Bi-Vocational pastor helps

Could you be more specific?

 

A lot of bivocational pastors in Canada drive school buses to provide an income. Some get part-time jobs with H.& R. Block doing tax returns in season.

Cheers,

Jim

 

On your part prayer, prayer and more prayer. Then get your Church praying for you. raying: I am by-vocational and have been for 25 years.

 

If you are looking at things to help your sermon prep time, here are some that helped me:
biblebb.com
sermon central
bible.org (net bible)
john pipers website has great ideas


I feel for you as time is limited and you have less time than full time guys.
I used things like this to get an idea, not to copy verbatim. For me once I got an idea, I could run with it and come up with my own stuff to add.

 

Perhaps if more pastors were bi-vocational, they would have a better idea how the world functions and hence present better, practical sermons.

Cheers,

Jim

 

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now I get to lift a Cheer to you. The Apostle Paul was bi-vocational and look at the leadership he brought to the Church.

 

Yes, he was but only when he had to be.

He gave a fair rebuke to the Corinithians in saying that he was doing so for their sakes because of 'their' immaturity in this issue but he also tells them that do have a right to be fully taken care of by them.

But at the same time look at what Paul says about that same situation in 2 Cor:

 

I agree with you 100% Jim:thumbsup:

I believe that the bi vocational model is biblical and in most cases better. When a pastor is called to full time ministry I think those with a former career or bi vocational ministry usually have more wisdom and a better temperament for the job. I believe this at least part of why the bishop is not to be a novice. The idea that a man who has never held a secular job can be my pastor and leader does not seem logical to me. I will admit I am biased due to my own ministry.

Not only was Paul bi vocational during his ministry but all of the disciples and probably Jesus himself had secular jobs before entering full time service.

My ministry had always been bi vocational and I believe it always will be. I have been asked about full time positions before but always explained that was not my calling. The Biblical character that God used to bless me on this subject was not Paul but Peter. In Matthew 17 Jesus sends Peter fishing to pay the taxes. I know there was a miracle with the coin and all, but the lesson God gave me was when you need money you go to work! Peter was not a recreational fisherman like I am sometimes, fishing was his work. This passage has been a particular blessing for me over the years.

MexDef, there are lots of helps for you out there. I am not exactly sure what kind of helps you are looking for. On line sources and print can help you with sermon preparation. I use blueletterbible.com a lot for Greek and Hebrew lookups, it is much faster than the old Strong's books I have laying around. Sermon ideas and outlines can come from anywhere, if this is what you are looking for help with we can be more specific.

As far as other ministry helps your biggest helps are right there in your church. They need to know that you are bi vocational and can not do everything. Many church members in a bi vocational church will take on responsibility and tasks that the full time pastor's church makes him do. From hospital visitation to cleaning the church bathroom you need help and those church members are where you are going to find it. If you job puts you unavailable at different times or days you need to establish an on call list of deacons or experienced church members to deal with emergency situations. Ask for their help, they will step up. Your bi vocational term may be the push a member of your church needs to become a pastor themselves. God does stuff like that.:smilewinkgrin:

 

I am not opposed to a full time ministry. I entered ministry at 18 years of age and had never worked outside. I will say that 8 years in military, and 3 years fighting a war, aged me and fitted me more for ministry than did all my college training.

In one church, small, I did work on the side as an architect, my other training. Once the church was established I became full time.

When pastoring in Saskatchewan, I carried coverall trousers in the boot of my car and met the farmers in the fields. I involved myself with their workplace. I wasn't afraid to drive a tractor or load hay, feed livestock and help with other chores. They paid me a huge $40.00 a week!

However a man gets that "worldly" experience is not important, but he should get it. At one church I taught at the local high school because the teacher died of a massive coronary and they had no replacement. The principal was a member of my church and simply told me I would start teaching the following Monday. The willingness to work outside he church is what counts in my mind. We must never be above the people, but an integral part with the people.

My last 20 odd years of ministry was bi-vocational, and it never hurt me.

Cheers,

Jim

 

First my prayers are with you and your family.
For on line resources: Baptist start Page
OT Gateway
NT Gateway
are excellent online resources for many of your needs.
I don't know what talents or skills you possess perhaps you can start a small business out of your home?
You can find a multitude of resource material just by going to my site. My best to you.

 

I have been a bi-vo for eight years and found that the strength of the Lord gets me through. First, The best resource that you have is within you, the Holy Spirit who "will guide you into all truth." You have a great opportunity to draw closer to the Lord, and to watch the Holy Spirit enlighten you mind. Make it your priority to spend time in the Word and with the Lord in prayer. Second, you will find that more people are willing to help you out by taking up responsibilities you can not do (and probably shouldn't do anyway). This is a hidden blessing of being bi-vo. God bless you brother.