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God's timing is perfect.
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Every pastor needs a lover. Just make sure it's your wife!
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Never let anyone make you act like you don't know Jesus.
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A bow that is always bent will soon break.
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Never give up on anybody.
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Pastoral loneliness goes with the territory. If you cannot take it, you won't last in the ministry.
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Our goal in preaching should be to light a torch, not fill up a bucket.
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The shepherd knew that one of his ninety-nine sheep was missing because he counted!
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Some hurtful people are not intentionally mean. They are just thoughtless.
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Comparison breeds contentment, damages relationships, and clouds vision.
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Do not put a price tag on your ministry.
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The one who is given the responsibility should also be given the authority.
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Just because that person is talent, gives a lot of money, or has been a member a long time does not mean that person should be a leader in the church.
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Aaron was more "spiritual" than Moses. And Joshua was a better leader. But the Lord put the rod in Moses' hand.
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Disgruntled members will not have an opportunity to get a foothold without linking their cause to weak leaders in the church.
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Pastors often spend more time in conflict resolution than in prayer and the ministry of the world.
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Put first what God tells you to put first when he tells you to put it first (Matt. 6:33).
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Every pastor needs a pastor.
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Do not make important decisions when you are tired or angry or hurt.
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It is better to present your wife as your wife rather than "the first lady."
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Most of the theories in church growth books are wrong.
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People do not give to needs. They give to vision.
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Excellence is in the details.
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The power is in the pulpit. Change does not happen by your shrewd leadership. It happens by faithfully preaching the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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If you do not control your time, someone else will. And they most likely do not share your priorities.
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Closing the back door may be more important the opening up the front door.
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The attempt to micromanage a growing congregation will lead to moral failure, burnout, or unnecessary division.
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Avoid hero worship. Everyone God uses is a jerk and a sinner.
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Long naps are a key strategy for spiritual warfare.
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Powerful and important theology is communicated by simply being there with and for your people.
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The person who has to announce that he is charge, really isn't.
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Write everything down. Your memory is not that good.
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It is better to work smarter than to work harder (Eccl. 10:10).
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Stingy pastors will never produce generous members.
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Work hard to get the right players on the team so will not have to work hard to get the wrong players off the team.
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Many pastors feel overworked. Many church members feel pastors do not really work.
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Constantly look for ways to make Baptism and the Lord's Supper special events in the life of the church.
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Preach to an audience of one.
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When you leave a church, leave! Do not meddle in the next pastor's business.
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You cannot get to second base and keep your foot on first base at the same time. Progress requires taking risks.
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Do not be afraid to repeat sermon material. Most of your members do not remember what you said. And those who do still need to be reminded.
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When a member brings you a complaint against another member, ask, "Have you talked to that person about this?" If they have not, refuse to listen to them.
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When you staff does succeeds, give them credit. When they fail, take the blame.
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The fact that the attendance is increasing does not mean that the giving will increase.
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Avoid being the hero in your sermon illustrations.
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You need to worship just as much as the congregation does. Do not miss the opportunity to worship by going over your sermon. Worship!
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The command to "do the work of an evangelist" was given to a pastor.
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Your wife and children are your most important church members.
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The difference between good preachers and average preachers is that good preachers stay in the study until the hard work is done.
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Fight for your convictions. Do not fight over methodologies.
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A cynical preacher is an oxymoron.
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Do not plagiarize the Holy Spirit by taking credit for things the Lord has done.
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Dig your own wells so you will not have to steal other people's water.
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Do not feel that you have to reinvent the wheel. Learn from others. And implement what is helpful and applicable to your situation.
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Sermons don't grow in trees.
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God raises up all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. Your church will not fit everyone.
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People say no to what is confusing.
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Short-term missions should have long-term goals.
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Tradition can be good. Traditionalism never is.
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Constantly try things that are so great that you are doomed to fail without God's help.
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People give to the church out of five different "pockets": general fund, building fund, Missions, designated-giving,
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Never refuse any resignations. Ever!
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Don't take it personal. Even when it's personal… don't take it personal.
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It is your job to fill the pulpit. It is God's job to fill the pew.
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Make haste slowly.
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If you can explain what's going on, God didn't do it.