Leadership Life of a Senior Pastor Pt.3

Senior Pastor, when I wrote Shoulder to Shoulder, Strengthening Your Church by Supporting Your Pastor (Thomas Nelson), I was thinking of you. It can apply to all pastoral staff, but the core of the idea encompasses the role of the senior leader and raising up a church of strong, committed people.

I'd seen too many staff and members of a local congregation attempt to "fix" the pastor rather than come alongside and support him or her.

I was determined to do something. Shoulder to Shoulder speaks into these issues in a positive and productive way with chapters like "I thought my pastor was supposed to support me," "Champion your pastor's humanity," and "I'm not sure I even like my pastor." (Other chapters deal with maturity of the believer with topics from serving to tithing.) The book is widely used today in various environments from small groups to church boards. By the way pastor, the intended readers of the book are the people who attend your church.

So, what is the point in all this? And what's with the shameless plug of my book? The point is that the role of senior pastor is a difficult one. I'm not whining on your behalf, I know many jobs are difficult. But your role is unusual and greatly misunderstood. Hey, some people really do think pastors work one day a week!! It's unbelievable. And for those that suspect you might work more, they have no idea what you do: everything from daily administration to financial issues, staff issues, board issues, sick people, new people, unhappy people, sermons to write, problems to solve, buildings to build, new technology to keep up with, IRS regulations to learn, worship style, children's ministry, student ministry, political overtones, social justice, community involvement, prayer meetings, salvation, and of course the decision on the color of the new carpet. The church never sleeps and unfortunately, that is nearly the experience of the pastor as well.

My purpose isn't to attempt to explain the complexities of the role (to other readers), but more to support and encourage you within the reality of those complexities. So, here are some promises you can count on.

Leadership is a worthy aspiration.

This is not only a good and obvious place to start, but it is also a trustworthy saying from scripture.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
- I Timothy 3:1

Every senior pastor experiences times of questioning the leadership role. "What have I gotten myself into?" "Did I really hear you right God?" "Why do I want this anyway?" "Maybe I could just help out and let someone else lead."

God Himself breathed life into the words that you can trust. Being a leader is a worthy, noble, and high calling. In fact, you desire a good work. This is a reassuring promise on days when you might just as soon sell cars. What you do matters. Don't let anyone take that away from you.

It doesn't matter if your church averages 75, 750 or 7,500 - your leadership counts. Consider that the average parent would assess their contribution with high value if they successfully raised their own children! Even in the most modest-sized church, your investment in people is impressive.

People are counting on you and even if they don't always express appreciation, they really are grateful.

You're in a fight, but it's not your battle.

"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give all of you into our hands." 
- I Samuel 17:47

We all love the story of David and Goliath, except when Goliath is in our boardroom or on our staff or sitting in the front row of church, or the president of the bank waving the overdue mortgage in his hand.

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 
- I Samuel 17:45-46

You are in a fight, but it's not your battle and you have a champion fighting with you. Oswald Chambers said it this way in My Utmost for His Highest: "We are not sent to battle for God, but used by God in His battlings."

Battles become weary if you feel they belong to you; if you feel that no one else owns it and that you fight alone. The good news is this: whatever you face, you don't face it alone, and angels literally carry swords and fight for you!

God is with you.

This is personal. When Moses, one of the greatest leaders to ever walk this earth, asked God who would go with him, he wasn't asking about the battle or the fight, the question was personal. He wanted to know if God was with him.

Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You. Remember that this nation is Your people." The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
- Exodus 33:12-14

God's answer is amazing. He told Moses that He would go with him! And that promise goes for you as well. Whenever I begin a huge leadership undertaking, or make a commitment to a new ministry, as a leader I want to know who is with me. But, if I carry the responsibility of senior leader, there are times when it feels like I walk alone. My assurance can only come from God and He never lets me down. That promise is for you, too.

God knows you well.

It's one thing for God to be with you and to fight for you, but if He also knows you, I mean truly knows you, you have a sense of truth that gives you even greater confidence from which you can lead.

O LORD, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in - behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 
- Psalm 139:1-6

For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 
- Psalm 139:13-17

Few gifts, if any, surpass being known and loved unconditionally. My wife and kids give me that kind of love, and it's difficult to put the feeling to words. How much more is God's knowledge and love! This is yours on the happy and successful days as well as on the terrible days. You are never alone. The One who made you knows you and loves you.

You will be rewarded.

I don't know if this surprises you or not, but of all five promises, there were more scriptures for this one than the others. Candidly, I don't often think in terms of eternal rewards. I'm very aware of the overall idea, but not the detail. And I'm not enough of a Bible scholar to track it down to the nth degree. But the more I study this, the more I see that we have specific rewards that are being laid up in heaven for us.

If you are like me, this is not likely your primary motivation, or perhaps you don't think much about it at all. But I think it's okay for you to smile about the fact that God chooses to reward you and that someday the eternal life you will be granted will blow away anything this life on earth could ever have provided. I think it's healthy for you to connect with your coming reward. The Father loves you and delights in your service. So rejoice as you read these scriptures!

The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. 
- Proverbs 11:18

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 
- Daniel 12:3

I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. 
- Mark 9:41

The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
- I Corinthians 3:8-9

Because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 
- Ephesians 6:8

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
- I Peter 5:4

Be blessed and thanks for all you do!