Mark 6:31 "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." Pastors sometimes assume withdrawal is what faithful people do only after ministry ends. Jesus' life tells a different story. Jesus withdrew in the middle of ministry—not because the mission was unimportant, but because communion with the Father was essential to the … Continue reading Come Away and Rest A While: What Pastors Can Learn from Jesus’ Pattern of Withdrawal (Part 5)
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Jesus is Our Rest: Why the Deepest Renewal a Pastor Needs Cannot be Found Merely in a Day Off (Part 4)
In Matt. 11:28-29 Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." A pastor can take a day off and still remain restless. He can leave town and carry the church with him in his head. He can sleep longer and still wake up anxious. That … Continue reading Jesus is Our Rest: Why the Deepest Renewal a Pastor Needs Cannot be Found Merely in a Day Off (Part 4)
Sabbath: God’s Rhythm for People Who Cannot Do Everything (Part 3)
Recovering Rest, Worship, and Delight in a Culture of Constancy The Bible’s first picture of rest appears before human sin, before the law of Moses, and before Israel existed as a nation. Genesis 2 describes God ceasing from his work on the seventh day, blessing that day, and setting it apart.1 The point is not … Continue reading Sabbath: God’s Rhythm for People Who Cannot Do Everything (Part 3)
The Forgotten Shepherds of Small Places (Part 1)
Why small-town and rural pastors matter more than their visibility suggests! When conversations about church leadership focus on large congregations, growing cities, and highly visible ministries, it is easy to overlook the thousands of pastors serving in communities that rarely make headlines. Yet small-town and rural churches are not peripheral to God's mission. They are … Continue reading The Forgotten Shepherds of Small Places (Part 1)
The Significant Role of Small Town Rural Pastors (Part 2)
Small-town rural churches are significant because they contribute to Kingdom growth in many ways. First, they are giving to the CP. In 2023, SBC churches reported undesignated receipts of over $10 billion, up less than 1% from 2022, and mission expenditures through SBC avenues increased by 9% to nearly $800 million. Although they may contribute less than … Continue reading The Significant Role of Small Town Rural Pastors (Part 2)
Concluding Thoughts on Mentoring
The Paul Timothy relationship began when Timothy was young and continued throughout his lifetime. There needs to be a generational emphasis in mentoring that includes a paternal and pastoral approach. Pastors need trustworthy guides and advisors who are intentional and personal in their leadership development. Mentoring relationships in the local church are an effective vehicle for … Continue reading Concluding Thoughts on Mentoring
Component 4: Paul Releases Timothy to Mentor Others
Three passages in 2 Timothy mark the importance of Paul commending Timothy to mentor others, as he has received training as a mentee. In their book Mentoring: Biblical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives, Dean K Thompson and Dr. Cameron Murchison write, “Of the three pastoral epistles, the letter that most clearly represents the wisdom of an elder Christian passed … Continue reading Component 4: Paul Releases Timothy to Mentor Others
Component 3: Paul Trains Timothy in an Incremental Way
A wise leader does not entrust his follower with a task he has not first prepared him to receive. He gradually trains and releases over time and with great care. The mentoring approach of Paul to Timothy exemplifies this slow and deliberate process. The art of mentoring is on display when a mature mentor releases … Continue reading Component 3: Paul Trains Timothy in an Incremental Way
Component 2: Paul Shares His Life and Ministry Alongside of Timothy
In his well-known book, The Master Plan of Evangelism, Dr. Robert E. Coleman writes, “Building men and women is not that easy. It requires constant personal attention, much like a father gives to his children…children are not raised by proxy. The example of Jesus would teach us that it can be done only by persons staying close to … Continue reading Component 2: Paul Shares His Life and Ministry Alongside of Timothy
Mentoring Component 1: Paul Nurtured a Personal Relationship with Timothy
In these posts regarding mentoring, I will contend that Paul’s mentoring approach to raising Timothy up as a leader includes nurturing a person relationship with him, sharing life alongside of him, training him in an incremental way, and releasing him to multiply into other leaders. I will share the first of these components in this post. … Continue reading Mentoring Component 1: Paul Nurtured a Personal Relationship with Timothy
Valley Shepherds 