Dallas Willard spoke to the Board of Directors of RobbinsNest Ministries on October 10, 2010 (10/10/10). Following is an outline of the eight things he wants to say to pastors.
- Magnify your office.
- Work in the power that is not your own or natural.
- Work with the people who are there.
- Work out a biblical understanding of discipleship and make discipleship the central focus of your life and ministry.
- Preach and teach what Jesus did.
- Understand the pattern of spiritual growth.
- Evaluate your practices in the church.
- Take care of yourself—rejoice in the Lord and do not carry the burden of success.
To help pastors (and their staff) ponder these astute points, RobbinsNest provides a series of one-page handouts (pdf format) designed to stimulate discussion and to position pastors to put into practice these words from a very wise man. Click on the titles below to download handouts.
Magnify your office (click title to download)
Although jokes about ministers are in vogue and many outside and inside the church belittle the position of pastor, RobbinsNest thinks it’s time to magnify their office because they are shepherds of the very ones that God purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28)!
Work in the power that is not your own or natural (click title to download)
Although pastors are hired with and evaluated by the expectation to take the church “to the next level,” RobbinsNest thinks that business-driven results are unrealistic and counterproductive because pastors only work effectively in the power that is not their own or natural.
Work with the people who are there (click title to download)
Although many see outreach and worship as a marketing strategy, RobbinsNest thinks pastors should evangelize the church and work with the people who are there because discipleship is the primary mission of the church (and is, in fact, what truly fuels worship and outreach).
Work out a biblical understanding of discipleship and make discipleship the central focus of your life and ministry (click title to download)
Although common belief asserts you can be a Christian without being a disciple, RobbinsNest thinks discipleship constitutes the Christian life because Jesus’ call is to trust Him with your life, not just your death, to learn from Him how to love God and neighbor in everyday life.
Preach and teach what Jesus did (click title to download)
Although doubt is considered virtuous and truth is seen as evolving in this post-modern world, RobbinsNest thinks pastors are best positioned to preach and teach true and abiding knowledge about the availability and desirability of God’s kingdom because that’s what Jesus did.
[Note: This handout, designed for a pastor to use on his own and/or with his staff, includes fill-in-the-blanks. The answers are as follows: “in order for” / “just around the corner” / “Watch out” / “Repent” / “kingdom of heaven” / “at hand”.]
Understand the pattern of spiritual growth (click title to download)
Although culture advocates mass-production and quick fixes, RobbinsNest thinks pastors should invest the time to expand peoples’ vision of God, build their intention to be Jesus’ disciples, and promote means of grace because this forms the reliable pattern for spiritual formation.
[Note: This handout, designed for a pastor to use on his own and/or with his staff, includes fill-in-the-blanks. The answers are as follows: “God”, “you” / “available” / “will” / “ongoing, interactive, ever-deepening” / “Jesus” / “prepared”.]
Evaluate your practices in the church (click title to download)
Although days go by unexamined while day-planners fill up, RobbinsNest thinks pastors should create space and time to evaluate their practices in the church because this discipline positions and prepares them for new insights, clear intentions, and fresh means.
Take care of yourself—rejoice in the Lord and do not carry the burden of success (click title to download)
Although statistics show that 50% of those who go into fulltime ministry will no longer be in ministry five years later, RobbinsNest thinks pastors can flourish and finish well because God routinely showers His amazing grace upon those who develop an enduring focus to their calling.