Just what is required of a pastor-teacher-leader of a local church to produce lasting fruit – that Jesus said is his desire to see in our lives and ministries?

All of us have our eyes opened like little puppies after a couple of weeks on the job in our first pastoral position when we realize that people are and leaders within any church system are pretty much impossible to please.  Thus, we need to get a clear bead on what exactly we are uniquely about.  I like the idea of being “Pretty Good” – then asking God to show up to fill in the blanks in between.  As we try too hard, there is too much Steve and not enough Jesus.  Can you relate? 

1.  God has called you to be fulfilled as you express your uniqueness in Christ. 
Most pastors have been told by a disgruntled person, “You aren’t teaching the deep things here.”  If you take the time to dig into what people who say such things, often (not always) they really mean, “You don’t speak the way my favorite pastor of all time spoke…  He sat on a stool.  His voice was so rich.  He always did verse by verse studies.”  On it goes.

Paul writes of the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  It is difficult to imagine that Christ’s presence is something we are to imitate.  Initially as we get going in ministry, sure, imitate away.  But as you discover your life message, your unique contribution to God’s people, you will discover, and hopefully enjoy, that seminal you.  Be the most you, you can be.  Bad grammar, great theology! 

2.  God has called each of us to be professional, not excellent.
Just erase the word “Excellent” from your use of that word as it applies to your church.  The notion of doing our best for God is a no brainer.  Professionalism does not equal excellence. 

(However I see no model whatsoever for dressing a certain way when it comes to going to church related meetings.  You really cannot judge a book by its cover.  Two friends, both approaching billionaire status, wear jeans with holes in them to weekend meetings!  The name of the game:  “Dress comfortably but modestly please!”  Jesus dressed so commonly it took a kiss from Judas to distinguish him from the crowd even though he was daily in plain sight of the Pharisees and Roman soldiers present.)

The brilliance of the so-called Jesus Movement of the late-60s and early 70s was the re-discovery that God loves people right where they are.  There is no need to climb up to a certain level of getting one’s act together before we invite God to move in our lives.  The message of excellence quickly goes helter skelter with not-yet fully healed people (that’s you and me) because we feel there is a connection between “more excellence, more effectiveness.”  To a small degree that is so.  But folks, this message has run wild, out of control in nearly every church of over 500 in the U.S.  I was on a CBS interview show a few months ago that was aired nationwide.  There were a couple of glitches in the taping – the editors left one or two in there when it aired!  I cheered as I viewed it.  It was great!  Yet all of the churches I have been to over the past decade have been far more serious in the “execution” (Freudian slip of the keyboard) of their weekend services than that nationwide show.  How ironic. 

When we think in terms of “Let’s be excellent for God!” most of us will see some deadly results occur when it comes to creating an atmosphere that tells the surrounding community, “You are loved” – “You are welcome here.”  It is easy to become so excellent no one feels they measure up.  (Recommend you read that last line again.) 

The originator of the excellence message was business author Tom Peters in his landmark book, In Search of Excellence.  Peters himself warned of not taking this message to extremes.  Unfortunately, in church leadership circles, the thinking that prevails is often, “If a little is good, a LOT is fantastic.”  One pastor I am familiar with is known for firing staff on the spot, without warning, for leaving dry erase marker caps off!  Can you imagine for one second these sorts of shenanigans being tolerated at IBM or GE?  Not in your life.  The suggestion of firing someone over such triviality would likely end in that suggester’s firing. 

If there is not a strong sense of enjoyment present throughout your staff, organization, at your weekend meetings, maybe you have given into the “Excellence lie.”

3.  Listen to your spouse far more than the official advisers you have on paper. 
In closing, no matter which way your spouse is wired, (assuming she / he has an abiding love for you) this person “sees” things no one else will ever see.  I have been bitten in the proverbial tail less than many – partly because I have pastored five churches now.  I have been big on being coached – another great practice.  But more than anything, I have listened to Janie.  Nearly every time she has given me a “hard word” of warning, I resisted it initially.  Catch this:  She has never been wrong in over 25 years of doing this!  To quote the amazing Mr. Rogers, “Can you say, ‘That is a God thing!’  I knew you could.” 

Steve Sjogren is the senior leader of CoastlandTampa – an outward focused church that is defining and exploring new ways that all churches and individual believers can walk in profound ways of generosity – as Jesus did.  To read up on the latest discoveries his team is making, check out ServantEvangelism.com.