Great perspective! Pastors are shepherds who happen to be responsible for bringing messages. Not the reverse. From my experience, Insecurity is one of Satan’s primary weapons against believers and especially shepherds/pastors. Insecurity is one Satan’s effective weapons against shepherds making them uncomfortable mixing with the sheep. Pastors should ask themselves and God; why am I so insecure and uncomfortable in the lobby? Then, allow Him to take them on a journey of revealing and healing allowing compassion to be the dominant force in the personality. When compassion rules, they’ll be compelled to flee the confines of the green room and move with love to survey the well being of their flock.
Pastor Jon. I appreciate you and thank you that your sermons are of great value in providing encouragement wisdom, and hope in my life. God Bless and keep you strong, courageous and humble. I also appreciate your humor.
I love how you point out that the shepherd is supposed to smell like sheep. So good.
There are many dairy farms throughout Central California. To drive from Northern California to Southern California, you must drive through these pockets of dairy farms. To me, they smell really bad. Stinky cows. However, to others, those who spend their lives working there, the smell is not only familiar, but is comforting. When my family takes a trip and drives through those dairy farms, our kids always say how bad it smells. My wife, whose family came from that area, always says something like this: "My grandpa used to tell us that that smell is the smell of money." That overwhellming smell of cows, something so stinky to outsiders, is precious to those who have made it their life's work. Likewise a shepherd with their sheep, I would imagine.
Lord, make me one who misses the smell of sheep when I am not around them.
Great thoughts Jon! You succinctly identified the challenge facing so many pastors of churches, big and small. (I don't have a green room, but I cannot tell you how many times I wish I did.) I think part of the problem is contextual. Bringing the Word of God is a fearsome and awesome responsibility. We pour so much effort into crafting a message from God, that after delivering it, we feel depleted and drained. (Or at least I do.) Therefore, the moments following the worship is not an optimal time to interact with people expressing their own frustrations and challenges. That said, I agree with your recommendation. Get out in the lobby. People want to know that their spiritual leaders are accessible, not isolated and secluded. Indeed, so much of pastoring and leadership can be achieved through a ministry of presence.
You're so right Art. After church you are drained. And honestly there are days I just don't have it in me and I do go to the green room, and you may need to go to a private room or even your car! Ha!
If I may, I would like to point out, especially to those in a preaching/teaching position in ministry of some type, that there is always, always another perspective to absolutely everything.
Another perspective of when parishioners share Bible verses or life examples of your teaching with you, could be:
#1) they were truly listening to your teaching
#2) they are making true life connection to what you were saying
#3) God is at work in their heart
#4) they're excited about what Father God is doing in them
#5) they truly want to be relational with their Pastor and form a bond with them
#6) they want others to rejoice with them in their excitement
#7) they must be actually reading their Bibles and apply the teaching to their lives.
Just sharing another perspective.... sometimes it's fun accepting a challenge of finding alternative perspectives to life's bumps along the way....
Thank you, Pastor Jon. It sounds like you get it, but I'm not sure how much it means to people that you are present in the lobby. And I do mean present. You not only greet people, you look them in the eye and convey to them that you see them and care. Having attended churches where the pastor could only be seen on the platform, it is exciting to be able to see and speak to you. Forgive me when I get tongue tied when I do speak to you. It's a new experience!
I just read a statement from Jim Cymbala, a man who would be called a great modern-day "ReLeader." He grew up and went to college focusing on basketball. Never went to seminary, yet took a church of < 20 poor people, to be, what is known today, to be the Brooklyn Tabernacle, in the New York City getto.
I love his books!! You can recognize the Power of the Holy Spirit in every one of them!!
This statement struck me as definitely quote-worthy, in a book I'm devouring right now! It is a statement that I am praying that God will imbed deep into my character!
"The greatest deception of all has nothing to do with New Age philosophy or the occult. Rather, it is the idea that we can represent and preach Christ while being strangers to his heart of love."
Of course, his point is, the creation of God, all those made in His image, is where His heart of love is!!
Great perspective! Pastors are shepherds who happen to be responsible for bringing messages. Not the reverse. From my experience, Insecurity is one of Satan’s primary weapons against believers and especially shepherds/pastors. Insecurity is one Satan’s effective weapons against shepherds making them uncomfortable mixing with the sheep. Pastors should ask themselves and God; why am I so insecure and uncomfortable in the lobby? Then, allow Him to take them on a journey of revealing and healing allowing compassion to be the dominant force in the personality. When compassion rules, they’ll be compelled to flee the confines of the green room and move with love to survey the well being of their flock.
Very true David. Why would a pastor be uncomfortable around his/her own sheep?
Pastor Jon. I appreciate you and thank you that your sermons are of great value in providing encouragement wisdom, and hope in my life. God Bless and keep you strong, courageous and humble. I also appreciate your humor.
Thank you Donna!
Very good. Thank you, Jon!
I love how you point out that the shepherd is supposed to smell like sheep. So good.
There are many dairy farms throughout Central California. To drive from Northern California to Southern California, you must drive through these pockets of dairy farms. To me, they smell really bad. Stinky cows. However, to others, those who spend their lives working there, the smell is not only familiar, but is comforting. When my family takes a trip and drives through those dairy farms, our kids always say how bad it smells. My wife, whose family came from that area, always says something like this: "My grandpa used to tell us that that smell is the smell of money." That overwhellming smell of cows, something so stinky to outsiders, is precious to those who have made it their life's work. Likewise a shepherd with their sheep, I would imagine.
Lord, make me one who misses the smell of sheep when I am not around them.
Amen to that Sean. That's a great prayer to pray! Thanks for sharing for our readers.
Great word Pastor Jon!!! Thank you for hanging out in the lobby!!!
Great thoughts Jon! You succinctly identified the challenge facing so many pastors of churches, big and small. (I don't have a green room, but I cannot tell you how many times I wish I did.) I think part of the problem is contextual. Bringing the Word of God is a fearsome and awesome responsibility. We pour so much effort into crafting a message from God, that after delivering it, we feel depleted and drained. (Or at least I do.) Therefore, the moments following the worship is not an optimal time to interact with people expressing their own frustrations and challenges. That said, I agree with your recommendation. Get out in the lobby. People want to know that their spiritual leaders are accessible, not isolated and secluded. Indeed, so much of pastoring and leadership can be achieved through a ministry of presence.
You're so right Art. After church you are drained. And honestly there are days I just don't have it in me and I do go to the green room, and you may need to go to a private room or even your car! Ha!
If I may, I would like to point out, especially to those in a preaching/teaching position in ministry of some type, that there is always, always another perspective to absolutely everything.
Another perspective of when parishioners share Bible verses or life examples of your teaching with you, could be:
#1) they were truly listening to your teaching
#2) they are making true life connection to what you were saying
#3) God is at work in their heart
#4) they're excited about what Father God is doing in them
#5) they truly want to be relational with their Pastor and form a bond with them
#6) they want others to rejoice with them in their excitement
#7) they must be actually reading their Bibles and apply the teaching to their lives.
Just sharing another perspective.... sometimes it's fun accepting a challenge of finding alternative perspectives to life's bumps along the way....
Absolutely love and agree 110% with the perspective of this article!!!!
Thank you Rachel
Thank you, Pastor Jon. It sounds like you get it, but I'm not sure how much it means to people that you are present in the lobby. And I do mean present. You not only greet people, you look them in the eye and convey to them that you see them and care. Having attended churches where the pastor could only be seen on the platform, it is exciting to be able to see and speak to you. Forgive me when I get tongue tied when I do speak to you. It's a new experience!
Haha!
Thank you for your kind words. The lobby is where all the action is! Why would pastors be anywhere else! See you this weekend.
I just read a statement from Jim Cymbala, a man who would be called a great modern-day "ReLeader." He grew up and went to college focusing on basketball. Never went to seminary, yet took a church of < 20 poor people, to be, what is known today, to be the Brooklyn Tabernacle, in the New York City getto.
I love his books!! You can recognize the Power of the Holy Spirit in every one of them!!
This statement struck me as definitely quote-worthy, in a book I'm devouring right now! It is a statement that I am praying that God will imbed deep into my character!
"The greatest deception of all has nothing to do with New Age philosophy or the occult. Rather, it is the idea that we can represent and preach Christ while being strangers to his heart of love."
Of course, his point is, the creation of God, all those made in His image, is where His heart of love is!!
Just thoughts I'd share...
Blessings,
Sorry, I forgot to tell you which book...!!😯
Of course, maybe that would inspire ya'll to read every last one of them...😂🤣😅
It is "Breakthrough Prayer" page 121.