Four questions spiritual leaders should ask to avoid ministry flameout
I commissioned Barna Research, Lifeway Research, and Christianity Today to survey almost 2,000 pastors to discover what issues can cause a ministry or a leader’s passion for ministry to die. I based my latest book on those findings. You can download a free chapter of the book here.Out of those findings, four key questions emerged that every spiritual leader should ask himself at least once a year. ” These four questions can help us face up to areas, that if left unattended, have the potential to kill our ministries or at best, drain the passion from our souls.
Here they are.
- Do you have a safe person in your life with whom you can process ministry problems and pain?
- Have you looked deep enough inside to discover what truly bothers you about your ministry?
- If those who see how you respond to ministry problems were asked to tell you what they thought, would they say you need to make some major changes?
- To whom and how should you communicate your frustrations (your board, your staff, the church)?
It would do us well to heed Socrates wise advice when he wrote, “Know thyself.”
For more Help and Resources to overcome Pastoral Burnout, visit Pastor Stone’s main site.
Good list Charles. Still a bit heavy in the feelings department.
Meaning, it might be good to balance said list with a job description and performance metrics – that protect a pastor from becoming a catch-all for everyone with a belly-button.
This is assuming that opinions are like belly-buttons, in that everyone has one.