24_10_26 -Ep.335 - Run With Horses Podcast - The Challenge of Shepherding a Church Part 2 Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Susan’s New book – Parenting Manual https://a.co/d/8L7GWIo Norman’s New book – Pursuing Godliness Together - It’s a practical, quick read! https://a.co/d/c7Y7F04 ***(28:00)*** END ***(27:00)*** I have been talking about the church and how we can develop an intentional process to live out out purpose in the world. Today, I want to focus on the role of the pastor in all of this. What a big job! Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together! Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you can find our past shows on our website, runwithhorses.net. I have spent several weeks focusing on a definition of the church and the current discussion about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of our broader look at the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show... ***(27:00) ***END***(23:00)**** Habits – Personal Humility and Teachability • Habit: Maintain a posture of humility, being teachable and open to correction and growth. • Biblical Basis: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10) Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. • Why It’s Important: Pride can hinder spiritual growth and effectiveness in discipling others. Humility allows the disciple maker to continue growing and learning. Prides keeps you at the center, Humilty helps keep Jesus at the center. ***(23:00)***END***(0:00) Shepherding and equipping a church for ministry requires a lot from a pastor. 1. **Spiritual Leadership** - **Biblical Knowledge****Prayer Life****Discernment** 2. **Preaching and Teaching** - **Effective Communication****Teaching Skills** 3. **Relational Skills** - **Empathy and Compassion****Conflict Resolution****Mentoring and Discipleship** 4. **Leadership and Vision Casting** - **Visionary Leadership****Decision-Making and Strategy****Delegation** 5. **Equipping and Empowering** - **Recognizing Gifts in Others****Training and Development****Empowerment – give authority away to others** 6. **Administration and Organization** - **Organizational Skills****Team Building****Budgeting and Stewardship** 7. **Emotional Intelligence** - **Self-Awareness****Ability to read the room****Resilience** 8. **Counseling and Pastoral Care** - **Counseling Skills****Crisis Management** 9. **Cultural Awareness and Engagement** - **Cultural Sensitivity**: Churches are often diverse in terms of culture, background, and socioeconomic status. A pastor must be culturally aware and sensitive, able to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. - **Community Engagement**: Pastors should have a heart for the local community and a strategy for how the church can serve outside its walls. Engaging with local needs and being a visible presence in the community helps fulfill the church’s mission. 10. **Adaptability and Lifelong Learning** - **Adaptability**: The church and broader culture are always changing. Pastors must be flexible, able to adapt their leadership and ministry approaches to meet new challenges, such as changes in technology, social issues, or generational shifts. - **Continual Growth**: Great pastors are lifelong learners, committed to their own spiritual, intellectual, and professional growth. Attending conferences, pursuing theological education, or engaging with mentors helps pastors stay sharp and effective in their ministry. 11. **Personal Integrity and Character** - **Moral Integrity**: Above all, pastors need to model Christlike character, demonstrating integrity, humility, and faithfulness in their personal and professional lives. Trust is central to leadership, and integrity is foundational to building that trust. - **Servant-Heartedness**: Pastors should approach their leadership role with humility and a desire to serve others, following the example of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve (...
