“A Pastor’s Heart”

What does a pastor really want for his people? That’s not a trick question, but it’s one I know gets asked more often than you might think. Sometimes, people assume pastors mostly care about church attendance. “As long as the seats are filled, he’s happy.” Others think it’s about budgets: “If the giving is strong, then the pastor’s pleased.” Still others imagine it’s about buildings and programs: “If the church is busy and the facilities are nice, the pastor must be satisfied.”

And if you think this through, that makes sense on a surface level.

Attendance, budgets, buildings matter—but they’re not ultimate.

If a pastor’s heart beats for nickels and noses, you’ll get spreadsheets and structures—but not necessarily spiritual depth.

Let me tell you, when I meet people around town and they learn I’m a pastor, sometimes their first question is: “So how’s your church doing?” And often what they mean is: “How many are coming?” or “Are you building something new?” Those are fair questions, just not the deepest questions.

Here’s the deeper question: What does a Christ-centered pastor long for—for his people?

In Colossians 1:24–2:5, we get an inside look at Paul’s pastoral heart. And what he shows us is surprising. It’s not that he wants to be comfortable. It’s not that he wants applause. It’s not that he wants to be admired as a leader. Paul’s heart beats for one thing above all: that God’s people would grow up into maturity in Christ. That they would be knit together in love. That they would stand firm in faith.

Loved ones, that’s a pastor’s heart. And if you’ll allow me to be personal, that’s what I want for you. I don’t want you to just admire me as your new pastor. I don’t want you to think highly of me but stay shallow in your faith. I want you to become more like Christ — because he’s the one who truly matters.

But here’s where the rub comes in: People often misunderstand spiritual leadership.

Some think pastors are CEOs — their job is to cast vision, grow the numbers, and expand the brand. Others see pastors as chaplains-on-call — always available to comfort, encourage, or officiate. Still others see pastors as referees — keeping peace when conflict arises and making sure everyone plays by the rules. Vision, care, and order matter—but they only help if they lead us to Christ. Thank you for how you already show this—your meals, your prayers, your hospital visits.

Now, to be fair, there’s some truth in each of those pictures. Pastors do lead, they do care, and they do guard the flock. But if that’s all we expect, we’ve misunderstood the calling.

And the danger isn’t just misunderstanding pastors — it’s misunderstanding what God actually wants for his people. Because if the goal is only to have a smooth organization or a happy congregation, we might end up missing the deeper purpose of the church: helping people become more like Christ.

That’s why Paul writes with such intensity here. He doesn’t want the Colossians to drift into thinking of church as a social club, or leadership as just administration, or growth as just more activity. He wants them to see the real thing: Christ at the center, Christ supreme, Christ shaping lives into maturity.

So here’s the question we’ve got to wrestle with: If a pastor’s heart beats for his people to become more like Christ, is that what your heart beats for too? Or have we settled for something smaller — comfort, ease, or appearances — when God is calling us higher?

A Pastor’s Heart Endures for the Sake of the Gospel

Paul begins our passage in a way that almost shocks us. He says in

Colossians 1:24 ESV

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

Christ’s suffering for salvation is finished; the church’s suffering for proclamation continues.

Let’s pause there, because that’s a heavy sentence.

At first glance, it almost sounds like Paul is saying Christ’s suffering wasn’t enough. But that can’t be what he means. At the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” Nothing can be added to his atonement.

So what’s Paul getting at? He’s saying that while Christ’s suffering for salvation is complete, the suffering of Christ’s people for the spread of that salvation is ongoing. In other words, Jesus accomplished redemption, but bringing the good news of that redemption to the world involves real cost, real sacrifice, and yes, real suffering.

And Paul says, “I rejoice in it.” Not because he enjoys pain, but because he knows his suffering serves a greater purpose: the building up of Christ’s body, the church.

This is the heart of a true pastor. He’s willing to endure hardship if it means the gospel takes root and people grow into maturity in Christ.

Paul goes further in

Colossians 1:25 ESV

of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

Notice that word “stewardship.” Paul didn’t appoint himself. God entrusted him with this task. That’s how pastors should see their calling too — not a career move or personal achievement—but a trust. Stewardship means accountability—to God and for people.

And what’s the heart of that stewardship? To “make the word of God fully known.” Not just to entertain. Not just to encourage. But to proclaim the truth of Christ in all its fullness.

He explains in

Colossians 1:26–27 ESV

the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God’s plan wasn’t a last-minute change order; it was there all along—now unveiled in Christ for Jew and Gentile. If Christ is in you,

What room of your life is still ‘staff only’?

Paul says the great treasure, the great mystery revealed, is this: Christ is not only Savior out there—he is Christ in you. The living presence of Jesus, dwelling in his people, shaping them, sustaining them, securing their future. That’s the hope of glory.

Here’s where it hits home: A pastor’s heart isn’t about making life easier for people. It’s about helping people see that Christ lives in them — and that reality is worth any cost.

Think of it like this. Here in Midland, many of you know the sacrifice it takes to build something lasting. When oil prices dip, when hours stretch long, when projects cost more than expected — people endure it because they believe the work is worth it. If it weren’t valuable, no one would stick with it.

Paul is saying the gospel is infinitely more valuable. So when he suffers, when he’s misunderstood, when he’s imprisoned — he endures it gladly. Why? Because seeing Christ formed in people is worth it.

That’s what a pastor’s heart looks like. Not seeking comfort. Not chasing applause. But pouring himself out so that others might see the riches of the glory of Christ in them — the hope of glory.

So let me ask you: Do you see the cost behind the gospel you’ve received? And do you see the joy Paul had in paying that cost, because it meant people like us could know Christ? Every good thing out here costs somebody something.

It cost Christ everything.

It still costs his people to speak, to serve, to stay.

A pastor’s heart endures for the sake of the gospel.

A Pastor’s Heart Labors to See People Mature in Christ

Paul continues in

Colossians 1:28 ESV

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Notice the focus: “Him we proclaim.” That’s the center of Paul’s ministry. Not himself. Not the latest philosophy. Not a cultural trend. Christ. Paul knows that the greatest need of every human being is not self-help tips or moral pep talks, but a clear vision of who Jesus is and what he has done.

That’s why he describes his ministry with two words: warning and teaching.

Warning everyone — this means confronting false ideas, naming sin, urging people not to wander. A pastor’s heart doesn’t avoid the hard conversations.

Teaching everyone — this means patiently unfolding truth, building people up with wisdom, showing them what it looks like to follow Jesus in everyday life.

And notice how inclusive this is: Paul says “everyone” three times. Warning everyone, teaching everyone, presenting everyone mature in Christ. No one is left out. The goal is not to grow a few star Christians but to see the whole church built up into Christ.

And here’s the goal: maturity. Paul’s passion is not just converts — it’s disciples. Not just decisions — but transformation. He wants people to grow to the point that when they stand before Christ, they stand mature, rooted, and ready.

That’s why he says in

Colossians 1:29 ESV

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

That word toil carries the sense of exhausting labor. And the word struggling is the Greek word from which we get our word agonize. Paul is saying, “I’m pouring myself out. This isn’t casual. It costs.”

But notice — he doesn’t stop there. He says he toils and struggles with all his energy that Christ powerfully works within me. A pastor’s heart doesn’t labor in his own strength. It depends on the strength of Christ. That’s the secret: the same Christ Paul proclaims is the Christ empowering his ministry.

Let’s bring this closer to home. Many of you here in Midland know what it’s like to labor for something bigger than yourself. Think about the hours on the rigs, the long shifts, the strain it puts on your body and your family. Why do you endure it? Because the work matters. Because you believe the outcome is worth the sacrifice.

That’s Paul’s heart as a pastor. He says, “I will spend myself — I will agonize — if it means seeing people grow into maturity in Christ.”

And church family, that’s still the calling of every pastor today. To proclaim Christ. To warn. To teach. To labor. To agonize. Not so people will admire the pastor, but so people will become mature in Christ.

But this isn’t just for pastors. It’s a picture for all of us. Parents, this is your calling too—warn, teach, pray. Sunday school teachers, ministry volunteers, friends walking together in faith — this is our shared calling: to help one another grow up in Jesus.

Here’s the encouragement: Paul doesn’t say, “I do this on my own grit and determination.” Ministry is sweat—but not self-powered. We work hard with his power. Paul says, “I struggle with his energy, which powerfully works in me.”

Where are you white-knuckling what Christ is willing to power?

Because this means when you feel worn out, when you feel like you don’t have enough, you can draw on the strength of Christ. He supplies what you need to keep going.

So here’s the heart of this truth: A pastor’s heart — and really, every believer’s heart — is not content with surface-level faith. It labors, it toils, it even agonizes so that people will stand mature in Christ.

That’s what faithfulness looks like. And that’s what Midland needs from us — a church not satisfied with shallow Christianity, but a church willing to labor together until Christ is formed in us.

A Pastor’s Heart Struggles for the Unity and Steadfastness of God’s People

Paul shifts and says in

Colossians 2:1 ESV

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

That word struggle is the same one he used in 1:29 for agonize. Paul says, “I agonize, I wrestle, I labor in prayer and concern for you.” Notice — Paul didn’t even know many of these believers personally, yet he still carried them on his heart. That’s what gospel love does. It expands your heart beyond your own circle, beyond your own church, to care for the wider body of Christ.

And what is Paul’s burden? He says in

Colossians 2:2–3 ESV

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Encouragement fuels unity; unity fuels assurance.

Let’s slow down here. Paul longs for three things for God’s people:

Encouraged hearts. Knit together in love. Full assurance in Christ.

This is a pastor’s heart. He doesn’t just want attendance, or activity, or outward success. He wants encouragement, unity, and assurance in Christ.

And then Paul explains why

Colossians 2:4–5 ESV

I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Paul knows false teaching is out there. He knows people can be swayed by arguments that sound reasonable but pull hearts away from Christ. That’s why he wants their faith to be firm, steady, unshaken. A pastor’s heart aches for his people to stand firm when the winds of culture, doubt, or temptation blow.

Now, let’s bring this into our Midland world. Think about how often families move here for work. There’s a lot of turnover. That can make it hard to feel connected, hard to feel rooted. But Paul’s vision for the church is that believers are knit together in love. In a boom-and-bust town where neighbors change with projects,

love has to be intentional.

Who is God calling you to be ‘knit to’ this month? Make one intentional tie this month: learn a new name, share a meal, pray on the spot.

Or think about how companies in this city invest millions in safety training. Why? Because they know one careless moment on a rig or in a plant can have devastating consequences. Paul is saying the same thing spiritually:

Skipping doctrine

is like skipping lockout/tagout—faster, until it isn’t. Stay firm. Stay steady. Stay safe in him.

And don’t miss the hope in Colossians 2:5. Paul says he rejoices to see their “good order and firmness of faith.” That’s military language — like a well-trained unit standing shoulder to shoulder, not breaking ranks when the pressure comes. That’s the picture of a healthy church: people encouraged, united, and steadfast together in Christ.

So here’s the heartbeat of this truth: A pastor’s heart aches for the unity and steadfastness of God’s people. It rejoices when believers are knit together in love, standing firm in faith, not shifting from Christ.

That’s what Paul longed for. And church family, that’s what I long for here at Fannin Terrace. Not just that we’d have programs and services, but that we’d have a shared life of love and steadfastness in Christ. A church that Midland can look at and say, “There is a people held together by something stronger than oil prices, stronger than politics, stronger than personalities — they are held together by Christ.”

So let’s step back and ask: What do we do with all this?

Paul has shown us the heart of a true pastor: he suffers for Christ’s people, he stewards God’s Word faithfully, and he struggles for their unity and steadfastness. But this isn’t just about Paul. This is about what it looks like for God’s people — for us — to live under Christ’s supremacy with a shepherd’s heart.

Here’s what it means for us in Midland:

Receive the ministry of the Word. Arrive hungry. Bring a Bible. Take notes. Obey one thing.

Lean into the life of the body. Show up. Sit with someone new. Share a need. Meet a need.

Stand firm when pressures come. Don’t let the oil price set your peace. Refuse the idol of success. Confess sin instead of hiding it. Cling to Christ above all.

Make one tie. Learn a name. Share a meal. Pray on the spot.

And let me be clear: this isn’t just about what I want for you as your pastor. This is what Christ wants for his church. He is the one who gives his shepherds to his people, and he is the one who uses the preaching of his Word, the unity of his people, and the steadfastness of their faith to display his supremacy. So to say that we collectively endeavor to

Keep Christ supreme, together in love

Because the truth is, this isn’t only for pastors. Every believer can take up this call. You may not preach from this pulpit, but you can encourage a heart. You may not lead a ministry, but you can knit lives together in love. You may not write letters like Paul, but you can pray big prayers for people to stand firm.

The point is not just to look at Paul or at me and say, “That’s their job.” The point is to see that Christ is supreme, and then to live together under his reign, with his heart for one another.

Church family, sometimes when we talk about perseverance in the faith, about suffering well, about being knit together in love, it can feel overwhelming. You may think, I’m not strong enough for that. I don’t have the words. I don’t have the endurance. I don’t have what it takes.

But here’s the hope Paul gives: you’re not standing alone. Christ is in you, and Christ is supreme over you. That means his strength is available when yours runs out. His wisdom is present when yours falls short. His love is poured out when yours dries up.

And here’s the other hope: you’re not walking this road by yourself. You are part of a body. You are knit together in love with brothers and sisters who are running this race right alongside you. Just as Paul’s pastoral heart longed to see the Colossians stand mature in Christ, God places us in the church to help one another do the same.

Think about it like this: when a neighbor’s house catches fire or a family faces sudden loss, often the community rallies. People show up with food, resources, shoulders to lean on. No one fights the crisis alone. That’s a picture of the church—bearing each other’s burdens, praying one another through the storm, reminding one another of who really holds us steady.

You may feel like you can’t make it another day—but loved ones, the Christ who is above all is also the Christ who lives in you. And the church that surrounds you is God’s gift to help you keep standing.

So how do we respond? Paul’s words in Colossians 2:5 give us a clear path: stand firm in faith and be steadfast in Christ.

That means two things:

Personally — You take stock of your own walk. Where have you been drifting? Where have you tried to live in your own strength? Bring that before Christ today. Keep Christ supreme, together in love.

Communally — You commit to walk with your church family. Ask one believer, “Where do you feel pressure right now?” Pray right then. Text them Colossians 1:29 on Wednesday. Check back Friday.

So here’s the invitation:

Trust: If you’ve never trusted Christ, come today. We’ll pray with you at the front or after the service.

Return: Pray: ‘Jesus, be supreme over ____ today.’ Name the thing. Whisper it now.

Tie-in: Commit: ‘I’ll join a group by next Sunday.’ Stop by the table in the rear—Brother Mark will help you.

Church family, let’s leave with one resolve:

Keep Christ supreme, together in love.

Not in theory—this week, in our homes, our work, our city.

Christ in you, the hope of glory.