While, this post is primarily directed towards my generation of pastors, I believe it could be beneficial to preachers in general.
I truly believe my generation of preachers need to stop worry about becoming the next big thing. We’ve got a sense of urgency to get to the top, more than advancing the gospel and developing as leaders. It’s okay to want your platform of influence to increase. But, it’s not okay when your motives and desires are for your name to be known more than Jesus.
My generation of pastors need to become more obsessed with growing a love for the local church, working on their holiness, developing sound doctrine, and living lives that worthy of following. I heard Pastor Perry Noble say once, ‘you need to stop worrying about getting discovered and get developed.’ Now, most of us won’t ever admit this, but its very true.
You’ve got to ask yourself:
Are you truly more concerned if people have a change of heart or adore you when you get done preaching?
Are you truly concerned about furthering the cause of Christ or gaining a bigger platform?
Do you want your name known or do you want to make Jesus’ name known?
We need to stop worrying about obtaining our invite to preach at next years Catalyst Conference and more concerned with becoming godly leaders who love Jesus, their wives and church. Then allow Jesus to elevate and increase our platform of ministry in his timing. This is a very hard lesson that Jesus worked in me about a year ago, that I’ve been very thankful for.
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Hey Boyd, appreciate the post. I don’t hang with too many preachers anymore and haven’t attend conferences lately so you may see things I don’t. But undoubtedly, ill-motivated people do preach the Gospel. John had his Diotrophes who “desired preeminence in the church.” Paul suspected contemporaries preached for the wrong reasons, but also celebrated the fact that Christ was shared at all. Doing ministry with the utmost excellence, while scanning personal motives AND overcoming the impulse to make graceless judgments either way is a tension that doesn’t end. Not in this life. Thanks for the reminder. Hope you guys are well.
This is why I’d attend any church that you started… as long as it were in the same city.
I love ya brother, praying for you and the family and please… Never stop being who God has created you to be!
Solid. Such is the downfall of being a “pro” pastor. We have to many guys getting into this to be the next Andy Stanley. Andy didn’t become Andy by fighting to be recognized, he loved his city well and it just happened. Those who seek fame often gain nothing, those who seek Christ need nothing else (and if they get a Catalyst invite thats great).
Any time I want to be more like Andy Stanley than i do Jesus, im in trouble.