Do You Share the Pulpit?

Posted on May 24th, 2007

Last Sunday, I had my good friend the Rev. Jack Averill come preach at Farmville Baptist. As the sole pastor of a church that averages 110 in worship, while being a husband to one wife and father to two children, I find that I need a break from preaching every now and then. Not that I usually “take a vacation” during the weekends that I don’t preach. For example, last Saturday, I spent the afternoon reading and ranking over forty resumes applying for our open position of Associate Pastor. I helped to get our house ready for our Preschool Picnic. I planned the service and I was in worship this Sunday; I just didn’t preach.

Sometimes I feel guilty for not preaching. “You’re slacking off,” I tell myself. But I do it anyway for self care and to be spiritually fed by others. I also want my congregation to hear from some really good preachers.

This Monday, I received the following email from a couple who is new attending the church:

“We have enjoyed each of the guest preachers you have invited to speak. We think you are to be commended for sharing the pulpit with other pastors.”

A perspective from the pew that I had not thought much about. What about you? As a pastor, do you “share the pulpit?” As a regular worshipper in a church, do you like having “guest preachers” every now and then?

Filed under Preaching |

2 Responses to “Do You Share the Pulpit?”

1. Mike Lee Says:
   August 8th, 2007 at 10:08 am

   In the thirteen years I have been a pastor, I have made it a point to “share the pulpit.” The response has been generally positive. In fact, I had several congregants who commented that they liked it that I was willing to invite others in.

   It not only gives me a break, but it allows the congregation to hear from someone with a fresh perspective or at least fresh to them.

   I tried to ask a variety of people including men, women, students, seminary professors, campus ministers, directors of missions, missionaries, VBMB staff, etc. We occasionally did something different in morning worship such as drama teams, concerts, etc.

   Most of the time I enjoyed sitting back and having a chance to worship without having to preach, but I also discovered that I missed it and looked forward to the next week.

   I would be interested in getting some ideas from others about people they would recommend to come and preach.

2. Possible Topic for Discussion: Worship « Mustard Seed Network Says:
   January 16th, 2008 at 11:50 am

   [...] several months ago, Mike Lee of First Baptist, Altavista, was interested in identifying quality guest preachers whom [...]

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