from the editors…
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18
Sometimes, we should simply pause and embrace the clarity of Scripture. This verse is not a lofty command exclusive to ministers or church leaders; it’s for every Christian. Growth is a defining characteristic of living for Jesus. As one preacher wisely put it, “If it is of God and alive, it grows.”
This truth should shake us: Growth in knowledge AND grace is essential. It’s not about titles, roles, or positions. The call to grow is universal. It’s about becoming more like Christ, deepening our understanding of His Word, and allowing His grace to transform our hearts.
In this special edition of The Journal, we’re turning the spotlight on the minister's journey of growth. Ministry demands you to pour yourself out for others. Yet as ministers, we must remember that we, too, are called to grow. Spiritual stagnation is not an option! How can we keep pouring into others if our own well runs dry?
Join us as we explore practical ways ministers can grow.
To our superb writers this quarter, thank you for pouring your wisdom and experiences into these pages. And to you, our reader, thank you for investing the time to grow—not just as a minister, but as a follower of Christ. So, take this journey with us. Let’s grow together. After all, growth is not a destination— it’s a lifelong adventure with our Lord.
In His Service, Jeff & Dale
Show Up.
As with most of life’s worthwhile endeavors, there are no shortcuts in becoming a student of the Word. It requires time. Before he became infamous for marrying his former girlfriend’s adopted daughter, Woody Allen observed “90% of success in life is just showing up.” People who know the Bible don’t show up fully hatched, but they develop by putting in the effort to plumb the depths of the Book of all books. Set aside the time necessary to do this. There is no substitute.
Read
Up.
Besides spending time in the Word, make the effort to supplement your biblical studies with reading in history, geography, and cultural traditions that shed light on the time and context of the biblical events you are studying. The apostle Paul offers a powerful example of knowing the languages, literature, and culture of the Greco-Roman world which made him an effective spokesman for Christianity.
Think Up.
Too many today make hermeneutics more difficult than it need be. Failing the recognize the differences between law, history, poetry, and apocalyptic genres lead to a garbled, jumbled mishmash of biblical interpretation. A helpful approach is offered by the biblical scholar John Wycliffe who writes,
It shall greatly help ye to understand scripture
If thou mark
Not only what is spoken or wrytten, But of whom, And to whom, With what words, At what time, Where, To what intent, With what circumstances, Considering what goeth before And what followeth.
In other words, use common sense. While some parts of the Bible can be difficult to navigate (“There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” as Peter writes of Paul’s letters —2 Peter 3:15-16), most of the Bible is plain and straightforward.
Every single person has 168 hours every week. No more, no less. Do not make the mistake of taking the inspired Word of God for granted and neglect it. Instead, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
"Spiritual development is a lifelong adventure and challenge. These passages admonish us to start where we are (Can we actually start anywhere else?) and grow from there into a closer and closer walk with God:
* Acts 2:41-47 "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers... So continuing daily with one accord ... praising God and have favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
* Hebrews 5:12-6:3"...by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food ... let us go on to maturity....
* 1 Peter 2:1-3 "...laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby...."
Even the boy Jesus grew, matured, progressed intellectually, physically, spiritually and socially. He " ..increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52).
The "seasons of life" under consideration include: Spring, "a season of growth through beginnings and renewal;" Summer, "a season of growth through further training and diligent work;" Autumn, "a season of growth through reflection and teaching while serving as an example to others;" and Winter, "a season of appreciation for the blessings of God and for the contributions of significant others in our lives as we prepare to pass the torch to those we've taught hoping that they will improve on our work." In all of these "seasons" we need to seek out the building blocks that will result in advancement and improvement in our walk with the Lord in the light of His Word! May this brief study help us all in that noble endeavor!
Spring
I love to emphasize being born and being born again! Nicodemus had trouble understanding Jesus's teaching on the new birth (John 3:1-21), but once he came to see the physical compared to the spiritual, he got it. It's in that context that we are given the "golden text" of the Bible (vs. 16). Each Christian has a conversion story that is unique, yet some are very similar to that of others (cf. Acts 9:1-19; 22: 1-21).
Becoming a follower of Jesus is exciting; witnessing others as they obey the gospel is also exciting (Acts 2:36-47; 16:25-34). Do you remember details of that
momentous time in your life? Perhaps you came from loving and strong teaching at home and at church, so it was not as dramatic as that of others. Or perhaps you had '...years spent in vanity and pride, caring not the Lord was crucified...' The changes you had to make were many and consequential, even weighty. Regardless of the peripherals, you knew enough to become a baby and embark on the maturing process (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 2:1-3). The time came for you to study and develop the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-26), having put away the "works of the flesh" (vss. 19-21). Perhaps Christian education helped you in this season!
Summer
It's time to get to work! The season for labor and toiling allows us to build on the foundation principles of Spring. Full speed ahead is the order of the day with accuracy, energy and diligence. Whatever you choose to do, be committed to giving it your very best effort. Serve with your whole heart as if the Lord himself would be receiving the benefits directly (Ecc. 9:10; Col. 3:23).
One of my professors in graduate school had us turn in a major research paper. When all the papers were on his desk, he launched into a lengthy heart-to-heart talk about striving for excellence, doing our best, never allowing ourselves to do minimal work just to get by. Then he said that if any of us needed to take the paper back and rework it, we wouldn't be penalized for turning it in at the next class meeting. I took mine back and made several improvements. Most of my classmates did too. I've never forgotten the life lesson of that day!
God gave His best (John 3:16)! We must determine to give the same in the only work that will matter to any of us a hundred years from now! "Give of your best to the Master...Give Him the best that you have!" (Howard B. Grose, 1902).
Autumn
As the leaves turn beautiful colors and remind us that time is marching on, it's wonderful to reflect on what was accomplished during summer work and pay attention to the signal that inevitable changes are coming. This is the time to help more recent converts establish their faith in a more personal way. They not only need us to set a worthy example for them, but they need reminders that their lives are being observed by younger ones coming along, and that the example of faithfulness and steadfastness must continue on and on even to generations yet unborn. Autumn is not the time to quit, but the time to reflect and help pave the
way for the precious ones coming after us. Winter will arrive soon, and we need to make preparations and to help others to do the same. The apostle Paul's plea to his son in the gospel was "Do your utmost to come before winter" (2 Tim. 4:21).
Winter
Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night in coming when no one can work" (John 9:4; cf. 1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12). Babe Ruth is remembered for his stellar career in baseball including 714 home runs. But when the New York Yankees traded him to the Boston Braves before the 1935 season, he was disappointed and grew discouraged. He quit his training routines, and his performance became dismal. He did not end well. In contrast, Paul knew he was at death's door and could say "...the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Paul didn't dread death. We shouldn't either. For the faithful child of God, it's the threshold crossing from one good life to a far better one, thanks to Jesus's death and resurrection!
What "season" are you in right now? Enjoy every precious moment of it! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
One of the best things you can do is continue to grow as a husband. Being teachable is one of the most admirable qualities a man can have. When we get to the point where we feel like we have it all figured out, or we’ve learned everything we need to know, we stop growing and become stagnant. So, growth is essential as a husband, and I would like to share with you some ideas on how to grow as a husband.
First, be a student of your wife. Know what it is she likes and dislikes. Your wife will change over time in your marriage, and it’s essential that you continue to be a student of her. This will require you to continue to communicate and have regular conversations with her so that you can learn, and continue to learn, who she is and what she needs from you. Never be afraid to ask your wife, “How are we doing? How am I doing?” These are questions you need to ask your wife so that you can constantly gauge where you stand in your marriage. You may think things are perfectly on track while she may think there is some improvement needed. Never fear your wife’s opinion; she often sees things you can’t.
Second, continue to pursue her. One of the biggest mistakes men often make is once they marry their wife, they feel like they are done pursuing them. They have worked hard to chase them and to win them. When the marriage vows are said and rings are placed on fingers, they officially have them because they’re married … but I view this very differently. Wives want to continue to be pursued. They fell in love with a man who chased them and pursued them, and they want that to continue throughout marriage. If you held her hand before marriage, continue to hold her hand. If you brought her flowers before marriage, continue to bring her flowers. If you took her on dates before marriage, continue to date her throughout your marriage. The pursuit should never die.
Third, keep your priorities straight. Ministry will require as much of your time as you will let it. It is important for you to learn to balance and prioritize your
marriage, your family, and your ministry. Learn to say no at times to ministry things when you finally get free for a family night. Learn to not answer your phone or text messages when you’re out on a date with your wife. Do regular check-ins with your wife about how they feel you’re doing on balancing marriage and ministry.
Fourth, watch out for temptation. By far, the worst thing that you can ever do is to think, “THAT would never happen in my marriage,” and yet many ministers have lost their marriage, because they dropped their guard and thought, “It will never happen to us.” Set strong boundaries in your marriage for things like conversations with the opposite sex and text messages with the opposite sex. As silly as it sounds, those are often the simple beginnings of a path leading to a terrible direction.
Fifth, have other men who will keep you accountable. One of the greatest areas that has helped me to grow is having men in my life who simply don’t tell me what I want to hear but tell me what I need to hear. They are godly friends who help keep me in line, so that I am practicing what I preach. It is important to find other men or ministers that you can go to for advice and encouragement. Sometimes you simply may need to vent to someone. Find that person who will hold you accountable as a husband, father, and Christian … and won’t always just tell you what you want to hear.
Yes, when I get to the end of my life, I want to be known as a man who did ministry and loved people … but even more than that, I want to be remembered as a man who loved God, adored his wife, and loved his children. Ministry is important, and Satan would love nothing more than to ruin your ministry by ruining your marriage. Outside your relationship with God, your marriage is the most valuable thing that you have on this earth. Protect it, value it, and never stop growing as a husband.
As a father, you are in an elite group of people who want to be successful. You want your success to come by knowing your children are being obedient to the Lord their entire life. You want them to be lovingly embraced by Christ into eternity where they will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21-23). It’s what motivates you. It’s what gives you purpose. It’s what even keeps you up at night in prayer. It’s your duty as provider, protector, preacher, and even chief bottle-washer. What God has blessed you with and has given you responsibility over, you wish to honor Him the best you can by loving, training, and serving your children as the Bible instructs.
I pray the few words in this article can be of encouragement to you as a reminder to keep growing as a dad (Colossians 1:10; 2 Peter 3:18). Regardless of your occupation (most of you are in ministry) or additional responsibilities, the hat you wear as dad is one you’ll always cherish. That hat will get tattered and torn throughout life, but you’ll always be proud to wear it daily. You do so much for your children to ensure they grow. So much so that I’m guessing you neglect at times making sure you are growing as their spiritual leader. You might be thinking right now, well if my children are making great strides in obeying their parents, they are making good grades at school, they are polite & respectful, their friends know they come from a Christian home, they are now successful young adults (for some of you), and they know God’s word well and lead a healthy spiritual life then those are some great measurements I use to know if I am growing. And there is nothing wrong with that at all, and may I add, “Keep up the great work!” We all measure our spiritual growth as a parent by seeing our children’s output. It’s a natural & tangible benchmark to see where we stand.
A team’s success is measured by their wins (outcomes). But what the fans don’t normally have privilege to see is the day-to-day hard work that the staff and players do together before the official game. What Coach Tomlin has instilled within his team is hard work, respect for others, accountability, and self-discipline because he desires them to succeed
not just on the field, but in life. That’s why he is so admired in his profession. Even his former players go out of their way to visit him after a game because he has genuinely cared for their success. It’s a hat he gladly wears.
Dads who grow will regular invest into their children’s lives to where both the parent and the child begin to grow together, and love it!
Here are some ways to keep the growth going and being intentionally involved in their lives: Go over their homework, test them in their Bible knowledge (Books of the Bible, memory verses, Lads to Leaders activities. If you don’t know about Lads to Leaders, get to know them), check on their chores, encourage a tidy room, play games with them they like to play, develop a regular prayer life with them (not just at meal time), discuss tough life-issues, hug
them & tell them you love them regularly, limit the time they have on a device, check on their devices and make sure they are safe, join them in youth activities, have them join you when visiting members of the congregation, bring them to work days & service projects, make assembling with Christians a priority even when school events are scheduled at the same time, treat their mother like a queen, give them a regular “lights out” time for their overall health & well-being, take them to lectureships/gospel meetings, do regular community outreach, call & visit your adult children who have left the nest, be a listener more than a fixer, correct them with gentleness, let them know when you are wrong, sit down with them and help develop goals, and when their life feels out of control encourage them to take it one snap at a time.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity” (2 Peter 3:18). “Until I come, give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13).
Most all of us have presented lessons dealing with the importance of growth from the writer of Hebrews. “Concerning him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become poor listeners. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14). There are a few questions about these passages that come to mind. (1) Would these admonitions for growth apply to the preacher in his life and preaching? (2) Is it possible for a preacher to “get better?” (3) What are some ways we identify to help us in our growth as proclaimers of the Word? The obvious answer to the first two questions is a resounding yes. God would not command only “some” of His children to grow. His desire is that we all grow. One could argue that each of these commands is directed, at least in part, to preachers. Secondly, God would not command us to do something that He has not given us the possibility or capability of doing. The remaining part of this article is intended to help try to answer question number three. What can we do to make sure we are growing in our preaching?
Study, Study, Study. There is no substitution for studying the Word of God if we are preachers. If we are too busy to spend the amount of time needed to prepare biblical, practical sermons that are filled with scripture and heart, then, we are too busy.
Spend time with your people. Often times, the very best preachers and the most effective ones in their growth are the men who spend time getting to know their people. We need to live life with them, know their hurts, pains, and heartaches. If we do, we will be able to better relate to them, and they are more likely to listen to us and trust us. In Luke 9:11 we learn from the Master Teacher how to develop that crucial balance between spending time alone and time caring for the people. “But the crowds were aware of this and
followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing.”
Listen to and watch great preachers. We are not talking about copying them, but we can learn from them. Through the power of the internet, we are blessed to be able to hear and watch great preachers from days gone by, as well as great men of God in our day. Watch preachers with different styles. Watch how they make eye contact with their audience, watch their gestures, watch how they use the Bible in their hands, and listen to their heart.
If you are a young preacher, I would like to strongly encourage you to find videos or recordings of men like George Bailey, Wendell Winkler, Hugo McCord, Jimmy Allen, Winfred Clark, V.P. Black, Batsell Baxter, Gus Nichols, and Jerry Jenkins. All of these men and others like them, made a huge impact for good in our world. Again, you don’t have to preach with the same style used by these men, but we would not go wrong by preaching with the heart and passion of men like these.
Trust people around you who love you and want what is best for you. My prayer is that you are blessed with a wife who is helpful to you, who encourages you, and even critiques you in a positive way. Listen to her. She is wise. She was wise enough to marry you, right??? Don’t be afraid to ask your elders and other leaders in your church family what they think would help you grow in your preaching. It will not only build a better relationship, it might just be of great help to you.
Have one, or two, or three, trusted advisors in your life, who are also preachers. Ask them about a text the you are preaching if you have any concerns about the correctness of what you have studied. Talk with these men about sermon series’ and ideas. Use their minds and hearts as a think tank. This will not only bless you in your preaching, it will bless your people.
Preach the Word. Preach the TEXT. Preach often. Preach every time you are asked and every place you can. In most areas of work, leaders will tell you the best way to improve is to dive in and get to work. This is also true about preaching.
May God bless you as you proclaim His Word. I hope you will love preaching and that it will never grow old to you. My prayer is that you will allow God to use you for His glory, and not your own recognition. Thank you for choosing to be a man of God. We love you very much. If I can ever be of help to you in any way, please feel free to reach out to me at any time.
Growing Through Maintaining Our Spiritual Health: A Guide
for Preachers
During a rather challenging part of our lives this past year, a concerned friend asked, “Who cares for the caregiver?” It was a good question, and it came from a friend who loved us and was thinking of our needs. But, at that time in our lives, caring for ourselves seemed to be the furthest thing from our minds. The question was left hanging in the air with no reply.
As preachers, we often find ourselves concerned with the needs of others. Those needs are primarily spiritual but may also involve emotional or physical needs. As a result, preachers are used to having their lives centered on others.
Because the demands of ministry can be so relentless, we as preachers often find ourselves vulnerable to burnout, spiritual flatness, and a deep feeling that our efforts just are not enough.
Although preachers are expected to care for others, we must also care for our own spiritual well-being. Otherwise, our own effectiveness in serving becomes diminished.
Warning Signs of Spiritual Struggle
Often when our spiritual health is diminishing, it is not sudden or obvious. It happens incrementally, little by little over time. Therefore, it is good to be reminded from time to time, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5). A decline in spiritual health needs to be addressed before it gets worse.
Some warning signs might include:
· A worsened or diminished prayer life. Prayer becomes infrequent until it becomes burdensome or a mere obligation.
· A lost love or passion for ministry. Sundays rush at us faster and faster, and the duties of ministry feel taxing rather than joyful.
· A change in personality from gladness to irritability. As pressures increase and joy diminishes, we become more easily frustrated and impatient with people, most often family.
· A vulnerability to moral compromise. As our spiritual strength wanes, we find it easy to justify actions that go against what God would have for us to do.
· A feeling of spiritual staleness. The glories and the wonder of God seem to resonate with us less and less.
If we begin to notice these things creeping into our lives, we need to take steps to refocus our lives on God.
The Importance of Spiritual Health for Preachers
The spiritual health of a preacher directly impacts their ministry. A spiritually healthy preacher is more motivated, better equipped to handle challenges, and able to minister from a place of authenticity. On the other hand, neglecting spiritual health can lead to burnout or a disconnect between the preacher’s private life and public ministry.
Preaching, at its heart, is taking a paragraph of Scripture, identifying the important phrases and how they relate to one another, accurately learning the meaning of the phrases, and applying the principles in those phrases prayerfully. This is done with great care and passion.
But preaching must be applied to the preacher and not just to the hearers. We must take seriously what we preach to others. We want to embody the message of Christ just as we want our hearers to do the same. But to do this effectively, we must nurture our relationship with God with consistency and with intentionality.
So, what are some practical ways preachers can grow and maintain spiritual health?
Practical Ways to Maintain and Grow Spiritual Health
1. Take very seriously the importance of routine prayer. My personal struggle with prayer has caused me to ask questions like, “God already knows what I need. So why pray?” But I have learned (and am still learning) to take seriously the admonition of brother James Harding: “Indeed, all prayer is based upon the idea that God takes cognizance of us, and in some way above our comprehension works in our affairs.”[1] That’s a powerful statement that says God really does care whether or not we pray and really does want to work in response to our prayers. I believe many of us as preachers need to be reminded of this. Harding also reminds us that “God is as ready to answer prayer as ever; it is easy for him to do it as it ever was; … but it is more probable that prayers of faith are very scarce. Here is an enormous power, the mightiest that can be used by a mortal, that few of us use as we could and should.”[2] If we take these words seriously, we will believe our prayers actually matter; they cause God to do what he may otherwise have not done. That is a monumentally important idea. He will help us in seasons of spiritual dryness if we call out to him. I have also found that treating prayer as a very personal dialogue with God, communicating what I am feeling and what my hopes and dreams may be, has helped cultivate my prayers even more. Perhaps setting daily reminders to pray throughout the day might be helpful.
2. Take sermon preparation as a very personal thing. I have heard preachers at lectureships and other settings admonish other preachers with the need to do devotional study in addition to sermon preparation. While that may be a lofty and good thing, it often can be heard as a stress-increasing guilt trip. Depending on your responsibilities and what stage of life you are in, you may find yourself with great family responsibilities or in a bi-vocational ministry setting that makes time management a premium. I suspect that many of us as preachers finish working on sermons and then set them aside, happy that they are finished. Maybe a more helpful approach would be to take the finished sermons and take a few minutes to make them our own very personal devotion. Meditate on them and pray over them for personal application and devotion to minister to our own hearts before they minister to those that will hear them.
3. Guard your rest time. Ministry never stops, but preachers are not invincible. We often see rest as a luxury. But that is not true. Rest is a Biblical command. Indeed, there is a Biblical theology of rest that must be
taken seriously. Jesus, as our example, often withdrew from the crowds to rest and pray (Luke 5:16), recharge, and reconnect. Preachers are often on call and find that weekly schedules must be adaptable. But an important suggestion would be to try and keep a day, preferably the same day, each week as a day for absolute rest and rejuvenation. Prioritize sleep to maintain emotional balance. And don’t forget to plan regular vacations to step away from ministry with family. Jesus needed rest. We are neither better than Him nor are we more over-scheduled than Him.
4. Keep a healthy balance between your work and regular life. Closely related to rest is the need to have a regular life in addition to ministry. Preachers face constant pressure. One danger is to react to that pressure by neglecting family and even personal well-being in favor of ministry. This can lead to long-term damage in our lives. There is always someone who has something they feel is incredibly urgent and must be addressed immediately. But the trap we often fall into is for seemingly pressing matters to take precedence over important, long-term goals, tasks, or relationships. This is sometimes referred to as the “tyranny of the urgent.” Learn to say no to tasks that overextend your stamina. Delegate items that can be accomplished by others. And take care to avoid people who inject negativity into your ministry and life. That can be tricky in that we feel the need to minister to everyone, but we need to remember our first ministry is to our own family and must not neglect them in favor of the myriad other things that can or need to be done.
5. Find your preaching friends and stay connected with them. Preachers live lives filled with relationships where we may not feel totally relaxed. We may even feel that way when gathered with other preachers, because we may feel judged if we don’t meet the standards of others. This can lead to superficial relationships. Seek out similar personalities and hobbies among other preachers, elders, or mentors. Find trusted people who will give you accountability, wisdom, and a safe environment to share what’s going on in your life. Attend lectureships and retreats and other gatherings that will be encouraging. Sharing joys and challenges creates a sense of community and support. And being transparent creates healing and prevents hidden sins from taking root.
6. Stay physically healthy. Preachers sit. A lot. We sit to study. We sit to eat. We sit when we drive to hospitals. We meet with people for lunch and eat and sit some more. It is good to be reminded that spiritual health is closely
tied to physical well-being. In comparison to monumental spiritual matters, “exercise does profit a little” (1 Timothy 4:8), but it does profit. It enhances our mental clarity and emotional stability and makes life easier in general. Find an activity like walking, jogging, sports, or weight training that you can commit to engaging in for a few minutes each day. This will also help in stress reduction.
7. Continue to read, learn, and grow. One of the fastest paths to burnout is in allowing our minds to become stagnant. While the truths of Scripture are settled and timeless, the application and understanding of them is endless. If all we do is rely on past knowledge or experiences, we will quickly find our preaching, ministry, and lives becoming ineffective. I have been enriched by exploring books on theology, leadership, and spiritual disciplines. Reading enriches the understanding and equips for effective ministry.
The Ripple Effect of a Spiritually Healthy Preacher
When we prioritize our own spiritual health as preachers, the effects ripple through the congregations we serve. A spiritually vibrant preacher:
1. Models authentic faith: our church friends will see us as people who practice what we preach.
2. Delivers passionate sermons: Messages rooted in personal spiritual growth resonate more deeply.
3. Creates a Healthy Church Culture: A spiritually healthy preacher can help create a culture of transparency, growth, and grace.
Conclusion
Maintaining spiritual health as a preacher really is not optional—it’s essential for both personal well-being and effective ministry. By prioritizing prayer, rest, accountability, and balance, preachers can remain rooted in their own growing faith while more effectively and less stressfully navigating the demands of ministry.
Ultimately what this requires is intentionality and consistency. Ministry, like most things worthy of our time in life, is a marathon, not a sprint. By intentionally and consistently strengthening our own relationship with God, we will find renewed strength to endure challenges, grow in our own effectiveness, and help others get closer to Christ. As 2 Corinthians 4:16 reminds us: “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
The question still hangs in the air: “Who will care for the caregivers?” If we intentionally and consistently cultivate our own sense of closeness with God, believing that He is there and He is available to help us in our time of need, we will also grow in our effectiveness in ministry and in life.
[1] Harding, “Scraps,” Gospel Advocate (1887), 252. [2] Harding, Christian Leader and the Way, 19 (19 Sept 1905), 8.
GROWING WHEN PAIN ENTERS YOUR LIFE
by Dean Miller, ram952@yahoo.com
I was in my early 30’s at the time. That day, I was driving for about an hour to the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH. With me, was the wife of one of my shepherds. We were going to visit a young lady who was a cancer patient. Rosalee had a heart of gold. Her love for others and spiritual insight were exceptional. We talked about various things while I was driving. The only thing I distinctly remember her saying, though, was, “I think the only time we really grow is when we are tried.” That observation prompted negative feelings within me. “I hope that’s not true,” was my verbal response. “I hope we grow in good times, too.”
Forty years later, I see things more clearly. I still believe we can grow in our pleasant, painless times. It’s our unpleasant, painful times, though, that cause us to be challenged in ways prosperity cannot. We are sometimes forced into survival mode. We struggle. We sense our need for the Lord more personally than on our pleasant days. Unsettling circumstances prompt negative thoughts and feelings. Pain can be overwhelming
The Preaching & Ministry Journal
and seem so senseless.
Have you ever been to a PT? I have a daughter and son-in-law who are DPT’s. I love and appreciate what they do! “PT” doesn’t stand for Physical Therapist. It stands for “Pain Terrorist!” That’s what they are. They inflict pain for a reason. It hurts going to PT appointments. Why? Is there purpose in the pain they put us through? Yes! It’s about growth. It’s about us getting to a better place in our lives physically.
In 2019, Granger Smith, an award-winning country music singer, found his three-year-old son, River, face down in their swimming pool unconscious. Frantic, he did everything he could to save him. EMTs arrived and started their lifesaving procedures. Several hours later at the hospital, River was disconnected from life support. He died. In his book, Like A River, Granger Smith recounts the awful experience and the effect it had on him. Among other things of note, he said there were two important truths he learned: 1. Pain is not permanent. 2. Pain is not pointless (10). We can assign a purpose to any pain we experience. Growth! We can grow in spite of our pain, perhaps because of our pain.
The apostle Paul had more than his fair share of painful experiences: “in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily; my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul knew about being in danger. He experienced pain. Physical. Mental. Emotional. Psychological. Spiritual. Have you ever wondered about his pain level on a scale of 1-10 in these scenarios? What was his heart rate? His blood pressure? How well did he sleep?
In the next chapter, his defense of his integrity and ministry compels him to inform us of yet another issue and its impact on him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). This “thorn in the flesh” prompted him in the depths of personal weakness to beg the Lord for the burden to be lifted. Instead, the compassionate Father gifts Paul with the power of grace to bear his burden. In his pain, the apostle learned (or was reminded of) a valuable lesson. He concluded from that experience, “Therefore I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Preachers are not exempt from physically painful experiences. Hopefully we don’t suffer physical pain from our ministry (or because of our ministry) like Paul did, but like everyone else we are susceptible to kidney stones, cancer, broken bones, migraines, arthritis, back problems, etc. Can we find purpose in our pain? Can we grow through our pain?
In addition to the physical pain, we are likely to experience in our lives, there is another kind of pain uniquely prominent in the life of a preacher. Contemporary preachers suffer a lot of internal pain, mental and emotional pain directly related to ministry. I am personally touched by Paul’s observation in 2 Corinthians 11:28. After listing several awful experiences, he concludes, “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily; my deep concern for all the churches.” Daily, he had a deep concern “for all the churches.” That’s an internal pain. Preachers are exposed to a lot of things in the life of the local church that are cause for concern—internal pain. Also, preachers can have difficult phases in their own personal faith journeys. Our marriages, our families, and our children can, at times, be painful stressors. I used to tell a church that I worked with, “Look, let’s be honest. We’re all a mess. When we get together, we’re a mass of a mess.” Life in the church is not always a picnic.
Preachers are not exempt from physically painful experiences
We do not have control over all our circumstances, but we do have control of our actions and reactions in life. Pain is inevitable. It’s also powerful. It can cause us to become discouraged, overwhelmed, even depressed. How we view it, react to it, and what we do with it, though, is a choice. We can choose to use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. A friend of mine a few years ago taught me a valuable lesson. Always ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” If we are learning, we are growing.
While in pain, we can: (1) Grow in dependence. Pain teaches us that we need the Lord. In prosperity, it’s tempting to trend toward self-reliance. Who do you think sings, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” most passionately? (2) Grow in gratitude.
Ease is easily taken for granted. When ease is replaced by pain, we more sincerely appreciate the former. (3) Grow in patience. Endurance grows in the crucible of pain. Trials can produce patience (James 1:2-4). (4) Grow in wisdom. As we “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7) through the storm of pain we begin developing a clearer perspective about life and how best to cope with its burdens. (5) Grow in empathy. Pain teaches us what others are going through—in a very personal way. It makes us more effective in compassionately ministering to other people who are going through what we survived.
Although none of us desire it, pain has profit. We can actually “glory in tribulations” (Romans 5:3-5). We can use our pain to bring glory of God by growing in it, through it, and using the experience to more effectively serve others.
The church had grown rapidly. People moving to our fast growing town and a good number being added by the Lord to His Family anew. They were exciting days. But we are human, frail, weak, and given to our own humanness. It was then that I first began to pray for our leadership team, the elders, our deacons, the other ministers, and because I know me best, myself: “Lord, make us better people for the role we are in, for these souls, for this place.” I prayed it with our elders and staff often. I suppose it became my “guard, guide, and direct us…” A sincere but oft-repeated prayer, a cry out to the LORD for this.
I think of that often.
In Philippians 1, Paul prays for these believers who had stood with him in the gospel from the very first: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (vs. 9-11). He’s simply praying that these good people may be better people. And, isn’t that the end result, or at least, shouldn’t that at least be the end result of the Gospel in our lives? That we be better people.
While it seems obvious, it is not automatic. In fact, satan would like nothing more than to sabotage your impact and have you standing before people teaching them to grow, to be good, to be godly, yet knowing in your heart of hearts that that is not what is happening. he will use whatever it takes to cause your influence to be jettisoned. You see, if he can get you he gets not only you but may have a shot at getting those you have or might eventually influence toward God. If he can get you posing to be God’s man, speaking God’s truths faithfully, then he has won a real prize. And, he doesn’t play by the rules. he is a cheat, a liar, a deceiver and has always been one (John 8:44; Revelation 12:9-10; Ephesians 6:11). he can even “deceive the very elect” (if it was true of those in Matthew 24:24, it can still be true). And, we can still stand before people with an open Bible but an empty, hollow, hurting, damaged heart that can be led by anger, pain, vindictiveness, a desire to preach people into submissiveness or seeing our way. We best not forget that in this cosmic eternal struggle we are a key for a period of time. Jesus said to our brother, Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). I don’t think it’s fiction to believe that satan wants you, too.
So, let’s ask ourselves: Am I living out the Gospel I preach? Is my preaching shaping my heart, my actions, and my relationships? Am I open to correction and growth, am I growing to be more like the Lord? Am I a better husband, dad, friend, associate, PERSON because of the impact of my life in preaching in my own life?
If he has so bent our hearts we need this prayer. The Gospel is designed not only to save us eternally, but to make us better people temporarily. To make us more like Jesus while we are here so we may influence others toward Him. To make our lives more attractive so we can attract more to Him.
Our message is not just our message but our lives are to mirror our message. The Gospel should not just mean Good News in my life but Good News to everyone I encounter. The Gospel should not just make my eternity bright and beautiful but it should become a fragrance from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:16).
My heart should beat differently, my mouth should speak differently, my soul should rejoice differently, my desires should push me differently - because I’m a Christian. And, as a preacher, certainly, my life should beautify the Gospel.
Preaching should serve to make me a better person. If it is not, don’t be surprised, but do an honest evaluation. A simple “step-back” and refocus. Our focus sometimes gets on the difficult people and situations we are forced to face and off of the beauty of so many lives affected by the Gospel and the example of the Lord. And to the preacher struggling with weariness, know this: God uses even the valleys to refine you. It’s often in our weakest moments that His strength shines brightest. He is not done with you.
We will not allow the pettiness that can creep in to creep in. We will rise above piling up resentments. We will step over past hurts and the grudges that might grow with them. We will poison that root of bitterness when our work is overlooked, minimized, or others get opportunities we hoped for. We will be better because we belong to the Lord. We will be better because we are His ambassadors.
Preaching is not just about conveying a message from God’s Word; it’s about embodying it. When we grow as individuals, we magnify His grace to a watching world. May our prayer always be, ‘Lord, make us better people for Your glory.’”Preaching should make us grow to be better.
Up Next: March 2025: GROWING CHURCHES! A Special Issue