Seasoned Pastors "I'm not being fed..."

[rough_rider]

It's a must that all Saints to be praying and reading daily, that would cut down on a lot of the "I'm not getting fed here" thing. I do belive that if a pastor has a heart for the Lord he will do as he should, and that is to feed His sheep (but that goes much deeper than just "preaching"). As far as preaching goes, some folks have a drawing to different styles, and there is nothing wrong with that. I've heard firery preachers and non-firery preachers that were awesome. I've also heard firery and non-firery that were so bad that I just could not get anything out of what they were trying to say. For myself, I am drawn to a church that the people worship and who hunger and thirst for a deeper walk in the Lord. There is nothing more powerful than a body of believers in unity of the Spirit, that I think will even cause change in those who like to be spoon fed.

[deb]

If only free’s response were that simple:

"I'm sorry to hear that, I'll be glad to help you find another church!" End of discussion.

Too bad that normally is not the end of the discussion, because when people leave, they have to justify their leaving and stir up strife within the congregation, and try to get as many as they can to agree with them and leave with them.

I agree with Pastor Don – you can’t go without food during the week and expect to be fed only on Sunday morning.
And when Sunday does come, it should be with a healthy appetite (not starvation from lack of meeting with the Lord during the week) and prayer: Have you prayed that God would use your Pastor as a vessel that His Word can flow through? Have you prayed for God to open your ears and heart to hear the Word that He has for you? I believe every sermon that Pastor preaches has a Word for everyone in the congregation – not the same Word for each one, but a special Word within the sermon for each one. More praying, listening, and doing...

[Pastor Bill]

I agree that this can mean many things, but honestly I have to say personally if you're not receiving anything, you need to look first into yourself.

Personally I have sat under some wonderful preachers, and also have been around many new and struggling preachers, and God is ALWAYS able to feed me. God will give me SOMETHING out of a message as long as I am seeking HIM. Even if that's just that God sends my mind on a rabbit trail that the preacher doesn't hit, or a side point that really could make a good message in itself, but so far I've never found myself seeking without finding. Although I have had times I haven't gotten anything out of a service, but I can't blame those on the preacher.

[Jennifer Smith]

I agree that this can mean many things, but honestly I have to say personally if you're not receiving anything, you need to look first into yourself.

Personally I have sat under some wonderful preachers, and also have been around many new and struggling preachers, and God is ALWAYS able to feed me. God will give me SOMETHING out of a message as long as I am seeking HIM. Even if that's just that God sends my mind on a rabbit trail that the preacher doesn't hit, or a side point that really could make a good message in itself, but so far I've never found myself seeking without finding. Although I have had times I haven't gotten anything out of a service, but I can't blame those on the preacher.

Yes, and if you have a devotional time at home God is able to bring out things and tie in things that the pastor is saying that are relevant to what He is showing you for your life at that time. God is always working, even through imperfect (and we're all imperfect) vessels.

[Gerald Creasy]

It wasn't until I started feeding myself that I realized how sparsely I had been fed for years. I was scurvied, anemic, dehydrated, parched and withered. The only thing that flourished was weeds of self-righteousness and tares of condemnation.

[Full Quiver]

I don't let people say that. It is called a self feeding program. Are you doing a devotion every day are you praying everyday or are you expecting me to feed you. I attached a self feeding program file.

In my opinion the pastors that propose self feeding programs to their flocks will stand before the Lord and hear Him say depart from me. Yes saints should study the Word and meditate upon it hiding it in their hearts. NO one will argue against that. The sadness is that pastors, shepherds, think they are off the hook and can serve their own selves and not feed the flock of God.

[ugpastor]

I totally agree full quiver. But you can't lay all the blame on the pastor. I believe pastors should be prayed up and ready to preach Sunday morning. I got to get me to heaven, I got to help you get to heaven; but only you can get there!

[Susie Hamilton]

Some of the best sermons that really fed me were from "free". Thank you.

[Full Quiver]

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.


The Word specifically says it is ministers that perform this work. Why is it then that they are held accountable if they do not succeed?


Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

[Mike Vande]

There are a number of scenarios that might apply.

There are people that a given pastor, regardless of his gifts, experience and desire, can't reach. It's not a matter of hardness or heart on their part, or ineptness on the pastor's part. The just don't mesh for any number of reasons. I think that's why pastors come in "all flavors", because not everybody likes the same flavor. Sometimes, tastes change, and the flavor they did like doesn't taste good to them anymore.

Sometimes, it's about Chereth drying up and the ravens not bringing the food anymore. God can move people around as He sees fit, and generally does. Obviously, the way He does it can vary.

It might even be that God moves someone out of a church for the benefit of the church he's leaving. It's not hard to imagine somebody arrogant enough to think he isn't "being fed" being moved out before he can start making trouble, especially if God has something in mind for that church that HE doesn't want messed up.

Maybe the pastor's going through a hard time, and it's showing in his sermons. Maybe the parishioner is going through a hard time, and can't hear what the pastor's saying.

Maybe a pastor gets way into some particular subject the parishioner doesn't think applies to his life. A pastor I sat under once got into marriage and marital issues. He had good reasons; there were a number of folks in the flock who were in marital difficulties at the time, and he believed that God told him to. But, being a divorcee myself, and not in a relationship at the time, it was wearing to hear him go on and on about the evils of divorce and how to rebuild a marriage. I left in the middle of the 6th Sunday sermon on it, and kept leaving till he finally got into something else. I know for a fact I wasn't the reason he quit preaching on that topic, he told me so. And, he came to understand that after 6 weeks of a 12-15 week series on marriage, I just couldn't stand to sit there and feel the condemnation that topic used to bring down on me. He did what he had to do, I did what I had to do, and we both wound up feeling comfortable with the outcome.

In any event, if the pastor has prayed and looked into his life and the way he's preparing his sermons, and can't find anything more lacking or hindering his preaching more than usual, he has done all he can. The parishioner has taken it out of his hands. The pastor can try to maintain contact, or chase him down the street yelling "come back, lost sheep!" if he thinks it will do any good, but he's probably better off letting God deal with them, pray for them to withstand whatever is coming there way, and leave it in His hands.

Now if five or six or 20 people leave the church saying "I'm not being fed", that's another story...

[Pastor Bill]

I agree that this can mean many things, but honestly I have to say personally if you're not receiving anything, you need to look first into yourself.

Personally I have sat under some wonderful preachers, and also have been around many new and struggling preachers, and God is ALWAYS able to feed me. God will give me SOMETHING out of a message as long as I am seeking HIM. Even if that's just that God sends my mind on a rabbit trail that the preacher doesn't hit, or a side point that really could make a good message in itself, but so far I've never found myself seeking without finding. Although I have had times I haven't gotten anything out of a service, but I can't blame those on the preacher.

Yes, and if you have a devotional time at home God is able to bring out things and tie in things that the pastor is saying that are relevant to what He is showing you for your life at that time. God is always working, even through imperfect (and we're all imperfect) vessels.

Yes, and you wouldn't believe the times that I have heard that comment, "I was just reading that the other day" or comments in Sundays school adding in from their personal devotions, and knowing that it all ties in to what I'm going to be preaching in the service ahead.

God knows how to work things together, but it means we ALL must be seeking and doing our part.

[Pianoman]

[i] Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Possibly another thread - but I sometimes question, especially in smaller churches, if we're missing the mark? I've had some pastors that I thought the world of. They could minister to me in my time of need like nobody else - they were a true shepherd - they knew what just what to say if I was drifting a bit into left field -but they weren't a preacher or an evangelist. They got up every Sunday & delivered a sermon - but I felt like I endured it as opposed to really enjoying it?

On the same token - I've had pastors that could preach like nobody else - but they just didn't have that shepherding quality. If they came for a visit - it was by appointment - it was for 5 minutes & I felt like they were just trying to endure until they could leave.

It's not always easy for a church to find a pastor that can balance everything well (especially if the pastor is appointed & not selected).

Pastor Gary - I'm somewhat curious as to whether you've noticed your pastors transitioning into more non-traditional "preacher" roles at Reunion - or if all are still operating somewhat independently in regards to their individual congregations? I know it could be a challenge (and possibly a power struggle) - but I could certainly see the benefits of using more of a team approach in regards to church leadership if they can effectively balance & find their places.

In regards to being fed - I wouldn't necessarily say it is all in the Sunday morning message. It could be lots of variables - praise & worship, youth classes, service opportunities, Bible studies, fellowship opportunities, or even lack of people in your same age group (may feel the pastor is focusing more on the needs of the median age group of the congregation as opposed to your own age bracket). Lots to ponder.

[JohnDB]

Let me add a bit of clarity for myself.

Preaching is one of the easiest aspects of being a preacher. Standing behind the pulpit and giving a passioned message is rather easy. The easiest thing in the world to do is to give a morality lesson and base it upon scripture...throw in a few Greek or Hebrew words and their definitions so people think that they are under a "teaching" instead of preaching style of pastor and all is well.

True teaching pastors are getting harder and harder to come by. Teaching in the manner that Jesus did it is extraordinary. (I haven't seen it except a couple of times)

But being a preacher isn't just two messages on a Sunday and one on Wednesday night either. There are elder meetings, funerals, weddings, and other members who for whatever reason want to speak with their pastor for some counciling. Then there is dealing with the staff. Getting the music leader to do his job properly and find someone else (other than that same small handful he normally does) to sing a solo on Sunday Morning. Getting the power brokers in the church to not try and run the whole place to suit them...there are a lot of members who don't like their decisions at all. Getting the youth Pastor to do something other than visit waterparks this next summer. (half naked teens all the time isn't exactly a good idea)

In short...Being a pastor is difficult. It is all about leadership. The sermons on Sunday and Wednesday are only a very small part of their job...I don't count on them for much on that. I am a bit of an exception to the rule as a pew warmer goes. But when they exhibit true leadership the Church is a well tuned machine that is absolutely a joy to see and it's members great to interract with.

I am a guy...so sitting about talking about this past weeks most emotional moment isn't my idea of a good time.(for women maybe...but not me or those that I hang out with) Only guys who wear lace underwear do that sort of thing. So...I look for ways to hang out with the guys in a manner that means something. Taking some of the load off of the pastor by going to visit the elderly and giving them a comforting word. Going to different churches about that are in need of some construction assistance. (disaster areas seem to be everywhere lately) Or whatever...These are the things that I love to do.

A great church leader is always active in the community that they preach in...he doesn't neccesarily give a great pulpit sermon...but he is always active. Preacher's sermons don't keep and make members...relationships do.

[Dr. Ron]

And then there is the issue of the person who says that usually doesn't come to the table on a regular basis......hit and miss.

Some of what we are talking about is semantics anyway. No two people see this the same way.

I see growth in my congregation......something must be doing it's job.....not just the preaching.

[PastorP]

23 views and zero responses so far: is this a hot potato subject?



I'll tell you at least part of my response when I hear that:

Sometimes "I am not being fed" means that the table has been set, the Bread of Life has been offered but the picky eater doesn't like the healthy vegetables being served.

The only time that I have heard this is when someone that is unsettled in their life, refuses to accept and to hear what they need to hear. Their desire is like a child that always wants cake and ice cream instead of a well balanced diet.