New Preachers Not Wanted

Jeremiah 3:15 (NASB)
¹⁵  "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.


Preachers come and go. With every vacancy churches find themselves having to seek God for the next preacher. This is a daunting task. Some preachers get appointed by their superiors to serve in local congregations. Many churches form search committees to find "God's man."

This usually starts with gathering and sifting through dozens and dozens of resumes. Much prayer is made. Finalists are narrowed down. References are checked. Sermons are watched and listened to all in the hopes that God will unify hearts around one individual. An interview is set up and if that goes well an invitation is extended to come preach and to be voted on by the congregation.

I intentionally started this article with the sentence, "Preachers come and go." This is true. For many pastorless churches they are on a hunt for a preacher. While that is important to God  He also wants so much more for local congregations than a preacher. He wants shepherds.

What is the difference. Preachers can stand behind the pulpit and orate. They proclaim truth. Yet I have known some preachers who felt called to preach but had little concern for the people in the pews. Such preachers are unapproachable after they perform on stage. They often run off, avoid the crowds, disappear to their office in hiding. Such preachers seldom make visits in the hospitals or in homes. They busy themselves with sermon preparation. While that is important people are also important.

Churches often fixate on finding a preacher when God wants to send shepherds. Shepherds nurture the sheep, protect them, and tend to their needs. They also feed the sheep. They pasture them in the ich truth of God's word with a steady diet of spiritual nourishment. They often preach expositional messages through books of the Bible rather than topical sermons.

Shepherds are available to their flock. They are on call all day everyday. They are willing to be inconvenienced even during sermon preparation time or on days off. They make hospital visits and house calls. They invest in people They love the people they minister among.

Churches need God's chosen shepherds and not just preachers. I fear what Bible colleges and Seminaries are turning out for pastors these days. Do these young ministers really think pastoring a church is an eight to five job. Do they all ministry is about what takes place on Sunday mornings or evenings and Wednesday nights.

I had a funeral director tell me once he could not find anyone to do a graveside funeral for a family without a pastor. All the pastors were busy or did not want to give up family time. Yes, he actually had pastors say that. He told me int the old days how preachers saw it as their duty to be available to to the people of the community but times had changed. I preached that funeral service missing part of my son's football game I was supposed to help coach. I showed up at half time after the funeral in my slacks and dress shirt. Shepherds tend to people. They love people. Ministry is about connecting people to God. Shepherds minister to people. They serve people.

Yes, shepherds are supposed to feed the sheep. They are supposed to offer then spiritual meat. Shepherds are called to preach. It is possible for a minister to be shepherd and a preacher. That is what the church needs. In the New Testament a shepherd is called a pastor. Don't mistake the term pastor for preacher. A true pastor is a shepherd and a preacher.

The next time your church is looking for a new pastor I hope they will seek God for a shepherd and not just a preacher.