His Burden is Light
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “I think we would be shocked if we knew how many pastors have lost their joy—how many of us get up at the beginning of each week and grind it out, if for no other reason than we don’t know what else to do. For how many of us is ministry no longer an act of worship (p.37)?” The sixth point Tripp identifies as a sign that a pastor has lost his way is that for him ministry becomes burdensome. It becomes a “have to” and “must do” not a “get to.” When ministry becomes duty and obligation...
Read MoreWhen Ministry Becomes a Burden
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “This is where it inevitably leads. You’ve lost sight of the gospel in your personal life; you feel a growing disconnect between your private life and your public ministry persona; your ministry is no longer fueled by your own worship; you feel misunderstood by those around you; you feel warningly criticized by those in your home; you think that you and your leadership are not treated with the esteem that they deserve; and you are increasingly spiritually empty because you are looking...
Read MoreWhen a Gift Becomes a Liability
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “He was a very approachable guy who was at the same time very skilled at failing to heed the warnings that God was giving him through faithful members of the body of Christ.” p. 37. There is something disarming about some people. They can smile, talk and do their job with little effort and seem to remain composed and productive. And perhaps they can do so authentically. That is how you would describe Rod, a pastor of a mid-sized congregation that was experiencing...
Read MoreDon’t Just Listen
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “Although my friend wasn’t overtly dismissive, he didn’t really listen. . . He was a very approachable guy who was at the same time very skilled at failing to heed the warnings that God was giving him through faithful members of the body of Christ. (p. 37)” Appeasement is one that nods to change but has no intentions of making any. Notice first that Tripp said his friend wasn’t “overtly dismissive.” Sometimes our silence is just as non-compliant as if we gave an emphatic “No!” ...
Read MoreRemind Yourself
“If you are in ministry and you are not reminding yourself again and again of the now-ism of the gospel, that is, the right-here, right-now benefits of the grace of Christ, you will be looking elsewhere to get what can be found only in Jesus” (Paul David Tripp in Dangerous Calling, page 36). There are so many things that we remind ourselves of each day. We make ourselves lists of things to get at the grocery store; write down appointments for the day; or use our electronic communication devices to type or text ourselves notes of important events like birthdays, anniversaries,...
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