Proclaimer Blog
Playground friends for pastors
Today, Isabel (7) proudly told dad that she is to be a playground friend. What does that mean? "I have to help people who are arguing and make sure everyone has someone to play with." I take it that "helping people with arguing" doesn't mean developing their rhetoric and sharpening their arguments, but rather, breaking them up! It's a good idea, and not only for schoolgirls….
Being a pastor is a lonely calling – even in a large staff team there is an inherent lonliness about being in ministry. That's why getting together with other pastors is such a good idea. There are a number of ways of doing that, of course. Traditionally, fraternals fulfilled that task – but they often become too big or focused on discussing issues, so there is not the fraternity that pastors crave and need.
I'm a great fan of small preaching groups. 5 of 6 pastors from different churches, but from a locality can meet together every few months and use the opportunity to preach their sermons to one another. There are a number of obvious upsides to this:
- first, and most importantly, it will feed the souls of those who are listening
- having a sermon critiqued is humbling but, more importantly, sharpens your own preaching in a way feedback from a congregation rarely will
- critiquing someone else's sermon will sharpen your own exegetical and hermeneutical skills
- this kind of intimacy and trust will develop good friendships which can last and be fruitful
So, yes, I'm a fan of small preaching groups. 4 or 5 good friends encourgaing one another.
But how's it going to start? That's where the playground friends come in. Perhaps you need to be a playground friend and make sure people in the playground are happy. Why not start a group?