Relaxing Weekend
Pastor Joel kicked off our new series: The Anatomy of Faith.
Nice to have a weekend off from preaching. Lora was on the Alpha retreat so I was hanging with the homies. The highlight was a three-hour game of monopoly on Saturday night. I achieved financial domination by the end of the night. It was also a special treat to just "go to church" with my family.
Historically, I have preached about 42-45 weekends per year, but I've scaled back to about 36 weekends this year. Part of the reason is that we've got a great teaching team. I also think the pace is more sustainable!
I remember a preaching streak a few years ago where I preached twenty-six weeks in a row! I know lots of preachers do it. And my hat is off to them. But I learned a lesson. You can preach because you have to or you can preach because you have to. One "have to" is because you have a word from God and you're compelled to speak. You can't not say what God has "shut up in your bones." The other "have to" is simply because you're on the calendar.
I don't want to preach because I have to--I'm on the calendar. I want to preach because I have to--I've got a word from God.
Nice to have a weekend off from preaching. Lora was on the Alpha retreat so I was hanging with the homies. The highlight was a three-hour game of monopoly on Saturday night. I achieved financial domination by the end of the night. It was also a special treat to just "go to church" with my family.
Historically, I have preached about 42-45 weekends per year, but I've scaled back to about 36 weekends this year. Part of the reason is that we've got a great teaching team. I also think the pace is more sustainable!
I remember a preaching streak a few years ago where I preached twenty-six weeks in a row! I know lots of preachers do it. And my hat is off to them. But I learned a lesson. You can preach because you have to or you can preach because you have to. One "have to" is because you have a word from God and you're compelled to speak. You can't not say what God has "shut up in your bones." The other "have to" is simply because you're on the calendar.
I don't want to preach because I have to--I'm on the calendar. I want to preach because I have to--I've got a word from God.
6 Comments:
maFrom an overcoming burned out workaholic, kudo's to you, especially while your kids are young and growing. I am the marine corp dad, we met on Easter sunday. I have been selling/pushing your book like crazy. I have told at least 22,000 people about it on our caringbridge site. It should be a must read for everyone in ICU waiting rooms. We are down to maybe 2weeks here in Bethesda, then moving on to Re-hab in Tampa. Would love to have a cup of coffee with you.---------may God bless you with MORE of HIM
Craig,
Thanks for the encouraging word and spreading the word about "In a Pit." So glad the book has been a blessing during this season of life!
Love to grab coffee before you leave. Shoot me an email at mark@theaterchurch.com.
Blessings,
Mark
Hi Mark, it sounds like your church is doing the right thing and trying to avoid the "CEO-Pastor" mentality that has been so problematic by and large. Putting God's giftings and sharing of responsibilities first is so important -- otherwise church begins to resemble a personality cult. ;)
P. S. Looking forward to the study group materials for IaPwaLoaSD -- loved the book tremendously!
Since I'm *the* preaching minister in a smaller church, I'm in the preaching saddle every week (except for my three weeks of vacation). Trying to figure out how to fix this because you're right...there are times when I'm preaching because I "have to"(it's my job), not because I "have to" (I have a word from God).
Awesome post, especially the "preach when I have a word" part.
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Way to go Mark! I'm a pastor of a church of about 200, and use the same thinking for my/our preaching schedule. God has given us a great team of leaders and teachers here, and it helps me last longer, preach stronger, and really opens the Church to more of what God has for us!
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