The Foundation

As we move toward my third month as pastor at FBC, I'm beginning to to feel like the cobwebs are clearing and I've got a better understanding of where this big ship is headed.

I'll readily admit that the previous six months was a whirlwind -- I had a million and one conversations about what a pastor should look like, what his priorities should be, and what the church expects of him . . . and many of those conversations contradicted one another.

To be honest, it was slightly overwhelming and very intimidating.

But the solution, at least in my mind, was simple: God's opinion is the only one that counts.

Yet, I knew in my heart that I couldn't find the template for being the pastor at FBC from the past or from a handful of perspectives . . . I needed to walk in those shoes for a few months, listen to the Lord and the church, and allow things to slowly sift out.

And now, three months in, I'm starting to feel confident that I understand the foundation which I must lay as Pastor of FBC Russellville. Thankfully, it's best explained in two simple concepts.

First, a pastor is a preacher, not a CEO.

Now, depending on your church size, that may not make a whole lot of sense. But, in a larger church like ours, it's a big deal. Stephen Olford wisely wrote, "A pastor belongs in a study, not an office," and I agree with him.

My first and most important priority is to preach the Word in a way that brings Him glory and challenges the heart of our church members. The real power lays in the Word -- not in my personal charisma, or jokes, or fleshly intelligence -- and that real power is only wielded when the Word is being preached.

Yes, our church is large and some folks expect the pastor to run things like a businessman or a politician, but that's not a healthy perspective. As pastor, first and foremost, I believe I'll be judged in eternity future for how I preached the Word of God. I must focus on proper study of the Word and the needs of our congregation, preparation of messages, and then delivery of those messages.

Second, a pastor is a shepherd, not a CEO.

Now, it would be easy to assume this is just a different way of stating the previous priority, but -- after three months on the job -- I'm convinced it's a different concept entirely.

At our church, at least, I could spend all of my time directing ministry, planning ministry, coaching the staff team, and planning the business affairs of the church -- while completely neglecting the sheep. But that's not what God intends for a pastor.

The Scripture is consistent in regards to the office of the pastor: time in and time again, the pastor is referred to as a shepherd. And the shepherd must be with his sheep.

As pastor, my relationship with our congregation is critical. My time should be spent getting to know the entire congregation as best as possible and investing in their lives . . . and that cannot be done while constantly managing the business affairs of the church.

Fortunately, our church is large enough to employ a pastoral team who assists with the business and ministry of the church. John Stott, a wonderful evangelical leader who recently passed away, never liked the use of the word "minister" for pastors in a church because he thought it confused the church leadership structure.

In Scripture, pastors are to equip the saints for the work of ministry . . . pastors lead the church members into ministering. So, accordingly, all church members are to be "ministers," while the "pastors" lead and direct.

Again, in FBC, we have a large, amazing pastoral team to assist in this regard, from Tom Walker to Larry Walker (oldest to youngest), and I'm relying on this team (and our deacons and other key leaders) to help manage the day-to-day affairs of the church so I can focus on my two priorities: preaching the Word and shepherding the sheep.

I can't explain it any simpler than that . . . that's the pastoral foundation upon which I plan to build.

So, if you expect your pastor to be a CEO, you'll probably be disappointed. I'm going to spread the responsibility for key decision-making among a broader team of church leaders (the pastoral team, the deacons, and other lay leaders), and I'm going to focus on two key things: preaching the Word and shepherding the sheep.

We've only begun to unpack the ramifications of this foundation, but we'll get there -- together. And, as I've felt the confirmation of the Lord and our church on this simple job description, I've felt a sense of excitement and energy begin to run through me.

The foundation has been laid . . . now we're going to build upon it and see where God takes us!