“My life is being poured out like a drink offering for you,” Paul wrote to a church he planted (Philippians 2:17, paraphrased). You know this feeling of emptying yourself if you minister to other people. I got a letter from Joe Chambers who pastors in Colorado. He’s been part of our Soul Shepherding community for…
“As a senior pastor I was trying to be someone I was not,” writes Pete Scazzero. “I attended conferences and read books about growing a larger, healthier, more powerful church. If only I would be and do as their leaders, then our church would be equally large and prosperous.” Probably all of us in some…
If you’re caring for people that have been traumatized or are in crisis then you’re suffering with them vicariously. If you’re a pastor, you probably think you live in a nice city, but actually you’re in a spiritual and emotional war zone! Just being a tender-hearted person in our world today exposes you to vicarious…
Our great need right now is to have our hearts warmed by God’s love. This is what makes us happy and fruitful! Most everyday pastors seek my care and counsel. Is there a difference if I listen well or listen well with the love of God in my heart? Does it make a difference if…
Empathy. Tender-hearted concern for our feelings. We all need it — especially when we’re hurting. But sometimes we lose touch with our heart’s need. “I was burned out and didn’t know it,” lead pastor Ken Baugh reflects. “I was so depleted of my own energy that I had just enough to get from weekend to…
It would seem that Pastor Pete Wilson had a great life. Look at his family. Look at his church. He planted Cross Point in Nashville, TN in 2002 and it grew to six campuses and 7,500 people. It’s one of the fastest growing churches in America. He launched innovative ministries, sharing the love of Christ…
If I could have anyone lead me on a spiritual retreat with Jesus it’d be Brennan Manning. I wish I could do that and invite you to join me, but he died in 2013. But we can imagine what it’d be like to have Brennan guide us on retreat. That’s what we’ll do in this…
Dave Rimoldi’s Story “I felt so burned out before our meetings,” a pastor recalled to Dave. “The hectic pace of church ministry had drained me dry. I was day dreaming about becoming a barista at Starbucks!” “Now I’m excited to preach again and to serve the people in my church. I’ve learned a new pace…
Burnout is a huge problem for pastors and leaders. The way to prevent burnout is to draw life from God, not our own self. Then God overflows from our life, to our good works, to our ministry, to our job. We burnout when we rely on our own strength and abilities and give too much to our job and ministry.
Sometimes the Christian life feels like a “dogged, religious plod” rather than a “living, spirited dance!” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, MSG). What’s gone wrong? Dallas Willard answers, “You need to arrange your life for deep contentment, confidence and joy in everyday life with God. This requires a great a vision of God.” (Shared by John Ortberg…