Peeves.
My friend Dave is a Christian speaker. He is writing some kind of article for up and coming speakers and asked if I had any ideas on “New rules” for church speakers.
Here is what I sent him. Leave a comment if I you have anymore….
Let the music people have their weird style back. They dress like that because they are poor because God only teaches new songs to Tomlin and that British guy and that Australian lady so they get all of the royalties. Don’t take their kinder shirts and bony little jeans and all of the hair gel they can muster from them too, ok?
Absolutely, under no circumstances, should soundtracks be involved an anything you do. Ever. You are a one trick pony. You speak. Ministry in song (special music) is awkward. I don’t care if you get chills when your wife sings “Arise My Love” and your kid does the sign language. Sign language is just that, a language, meant for people who cannot hear. God can hear; most people in the congregation can hear, no hand gestures are necessary.
One thing that will blow a Pastor’s mind and he will invite you back over and over:ENCOURAGE HIS PEOPLE! So many times young ministers come into churches with self-serving agendas and a bloated view of their significance in ministry. The pastor has read more books than you, he has attended more conferences than you, he has more experience in the mud of ministry than you. He doesn’t need you to come in with any condescension. He needs you to encourage his people. He needs encouragement. Most pastors know that the church, the Western church, has gotten some major things wrong. Buzzwords like “relevant” and “ post-modernism” and “contemporary” etc. will get you nowhere with a pastor. Treat him and his people with dignity. I hate sports analogies, but you are the kicker. He is the quarterback. He is on the field sweating it out, getting beaten up, the whole entire game. You come in all shiny and new and limber and add the extras, and leave the field until you are called upon again. The kicker doesn’t run on the field like he will ever be the MVP. He gets out there and adds the extras…..the encouragement, the edification, and he leaves.
Leave your laptops and gadgets in your room. Do not bring them to the platform/stage with you. These things are distractions. When the Holy Spirit is present, He provides all of the bells and whistles necessary. Your notes and bible will suffice. The media guy can handle the power point. The computer guy is so thrilled to finally feel like he has something to contribute to ministry. Let him have that.
3 years ago