"50 things I would do - If I were a Pastor"

[Neck]

This list comes from 40 years of church life. My personal family has over 10 ministers from the generation before that were pastors, evangelist, and Bible College Teachers . Within the United Pentecostal Church, Assembly of God, Southern Baptist convention and numerous independent churches. The current generation has over 5 minister's that are Pastor's, worship leaders, evangelist.

Feel free to comment.

I was asked this question recently.

If you were a pastor you would?

These comments do not reflect the actions or are they in response to any known individual.

They would be the code by which I would pastor....

Here is my list of "50 things I would do - If I were a Pastor."

If I were a Pastor – I would?

1. Preach on Heaven once a month.
2. Refrain from preaching prosperity as a signature of God’s approval.
3. Preach about victory – The victory that over cometh the world.
4. Spend time with the saints, (I spend time with my clients today).
5. Know the names of every saint. (I do that with my clients today).
6. Lead by example, i.e. Prayer, commitment, relationships.
7. Not watch TBN or the Word network for my material or sermon series.
8. Ministers should be like a song writer and preach from their own heart and with the words that convey their personal expression of God.
9. Never preach with any motive except to introduce the saint to a new expression of Christ and to the sinner “The Cross of Jesus Christ alone”.
10. Not write the new self help book that is a combination of Ziglar, Froid or L. Ron Hubbord.
11. If I can’t find inspiration from week to week I will get out of the pulpit.
12. I would preach how I was lost but now am found. I would say I am sorry from the pulpit.
13. My sermons would be fresh and inspired of the Lord.
14. I would not use a computer while preaching and would not be seen flipping yellow paged notes in the pulpit.
15. I would leave 5 minutes blank in my concept of the sermon outline for the Lord to speak through me for that moment.
16. I would spend a minimum of 10 hours a week preparing my Sunday sermon. (I spend twice that time today to prepare for a 1 hour customer meeting). When selling the concept of redemption and salvation should we not do better?
17. My sermons would have a connecting title. A title can be as important as the context of the sermon. How many titles of sermons can you quote from your pastor over the past few years?
18. Each and every sermon would have a goal that could be measured.
19. Saints come to church to learn something new not just to experience the next tingle.
20. I would “not” take control of the finances in the church.
21. I would “not” review the individual giving statements. My interactions with each saint would not be related to a balance sheet.
22. Never preach from the pulpit the freshly exposed sins of a saint in the church as inspiration.
23. Never comment from the pulpit on another Christian establishment, denomination or assembly for any reason.
24. I would never use slang or off beat jokes from the pulpit.
25. Never start a story and then not finish it.
26. I would credit like a writer when quoting another minister.
27. I would “never” discuss any personal conversation that is discussed with a saint. (Unless what is depicted by the laws that govern my state for notification).
28. I would have a goal to develop saints; men and woman to become ministers for Jesus Christ.
29. I would preach that we, “Will have growth” in the kingdom of God in this zip code.
30. I would never embarrass my wife or family from the pulpit.
31. My relationship with my wife would be an example that others could live by with observation.
32. Not preach that the saint’s kids should be mini-gods. If my kids are rough around the edges.
33. Every service would have one song sung about the Blood or price Christ paid for us.
34. Never take up more than one offering.
35. I would reach out to anyone that I knew was offended. Knowing you can never please everyone. What is wrong with the first hand of expression?
36. Teach folks how to worship God. It is not just with the fancy and catchy songs that we should raise our voices to God!
37. Keep a card in my pocket everyday with names from the church. Reminding me that the church is real people. Bringing their names before Christ.
38. The new list would be written every Sunday night to prepare me for the week. (I do that now with my customer appointment schedule).
39. I would call minimum of 5 saints a day. (I do that today with my customer rolodex).
40. I would say thanks personally and not just corporately from the pulpit.
41. I would share a minimum of 5 Evangelistic expressions everyday.
42. I would not share any situations even by keeping the folks unnamed to any evangelist or other ministers.
43. I would not manipulate a speaker to talk to someone by giving them hints on a saints needs.
44. I would have a guest speaker from the church or evangelist preach once every 2 months.
45. I would have my vacation schedule turned in by the end of March. Just like most employees of a company are required to each year.
46. I would request that my vacation time mirror a scale for years of service.
47. I would have a monthly review internally on the use of any charges to the church credit card.
48. I would share my external income from speaking engagements, business ventures or gifts to the church appointed trustee.
49. I would have a real open door policy. (I require that of my managers today).
50. I would always be open to add new items to this list.

[ManOfWord]

Excellent list and good goals to shoot for.


It will change if you ever become a pastor!

[EA]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Excellent list and good goals to shoot for.


It will change if you ever become a pastor!

In related news, if I were President I would.....

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

In related news, if I were President I would.....

Fire myself.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Excellent list and good goals to shoot for.


It will change if you ever become a pastor!

Totally understood.

It is never what you think even from church to church..

[Elizabeth]

Neck from reading your list I think you take how the saints are treated very seriously, which is awesome.

Another thing I learned that preachers unknowingly offend some by their some of their personal habits-(using a computer or a yellow note book while preaching).

I never even thought some of these things would be an issue. But we all look at things differently

[Pragmatist]

I know my dad hates it when preachers use notes, but to me it's a sign that they prepared and are staying on point. I'd rather they do that then come unprepared or just ramble (and I've seen lots of both).

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Pragmatist

I know my dad hates it when preachers use notes, but to me it's a sign that they prepared and are staying on point. I'd rather they do that then come unprepared or just ramble (and I've seen lots of both).

You get a hearty AMEN from me! We just had a man do this, no notes but lots and lots of rambling-

Notes help you to stay on topic and makes the message flow imo.

[rrford]

Peanut Gallery Preachers and Grandstand Pastors are lie folks who do not have kids telling folks who do how to raise them.


Not saying some of the points are not good. Some of them are. Some of them are being viewed through double thick rose colored glasses.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Neck

If I were a Pastor – I would?

7. Not watch TBN or the Word network for my material or sermon series.

It's a shame that there are pastors/preachers who do this.