the bishop magazine (april edition)

A THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL APRIL 2014

Just in Time For Easter: Pontius “THE ENFORCER” Pilate 9 Things You

Need to Bust That Laedership Lid

Why Most CHURCHES STAY SMALL

What Happened to the Brothers of Jesus

When Should a Pastor Leave a Church?

The life and times of Jesus

Where Did Easter Come From

The Church and Racism

3 | BISHOP APRIL 2014

From the Desk of the Publisher, Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

I live in the northeast, New York, and for the last several weeks we have been dealing with the worst winter in recent years. It finally appears that Spring is trying to force its way into our temperature and it could not come soon enough. We here at “The Bishop” magazine are very excited about this issue of our publication. We are putting this issue out in the weeks leading up to Easter and we are hopeful that you are going to enjoy what we have put together.

In this issue we have assembled a number of articles not the least of which is an article on the Life of Pontius Pilate, the man that sentenced Jesus to death. The article explores Pilate’s career and examines what happen to him after his encounter with Jesus in Jerusalem. The article is written with the hopes of encouraging you, our readers, to consider taking our newest online course of the same name.

Some of our other articles include ministry helps articles from some of the leading Christian journalists in the body

of Christ. We ask “When Is it Time for a Pastor to Leave a Church”, “The Life and Times of Jesus”, “What Happen to the Brothers of Jesus”, “Where Did Easter Come From” and so much more. Because this is a digital publication, that is highly mobile, we are hopeful that you will share this issue with your family and friends.

On a final note, we are happy that now this magazine can be read not only on computers but on mobile devices as well. We make this magazine available via the website a specialized website that has recently announced that its publications can be read on cell phones and tablets, including the iPad. With this increased capability, we are intensifying our efforts to bring you this magazine on regular basis and with an additional amount of material for your reading and edification. Please help us to distribute the good news that “The Bishop” magazine can now be read wherever you are and whatever you are on.

04 Why Most Churches Stay Small Breaking The 200 Attendance Barrier By Carey Nieuwhof

06 What Happened To The Brothers Of Jesus By Stephen Miller

08 Where Did Easter Come From By Staff Writer

10 9 Things You Need To Bust That Laedership Lid By Paul Alexander

12 The Church And Racism By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

14 The Life And Times Of Jesus By The Editorial Staff Of Church History Institute

16 When Should A Pastor Leave A Church? By Joe Mckeever

18 Just In Time For Easter: Pontius “The Enforcer” Pilate Staff Writer


Let’s just assume you have a solid mission, theology and heart to reach people.

You know why most churches still don’t push past the 200 mark in attendance?

You ready?

They organize, behave, lead and manage like a small organization.

Think about it.

There’s a world of difference between how you organize a corner store and how you organize a larger supermarket.

In a corner store, Mom and Pop run everything. Want to talk to the CEO? She’s stocking shelves. Want to see the director of marketing? He’s at the cash register.

Mom and Pop do everything, and they organize their business to stay small. Which is fine if you’re Mom and Pop and don’t want to grow.

But you can’t run a supermarket that way. You organize differently. You govern differently. There’s a produce manager

While social media, and even traditional media, are still preoccupied with megachurches and multisite churches, the reality is that most churches in North America are quite small.

The Barna group pegs the average Protestant church size in America at 89 adults. Sixty percent of protestant churches have less than 100 adults in attendance. Only 2 percent have over 1,000 adults attending.

Please understand, there’s nothing wrong with being a small church. I just know that almost every small church leader I speak to wants his or her church to grow.

I get that. That’s the mission of the church. Every single day, I want our church to become more effective in reaching one more person with the hope that’s in Christ.

So, why is it that most churches never break the 200 attendance mark?

It’s not:Desire. Most leaders I know want their church to reach more people.A lack of prayer. Many small church leaders are incredibly faithful in prayer.Love. Some of the people in smaller churches love people as authentically as anyone I know.Facility. Growth can start in the most unlikely places.

Why Most Churches Stay SmallBreaking the 200 Attendance BarrierBy Carey Nieuwhof


and people who only stock shelves. There’s a floor manager, shift manager, general manager and so much more.

So what’s the translation to church world?

Here are eight reasons churches who want to grow end up staying small:

1. The pastor is the primary caregiver.Honestly, if you just push past this one issue, you will have made a ton of progress. When the pastor has to visit every sick person, do every wedding and funeral, and make regular house calls, he or she becomes incapable of doing other things. That model just doesn’t scale.

If you’re good at it, you’ll grow the church to 200 people and then disappoint people when you can’t get to every event any more. Or you’ll just burn out. It creates false expectations and so many people get hurt in the process.

Although it’s 20 years old, this is still the best book I know on the subject. The answer, by the way, is to teach people to care for each other in groups.

2. The leaders lack a strategy.Many churches today are clear on mission and vision. What most lack is a widely shared and agreed upon strategy.

Your vision and mission answers the why and what of your organization. Your strategy answers how. And how is critical.

Spend time working through your strategy. Be clear on how you will accomplish your mission and don’t rest until the mission, vision and strategy reside in every single volunteer and leader.

3. True leaders aren’t leading.In every church, there are people who hold the position of leadership and then there are people who are truly leaders (who may not hold any position in your church).

Release people who hold titles but aren’t advancing the mission, and hand the job over to real leaders. Look for people who have a track record of handling responsibility in other areas of life and give them the job of leading the church into the future with you.

If you actually have leaders leading, it will make a huge difference.

4. Volunteers are unempowered.Sure, small churches may not have the budget to hire other staff, but you have people. Once you have identified true leaders, and once you’re clear on your mission, vision and strategy, you need to release people to accomplish them.

Try to do it all yourself and you will burn out, leave or simply be ineffective.

Empower volunteers around an aligned strategy and you will likely begin to see progress.

5. The governance team micromanages.If you need permission every time you need to buy paper towels or repaint an office, you have a governance issue.

Most boards who micromanage do so because that’s where most people simply default. You need a board that guards the mission and vision and empowers the team to accomplish it and then gets out of the way.

This post on governance from Jeff Brodie is gold.

6. Too many meetings.I led a church with a grand total of 50 people in attendance. We had 16 elders. Overall, the church was in evening meetings two to three times a week.

Why on earth would a church that small need to meet that often?

I eventually repurposed most of those meetings to become meetings about vision and reorganization. We also cut the number of elders down. Now, although we have a much bigger church, I’m only out one or two nights a week (and then, mostly for small group).

If you’re going to meet, meet on purpose for the future. Free up your time so you and your team can accomplish something significant.

7. Too many events and programs that lead nowhere.Activity does not equal accomplishment. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re being effective.

If you check into most small churches (remember, I was there … I’m not judging, just being honest), there are a lot of programs that accomplish little and lead nowhere. Stop them.

Yes, people will be mad. Even have the courage to cut some good programs. Good is the enemy of great. Then go out and do a few great things.

8. The pastor suffers from a desire to please everybody.Many pastors I know are people-pleasers by nature. Go see a counselor. Get on your knees. Do whatever you need to do to get over the fear of disappointing people.

Courageous leadership is like courageous parenting. Don’t do what your kids want you to do; do what you believe is best for them in the end. Eventually, many of them will thank you.

And the rest? Honestly, they’ll probably go to another church that isn’t reaching many people either.

I realize the diagnosis can sound a little harsh, but we have a pretty deep problem on our hands. And radical problems demand radical solutions.


What Happened to the Brothers of Jesus

By Stephen Miller

not have to obey ancient Jewish laws. He may have lived an ascetic life and was reported to have spent so much time in prayer that his knees “were like those of a camel.” Jewish historian Josephus reported that Jewish leaders stoned James to death. Eusebius said he was thrown from the top of the temple and beaten to death with a club. It is unclear whether this James or another wrote the epistle bearing his name.

Jude’s letter of warning about impostors who had infiltrated the church suggests that he, too, became a respected church leader and perhaps a traveling missionary who saw such problems firsthand.

ACCORDING TO THE GOSPELS, Jesus had several “brothers and sisters” (see “Mary” for possible meanings), but James and Jude are the only ones mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament—James as a leader of the early church in Jerusalem, and Jude in the short letter bearing his name. Originally, Jesus’ family was skeptical of his ministry: “Even his brothers did not believe in him,” says John’s Gospel. Apparently the Resurrection changed their minds, because they joined Mary and the disciples in the Upper Room to wait for the Holy Spirit.

James, probably the oldest of Jesus’ brothers, made the decision at the Jerusalem Council that Gentile Christians did


THE OTHER DISCIPLES

After the Gospels, the New Testament rarely mentions the disciples. For further details, we have only legends—some dubious.

Peter’s brother, Andrew, reportedly preached in Asia Minor, Thrace, and Greece before being crucified on (according to a tenth-century account) an X-shaped cross. He was regarded as the founder of the church in Constantinople and may have been associated with writing the Gospel of John. The apocryphal Acts of St. Andrew (from the second century) claims he was imprisoned for advocating an ascetic life.

Philip was from Zebedee’s home town of Bethsaida. He supposedly became a missionary to Turkey, where he died a martyr.

Some accounts say Bartholomew (probably actually named Nathaniel Bar-Tholomai, meaning “son of Tholomai") was a companion of Andrew and martyr among the Parthians (in modern northeast Iran). More commonly, he is said to have taken the gospel to India, where he was tortured and beheaded. Eusebius mentions that someone found Matthew’s Gospel in India, which may have been left there by Bartholomew.

Or maybe it was left there by Thomas, whom Gregory of Nazianzus and the Acts of Thomas say preached in India and was martyred there. The Syrian Christians of Malabar (in southwest India) are still convinced they were evangelized by Thomas. In any event, he likely would have preferred his first nickname, “the twin,” to his more modern “doubting Thomas.” He is associated with Syriac Christianity, and (if he didn’t go to India) is also reported to have taken the gospel as far as Parthia and Persia.

Matthew is credited with writing the Gospel bearing his name and is said to have ministered in Ethiopia, Macedonia, Pontus, or Persia before dying a martyr.

Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James (also called Thaddaeus) are said to have gone to Persia together, where they were martyred. James the son of Alphaeus (who may have also been “James the Less") disappeared from history.


HISTORY OF EASTER

Easter is one of the most celebrated festivals of the modern Christian church. According to St.Bede, an English historian of the eighteenth century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. The name Easter was originally derived from the word Eostre. Eostre was the ancient Greek goddess of spring. It was believed that every year, Eostre returned to


By Staff Writer

Easter is celebrated the world over to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ – the Son of God. The young and the old, the rich and the poor, man and woman and people of all races celebrate Easter. However, Easter has been commercialized to a large extent by companies manufacturing Easter related goods and items and the greeting card industry. It is important that in all the commercialization of this very important festival, one does not forget the history of Easter.



By Staff Writer

festivals were lavish feasts that celebrated the booming of new flowers, the chirping of birds, butterflies, and sunshine and in general the feeling of rejuvenation that is inherent of spring.

The Christian church however, changed the Pagan festival from a celebration of spring to a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In 325 A.D. the church also changed the date of the festival. The festival was no longer held on the spring equinox. Instead, as per the Church Council of Nicaea henceforth it was to be held on the very first Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Thus, today Easter is celebrated on different dates every year and can occur as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th.

Some people even believe that Easter is related to the Hebrew celebration, the Jewish Passover. Passover is celebrated to mark the freedom of the Israelis from bondage and slavery after 300 years. It was during Passover in 30 A.D. that Christ was crucified for being blasphemous. The resurrection happened three days later on what is today known as Easter Sunday. The early Christians, many of whom were raised as Jews considered the resurrection and Easter as a new part of pascha. Thus the early celebration of Passover came to be celebrated as Good Friday and Easter.

Today grand scale events mark the celebration of Easter in the United States and across the globe. Many traditional symbols of Easter continue to dominate the scene while new traditions are being part of the festival too. Thus, Easter is a festival that denotes life, rejuvenation, renewal, rebirth and restoration of all beings on Earth.

Earth after a long, cold winter and brought along with her the light and warmth of Spring. Thus, ancient Greeks held pagan festivals to welcome Eostre and herald the onset of spring.

The Pagan festivals always coincided with the vernal Equinox on the 21st of March every year. Though the Greek were not fully cognizant of why and when spring comes, they believed Eostre must be pleased to ensure that she returns year after year. The


If you lead long enough, eventually you’re going to hit a leadership lid. It happens when you reach your capacity in a particular area, and the good news is there may be a solution.

But what you do next has the potential to make or break your leadership future. Ignore it, deny it, make excuses about it, or refuse to acknowledge and deal with it, and you’ll undermine your impact.

Face reality, and you’ll create a window of opportunity to grow.

You know you’ve hit a leadership lid when …

The ministry you’re leading has stagnated or is declining.

The other ministries in the church are growing at a faster pace than the area you are responsible for.

You’re experiencing a marked increase in conflict.

Protecting the past trumps creating the future.

You Need to Bust That

There is a revolving door of participants or volunteers in your ministry.

You’re experiencing long-term personal spiritual stagnation.

You’re experiencing mission creep and redefining success as you go.

This week at our monthly staff leadership gathering at Sun Valley, Scott Ridout, one of the lead pastors at Sun Valley, walked the staff from all three of our campuses through Nine Common Leadership Lids That Ministry Leaders face.

Here are some of my notes from that conversation:

1. Character.

Character is the lowest leadership lid; and no level of competency will ever make up for a fatal flaw in character, because ministry is built on trust. This shows up in all kinds of ways, including how people handle pressure,

Lid

9 THINGS

by Paul Alexander


whether they blame or take responsibility, self-promotion or protection, and work ethic among other things.

2. Culture.

The culture of your church is made up of the sum total of the beliefs, attitudes, values and behaviors of the church. Violate this culture by making decisions and leading in a direction that is incongruent with this, and you’ll find your leadership journey short lived.

3. Community.

Your church, staff and community all have a unique style. This has to do with issues like pace, high control versus high trust, people versus tasks and insiders versus outsiders. New England is a different animal that the South, and every leader has their best fit. Everyone has a natural style, and the better the fit of the leader with the style of the church, staff and community then the higher the lid.

4. Chemistry.

While the majority of chemistry is natural, it can be built. The potential of a leader is determined by their inner circle. And if they don’t have strong chemistry with the team, their lid is going to be artificially lowered.

5. Competency.

Competency lids can be issues related to quality, quantity or results in reproduction. There are significant differences in leading a church of 100, 500, 1,000 and 10,000. And the higher you go, the less you must “do” and the more you must be able to “see and relate.” You move past the science side of leadership to the art side of managing the momentum and feeling of the room.

6. Courage.

Managers are consumed with doing things right, and high-level leaders are consumed with doing the right things. High-level leaders fear missing opportunities more than making mistakes. Great leaders are courageous enough to be the boss and make unpopular decisions and, at the same time, humble enough to make mid-course corrections.

7. Communication.

The best communicator is almost always seen as the leader in the church. If you’re unable to provide ample motivation and clear direction in your communication, you’re going to hit a lid.

8. Coaching.

If you only listen to people like you, then you won’t be leading very long or very far. You’ve got to get outside of your “tribe” and learn from successful people and organizations in other industries.

9. Corporate.

This has to do with the systems and structures of the organization. The resources that are allocated and the decision-making process that must be followed.

By the way, the first step in dealing with a leadership lid is helping people recognize it. You train ignorance. Some people will simply refuse to recognize a leadership lid. In this case, you challenge obstinance.


The Church and RacismBy Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

It is no wonder then that the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship stands on the shoulders of those in the past who have identified racism as a social sin that stands in direct opposition to the will of God. The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship continues the tradition of advocating social justice for those whose voices have been muted by systemic measures that belittle the self-esteem and self-worth of individuals.

It was the the prophet Amos that said “Let justice roll down like mighty rivers of waters” and it was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an African American whose denominational heritage we share in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, that stated that until we have something we are willing to die for, we are not fit to live. We therefore, resolve that our gatherings, whether it be national or local, be dedicated in part to eradicating the social evils of racism that has ravaged the African American community for hundreds of years.

The theological perspective that we import to our understanding of the issue is fashioned by a number of iconic individuals whose work has had an immeasurable impact upon our thinking. We are molded in our thinking in

From the inception of the church over two thousand years ago there has been an expectancy and sense that the church was on assignment to stand with the innocent and render assistance to the poor. Much of Jesus’ ministry was marked by his efforts to treat with respect those who stood on the periphery of society either because of their social, medical or political conditions. The presence of Roman officials in the city of Jerusalem, especially that of Pontius Pilate, was a constant reminder that the Jerusalem was an occupied by outside forces that imposed their will and laws upon a people who operated under duress.

The church has a rich history of siding with the underdogs of history. It was the church that stood alone against northern Germanic tribes like the Goths and the Visigoths to protect the citizens of Rome against the northern hordes in the fifth century AD. It was the church who took up the cause of the serfs and vassals against the nobility class of the Middle Ages. It was the church that provided for the poor and disinherited during European colonialism in the 15th, 16th and 17th century. And yes, it was members of the church who were at the forefront of the fight against slavery and the pursuit of women’s rights in the 19th century.


part by the classic work of Rhinehold Niehbur whose models of “Christ and Culture” forces us to attach ourselves to the problems of racism, by virtue of us living in the society where racism has been given such an historic audience. We are also impacted by the work of Paul Tillich, whose work provides the foundational principles upon which our usage of Black Theology stands. In speaking of Black Theology we can not ignore the work of Howard Thurman, who might be more appropriately be referred to as an antecedent of Black Theology and that of James Cone. While the extent to which the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship exercises the tenants of Black Theology is arguable, it can not be denied that some of its basic conclusions has helped to shape our conversation about racism. We further recognize the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who warns against “cheap grace” and motivates us to pursue the real “Cost of Discipleship”.

It should be pointed out that racism, as practiced by the United States, was markedly different than how it had been practiced in other parts of the world. Scholars point to the systems of slavery as practiced by the Roman and Greek societies as an antecedent for the practice of slavery in America. But it should be remembered that Roman and Greek societies made slaves out of people who they conquered. It was the military superiority of the Greeks and the Romans that caused them to see other people subordinate and therefore eligible for slavery.

In America, the practice of slavery and its subsequent practice of racism, was based upon a belief that the people being enslaved were genetically and biologically inferior to those who were doing the enslaving. The suggestion that Blacks were only 3/5 of a person is evidence that this attitude found a home in the hearts and minds of most slave owners.

In the 19th century, groups such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, under the leadership of Brigham Young, went so far as to suggest that the darkened skin of Black people was an indication of them being cursed.

“that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a pre-mortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else.” Brigham Young

Again, turning to the theological tools provided by trained members of the “academy”, the belief in genetic superiority/inferiority exists without merit because the existence of White skin, or Black skin for that matter, is not the result of a decision on the part of the individual. Nobody makes themselves White or Black, they are born that way, which means that the racial characteristics of all people are items determined by the divine and not the human. It is therefore without theological foundation to treat anyone a particular way based upon that which they have no control over themselves, like the color of their skin.

The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship therefore calls upon its membership and associated churches to operate as beacons of light in their local communities that advocate justice, dignity and equality and reject any behavior of racism wherever it might be found.


By the Editorial Staff of Church History Institue

THE POPULATION OF PALESTINE in Jesus’ day was approximately 500,000 to 600,000 (about that of Vermont, Boston, or Jerusalem today). About 18,000 of these residents were clergy, priests and Levites. Jerusalem was a city of some 55,000, (about the size of Wheaton, Illinois, today) but during major feasts, could swell to 180,000.

Children in Jesus’ day played games similar to hopscotch and jacks. Whistles, rattles, toy animals on wheels, hoops, and spinning tops have been found by archaeologists. Older children and adults found time to play, too, mainly

with board games. A form of checkers was popular then.

Tradesmen would be instantly recognizable by the symbols they wore. Carpenters stuck wood chips behind their ears, tailors stuck needles in their tunics, and dyers wore colored rags. On the Sabbath, these symbols were left at home.

The second commandment forbade “graven images,” so there are few Jewish portraits showing dress at the time. Also because of this prohibition, the Jews produced little in the way of painting, sculpture, or carvings. The masonry and carpentry


of the day appear utilitarian. One notable exception to the commandment seems to be the tolerance of dolls for children.

At the two meals each day, bread was the main food. The light breakfasts—often flat bread, olives, and cheese (from goats or sheep)—were carried to work and eaten at mid-morning. Dinners were more substantial, consisting of vegetable (lentil) stew, bread (barley for the poor, wheat for the rich), fruit, eggs, and/or cheese. Fish was a common staple, but red meat was reserved for special occasions. Locusts were a delicacy and reportedly taste like shrimp. (Jews wouldn’t have known that, however, since shrimp and all other crustaceans were “unclean.”)

Only those in the tribe of Levi could be priests, but they had to be free from any physical blemishes, infirmities, or defects. Actually, there were deformed and dwarfish priests, but, though allowed to eat the holy food with the other priests and Levites, they could not make sacrifices.

There are a few hints of anti-Roman sentiment in Jesus’ ministry. When he sent the demonic “Legion” (a Roman word) into a herd of swine, it undoubtedly conjured images of the Roman military legions. (One legion occupying Jerusalem even used a boar as its mascot.) Sending the demonic legion to its destruction would have been a powerful symbol to the oppressed Jews.

Jesus wasn’t the only wonder worker of his day. Both Jews and Romans could list dozens of divinely inspired miracle workers. Jesus seems to have been different in that he eschewed magical formulas or incantations, refused pay, and took time to discuss the faith of those who sought his help.

Jesus lived close to three major ancient cities. The ancient capital of Galilee, Sepphoris, was just over the hill from Nazareth. Tiberias was on the lake, and travelers passed through Scythopolis to get to Jerusalem. Curiously we have no record of Jesus having visited these cities.

As carpenters, Joseph and Jesus would have created mainly farm tools (carts, plows, winnowing forks, and yokes), house parts (doors, frames, posts, and beams), furniture, and kitchen utensils.

The mountain where Jesus was transfigured could be Mount Tabor. Ironically, though Jesus rebuked Peter for suggesting he build three dwellings there, by the 700s three churches sat atop the mountain to commemorate the event.

Jesus lived during the age of papyrus rolls, which were no more than 33-feet long. This as much as anything else determined the length of literary works in antiquity. It is no accident that, for example, Luke’s Gospel is the maximum length for an ancient document, and thus another papyrus role had to be used to inscribe the Book of Acts.


“The one who rejects you rejects me” (Luke 10:16).

1. When they fire you.

If they vote you out, preacher, and change the locks on the door, it’s a pretty good sign they want you gone.

At that point, even if you know beyond all doubt that God sent you

and this action represents complete rebellion on their part, it’s time to leave. The Lord no longer expects you to stay.

(Whether He wants you to go down the street and rent an empty building and start a new church is an entirely different matter.)

2. When the Holy Spirit tells you.

That’s the other “simplest answer” to the question, to be redundant. After all, the One who called you into this work and sent you to that church—He did, didn’t He?—certainly knows when it’s time for you to move on.

Usually, He opens another place of service at the same time. However, occasionally, He will command you to resign and leave but has not yet opened up the next place of service.

When that happens, you find out all over again what “living by faith” really means.

3. After this, the answers become a little more ambiguous and complicated ...

I threw out this question to our Facebook friends, hundreds of whom are active in ministry at one level or other. Their answers fell into four categories.

What follows is a summation of points they made …

a) The congregation:

When the membership stops coming and/or stops giving.

When the church is no longer growing.

When the people are unresponsive and everything is stagnant.

When the members are not doing their job but look to you to do everything.

b) The family:

When staying is detrimental to your family.

When your spouse says, “It’s me or them; choose.”

When your family is being attacked daily.

When your elderly parents need you to move near them.

c) Yourself:

When you have lost your vision for the church.

When you have lost your passion/concern for the people.

When there is immorality or any kind of moral failure.

When your health is failing because of the church.

When you no longer believe what you are preaching.

When you have fouled up the works so bad that recovering and moving the church back to a healthy status seems impossible.

When you have to make yourself go to work.

d) Deacons and other leaders:

When your leadership is rebelling by leaving the church or opposing you.

When the leaders have their own agenda and block your work.

When the leadership is ungodly, carnal and determined not to follow Christ.

When your leadership base disappears and no one is listening or following.

Our response to this.

Nothing about this subject is as simple as Points 1 and 2 (they fire you or the Holy Spirit moves you). Oh, that it were.

But, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as we sometimes want to make it. Here are my own personal conclusions, for what they are worth. I offer them to brothers and sisters who are in the middle of their own personal battles for survival in the ministry. God bless you, my friends. Hang tough.

1. No one said it was going to be easy.

We do well to prepare young ministers and their families for this. In the words of Paul to the newly minted believers of Asia Minor, “It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom” (Acts 14:22).

The instructions of our Lord to the disciples as they went out on a short-term mission project of Matthew 10:16-42 are invaluable. (Note: If you look at that passage, the first

When Should a Pastor Leave a Church?by Joe McKeever


question that occurs is why we begin at verse 16, and why not verse 5. Answer: Verses 5-15 are temporary, one-time-only instructions that pertained only to that situation. In fact, the Lord reverses some of the instructions later in Luke 22. But Matthew 10:16-42′s teachings have proven themselves applicable in every generation since.)

2. Some matters should be settled up front (at the start of this ministry).

Are we together in this as a family?

Are mom and dad on the same page (with each other)? Do our parents recognize that we may not be able to live within a 50-mile radius and respond every time they call?

Does the minister’s spouse feel a similar call from God for ministry? Or, does the family see the pastoral ministry as just one more vocation Dad could have chosen and a great way to be well-known in the community?

3. Are you willing to get counsel when the work gets harder than you ever expected?

You cannot do this alone, friend. You will need godly mentors and counselors to advise you and constantly lift you to the Father in prayer. If you have no such advisors and friends, get some now! (Ask the Father. Then, start paying attention. He wants this more than you do!)

Spouses should be aware (and will be soon enough!) that there is a lone-ranger mentality in many ministers that makes them believe that to ask for counsel is to admit defeat. “I can do all things through Christ,” they will insist. But this attitude is carnal, unspiritual and completely unscriptural. God never sent His servants out alone. He sent them in twos or even larger groups. Read Romans 16 or I Corinthians 16 and decide for yourself whether the great Apostle Paul felt he could do the ministry all by himself.

4. The Holy Spirit is not some drill instructor sergeant...

who is determined to beat you down into submission and willing to enact any suffering necessary to achieve it. He is the indwelling Lord Jesus Christ and He loves you (and your family) more than you do.

So trust Him.

Ultimately, Point 2 (“When the Holy Spirit tells you to leave”) is all you have. Everything else is just “working conditions.”

They don’t like you? Read Matthew 10:25.

Your parents are laying a load of guilt on you? Show them Matthew 10:37.

Your spouse says the work is too heavy? Share Matthew 10:38 with him/her. (Note: Do not preach to her! Instead, tell her, “This is what we are dealing with, honey. This is the cross He asks us to bear. Let’s help each other.”)

You can’t sleep at night? You are tormented by self-doubts and fears? You worry about losing your job? (et cetera) Get thee to a counselor friend and do it today!

You were never intended to handle this burden alone. Never.

5. Treat your spouse as your own heart during the difficult times.

Share with her, listen to her, pray with her and spend time with her.

One of the greatest reasons ministry wives feel they cannot take it any longer is their husband has abandoned them to handle all their burdens alone. True, he has his own load to carry and sometimes seems about to collapse, but the solution is not for each of you to go it alone.

Together, you are far stronger than separately. (Sorry for this elementary lesson your pastor should have driven home in your premarital counsel! One 4x4 board is not as strong as two 2x4s nailed together. The grains of each will reinforce the other.)

6. Try to get through this day.

Seek God’s “manna” for this day only. Tomorrow, you may decide to jump ship, but today, you’re going to hang in there.

7. Take the long view.

“For the joy set before Him, (Jesus) endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

“This momentary light affliction is working for (you) an exceeding weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Finally: The most important point we have made is get counsel. Find a friend, preferably someone older and wiser, someone who has persevered over the years. Even if they do not see themselves as mentors or professional counselors, call him/her up and say, “Could I come see you for a few minutes?”


of religious pilgrims from Galilee, that he slaughtered on the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem. The course explores why the decisions that he made regarding Jesus were inconsistent with his own beliefs concerning Jesus’ guilt and his best efforts to avoid having to put Jesus to death.

This course is perfect for Christian Educators, pastors, members of the clergy and anyone else who has a heart and appetite for knowing more about the people in the Bible that have a major impact upon the story of salvation.

The udemy teaching platform has emerged as the premier teaching platform on the internet today. The platform is easy navigate and the course is driven by a series of video lectures that combines a powerpoint presentation with a classroom lecture. The course also includes a series of questions that allows the student to measure their retention of the material. If you are interested in having a good grasp and understanding of the man central to the crucifixion of Jesus, then the online course is what you want to have.

Just in Time For Easter: Pontius “The Enforcer” Pilate

Staff Writer

With Easter just around the corner, Bishop Andy C. Lewter has just released his much awaited newest online course entitled “Pontius Pilate the Enforcer” on the Udemy teaching platform.

The online course, which is available at http://www.udemy.com/pilate, takes an in-depth and critical look at one of the most fascinating personalities of the New Testament. The course gathers material from a number of ancient sources including the Bible, the writings of Flavius Josephus, the Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus and the Hellenist historian from Alexandria, Philo.

Most people recognize Pilate as the man who sentenced Jesus to death. However, this course traces the career of Pilate from his humble Italian countryside beginnings to his marriage to Procula, the granddaughter of Emperor Augustus Caesar, to his appointment as “Prefect” of Judea, following the ten year tenure of Valerius Gratus.

The course also examines the four major clashes that Pilate had with the Jewish community that ended with his massacre

THE NEW LIFE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGYPresents

ENROLL TODAY BY VISITING

WWW.UDEMY.COM/MOSESLIFE

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

The Life of Moses

THE NEW LIFE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGYPresents

ENROLL TODAY BY VISITING

WWW.UDEMY.COM/UNDERSTANDING-THE-OLD-TESTAMENT

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Understanding the Old Testament

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