Monday, March 05, 2012

Encourage Your Pastor

Last week I started a blog series on encouragement and how we can be an encouragement to those around us.  I meant to finish this up last week but we all know how life gets crazy!

Today I want to talk about how to encourage your pastor.  Now we must remember that we all have a different relationship with our pastor.  You may be involved in a large church and therefore its more difficult to encourage your lead pastor but on the other hand you may be in a smaller church and have an extremely close relationship with your pastor.  You could be very close to the Student Ministry Pastor, Children's Pastor or Associate Pastor at your church.  No matter what context you find yourself in the question always remains the same: "How can I be an encouragement to my pastor?"

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
I think that there are many things that we can do to encourage our pastor.  Many pastors are filled up by words of affirmation.  Understanding that, and speaking as a pastor, it's amazing how much a short note or quick compliment can encourage your pastor.  I am not asking you to lie about anything or say something that you don't believe, but I am asking you to think long and hard about how amazing your pastor is!

Think about all the long hours your pastor puts into sharing the truth of God to the lost people in your city.  Think about all the long hours your pastor has already put into studying God's word so they can accurately help you grow in your walk with Christ.  Think about the last time your pastor came to your kids birthday party or visited someone at the hospital.  Think about the last time your pastor asked you how you are doing and really meant it.  These are some great places to start to think about where you can begin to encourage your pastor.

PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR
Words of affirmation are great but I think praying for your pastor is the best way you can encourage them.  You can spend time interceding for your pastor in prayer.  You can pray for your pastor at your next life group meeting so that others will catch the need to pray for him or her.  You can pray with your family for your pastor so they also catch the need to keep your pastor in prayer.  You may want to send your pastor an email to see how you can be praying for them and what is on their heart.

Today is a great day to start praying for you pastor and beginning to encourage him!

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