How to fight the 5 temptations of a pastor

Yesterday I described the five temptations of a pastor. Because pastors lead our churches, they are targeted by the enemy for destruction. He comes along with temptations that sound reasonable, but that corrode the life of the church. The good news is that pastors and others in church leadership can fight these temptations. Here’s how:

1. Disciple people using Jesus’ model

Get your young people on a modern Matthew 10 experience where they have to really practice faith. I recommend the World Race. Initiate them! Give them a reason to live!

2. Every church service should be part AA service

Shock the people that you lead. We’re all sinners saved by grace. Let ‘em see that it’s hard for you to get out of bed some days.

3. Allow the Spirit to lead your service – really!

I used to print bulletins. Now I find them tiresome and constricting. Who says there has to be a sermon? Why can’t we allow the Spirit to just prompt people to share a song, a testimony, or some scripture?

4. Offend legalistic spirits & create your own culture.

To practice freedom, exercise freedom in ways that are new. It used to be that churches prohibited dancing. Now, they’re easing up on that. In many churches the sin of drunkenness has led them to prohibit drinking. One must ask, does the sin of gluttony cause them to prohibit eating? And how is it that we can be known for our judgmentalism when Jesus preached a gospel of grace? The point is that if you’re a person of substance, then your style is negotiable.

5. Take risks every day

Go out and pray with people you don’t know. Empower your people. Show them you trust them.

Teach people to hear God.

We don’t have to give into these temptations. There’s a generation that knows there’s more. Give them their inheritance now! It’s time to start moving in this direction. There is no temptation common to man that God hasn’t created a way of escaping.