Life Lessons Outside Seminary Classes
By Pastor Chuck Swindoll
The Hard Work of Ministry
“In spite of the popular opinion of the secular world, ministry is hard work. You are delivering your soul. You are preparing message after message. You are digging into an ancient text, delivering it to very real people who often haven’t a clue about biblical truth. And you are making it as interesting as you can with as much passion as God can give you. And I’m telling you that is work, that is hard work. Even if you’re gifted, even if you’re experienced, the work of doing quality ministry is hard work. You know that your work is not in vain. It is never, ever purposeless. The thing that makes it tough is that so much of ministry is spiritual and it’s intangible, and the benefits cannot be calculated. They can’t be numbered. You’re investing in the lives of others, and they, more often than not, will not tell you how beneficial it was or how stabilizing it helped them to become or how strong it made their marriage or how convicted they were in their spirit when you addressed a subject that was very personal, even intimate. It’s not in vain. It will yield a great harvest, and the results will, though invisible now, be ultimately rewarded by our faithful God. Count on it. Count on it.”
Be Steadfast
“The first essential for ministry is a steadfastness. You cultivate that over the long haul. Every test is a part of your learning steadfastness. Every event that is shocking and disappointing is all a part of driving you to a more settled, steadfast firmness in your faith. Be steadfast.”
Staying Immovable is not an Option
“Every place you go for ministry will have the temptation to loosen your grip on the truth. Every place. Every church you serve will have people who will test your mettle. Every situation will come out realistically with a dark side as well as a bright side. Staying immovable is not a nice option, it is an essential for ministry. Be steadfast, immovable.”
Abounding in the Work of Ministry
“I notice the third word, and you’ll see it for yourself, is abounding. In fact, ‘always abounding.’ Ministry is always to be carried out as more than just enough to get by. It’s a strong admonition to those who work and serve and give and pray and model the message, that we excel in what we do. We don’t just do it. We excel in it. That’s why Paul wrote to Timothy to ‘discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness,’ (1 Timothy 4:7). Discipline yourself. Show yourself an example. Give attention to. Don’t neglect. Take pains. Pay close attention to.”
In Season and Out of Season
“Paul writes of it as being ‘in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking, exhorting, with all long suffering and doctrine.’ You can just feel the passion. Whether it’s early or late, whether it’s hot or cold, whether you are near home or miles away from home, whether they are with you or against you, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Whether you feel like it or you don’t feel like it. When you’re strongly motivated or when you find yourself weak and discouraged.’”
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 finger tips. 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.
