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

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Ain't that the truth!

• 10 hours per sermon x three sermons per week equals 30 hours plus 10 hours "in service" time for a total of 40 hours per week before you read a book, pray a prayer, visit a hospital, shuffle paper, counsel, clean, etc, etc, etc, etc. Good bye to the dream of being "Mr Model Family Man."
• Turning a blind eye to the list of supporters of the church is irresponsible. The end result is to allow the direction of the congregation to be determined by people who don't care enough to invest in the mission of the Church. Trustees who freeload, Sunday School teachers without enough faith to invest in the church, worship leaders who have no sacrifice on the altar. Sounds like a fine mess to me.
• A true open door policy in a church office is an invitation to insanity. It's laughable really. Say good-bye to the ten hours of sermon preparation and say hello to the retired, unemployed, bored, and people who measure their importance by being the pastor's buddy - they'll take turns walking through that open door, every single day.
• Six months in a pastorate would work wonders with this list and its thinly veiled criticisms of working pastors. It's easy to criticize the guys in the trenches, but arm chair generals don't win wars.

I've had an open door policy for over 25 yrs and it has never caused me any problems. I don't have anyone who wants to be the pastor's buddy. I am friendly with everyone and try to take every family out to eat sometime. Obviously, I can't do it all the time, but I do try to connect with each one in some way.

[EA]

There have been five times in my life that I have preached without notes. Each of those times I had notes prepared, but God led me in a different direction during the service. And I have preached over 2500 sermons, not including Bible studies, in my life.

I have no respect for a man who is not prepared, is not organized and mocks those who are.

Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.

[EA]

Originally Posted by Neck

If you know what your talking about and have it set.

You donot needs notes.

Have you ever watched a TV and the actor keeps looking away at the que card? To me that actor is not serious and is unprepared.

To me a minister nailing it with flow and annointing without notes is Prepared.

Many of those yellow not pads are filled with chicken scratch from playing a preaching tape or watching Rod Parlsay.

You're in a dream world.

[rrford]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

You're in a dream world.

The bad thing about living in a dream world is that eventually the alarm clock rings.

[EA]

Originally Posted by Neck

Many of the pastors I have encountered have no business sense and no people skills.

Really?

Many?

Dude, you have an ego problem.

At some point you are going to have to step out of daddy's shadow and do something for God on your own.

[JaneEyre]

I would not need 50 things. I would do one thing - RESIGN

[Pastor Keith]

Originally Posted by Neck

TO MOW and the rest.

My 50 things that I would do.

Are not cuts or slams on what others do.

They are the ultimate items that I would do as a pastor.

Because I do them in my personal business.

I do use Power Point etc only during a presentation.

I do not however have a stack of notes that I have to read.

The presentations are flow freely.

It helps the audience get comfortable.

I have sat in hundrends of hours of boring read each note on the slide presentation.

At the end felt like I was dead....

The teachers and presenters that kpet it fresh.

Taught me so much more then 0's and 1's....

The many times that I have preached over the years.

Did not require me to express my thoughts using notes.

It was done in way that was expressive....

Neck,

I appreciate the spirit of your post, but I don't and won't do your suggestions as God has made us different with various gifting and administrations of those gifts. But in referring to your business, does your product change? If not then you don't have to worry about notes because your product line doesn't change.

In the case of Pastoring, of course our ultimate product Jesus doesn't change, but scripture and truth is an endless gold mine that sometimes can't be recalled without some support or help.

In the case of being a bi-vocational pastor that preaches 3xs a week I need notes, sermon series helps and other means at my disposal, I am sorry if that is not up to your standard but that is my reality and feel God approves.

[berkeley]

Chip, meet Neck's shoulder... Shoulder, Chip....

[Neck]

Originally Posted by rrford

The bad thing about living in a dream world is that eventually the alarm clock rings.

Sounds like you ministers are Bill Murray not me.

i would love to see some in the board room negotiating a 55 million dollar.

10,000 site voice and data application converged network.

Having to rely on notes.

Do we use Powerpoint in the presentaion room.

Yes we do.

But we have the majic up on a visual screen.

We do not have our PC open and clicking our mouse and reading from a screen no one else can see.

Again I am not mocking anyone.

Did you ever see Nathaniel Urshaun pull out his yellow pad?

[Neck]

Originally Posted by JaneEyre

I would not need 50 things. I would do one thing - RESIGN

That is the single reason that I have not chose the path that so many wanted to chose for me.

If I could not be comitted to doing it right then I would not do it.

Again that is my own process.

Why am I getting challanged on what I would do.

Tell me how you run your overly successful, thriving and healthy church.