Sky Links, 6-23-18
Preaching less, pastoring and leading more:
Should Pastors Preach Less Often?
-Chuck Lawless
"Yes!", on all six of these. Be a shepherd, and shepherds don't always preach. Model letting others be used by Jesus. It's kingdom and what Jesus did.
Why I Would Invite Others to Preach More Often
- Taking breaks would be good for me. Rest seldom hurt anybody. And, it would give me more time to prepare for future sermons.
- I would want to give opportunities to others called to preach. Frankly, I’m much more open to this reality now after having taught students for 20+ years.
- It would be good for the congregation to hear other voices. Sometimes congregations hear a different voice saying the same thing they’ve been hearing, and still they hear it better.
- It would do me good to hear from others. The pastor just needs to listen to the Word, too, and let it change him.
- It’s an expression of humility. For the leader to take a seat is not always easy. It’s a good thing to do at times, however.
- It would make the church less dependent on me. If something were to happen to me, they would know that God has already equipped many other leaders.
A Foster Parent's Story:
Whose Fault Is It?
-Charis Psallo
It’s four o’clock in the morning and I am trying to console two terrified children. They want their mother. I am a stranger, and this is not their home. They came to the door in the middle of the night with a sleepy-looking social worker accompanied by a very big policeman in a squad car that looked just like the one that took their mommy away.
I know nothing about these children. Their ages, their health needs, their favourite foods, and their familiar comfort items are a mystery. I don’t even know the youngest boy’s name. He is either too young, too delayed, or too frightened to speak.
His pants are wet. Is he toilet-trained or do I need to find a toddler diaper? His sister screams and hits me when I try to take his soiled clothes off to clean him and put on a borrowed pair of dry pyjamas. She is sobbing so hard her entire body shakes.
I try to be kind and gentle. I speak softly and move slowly, but no matter what I do it is wrong, because I am the wrong person. I am not Mommy. They shouldn’t be here. They are traumatized.
By five a.m. they are exhausted enough to fall asleep. Their bodies jerk with sobs even in their sleep. I put them in the same bed for mutual reassurance and give them a piece of bread to hold because I have learned that in the absence of their own blankie or teddy bear, food is the next best comfort item. This whole thing is a game of “the next best.”
The other children in our foster home will start to wake soon. No use trying to go to bed now. I start to play the senseless game I have played before – the game of who’s fault is it?
What ministries are you wired for, based on you Myers-Briggs personality type?
I found this info below at Vanderbloemen job search website. No credit is given to who wrote this or how they decided what types go with which ministries, but I thought it was nevertheless, interesting and worthwhile. Any of the sixteen types could be a solo pastor. Eugene Peterson is an INFP, for example. But INFP's are the very best for pastoral care and discipleship. Flip the I to an E (ENFP) and you have the best group leader, outreach leader, or youth leader. INFJ's are your best worship leaders. And the people who will probably end up preaching are the ESTP, ENFJ, ENTJ, ESFJ, ISTJ, and ISFP's
The Best Church Jobs For Every Personality Type
It's every job seeker's question: What kind of position will fit my natural strengths and personality best?
Every single one of us has wondered that somewhere along our journey, even those in ministry. While ministry is most certainly a calling from God, it's also quite likely God is going to call you to church jobs that fit well with the strengths and personality He was uniquely gifted you with.
Perhaps you now find yourself in a job where you feel extra drained, but aren't sure why. Or maybe you're in that sweet spot where your current position energizes you and allows you to leverage your natural giftings...
...IMPORTANT: This is not to say that, for example, only ENFJs should be lead pastors. On the contrary, we've interacted with Senior Pastors of every personality type, and the same goes for every postition listed.
Ministry and MBT types:
Church planter: ISTJ, ESTP
Admin: ISTJ,
Creative arts: ISTJ, ISFJ, ISFP, ESFP, ENFJ
Children's: ISFJ, ISFP, INFJ
Office: ISFJ
Worship: INFJ
Missions & Outreach: INFJ, ESFJ, ENFJ
Executive: INTJ, INTP, ISTP, ESTJ,
Communications: INTJ, ENTP
Spiritual Formation: INTJ, INTP
HR: ISTP
Production Dir: ISTP
Teaching: ISFP, ENTP
Min. Overseeer: INFP, ESTJ
Pastoral Care: INFP
Discipleship: INFP
Next-Gen: INTP, ESFP
Women's: ESTP
Men's: ESTP
Connections: ESTP, ENFP, ESTJ, ESFJ
Volunteer Coordinator: ESFP
Groups: ENFP
Outreach: ENFP
Youth: ENFP
Young Adults: ENTP
Campus Pastor: ESFJ
Lead Pastor: ENFJ, ENTJ
Multi-Site Pastor: ENTJ
College: ENTJ
1. Am I really available?
In other words, are my kids and wife having to compete with my cell phone, my fantasy football league, my Netflix, my twitter, and my golf game for my attention?...
2. Have I grown up?
There’s a big difference between growing up and growing old...
3. Do my kids know I love my wife?
There’s nothing that makes a child feel safer than seeing a mom and dad who truly love and cherish each other with their eyes, their words and their touch...
4. What do I say when I talk about God?
If you are anything like me, this doesn’t come easy. I have to work at it. Find moments to express your faith....
5. Do I practice vulnerability?
Perhaps the most daring thing I will ever do is to let his children in on my true feelings, hurts, fears and loves....
6. What am I hiding?
...Secrets are insidious. They damage our families and our selves. Whether it is erasing the history on your internet browser, the private messages on Facebook that you send to an old flame, or hiding a grudge – secrets will damage others before they are ever even revealed...
7. Do I model generosity?
_____________________________
Photo Credit: Spacebridge by longobord CC 2.0
Comments
Post a Comment