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Dear Beloved Members, Pastors, and Supporters,
Recently I met with a pastor who was very hurt and offended when he overheard one of his parishioners say that he was not her favorite preacher.
Let’s be honest—most of us have favorite preachers. People that just resonate with you. Maybe it’s someone you follow online, a conference speaker, or a pastor from your past. Their style, their voice, their humor, or their insight just clicks with you. And that’s okay. God has uniquely gifted different leaders to teach and preach in ways that speak to different people.
But what happens when you are the pastor, and you are not the favorite preacher of your parishioners?
First, take heart: you are not alone. Almost every church member, at some point, wrestles with this quietly. And while it might feel awkward and may be difficult to accept, it’s not necessarily a sign of their spiritual immaturity.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. You are the pastor, not just the preacher. Preaching can be more performance driven, while pastoring is shepherding. As the pastor, your primary role isn’t to entertain or dazzle with words, but to faithfully teach God’s Word. You must also lead your church family. Which goes far deeper than just being a great preacher.
2. Realize that you may not be their preference, but they have chosen you as their pastor. God’s Word has the power to transform, regardless of the preacher’s style. Sometimes the sermons we don’t feel drawn to are the ones that God uses to do His deepest work in us.
3. Pastors feel the weight of preaching weekly. If you are faithfully preaching Scripture, you are doing the most important part. Don’t overlook the privilege you have to faithfully prepare and feed them the word of God.
4. As their pastor, you get the privilege of praying and caring for their souls. You get to walk with them through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Ask God to help them hear from Him—no matter who’s preaching. Every Sunday is an opportunity to meet with God. If we show up asking Him to speak, He will—through His Word and by His Spirit.
We live in a world full of on-demand sermons, don’t forget the beauty of the local church. You may not be their favorite preacher, but you have been called to pastor, love, and lead them. That is something no online preacher or sermon can replace.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Here to Serve!
Richard Taylor
Director, Corpus Christi Baptist Association
Rtaylor@ccbaptistassociation.org
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