Resources for the Pastor's Soul
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Benjamin Kreps:
Hey everyone and welcome back to the Mark Prater podcast where our aim is to connect our global family of churches with our Executive Director, Mark. You know, we in Sovereign Grace, we're not just leaders. As we lead our church, we're also pastors, of course. And so we've talked about some leadership issues and past podcasts recently, but what are some categories that you would encourage us as we seek to pastor those in our church through this crisis?
Mark Prater:
Yeah, the pandemic has raised pastoral issues or heightened pastoral issues, I think in every church. And so I think it's one that we need to think about and the things I'm about to share, I think our categories are guys are already thinking. And so the first one I would say is have a category of biblical lament.
Many of the guys, I'm sure, have preached through some of the lament Psalms. But make sure you're bringing that back either through teaching or encouragement that there's a place for lament in a crisis like this. And let me be a little bit more specific. Obviously biblical lament includes complaint, but that complaint must always move towards trust. And if it doesn't, it's just complaining. And I think we as Christians have an opportunity to distinguish ourselves from the world that just complains by doing what we should do with our complaint, which is to take it to God in honesty and humility, and then turn it towards trusting God that you see consistently throughout the lament songs.
Benjamin Kreps:
And so one idea would definitely be, if you haven't already, to think about preaching a lament Psalm and helping your people navigate through that. What else?
Mark Prater:
Yeah, I think preaching through it. Or you could, if you're doing small groups, recommend a book. I would recommend Dark clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop, if I pronounced his name right. One other recommendation I wanted to give our guys in terms of resources under this category, I would encourage you, listen to CJ Mahaney’s sermon from Sunday, May 17 from Philippians 2. The title is “What To Do When the Pandemic Turns Divisive.” And he preaches from Philippians 2:14-16 and addresses this issue of complaining, I think very helpfully and very pastorally.
Benjamin Kreps:
Very helpful. Excellent sermon. And I mean even just the category he talks about shining lights in a dark world connected simply from the absence of grumbling and arguing was a very helpful thing to think about as well.
Mark Prater:
Yeah, I think the other category to be thinking in, and I'm sure guys are already experiencing this, but, but be mindful of those in your church who are isolated or live alone, especially if they have some sort of preexisting pastoral issues. Because it seems, from what I'm hearing in talking to pastors and even people in our own church, that the loneliness, the isolation is causing a sort of a heightening of the pastoral issues that they may be facing. Just our ability to gather together brings more of a normalcy, a sense of, of health to a person's soul, right? So when they can't do that it's really important that we check in on those who are isolated and lonely to see how they're doing. And if they're wrestling then I would give them resources. I think you know, Gentle and Lowly, guys have heard about that book, by Dane Ortlund. That would be a great resource to give to people like that.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yeah. I mean, what a wonderful book, which really seems to be a modern version of some Puritan works like from Richard Sibbes, The love of Christ and things like that, which are just communicated how the Lord Jesus Christ feels about people that are sinners and suffers. It's a very encouraging and I think that's a great recommendation. Yeah. Any other thoughts?
Mark Prater:
Well, I think the last thought is I've given those recommendations. I just think our guys are doing a great job. I've been interacting with a lot of pastors, phone calls, texts, sometimes Zoom meetings. Their steadfastness in just looking to lead and care for the people that God has given them, I think is truly remarkable. What I'm seeing is James 1 right before my eyes that they are counting it all joy as they face trials, meet trials of various kinds. It's testing their faith that is producing a steadfastness that I see in our guys and I want them to be aware of the grace of God at work in their lives. So guys, thanks for being steadfast.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yeah. Amen. I've talked to a number of pastors, Sovereign Grace pastors, over the last couple of months and just every time impressed by the careful way that our guys are thinking through issues seeking to care for their church. I'm learning whenever I talk to a Sovereign Grace pastor. I mean, we just have choice men as pastors in Sovereign Grace. I just want to amen that as well. Okay. Well, thanks Mark,. for sharing your thoughts with us and thank everyone for watching and we'll see you here soon.