Pastors: A question for you...

When people catch the vision and start leading others to Christ and discipling.

 

A pastor is the shepherd to the flock that God allows him to lead. If the sheep are being fed properly, they will grow and mature into what they should be. Regarding the church, I think this would be an outward measure of success. However, the fact of the matter is, some sheep will not eat regardless of what they are being fed. If some in the church are growing and others are not, the problem usually isn't with the food they've been given, the problem is that they just aren't eating.

So, success has to be measured by what you are doing compared to what does God have for you to do. If you are using the abilities and resources that God has given you to the very best of your ability, then you are a success regardless of the size of your church.

To be a success, the pastor must have his priorities in their proper place. In my opinion, these are properly placed priorities:
1. Relationship with God
2. Relationship with wife
3. Relationship with children
4. Relationship to the ministry

 

Eph. 4
tells us that the pastor is for:
1. The perfecting of the saints
2. The work of the ministry
3. The edifying of the body of Christ

This is what determines, in my opinion, the success of the pastor:
Are his people growing closer to the Lord
Is the ministry operating in a Christlike manner
Is the body of Christ being built up (spiritually/numerically - More emphasis on spiritual)

If theese three are occurring, then growth will occur.

 

One of the greatest accomplishments a pastor can make with the church he pastors is that of getting people involved in ministry. That is true whether we consider people witnessing in their daily life or serving in the local church. A little over a year ago I was on a teaching trip to Ukraine and Russia. In visiting the services it was a challenge to see that most of the ministry was carried on by those other than the pastor. The only public ministry of the pastor was to preach. The deacon led the service, give the announcements, read the Scripture, took the offering, etc.

Missionaries have known that for generations, if you are going to have an indigenous church you cannot depend on some mature Christian to come over to your church from up the road, you will have to carve out your own deacons and pastor by winning them and discipling them.

We need to do a better job of training and then including our people in the ministry of the local church if we are going to be successful in our ministry.

 

I agree with much that has already been wrote. I would make a recommendation here...

Kent and Barbara Hughes have a great book on this suject titled "Liberating Ministry from the Sucess Syndrome". It is a great read and will really help in determining what is real sucess in ministry. I would recommend every person in ministry read it.

 

Dear rd,
I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks for the insight.
WallyGator

 

Getting closer to the prize of the high calling of God, hearing well done faithful servant...

Success to me is not how much you accomplish in life but how well you handle all tasks set before you.

Should I be given the chance to preach to 3 or 3000 I will give just as much effort and care to one as I would the other. To God, success is not doing THE best but just doing your best.

 

Success---is unfeigned, unwavering faith found whether we be in Joseph's predicament, in Joseph's prison, or in Joseph's palace!!

 

IMHO true success for any Christian is having another Christian that you have discipled and trained go out and witness to others. This means that you have fulfilled the Great Commission, teaching others to obey ALL things, including the call of the "GC." This is the kind of thing that makes God say well done good and faithful servant.

 

Matt. 16.18 "... I will build my church ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"

If He be the one building, you should be one working under his direction then success is on His shoulders not yours

As has been suggested your success can not be measured by the people, the numbers etc. as there are way too many variables that are in someone elses control. You may be doing everything correctly and the results still not what would be considered successful.

 

The Bible doesn't make "success" any different that the rest of the planet. We cannot "Spiritualize" everything. We have to be honest and measure our work less we have false balance. "Success" is accompolishing the mission or purpose for which we are called.