Advice For Reformed Pastors

 Advice For Reformed Pastors


For a man to be truly called by Christ to pastor a Reformed church congregation in the fullness of the Spirit and in the grace of the gospel, is certainly the highest vocational privilege that can be granted to a sinful (and yet regenerated) soul. . . . Your calling is great; but it is also difficult.  Allow me to share some thoughts from my own experience; and use (or do not use) them according to your own discretion (being led by the Holy Spirit). . . .

 

First of all, I would say to you, know who you are in Christ; and be very secure in your calling.  Understand that you will be pushed and pulled in all kinds of directions; and be sure that your spiritual "feet" are "cemented" into Jesus, His gospel, His grace, His mercy, and His faithfulness.  Smile sweetly, and kindly acknowledge receipt of all the recommendations that are coming your way--but do not pursue any paths to which you cannot wholeheartedly give yourself.  Be consecrated to your principal duties: prayer, preaching, and shepherding.  Of these three, the only one with "latitude" is shepherding--and use your judgment as to how to best model and inculcate this ministry (especially amongst your session members).

 

Secondly, have no regrets or doubts about what you are doing.  Do not over-think things; and do not be given to too much introspection.  Instead, simply do what God has called you to do, and do it with all your heart.  There will always be plenty of people to call into question your policies and approach--do not add yourself to this list.  So long as you have a clear and a clean conscience, keep doing what you are doing, and be leery of making any dramatic changes.

 

Thirdly, recognize that there is a lot more at stake in the faithful discharge of your pastoral duties than meets the eye.  What you do is more important (from an occupational point of view) than what anyone else does in the world.  People--especially religious people--will be bewildered by you, not being able to understand your passionate focus on just a few great Objects: (The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit, the gospel, the church, the Scriptures, the Lord's Day, the Westminster Standards, the kingdom of God, and the evangelism of the world), [to name a few!].  When you are finished with your pastoral ministry, you will be able to look back, and say: "Bless God, He was good to me, He never forsook me, He was always faithful to me."

 

Fourthly, on a practical note, be very sure to guard your time and resources.  Do not "throw your pearls before [the] swine" of unwarranted projects and impositions.  Stay focused. Concentrate on your gospel sermons, your leading the Lord's flock in Sunday worship, your own personal devotional life, and your presbytery duties.  If you are inclined to do other things, be careful about them, and do not let them take up much of your time.


Know that almost everything you hear or read touching on religion or public policy, etc., is pure nonsense.  (We could use a more colorful word, but I will restrain myself.)  You, the Reformed pastors, are the world's "last resort" of honor and integrity.  Read the good authors.  You should know who they are.

 

Finally, be sure to have avocations.  Get plenty of time for sleep, for relaxation, for family and friends, for vacations, and for recreation.  None of these activities are primary in your life, but they help forward your progress in what *is* primary in your life--namely, your church gospel ministry.

 

Of course, be sure that you love the Lord your God, through Jesus Christ, with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Without this, we are worthless in the church and in the world.

 

Know that you fight a wicked foe everyday; and that he has a lot of human allies, who are all committed to bringing you down.  Resist him; stand firm against him, and see him flee away from you.  Endure hardship as a good soldier.  Absorb rejection and cruelty; but do not return evil for evil.  Stay faithful.  Christ is with you.  He is all you need.  He will not fail you.

 

"But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me," (2 Tim. 1:12b/ESV).

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #120

17 July 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Review: "A Great Awakening"

  Movie Review: "A Great Awakening" Lesley and I just returned home from seeing the premier showing of the movie, "A Great Awakening."  It was really good--one of the best movies she or I have ever seen.  The casting is outstanding; the acting is fantastic; and the plot line is wonderful.  I do not know who produced this movie--but they should be congratulated on doing excellent work; and; more than that, for being unashamed of the gospel of grace.   The way the producers weave the themes of the American Constitutional Convention (held years after the end of the American Revolution), with savory effects of The Great Awakening, is masterful.  The man who plays Benjamin Franklin is so well-cast, that you could almost imagine this being the original Benjamin Franklin.   George Whitefield is the main character in the movie; and he is also spectacularly-cast.  His voice, his demeanor, and his ways are completely convincing; and...
Read more

How Do we Know we Are Right?

  How Do we Know we Are Right? Have you ever asked yourself this question?  What gives  us --and, for sake of clarity, I will mean by  "us"  (particularly) those convinced and convicted members of the Reformed expression of the Christian religion-- both  the  "right"  and the  "confidence"  to boldly state that we  are,  with regard to religious debate,  "in the right"?   This is actually a very good, and important question.  I would like to forthrightly  answer  the query; and then seek to work out some of the details (that I am quite certain may be on many people's minds). . . .   The  true regenerated  saints of Christ's church--and in this case, we will include those who are members of any number of orthodox Christian communions (denominations)--know that they are "in the right" because of the  internal witness of the Holy Spirit within them,  (cf. for now Rom...
Read more

What Is Preaching?

  What Is Preaching? Dedicated to all truly-called church ministers of the gospel When I ask the question, "What is preaching?", the context I have in mind is mostly, (but not exclusively), the church's Sunday worship services.  I also hope to address the issue of the goal (or end) of preaching.   Paul's 10th chapter of Romans is probably the most comprehensive treatment of this sublime subject; and his (Paul's) Holy Spirit-inspired injunction of 2 Tim. 4:2a: "Preach the Word!", says it very succinctly.   I believe that preaching is the authoritative verbal presentation of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ in the message of His gospel of grace and mercy.  I also believe that anything short of this, is not preaching at all.  It is also my conviction that every text of Holy Scripture not only  lends  itself to this grand enterprise; but  exists  so as to facilitate it.   Therefore, when a true gospel preacher approach...
Read more