When I am looking for new pastors, one of the qualities and capabilities I look for is the ability to gather. When someone is a true pastor, people gather around them. It’s a part of the gifting on their life. That’s one of the reasons why I love starting potential pastors off as small-group leaders,Continue reading “Just for the Pastors 12: Gathering”
Author Archives: Tree of Life Church
Just For the Pastors 11: Instructors and Fathers
You have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but you do not have many fathers, for in Jesus Christ I have given birth to you through the gospel. Therefore I beg you to be followers of me (1 Cor. 4.15-16) Notice there are two different kinds of ministries in this verse: instructors and fathers. Notice thereContinue reading “Just For the Pastors 11: Instructors and Fathers”
Just For the Pastors 10: The Responsibility
One of the elements of pastoring that is not talked about enough is that it is a very serious and deep responsibility. You do not have the authority or right to control someone’s life, your job is not about constantly telling people off, but on the other hand if you do not get involved inContinue reading “Just For the Pastors 10: The Responsibility”
Just For the Pastors 09: Beware of Wolves!
In our last post, we looked at the fact that some people in your church are sheep and some are goats, and how you as a pastor can tell the difference. Often the people themselves do not know the difference! Many goats in your church think they are sheep but they are always fighting, alwaysContinue reading “Just For the Pastors 09: Beware of Wolves!”
Just For the Pastors 08: You Can’t Pastor Goats!
Jesus says on a number of times that some people are sheep and some people are goats. Every pastor realizes this but often cannot articulate and often does not know what to do about it. Here is what pastoring looks like when you cannot tell the difference between sheep and goats: You need to realizeContinue reading “Just For the Pastors 08: You Can’t Pastor Goats!”
Just For the Pastors 07: Equip the Saints!
Part of the ministry of the pastor is to “equip the saints to do the works of ministry, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforthContinue reading “Just For the Pastors 07: Equip the Saints!”
Just for the Pastors 06: Challenge Inclusiveness!
One of the worst false doctrines today is given the high sounding name of ultimate reconciliation. What it means is that everyone will eventually end up in Heaven – including satan! Sometimes it is called inclusion or universalism – there are several differences in the pathways, but they all mean the same end thing –Continue reading “Just for the Pastors 06: Challenge Inclusiveness!”
Just for the Pastors 05: Handling Greatness!
We are not called to be neurotic perfectionists and we are not called to copy the world, but we are called to be excellent in the way we do things. For the next few posts, I want to talk about being excellent. The first way to be excellent is to bring excellent gifts. When theContinue reading “Just for the Pastors 05: Handling Greatness!”
Just for the Pastors 04: What it Looks Like!
As pastors we should have a concern about what things look like. Many pastors and churches looks a lot like the world. And people need to realize you do not get the world to come to church by being worldly. Others look like they have just woken up. So in that sense, some care shouldContinue reading “Just for the Pastors 04: What it Looks Like!”
Just for the Pastors 03: The Church is Utterly Essential
Nothing is more important to the purposes of God on earth as the local church. When we are saved, Jesus Christ of Nazareth personally picks out a local church for us to go to, and has decided a role, a place, a position, for us in that local church. We are all members of theContinue reading “Just for the Pastors 03: The Church is Utterly Essential”
Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers 