Early Success in Your Ministry
By Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Stay Compassionate in Ministry
“You always know it’s a miracle from God when it is immediate and permanent. There’s no promise. There’s no exchange of money. There’s no healing line. There’s no showmanship. There’s just the word or just the touch, and the fever’s gone. Prompted from a heart of compassion. Let me tell you, when you are in a ministry of success, don’t leave out compassion. Stay near it. Stay near the hurting. Keep a quiet ear open to those who aren’t a part of a big crowd, but they need you.”
Solitude Counteracts Success
“Jesus needed solitude to gain perspective. You need solitude. That’ll help counteract the success. Be sure you have time alone. Be sure you take time alone. Don’t wait for somebody else to give you time alone. You got to find it. And, wherever, whatever time works for you. For Him, it was early morning.”
Three Priorities for Young Ministers
“What do I do? Can I make it real clear? I make room for compassion. Second, I deliberately cultivate authentic humility. You do that by staying in touch with real people. People who keep telling you the truth. People who aren’t impressed. Be sure you have folks around you like that. Make room for compassion, deliberately cultivate authentic humility, and take time for silence and solitude. You know why? Because it’ll help you gain perspective. When you’re in silence and solitude before God, it’s amazing what He’ll show you.”
Stay Faithful
He didn’t need demons as His evangelists. I love it. You know what I see here? I see faithfulness in meeting needs. Stay faithful to meet the needs. Stay faithful. Stay faithful. There’s more to life than the crowds. There’s more to life than Sunday stuff. Stay faithful. Stay in touch.”
Stay Alert, Aware, and in Touch
“Pay attention. Notice those who don’t have good eye contact. Pay attention to those who can’t keep up. Watch for phoniness. Be alert. Be aware. Forget your success. Stay in touch. Look at people directly. Listen to them. I don’t know how many people have said, ‘You know, the amazing thing about you, Chuck, when you talk to me, you look at me.’ Why is that strange? ‘Every other preacher I’ve been around, they looked over me. They looked around me.”
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.
About the author
Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
