My friend Pastor James Conley from Delta, Colorado, retired in July from First Baptist Church after more than 30 years of ministry there. At the Rocky Mountain American Baptist Gathering a few weeks ago, he shared some lessons learned.
First, one of his seminary professors shared with him early in his ministry five things the professor would have done differently:
1. Spend more time with my family.
2. Develop a deeper prayer life much earlier.
3. Study and prepare better messages.
4. I would not take myself so seriously.
5. I would be more understanding and patient with the church the Lord placed in my care.
A good list. James added “Four things that will sideline your serve:”
#1 SLOTH (laziness) Proverbs 19:15, 26:14; 2 Thessalonians. 3:11-12.
#2 SILVER (money) Ecclesiastes 5:10; 1 Timothy 6:10.
#3 SEX (Porn/adultery) 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Ephesians. 5:3; 1 Peter 2:11.
#4 SELF (flesh) 2 Timothy 3:1-4; Galatians 5:13.
Another good list, which is remarkably the same (3 out of 4) that my friend Pastor Aaron Dorman in Estes Park shared with me in August:
- Money
- Sex
- Pride
- Distraction (that is, stick with the gospel, not politics)
Thank you, my brothers for your instruction AND your example.
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. – Paul, Acts 24.16, ESV
PS “Retired” James is off to North Platte, Nebraska, to be interim pastor of a church there.