(Note: This is part of a larger series on the
weekend messages. Click here to see the original post)
So… why are guest speakers
scheduled during the year. The quick answer is: I’m not good enough, or
interesting enough, or creative enough, or energetic enough to speak every
Sunday!
Dave
Jacobs, a consultant to churches writes “The senior pastor is
not the only voice to the church but he does need to be the main voice. A good
balance is the pastor up there four or five weeks in a row and then someone
else.”
The amount of energy and
focus to do the weekly message can be formidable, speaking week after week is
the #1 activity (along with counseling) that will leave me drained. I’ve found that a sustainable pace is when
I speak for about five to six weeks, and then have someone else come in, then I
get up for another 5-6 weeks, then bring in someone with a fresh arm.
Below are some benefits to
the church and some benefits for me.
Benefits for the Church
· A more
well-rounded understanding of God’s Word - Different speakers will have different take on a passage or a fresh
perspective on the text. There are
some topics I’m going to get pumped about, and probably overemphasis, and other
topics I’m more “ho-hum” about, and will underemphasize. With only one speaker there is a danger
of just getting the Mike Hannah version of the Bible – that’s not a good thing!
A balanced diet is important when learning God’s word.
·
It gives other speakers an opportunity to develop. If
one speaker fills up all the speaking slots, it doesn’t allow other people to
grow and develop. The best
scenario for the church is to have a team of competent speakers. That way, if anything happens to one
person, God’s word will faithfully be preached regardless.
·
I can make progress on other projects that are
important to the church. One the
weeks I speak, a big chunk of my work hours are tied up by preparing the
message. On the weekends I don’t
speak, those weekday hours are freed up for me to work on other items that are
helpful for the church. This might
be contacting members, encouraging leaders, designing a new workshop, etc.
·
You get a better lead pastor - If I don’t take a break, I get burned out, and
speaking feels like going through the motions. By taking periodic breaks, when I
do speak, you get a better me. That’s a benefit to the church….and also a benefit for me…. Which leads
me to the next section.
Benefits for Me
·
I don’t burn out and die! – When
I was younger I could just go and go, the older I get, the more I need to stop
and rest. The weekly process of creating and delivering a message can be
incredibly draining. The truth is, after about six weeks, I’m get drained and
need an opportunity to recharge.
If not, I lose enthusiasm, and start to go into autopilot mode with
God’s word. In the Bible there’s a pattern on six on, one off. Six days of
work, one day off, six year of working the land, one year for the land to
rest. So for me, an average of six
on, one off seems to be sustainable. I want to be around for a long time
·
I have time to do family things – On the weekends I speak, I spend time on
Saturday preparing for the message, and then Sunday I’m at church delivering
it. This makes it hard to plan family activities for when my family is off –
the weekend. By having scheduled breaks, this allows weekend time for family
every one and half months.
So, those are some of the
reasons guest speaker are scheduled throughout the year.
Next Week’s Topic: Weekend Message Values
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