Pastoral Theology

Introduction

Youth ministry, Family Ministry, Camp Ministry, and been in the pastorate for over 14 years now

Husband of Lisa 23 years… 3 children 19, 17, 15 (two dogs)

Purpose here… teach this class!… actually seeking to provide internship possibilities

Class Objective…

Pressures & Problems New Pastors Face and Lessons Learned (45 minutes)

Concept: preconceived Ideas on all sides

We even come to scripture with these (flannel-graph screwed up my theology)

Webster: to form (an opinion) prior to actual knowledge or experience

Churches have them for pastors (previous pastor or church, social media, culture)

Pastors have them for the church they will go to (your pastor, this class & school, background, dreams)

OPINION: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter OR  belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge

Take TIME to get past thier’s and your OPINIONS and PRECONCEIVED IDEAS… in order to GAIN: knowledge & experience

1- Dead Dog Syndrome

2-You Are New

3- Boldness

4- Feeling Alone

REMEMBER: These are my views, opinions, and my conceived idea of what I needed to speak on…

Dead Dog Syndrome

You gripe and groan about the old dog until he dies and then you get a new pup…

Energetic and younger / Not the same… and NOW that old dog was the best as you are annoyed with this new pup.

Letting go is difficult… Joshua and Moses Joshua 1:1-2 Notice God is speaking with (JOSHUA)

God is still going to work, but through you

God has not changed, but the people’s leader has

Take them to the same God

Lead them, comfort them, but move forward don’t live in the past because the old dog was so great

You are the NEW LEADER that leads me to the second pressure or problem…

You Are New

You cannot avoid this pressure or problem…

New ideas… don’t change everything, they ma want to change everything

New changes… change is hard for most, converse about the changes they desire (SLOW)

New uncertainties… you don’t know what you’re getting into, neither do they, create comfort and communication

New excitement… they are excited you are excited. Use this cautiously.

Have good boundaries in place and set new boundaries in this new season

Voicemail, Family, peoples activities… (reassess with NEW seasons)

There will be expectations, spoken and unspoken… and because you are new I feel there are problems and pressures in the area of BOLDNESS

Boldness

This is both a pressure and a problem…

NOT being bold enough (this is often because of fear)…

Joshua 1:6 & 9 … Acts 4:29

Handle God’s Word with authority

Dealing with “new ideas” of theology

Allowing truth to speak

Call out and deal with sin

Do not allow yourself to compromise standards / but be willing to find compromise where it can be had

Being TOO BOLD… (this is often due to pride) young bucks need to learn their place sometimes

Remember to take time to understand

Respect those who are your elder

Lead with not over

Cater to life wisdom of Godly older men

I find that the pastors I know who have done well in BOLDNESS on both fronts had other men…

Feeling Alone

The “feeling” is the concerning part. We base things off of feeling and create our own reality… Elijah Syndrome… 1 Kings 19:9-10

There were 7000 still

Elijah left his friend, his home, he was tired, scared, and discouraged

YOU WILL “feel” this way too… “what am I doing here”

Build relationships

your professors & other classmates

your pastors / home church

other pastors in area (IFCA, GJ Lunch)

your church elders… my closest friend is one of our elders

have a mentor… internships are great fro this

They also help you develop boldness

They give you experience