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Pastor

God tends to call the “wrong” people to do God’s work

Mar 15th, 2011
by Michael Krahn.
28 comments

William H. Willimon on preaching and The King’s Speech:

The King’s Speech reminded me what a high vocation it is to enable others to find their voice in service to a God who uses our weakness to bring God’s gospel to speech. I preach today as the recipient of Lionel Logue-like instruction. One spring afternoon at Yale Divinity School I confessed to my teacher, Bill Muehl, that I was self-conscious about my thick southern accent, which everyone in New Haven seemed compelled to note and ridicule. “You can make good money in Texas with that accent,” Muehl assured me.

When I told him I had no intention of preaching in Texas, Muehl said, “Pity,” and then handed me a stack of reel-to-reel tapes. “Listen to these,” was his only instruction, “they are some of the greatest preachers of our time.”

I took the tapes back to my dorm room and spent the rest of the day listening to sermons by Harry Emerson Fosdick, William Sloane Coffin and Hal­ford Luccock. Immediately I noted that none of these great preachers possessed a great voice—all of them had odd speech quirks and vocal weaknesses. I got the point: as in the Bible, God tends to call the “wrong” people, without a surfeit of gifts, to do God’s work.

Fosdick in particular made me laugh, with his high-pitched, nasal twang. But I couldn’t stop listening. Fosdick must have had something really important to say, I thought, for why else would a guy who sounded like that be speaking in public? I thought: I may not have the best voice in the world, but it’s as good as Harry Emerson Fosdick’s! That day I became a preacher.

As Paul says, God demonstrates God’s power in our weakness. In speaking up to smooth-talking Hitler, faltering, stammering King George demonstrated a peculiar power. But for any of that to happen, God needed someone to help the king find his voice. This is the difficult and holy vocation of the teaching of preaching.

Read the rest of Willimon’s post here. Order the book The King’s Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy here.

Does Preaching Make Disciples?

Feb 22nd, 2011
by Michael Krahn.
10 comments

Thabiti Anyabwile responding to the assertion that the traditional sermon is the culprit in “crippling discipleship.”

I think that assertion errs in at least two ways:

1. It assumes that the primary or perhaps exclusive way of making disciples is the Sunday morning sermon.
Wherever that’s being assumed, it seems to me to be wholly in error. Preaching is necessary to but not sufficient for making disciples. It takes the entire body with every member every day to make solid disciples.

The reason we have spiritually immature believers (which we’ll always have in some measure) and burned out pastors isn’t because the pastor preaches every Sunday (which most pastors enjoy doing). The reason we have immature believers and burned out disciples is because so many Christians are not opening their lives, inviting others in, and making spiritual deposits in intentional disciple-making relationships.

The problem isn’t that we have preachers; the problem is that every disciple is not themselves making disciples as our Lord commands.

2. The assertion errs because it makes preaching to believers unnecessary when the NT makes it necessary.
Paul explicitly commands Timothy to “preach the word” in the gathered assembly. What word is that? Likely the OT, which Paul says elsewhere was written for our instruction and example. Insofar as Timothy is to “preach the word,” he’s doing some form of exposition in the assembly. It doesn’t get much clearer than that.

That was found in the comments section of a post called “Who’s Doing the Talking in Our Church Gatherings?” The entire post and about 2/3 of the comments are worth reading here.

Trumping Up the Charges – A Parable

Feb 14th, 2011
by Michael Krahn.
No comments yet

So this guy named Paul gets arrested in a holy place. He gets arrested, ironically enough, because people who should be his allies are trying to kill him.

Why? Well, they had seen him with a second-class civilian earlier in the day, walking through the city. Now that same guy was in the holy place – not with Paul but… Unlawfully! – and they saw an opportunity to make an accusation.

Some dramatically inclined fellow puts on his acting hat and proclaims: “Help! You Israelites, help! This is the man who is going all over the world telling lies against us and our religion and this place. He’s even brought Greeks in here and defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:28 MSG) A mob beating ensues…

A more likely scenario is that they dragged the Greek against his will into the temple just to frame Paul. As one commentator put it: “The possibility that Trophimus [the Greek] might have wandered of his own free will into the forbidden area is about as likely as that somebody should wander into the private rooms in the Kremlin for the purpose of sightseeing.”

Besides, they could have asked Paul directly if he’d brought him in but, shucks, he might say no, and then what? Paul was guilty of associating, no doubt, just like Jesus often was, but no proof existed that he had actually transgressed the law. But why let that spoil the fun?

“Never mind the facts – we say Paul brought him here! Let’s get him, boys!”

Part of their message to Paul was, “Be careful whom you are seen with in any place. It could come back to haunt you…” and you can imagine that being followed with an “if-you-know-what-I-mean” wink. In other words, they were seeking to control his actions with fear of repercussions – in this case, direct physical violence.

Like this was news to Paul. He already knew, since the Holy Spirit had notified him, that in every city he went to there would imprisonment, beatings, and persecution. (see Acts 20:23-18-23)

And So…
When people don’t like what you’re doing, they’ll use anything as a stone to throw. Good intentions? – We don’t care. Actual facts? – Maybe later.

When people don’t like what you’re doing, they watch you with an eye for any small mistake that can be leveraged into a full-scale assault.

When people don’t like what you’re doing, they’re willing to believe anything negative about you because they’ve already decided what they think about you.

When people like this don’t like what you’re doing, be blessed, because Jesus says you ARE blessed. Matthew 5:11-16 (ESV):

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (or, as Peterson puts it: “My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”)

Be blessed.

“Ask a Pastor” Answers

Jan 27th, 2011
by Michael Krahn.
No comments yet

I threw a question out on Facebook a couple of days ago. “What is one question you’ve always wanted to ask a pastor?” Below are responses to some of the questions:

Where do I struggle in my faith? Hmmm… I’ve shared with some of you before that faith is an area of strength for me. I feel that I’ve been given an “extra portion” so to speak. This has nothing to to with anything I’ve done to obtain an extra portion, simply that God has given me strength in this area for a purpose. What is that purpose? Primarily so that I can engage and encourage those who struggle deeply with faith.

This is not to say that I have no doubts – I have plenty, but they rest inside the fence of faith.

To your second question: If I’d been born into a different religion, who knows; if I’d made a choice, probably Buddhist.

At the same time, because I do believe in ultimate truth, and that that ultimate truth is Jesus Christ, I believe thst regardless of what religion I could have been, my search for THE truth (Jesus) would have ultimately led me to him.

Next question:
In one word: distraction – “the diversion of attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction.” TV, internet, email, txt messaging, kids sports, etc, etc, etc… and I’m probably the guiltiest one.

How can you be part of the solution? Be an example of wise time management and technology use.

Next:
Answer: have you ever read Song of Solomon?

Next:
I don’t understand…. I would do what I’m doing now, but I would work for free. Is that what you’re asking?

Next:
I find that throughout the day works well and that answers do not necessarily come in the same order as questions are asked. Also, sometimes the answers are not what you expect them to be and you don’t notice them until days, weeks, or years afterward.

Write out your prayers and regularly take time to reflect. You’ll see God working.

Next:
Who says I don’t get depressed? I do, but nowhere near as often or to the degree that I used to.

Realizing that I am not THE solution (actually, sometimes I’m part of the problem) is crucial. It’s not up to me to fix people. My job is to help them make space for God to do what needs to be done.

Next:
My answer to Matt is always the same: communism. [inside joke alert]

That’s it for now. Thanks for the questions. Let’s do this again sometime.

Feel free to discuss in the comments section or in the comment thread at Facebook.

Baggage is Part of Community

Jan 7th, 2011
by Michael Krahn.
2 comments

A Caveat
In the comments section of yesterday’s post (Pastoring and The Honeymoon Period), PJ pointed out that marriage is not the perfect metaphor for describing the relationship between pastor and congregation. I agree to the extent that Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is his bride – not the pastor’s. But the analogy of a honeymoon period works insofar as the relationship is, like marriage, a covenant between two parties.

So I’ll continue with the marriage metaphor with the caveat that I’m not talking about taking the place of Jesus in the lives of the people in a church.

I ended yesterday saying that in a pastor-congregation relationship, whether a decision is made to continue or to part ways, there is probably some accumulated baggage.

Baggage
Baggage is looking at someone (or a group of people) and knowing things about them that wish you didn’t. Baggage is also them looking back at you and knowing things about you that they wish weren’t true. Once this is the case, you’re done dating.

Despite all of the above, an absence of baggage should not be the ultimate determining factor in the decision to continue or part ways. It’s not like a probation period for either the pastor or the congregation. It’s not a “Behave well during this time and we’ll reward you with our presence” arrangement.

No, baggage is part of community; until you have some, you don’t have community; once you have some, you have the potential for community and the beginnings of a healthy relationship.

Baggage should not determine the future of a relationship. But the way baggage is handled will. Sin – which is what leads to baggage – in any relationship needs to be confronted, confessed, repented of, and then forgiven.

Forgiveness, as all of you who are married will know, is the foundation of marriage.

Tomorrow: Seasons of Attack the Lure of Adultery

Pastoring and The Honeymoon Period

Jan 6th, 2011
by Michael Krahn.
14 comments

When you become a pastor, what’s commonly known as the “honeymoon period” is the time after a pastor first arrives when both pastor and congregation overlook one another’s mistakes. The length of this phase can be anywhere from six months to a year to two years.

During this period you’re already hired and working among the people but as a wise older pastor told me when I was first hired, “Somewhere around the one to two year mark the people will decide whether or not you love them.”

It was simple enough sounding at the time and to tell you the truth, as a first-timer and early in the game at that point, I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant, but it has rung in my brain ever since.

He wasn’t talking about the type of love that caters to whims or performs magic tricks to impress. He was talking about the kind of love that encourages and corrects, that speaks prophetically and compassionately, that both examines and opens itself to examination.

The Dating Phase
I think what he was describing in this part of the journey is more like a pre-marriage or “dating period”. Good marriages are based on foreknowledge, and the first six months to two years of a pastor’s life with a new congregation are spent getting acquainted. In other words, if there’s a hope of longevity, you don’t wait until AFTER you’re married to get to know each other.

During this phase you’re trying to figure out whether you’re going to make things more permanent or decide part ways. In a worst-case scenario, where the dating period has revealed obvious incompatibility, the politics can make things tricky. Either a contract has been signed for a certain number of years or neither party is willing to make the call to pull the plug on the relationship.

So sometimes the marriage is maintained to keep up appearances or for the reasons that it’s both too complicated and too time-consuming to correct. Either way, whether a decision is made to continue or to part ways, there is probably some accumulated baggage.

Tomorrow: “Baggage is Part of Community“

Preaching As A Collective Activity

Dec 19th, 2010
by Michael Krahn.
No comments yet

“Preaching does not have to be an individualistic sort of activity. In fact, great preaching well understands this. The true preacher is not over against the Christian congregation but rather is an expression of the congregation.

The true Christian preacher affirms the faith of the congregation, and raises up the hope of the congregation. Much of the genius of great preachers is their ability to express the faith of the people to whom they are preaching”

Hughes Oliphant Old, The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures, p. 271

(via:Doug)

Presentation Guidelines

Dec 16th, 2010
by Michael Krahn.
2 comments

These guidelines will be helpful for anyone who frequently makes presentations, but especially for pastors.

As pastors, we often find ourselves in the position of proposing or spearheading change. Usually a part of those efforts is a document and a verbal presentation.

Let’s just say it out loud, ok? We pastors can be an academically nerdy bunch. Most of us read a lot and spend large amounts of time putting our thoughts on paper. And then we often forget that the majority of the people we’re speaking to have no experience in our environment.

To overcome this hurdle I suggest four things:

1. Keep It Short
Invariably, when presenting a substantial document to a group of people, the length will be seen as overwhelming. You can assure them that it’s NOT overwhelming and that the first draft was WAY longer, but most of them will still look at it and say “wow, that’s long…”

2. Hand Out Copies In Advance
If possible, get the document into the hands of those who need to see it a few days before your presentation. This will ease the tension in the room on presentation day since they’ll have had a opportunity to look at the document and (hopefully) attain a level of comfort with it.

3. Include a Glossary Page
Comb your document for words that are common in the theological circles you run in and include them on the glossary page. If you are oblivious to which words these are, ask someone outside your circle to read your document and circle them. They’ll know.

Mention the location of the glossary page both when you distribute the document and at the outset of your presentation so people know they can flip to it at any time.

4. Establish Terminological Handles
Do introduce new words and concepts but then be consistent about using them.

Expanding the thinking and word knowledge base of others is a good thing, but giving people too much at one sitting is counterproductive. You might appreciate the interchangeability and nuances of certain words but the effect on others is usually confusion.

By defining new words and concepts in broader terms now you will be able to expand on them as understanding deepens after a time of consistent usage. As Seth Godin says: “Take complicated overall answers and make them simple steps instead. Teach complexity over time, simply.”

*(Bonus point for not saying, “These are the terminological handles for which comprehension is required as I commence with my presentation…” unless you’re including all of those words in your glossary)

5. Presentation is a Team Sport
Ensure that there is adequate time for verbal presentation of the document and time for questions as you go – not just at the end.

People can easily and quickly feel intimidated by anything that has an overly academic ring to it. This is something that needs to be remedied to an extent on their part with more education (self and/or formal education) but in the meantime anything you can do to sound less academic will win you a more favorable hearing.

You don’t want to lose “the meat”, but the meat has to be chewable.

What If Pastor Can’t Preach? (Part II)

Dec 15th, 2010
by Michael Krahn.
9 comments

A few weeks ago I wrote a post called “What If Pastor Can’t Preach?” in which I explored the idea that a lead pastor doesn’t necessarily need to be a great preacher. That started a good discussion worth reading  in the comments section.

Yesterday someone left the following question there:

I came to this looking for insight on how to address our Pastor’s mediocre sermon writing and sub-par speaking skills. I love my pastor like a brother, but he clearly is not gifted for the puplit. In our small, struggling to survive congregation where he is the only one preaching, we have few returning visitors. Rambling thoughts, awkward phrasing & pacing, constant ums, and the tendency to jam new concepts into the sermon at the last minute challenge even the most attentive listeners.

Though exceptional in small groups due to his in-depth scriptural knowledge, few newcomers stick around long enough to see that side of him.

I no longer invite friends to church as each and every one has decided to “continue their search elsewhere.” He is extremely defensive about his sermons and no longer approachable on the subject.

Now what?

Darryl Dash responded:

If what you’re saying is true, it merits an open and honest conversation with the pastor. I’ve been in his place, and it’s tough in the short term but worth it. If you do love him like a brother it won’t be an attack that leaves him flattened. The good news is that poor preachers can improve. They may never be great, but they can become decent.

If the pastor is not willing to receive honest feedback, that’s a separate and probably more serious issue. It has to be done safely and with the right people, but we all need to be willing to hear feedback from others.

Well done.

I read Darryl’s blog regularly. If you’re interested in practical observations about pastoring and local church life you should too. His blog is here.

Bigger Is Only Better Sometimes – Some Thoughts on Prospects and Pastoral Ambition

Dec 14th, 2010
by Michael Krahn.
7 comments

About a year ago I was quite enamored with my prospects for success. I had recently become a pastor; my site traffic was picking up; I had landed a gig writing a column for a national Christian newspaper. To what heights could I ascend? A book deal? A speaking tour?

It was all very exciting.

Somewhere in the last 6-8 months there has been a reversal. I’m still excited about the possibilities, but my heart and hopes have turned from my own prospects to the prospects of the people in my care.

I know that God has called some into “one-to-many” (?) ministries like mass evangelism, book writing, and speaking tours. I may be one of them, and if that’s the case, I’ll gladly follow the call. But more recently I’ve experienced a greater sense of contentment in realizing that the opposite suits me fine as well: to be known by a limited number of people, to not be a sought-after author/speaker, to have nobody outside of my own church or town recognize my name.

I’ll stay right where I am for the rest of my life if that’s where God wants me.

Too many have fallen into the trap of thinking that “bigger is better” and that visibility equals significance. I was almost one of them.

But significance is found only in obedience and faithfulness and our identity is found only in Christ. So bigger is only better if it’s God’s doing and not ours.

As a pastor, ambition is one of the biggest idols to deal with. Between the temptation to encourage sycophants and struggling to fend off attacks, sometimes it’s easier to seek to accomplish more as evidence of your calling rather than resting in God and leaving it to him. (see “Making An Idol of Ambition“)

But I have been experiencing contentment, and discovering this contentment has something to do with he fact that we’re pursuing “strategic division” (?) at my church. Well over 500 people call the church I’m serving at their home church and I probably don’t even know 250 of their names.

Ministering in a “one-to-many”(?) environment can frustrating. It can be disjointing and can force a level of dis-traction that is unhealthy. At some point you resign yourself to the fact that you never WILL know the names of everyone who goes to your church.

But we’re already seeing the benefits of strategic division. On Saturday nights I look around and I know everyone, and when there is someone I don’t know I actually notice.

That’s a good experience, and it feels a whole lot more like “church” than sitting with – or serving – hundreds of people I don’t know.

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