Sabotage for a Good Cause
In a church of thousands, surely, there are at least 10 people who can be trained and equipped to preach on a Sunday morning. Surely there are 10 who have the stirring of a call to preach and lead a church that we can raise up.
They might not be able to do it with ease and confidence at first. They may sound like they're hyperventilating, shake and quiver like a jello mold, or attempt to restore "um" back into the English dictionary... but isn't sabotaging one Sunday for the sake of 2 Timothy 2:2 worth it?
We pastors are notorious for underestimating the capabilities of our people, and overestimating the importance of our role. We invite only professionals to speak for us... or hand off Memorial Day weekend and the last Sunday in December to the youth pastor when the repercussions are fewer.
Here's my challenge:
One Saturday a month. 10 men around a table. A list of prescribed reading. Scripture memorization. Trial message preparation with peer review. And then, finally, a supportive introduction to the congregation on a Sunday when we're not away. Mentoring killed the video star.
Right on Ben!!! I am totally with you on this one. It is a HUGE deal for congregations to see that there are other, strong, spiritual leaders within our churches that can and are called to preach the Word. No matter how articulated they are!!!
Posted by: Chris Rhodenhizer | July 07, 2008 at 09:38 AM
This is a great challenge! I would probably add that this is not just for the churches of thousands. I think we have reshaped Mentoring into Entourage Building for the Preaching Superstar and we all could use a remix back to the real mentoring. then maybe we could improve on our releasing these newly prepared leaders.
Posted by: Michael Fullerton | July 07, 2008 at 09:44 AM
The issue is many pastors are not leaders . . . just men who studied greek and hebrew well in college and can communicate . . .
Posted by: sebren | July 07, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Love it, love it, love it! YOu better believe the leadership team of Gurnee Community Church will hear about this idea when I get back there in October!
Posted by: LaMo | July 07, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Awesome. Yes. Great post. Preach it.
Posted by: Jon | July 07, 2008 at 10:33 AM
This is of course the ideal! Ministry should always be about people not the program. This is my only rub with doing multi-site via video, it kind of sets up an intentional system where very few people get to develop as teachers.
Posted by: Chris S. | July 07, 2008 at 10:49 AM
From the mouth of God.
Ben, as you may know I am a public school teacher trying to transition into full time ministry. I am longing to be mentored like that. I am even applying to the Protégé program with NCC and Mark Batterson. It would require me to liquidate my life and move my family 1500 miles east while also having to raise financial support to live on for at least a year. The funny thing is I think I am actually willing to do that to get the kind of mentorship and experience that I am seeking. BTW I am a member of a church that runs 3500 in worship and 2500 in life groups on Sundays.
Posted by: Chris Saulnier | July 07, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Chris, your comment ought to be a wake-up call to senior pastors everywhere.
Posted by: Ben Arment | July 07, 2008 at 05:23 PM
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!
Thank you, Ben!
I think the problem is that we don't believe that we're a body with a bunch of important parts. We don't believe that we actually need each other - and therefore have no responsibility to develop others.
I fear that our current model of head pastor teaching everyone else, every week, has calcified this idea. But there are other voices in your church that would be helpful for all of us to hear - the bible tells us so.
Ben, thank you for pointing this out. It's a PHENOMENAL idea!
Posted by: Jesse Phillips | July 07, 2008 at 05:50 PM
DEAD ON !
Posted by: Ken | July 08, 2008 at 10:15 AM
thank you Ben! You remain my hero.
Posted by: clint clifton | July 08, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Wow, yeah I feel the same enthusiastic agreement as the other commenters here. Great concept.
Posted by: Billy Chia | July 09, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Great post here...I just preached for the first time in 5 weeks this past Sunday after having 2 of our associate pastors preach the prior weeks while I worked youth camps, led worship because our worship leader was playing at Cornerstone, and spent time working on our leadership retreat...every week I was there for worship and the church didn't miss a beat. Our other pastors got some great experience and I got a great break and our church heard some really strong teaching. Not one complaint from anyone in the church and attendance actually went up. Count this guy in!
Posted by: Dale Schaeffer | July 14, 2008 at 11:10 AM