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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Remain Accountable

“How do I keep from falling? First, listen to this, remain accountable. If you do not have a small group of same gender individuals with whom you meet regularly, you are not accountable. It’s only a matter of time. So get with that. And get with that when you graduate. First pastorate, one of your first assignments, find a small group. Trusted men, women, trusted women outside your family who can ask you the tough questions. Like, ‘Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising? Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material since we met last? Have you given priority time to your wife and family? Explain that. Have you just lied to me?’ That kind of group.”

Don’t Lie to Yourself

First, how can you keep from thinking you’re safe? You see, we lie to ourselves. We’re Christians, so we’re strong. We’re married, so we’re strong. We’re in the Word, so we’re strong . . . All of the former may be true. None of the latter is. You’re just as weak as you were the day after you were saved. “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love” never changes. I am just as vulnerable as my first year in ministry. No matter what age I die, I will be vulnerable the day before I die. I live my life weak.”

Acknowledge Your Weakness

“‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). You know the verse by heart. Why is the verse important? Because we are weak. Acknowledge it. Realize any moment, any day, any time, any hour, home, away, we are weak.”

Don’t Let Me Dream of Evil

“I can’t speak for you, but I know the evening is my hardest time when I travel. It’s not the morning. It’s not in the midst of the activities of noonday and mid-afternoon. It’s evening. And the day is over. When something isn’t planned for that night, that’s when I get lonely. That’s when I sometimes struggle with fears and temptations. One of the paraphrases renders the last part of what I just quoted you in Psalm 141, ‘Do not let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall.’”

Rehearse the Consequences of Your Actions

“Rehearse the consequences, literally. Before you look to figure out why there’s splashing in the distance and a woman humming, this gorgeous thing that you’re going to be attracted to, this handsome man, ladies, this stable, confident gentleman whom you could help. Before you go there, rehearse consequences.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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