5 Dumb Mistakes Young Pastors Make

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[@dnzswithwombats]

As not-a-pastor myself, these all sound like excellent points of advice, just from the pew perspective.

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

Heretical prayer: O Mother of Perpetual Help, thou art the dispenser of all the gifts which God grants to us miserable sinners; and for this end He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, in order that thou mayest help us in our misery. Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners who have recourse to thee: come to my aid, for I recommend myself to thee. In thy hands I place my eternal salvation, and to thee I entrust my soul. Count me among thy most devoted servants; take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. For, if thou protect me, I fear nothing; not from my sins, because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; nor from the devils, because thou art more powerful than all hell together; nor even from Jesus, my judge, because by one prayer from thee He will be appeased. But one thing I fear: that in the hour of temptation I may through negligence fail to have recourse to thee and thus perish miserably. Obtain for me, therefore, the pardon of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace ever to have recourse to thee, O Mother of Perpetual Help. This is a legit Roman Catholic prayer, look up "O Mother of Perpetual Help" if you want to know if it’s legit. This is super heretical. This doctrine of invoking departed saints doesn’t seem just like "hey it’s like praying to a friend.". . :)

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. -John 3:16 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. -Acts 3:19 :)

[@dnzswithwombats]

@@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool That last one about sins being blotted out certainly sounds better than being blotted out for our sins.

[@gogos869]

How interesting that you would mention the font “Comic Sans”! When I was going to a Baptist Church 15 years ago, I was given some handouts with Bible quotes related to Scientific facts. I gave a few copies to a non-believer. Whoever printed the handouts used the font Comic Sans. The atheist that I gave them to explained to me that that font is what is used in Comic Strips!

[@andrewleng5295]

Young pastor here, 2 years into the ministry. Thank you very much for this. God bless

[@shiretook]

This is good advice. I would offer one comment on the "don't change anything" item. The congregation is expecting change from a new pastor, so I think you have to be very limited, but if there is that one thing you would change in the church, I think the first month or two is the time to make that change. The "honeymoon" period of transition into a new pastorate can be the time to make changes, and, depending on the congregation, can be tolerated by them under the notion that, "He is new. He is going to want to change a few things." Waiting years to make some changes can become more difficult as time goes by and there is tolerance for something that a pastor sees as an important change that needs to take place. There are a lot of variables, but making no changes a concrete policy could lead to problems down the road. Just my thoughts, I am thankful for yours.

[@PastorCleveland]

@shiretook, I agree, and that's been my experience so far in my first senior pastor role. I went in with the intent of not changing anything for a year. But, I actually had a lot of people, including elders asking when certain things would happen or change. For example, a lot of people wanted us to return to doing pastoral prayers and the Apostle's Creed during worship. I asked the session and they said, "We don't know why it was ever removed in the first place. We liked it." So, I made that change within my first 2 months. And there were other changes that made sense, because the church had altered things because of Covid, and it was time to change back .. So yeah, discernment is key. But, the principle of "don't rock the boat without the people trusting you as captain" is still a good principle. Great name btw!

[@dpoultski2499]

My son called out divorce as a sin at his first church. That got him sent packing. Then at another church, he was going through some of the by-laws the church had and apparently closed communion was in there. Most parishioners had no idea and attacked him for teaching it and wanted him out. He packed up his young family and left that one on his own.

[@AmillennialMillenial]

Too bad. I hope he finds a faithful congregation that actually wants the Bible preached and doctrine taught.

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

Heretical prayer: O Mother of Perpetual Help, thou art the dispenser of all the gifts which God grants to us miserable sinners; and for this end He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, in order that thou mayest help us in our misery. Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners who have recourse to thee: come to my aid, for I recommend myself to thee. In thy hands I place my eternal salvation, and to thee I entrust my soul. Count me among thy most devoted servants; take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. For, if thou protect me, I fear nothing; not from my sins, because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; nor from the devils, because thou art more powerful than all hell together; nor even from Jesus, my judge, because by one prayer from thee He will be appeased. But one thing I fear: that in the hour of temptation I may through negligence fail to have recourse to thee and thus perish miserably. Obtain for me, therefore, the pardon of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace ever to have recourse to thee, O Mother of Perpetual Help. This is a legit Roman Catholic prayer, look up "O Mother of Perpetual Help" if you want to know if it’s legit. This is super heretical. This doctrine of invoking departed saints doesn’t seem just like "hey it’s like praying to a friend.". . :)

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. -John 3:16 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. -Acts 3:19 :)

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

@@AmillennialMillenial☕️

[@tskjesusfreak]

Technically there is Biblical argument for divorce but most of the time these days, divorce is primarily sinful. I take John Piper's viewpoint on divorce, meaning death is the only end of marriage and I can't have divorce women because it would haunt me to pursue a divorce woman. Because I could be violating Scripture that is clear. "but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." Matthew 5:32 NASB2020

[@YESUSADALAHALLAH]

Hi Matthew, I just found your video recently and found it was so helpful in many ways. I’m a pastor in my 30 and this video is so helpful. Greetings from Indonesia

[@brucemcqueen5395]

Very wise words Matt. Hopefully the younger preachers out there will heed them. What congregations want most is authentic leaders who aren't afraid to preach the truth in a way that they can understand.

[@Cysansone]

So good. Thanks, Pastor Matt. #youngpastor

[@reformtalk5123]

I love your Channel. Thank you for the insight!

[@zachbattles9762]

Excellent list! Regarding making changes (and respecting the elderly members too): I would suggest being extra-careful when making changes to groups/events/activities that are well-attended & self-sustaining. Why? Because these are indicators that a need is being met. Merely well-attended could just mean something's popular, but if those involved are putting their own time & money into it, keeping others in the loop about it, and praying for one another without needing any urging by church leadership? That is a special thing - a delicate living flower - and you had best understand that group/event/activity inside & out before making changes to it. I say this partly because I recall a new pastor began making major changes to the older women's Bible Study. They had to move all attendance rosters to the new computer system, they had to have special in-reach officers to check up on members who weren't there some weeks, and every study had to be personally approved by the Pastor. These poor ladies had been faithfully keeping paper records, ministering to one another in the sweetest ways, and growing in biblical knowledge & Christ-likeness for years. Yet I remember one of their leaders asking me in tears if she had to learn the new church computer system or if they could just keep attendance as they had before. I wasn't in charge of her ministry, but I said that I didn’t think she needed to since her group was already doing what the new system was supposed to encourage. Turns out, the Pastor disagreed. He demanded digital-only attendance. He shot down every study the women suggested. And one by one those sweet ministering Christian women left that church. That group of ladies who had been sharing that core of Christian love had been destroyed. All for the sake of one man's ego & lack of grace. That Pastor is now also gone, but that group of loving Christians is too. It is a cautionary, sobering tale. (I'm still especially skeptical of pastors who claim their main spiritual gift is administration because of him). Don't be blinded by your vision of what a church could be that you miss or destroy what your church is right now. Love your church as Christ did, putting its wellfare above your own glory. New pastors should fall in love with their church & embrace its members, while finding ways to strengthen the places where it is weak with exhortation, encouragement, patience, and love.

[@NoKingButChrist1689]

I really appreciate this video. Thank you. Would you be willing to do one on time management as a young pastor?

[@srice6231]

I would add to not pretend you want input from people, forming a committee or asking the elders and then ignoring all the advice and input and doing your own thing. It is better to have no input at all than to ask for it and ignore it. I realize there are different opinions but when the majority is saying one thing don't turn around and do the opposite. I am not talking about Biblical issues but decisions that need to be made. Also, I totally agree about ignoring the older people.

[@ClaimingChristianity]

Sound Advice to be sure!

[@dnzswithwombats]

I've been going to church for 45 years since the age of 12. Did I go to seminary? No. Do I have any credentials? No, none at all. But, I do listen carefully to the preaching and always have. I've done that too at the Bible studies. Maybe I have some knowledge that could be useful to spreading the full truth and the only saving gospel. Maybe pastors could listen to my questions and my reactions once in a while - and not just humor me by not really listening or only pretending to. Maybe don't write-off people in the pews as completely ignorant and not worth your time.

[@blackukulele]

William Cunningham's Theological Lectures has some great advice on this subject, too.

[@davidleonard6593]

Some thoughts from someone who has been 40-years in the pews. 1. While you shouldn't use TOO many "technical" terms don't shy away from them either. I quickly came to understand, first in a professional school, then in professional practice, that if you know the terminology. you are well along to having a good working understanding of the subject matter. While someone may say "but that is your vocation" Christianity is at the very least as important and interesting as my chosen livelihood. 2. You could not have been more correct about not favoring one type of member over another. I belonged to one church that thought ministering to families was most important even though there were a lot of single adults that did much of the heavy lifting in the church that felt as though they were second class congregants. Another church, located near a university, the pastors made it clear that their first concern were college students though they made up less than half the congregation. Accept and be satisfied with the people that God gives you, don't favor or aim to attract one type of person over another. 3. Show your respect for the pulpit. Wear a suit even if that isn't the established "culture" of the church. Avoid informality behind the pulpit, avoid personal stories, humor etc. The exposition of God's word is a serious task. 4. While instituting change, even obviously valid change, in a church can be difficult to disastrous, it's important that the congregation understand that scripture alone is inspired and inerrant, church traditions are not and when they violate the regulative principle of worship, they are quite simply wrong. The congregants must also understand that even solid confessions of faith are only "roadmaps" to God's truth revealed in scripture. While a roadmap can be immensely useful is far less than useless when it contains errors that causes you to be lost or in danger.

[@charlesgallagher1185]

Very good advice. As to preaching over the people’s head, I see the exact opposite with newer pastors and that is the teaching feels like a Sunday school class. It is not a sermon.

[@criticalthinkingwjake]

I am very grateful (at times) for significant memory issues. During and right after school I had those impulses to teach heavy doctrine and theology. But my memory issues overrode and I settled quickly into verse by verse teaching. I mentioned doctrine when it appeared and not when I wanted to make it to appear. And fortunately for me, and not for others, I experienced all the other issues sitting under another pastor and personally saw these things as a no-go.

[@christianchavez4086]

Post-Dispensational Millennialism 🤣 I’m pretty sure that accurately describes my eschatology.

[@lewislibre]

If you’re gonna rip off a sermon at least rip off someone better than Tim Keller

[@dnzswithwombats]

Sage advice.

[@blackukulele]

Great advice

[@geneadams9017]

An ardent new Pastor determined that he would be 100 percent original or nothing. As it turned out he was both.

[@tskjesusfreak]

I could never become a pastor, my anxiety would go through the roof if I ever become one.

[@bobtankersley7179]

No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care

[@Mason_O]

How common is it for pastors to be un married with no children? Is that common? It seems like all these great pastors have their own families?

[@PastorCleveland]

In my experience the majority of pastors are going to be married with children, but since the trend in the last couple of decades has been to delay marriage, it's not going to be too surprising to see young unmarried men entering the pastoral role. It's risky, though. Marriage brings so much maturity and sanctification. And children even more-so.

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. -John 3:16 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. -Acts 3:19 :)

[@GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

Heretical prayer: O Mother of Perpetual Help, thou art the dispenser of all the gifts which God grants to us miserable sinners; and for this end He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, in order that thou mayest help us in our misery. Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners who have recourse to thee: come to my aid, for I recommend myself to thee. In thy hands I place my eternal salvation, and to thee I entrust my soul. Count me among thy most devoted servants; take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. For, if thou protect me, I fear nothing; not from my sins, because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; nor from the devils, because thou art more powerful than all hell together; nor even from Jesus, my judge, because by one prayer from thee He will be appeased. But one thing I fear: that in the hour of temptation I may through negligence fail to have recourse to thee and thus perish miserably. Obtain for me, therefore, the pardon of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace ever to have recourse to thee, O Mother of Perpetual Help. This is a legit Roman Catholic prayer, look up "O Mother of Perpetual Help" if you want to know if it’s legit. This is super heretical. This doctrine of invoking departed saints doesn’t seem just like "hey it’s like praying to a friend.". . :)

[@jamesaburks]

🤟

[@jamessizemore6180]

Wait a minute...only 5 :)

[@MatthewEverhard]

Ha ha, yes, and I need another video for older pastors too!

[@rustyvoiceinwilderness9580]

Error #6: Remove your title 'Pastor'. You are well aware that the word "Pastor" does NOT appear in Scripture. Eph 4: contains the only time. "Pastor-teacher". Hyphenated, oh really. Maybe that is for a reason. Actually 2 reasons. 1) it elevated the position (not the job description) way too high in the expectation of the congregation or outsiders. Take it to an elevation of authority that is exaggerated beyond his job description. For example imagine how we would view or expect his job description if he called himself a slave, shepherd, elder, or teacher. 2) It too often raises his own esteem beyond his job description to one without error, smarter than all the rest, un-defined authority. You all know the sense of what I'm saying. Avoid it.

[@PastorCleveland]

That's a really weird hill there, Rusty. And an unnecessary one. The word pastor comes from the latin "pastor", which means "to shepherd, to lead to pasture", or used as a noun "a shepherd." The reason that word was adopted historically is because the New Testament and the Old Testament calls elders "shepherds". "So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: SHEPHERD the flock of God that is among you..." (1 Peter 5:1-2) "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the SHEPHERDS and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12). "And I will give you SHEPHERDS after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15) Now, mind you, a pastor is not THE shepherd. Jesus is our head shepherd (John 10:11-16). But, the Lord calls some men to lead, to shepherd, to pastor his flock as "under-shepherds" .. (Which is an endearing term the Presbyterian church adopted long ago). So, no, pastors don't need to drop the title Pastor (Shepherd), because that's a title the Bible gives us to use. Should some pastors humble themselves and realize they don't have ultimate authority just because of their position? Sure. I'll give you that. But, the title isn't suspect, just because of a few bad apples.

[@chrisjohnson9542]

​@@PastorClevelandwell said

[@bryantinnin5428]

Or maybe 9 times if you include the plural form in Jeremiah…