Lessons Learned in the Ministry
From time to time, as I talk to young preachers, they’ll ask me, “What kind of advice would you give me?” Usually they want a nutshell of wisdom (be careful about anything that can be put in a nutshell; it’s usually for nuts). In fact, I have made a few discoveries along the way. Some are original; some have come from others and made an impression on me.
- One ounce of the Holy Spirit is more powerful than ten tons of ministry done in the flesh.
- You can climb to the top of the denominational ladder and still be on the bottom rung in God’s eyes.
- It’s not who you know…it’s whose you are.
- People love to say, “I was talking to the pastor the other day and he said…”
- If the preacher is the life of the party, it’s the death of the prophet.
- If your golf handicap is in single digits, you’re a high handicap preacher (I have no worries here)!
- Sabbaticals should be required by churches for the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health of the pastor and staff.
- Everyone wants to know the preacher’s salary, but no one wants the preacher to know what their giving record is.
- Without a strong commitment to scriptural authority, a church will drift left theologically.
- You can’t buy loyalty or a good attitude. Either a staff member has it…or they don’t.
- The folks to whom you give the most always stand with their hand out wanting more.
- Most churches are one-generational, declining and have a “maintenance” mindset.
- The size of a church has nothing to do with the spirit of a church.
- Many churches are “deacon-possessed”.
- Lacking convictions, some folks will join a church out of convenience.
- Preaching doesn’t change anyone. The application of preaching does.
- Throw a rock at a group of dogs, and the one who yells is the one who gets hit. (If the sermon fits, wear it.)
- If I had it to do over again, I’d probably still mess up.
- Every pastor should be required to begin a ministry as a staff member—it will change his perspective.
- A man’s wife can make or break his ministry.
- Never convince yourself the wedding couple is thinking about pleasing God while they exchange their vows.
- The largest and most successful churches are not always pastored by the most godly men.
- People want to sit on the front row at ball games and the back row at church.
- All that glitters is not God.
- Whether you’re sweet or grumpy, you were that way when you were young. Age just intensifies what you are at heart.
© Michael Catt, 2006From I May Be Wrong…But I Doubt It!
Michael served as the President of the Large Church Roundtable, the Southern Baptist Convention as an IMB Trustee, President of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Preaching Conference, Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and President of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. He has spoken at conferences, colleges, seminaries, rallies, camps, NBA and college chapel services, well as The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. Michael is the recipient of The Martin Luther King Award, The MLK Unity Award, and a Georgia Senate Resolution in recognition of his work in the community and in racial reconciliation.
Michael and his wife, Terri, have two grown daughters, Erin and Hayley.
