Preach the Word. The most important thing a young pastor should do is preach the Word of God. It all starts there. The Word of God is what converts sinners and sanctifies the saints (1 Thess. 1:5; John 17:17). It is the Word of God that brings spiritual healing, growth, and divine transformation (1 Thess. 2:13). Therefore, faithful expository preaching of the Word of God should be the primary task of a young pastor.
Love the people. A pastor must love his people. He must live among them, care for them, serve them, encourage them, bear with their weaknesses, and give himself for them. It is especially important that a pastor love his people generously and tenderly at the beginning of his ministry, so that they will begin to trust him. Without this trust, gained through love, they are unlikely to follow him as a leader.
Choose your battles wisely. Not every issue is worth making a cause for conflict. A young pastor should work to be clear about what is most important and only stand up for what really matters.
Play the long game. Don’t expect everything to change overnight. Plan for the long term and work on the changes gradually. Be patient in training and disciplining your people. Commit to serving them for the long term and pray that the Lord will send fruit in His time.
About Марк Девер
Doctor of Divinity (Cambridge University), senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., author of numerous books and articles, and honorary president of the 9Marks organization.
