Benefits and Liabilities of a Lengthy Pastorate

Driving home: Perhaps there was a time when addressing this issue was relatively unnecessary, however, in our day, given the widespread abandonment of many biblical norms relative to the pastoral office and function, addressing this i…

Martin quotes Professor David Wells' historical account of the drastic decline in pastoral tenure in New England churches from 20 years in the 17th century to 2-3 years today, underscoring the contemporary abandonment of biblical norms for the pastoral office.

And he writes on page 177 of his excellent book, Churches in Puritan New England, for example, took time to establish a steady pattern in the relation between pastors and churches. This was, however, largely achieved by the year 1670. Among Presbyterians and Congregationalists in New Hampshire, the average pastor stayed with the church 20 years. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that the pastoral duration fell below this level.

1:18 - 1:52 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If the Holy Spirit has constituted us overseers in a given flock, He is not an Indian giver.

Martin uses the metaphor of the Holy Spirit not being an 'Indian giver' (one who gives and takes back) to emphasize the enduring nature of the pastor-flock relationship once the Spirit has constituted an overseer.

A lengthy pastorate most accurately underscores and reflects the true origin and nature of the pastor-flock relationship. We go back to Acts 20.28. If the Holy Spirit has constituted us overseers in a given flock, He is not an Indian giver.

20:46 - 21:07 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Ten lives, I couldn't begin to say all I wanted to say.

Martin recounts a bank teller's astonishment when he stated his employment length as 35 years, which opened a door to explain the unique, sacred nature of his pastoral calling compared to a secular job or career.

Just in the bank the other day. The woman was amazed when I'm having to say this. And she said you know a collective bank swallowed up the the the summits swallowed up collected that swallowed up Seder Grove savings. And and when you're filling out these forms and she said in place of employment and length I said 35 years.

23:08 - 23:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Long-term pastorates enable church members to fulfill biblical commands to know, esteem, obey, and imitate their leaders more easily, fostering stability and security akin to a…

He compares a lengthy pastorate to having a long-term family physician who knows one's medical history and physiology intimately, arguing that such continuity is even more crucial for the care of souls.

I liken it to a good family physician. We had the same family physician in Cedar Grove for 25 years. He knew my physiology inside and out.

25:51 - 26:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Commitment to a lengthy pastorate allows for the development of deep, resilient relationships, where the pastor is respected for his person and ministry gains cumulative weight…

Martin shares another bank encounter where a teller was amazed by his 42-year marriage, drawing a parallel between the commitment required for a lengthy marriage and a lengthy pastorate to build deep, rewarding relationships.

It's like people that marry and divorce. Most divorces become repeat divorces. People don't hang in there long enough to work through the problems that bring the enrichment of a lengthy marriage. That's another area.

28:08 - 28:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The regular hearers of a minister gradually form in their minds, almost unawares, an image of what he is into which they put everything which they themselves remember about him and everything they've heard of his record.…

He shares that his 'stock in the hearts of many of God's people has never been higher' after passing through a great trial, illustrating how shared suffering in a lengthy pastorate deepens relationships and endearment.

I know that my stock in the hearts of many of God's people has never been higher. Than it has been in the past six weeks.

29:25 - 29:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The regular hearers of a minister gradually form in their minds, almost unawares, an image of what he is into which they put everything which they themselves remember about him and everything they've heard of his record.…

Martin quotes Stalker on how a minister's regular hearers form an 'image' of him over time, which determines the weight and effect of his preaching, highlighting the cumulative impact of a lengthy pastorate.

You're building long-term relationships that are both fruitful and rewarding. You increasingly become endeared for your person and your ministry takes on the cumulative weight of all the stuff of that lengthy relationship. Remember Stalker's words? We are so complicated.

30:12 - 30:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The regular hearers of a minister gradually form in their minds, almost unawares, an image of what he is into which they put everything which they themselves remember about him and everything they've heard of his record.…

He illustrates the benefit of a lengthy pastorate by explaining how rumors about covering up a child's sin are easily dismissed by his congregation, who remember his transparency and church discipline years prior, demonstrating the power of a known track record.

We are so constituted that what we hear depends very much for its effect on how we are disposed to him who speaks. The regular hearers of a minister gradually form in their minds, almost unawares, an image of what he is into which they put everything which they themselves remember about him and everything they've heard of his record. And when he rises on Sunday in the pulpit, it's not the man visible there at the moment they listen to, but this image which stands behind him and determines, determines the precise weight and effect of every sentence which he utters. So you see when the rumors fl...

30:33 - 31:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I have no greater joy than to see my children walk in the truth.

Martin describes the joy of seeing young men like Shehzad, Jason, and David, who were not even conceived when he arrived, now grown and ministering to him, illustrating the reward of seeing the fruit of long-term labor.

A lengthy pastorate affords the opportunity to see some of the fruit of your labors in a way impossible in a short pastorate. This is one of the happiest times in my pastoral experience. To see these young men, such as Shehzad, and Jason, and David, and some of the young women, I could name them. They were not even conceived when I came here.

32:27 - 32:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: A long tenure provides the unique joy of witnessing spiritual children grow to maturity, seeing God's work in lives over decades, and observing saints die nobly or transition from…

He cites Pastor Dixon's dignified stepping down from office and continued loyal churchmanship as an example of noble aging in ministry, setting a standard for Martin himself and defying the 'evangelical canon' that retired pastors must leave the area.

And I think of the deaths of some of God's noble saints in this place. And it's hard to keep back the tears. They died nobly. To see a Pastor Dixon step down from his office and carry himself with nobility and dignity.

36:09 - 36:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Lengthy pastorates expose the pastor to the full spectrum of Christian experience, including backsliding, apostasy, and restoration, leading to greater wisdom and patience in…

He references John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' as an example of the broad range of Christian experience that can only be understood and fine-tuned through the long haul of a lengthy pastorate.

Dave Bunyan's Christians is Pilgrim's Progress. What do you see in it? You see a range of Christian experience that can only be known in the long haul.

38:16 - 38:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: A long pastorate compels the pastor to continually grow, break new ground in his studies, and strive for freshness in preaching, ensuring his spiritual vigor remains manifest to…

Martin uses the phrase 'old hat' to describe how a long-term pastor is perceived by his congregation, emphasizing that this forces him to continually labor to be a better and fresher preacher, unlike in outside ministries where he might be seen as 'special'.

And that's not the real world. It's in that situation where you're old hat, where these kids have grown up, they've never known anything but you. So you're nothing special to them. Whatever you may be to people out there, you're just old Pastor Smith.

43:12 - 43:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Lengthy pastorates serve as a crucible for the pastor's own character growth, as God uses repeated tribulations to deepen his capacity for comfort and empathy, ultimately…

He recounts his experiences with excruciating pain from back surgery and later an intestinal shut-down, explaining how these trials served as 'classrooms of comfort' to deepen his empathy and ability to minister to suffering people, a benefit of God's relentless work in a lengthy pastorate.

And that does wonders for your character. I thought when I had back surgery in 76 and went into spasms after surgery that I knew the most excruciating pain on this side. Of hell itself. I can remember lying there in tears and saying, Oh God, I thank you.

44:49 - 45:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Lengthy pastorates serve as a crucible for the pastor's own character growth, as God uses repeated tribulations to deepen his capacity for comfort and empathy, ultimately…

Martin shares the recent experience of Trinity Baptist Church undergoing its first 'church split' after 30 years, illustrating how this new trial, though painful, will enable him to minister new dimensions of consolation to fellow servants who experience similar splits.

Why God do you do that? Because I want you to be able to comfort others by the comfort wherewith yourselves are comforted by God. I've been able to say all around the world, not bragging, but to attest to the fact that when you're ministering in a true church with the true people of God who obey the word of God, you need to be able to say, You need to be able to say, You need to be able to say, You need to be able to say, You need to be able to say, You need not fear that straight, right-angled preaching is going to cause splits. I've been able to say for 30 years we've never had anything that...

45:53 - 46:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Apply Spurgeon's 'blind eye, deaf ear, and pocket with a hole in it' to criticisms, and ensure you have a good conscience before God in neutralizing real liabilities.

He quotes Spurgeon's advice to his students to have 'a blind eye, a deaf ear, and a pocket with a hole in it' to deal with criticisms and misunderstandings, applying it to navigating 'blind loyalty' accusations in a lengthy pastorate.

blind loyalty. You know what you do with that? You apply Spurgeon's bequeathment to his students in the college. Remember he said as you leave this place I bequeath you three precious commodities a blind eye a deaf ear and a pocket with a hole in it.

55:15 - 55:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not grow careless and take your secure relationship with your people for granted, remembering that they still deserve the same sensitivity you had when you first arrived.

Martin uses the analogy of being more careless with one's spouse than with one's boss to illustrate how security in a lengthy pastorate can lead to carelessness, as the pastor knows the flock's love is not easily dislodged.

What do I mean by that? Well let me ask you you're all married men here who's the easiest person in your life to hurt the most?

56:30 - 56:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Remember that confidence and trust built up over years can go down the tubes in a very short period of time, and be watchful and prayerful against temptation.

He shares an example of making a potentially indiscreet joke ('am I saying this like a proper slave?') with a fellow elder, illustrating how the security of a long-term relationship can lead to crossing lines that would be avoided with less secure relationships.

Allowing the secure relationship with your fellow leaders to cross the line the kind of secure relationship we have that we could jest this way and I knew that I could play the buffoon in front of you and not erode your confidence that puts you in a dangerous area. The very blessing puts you in a dangerous area. You can then cross the line where if you didn't have that secure relationship if I didn't know how Ken knows that I don't have to my knowledge a gram of racism in my heart I wouldn't have felt free to make that joke about am I saying this like a proper slave I wouldn't have dared do th...

59:16 - 59:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not budge from the systematic, prayerful assimilation of your whole Bible in your own devotional life as the baseline of your Christian duty.

He uses the analogy of a small angle at its vortex widening into a chasm over distance to illustrate how small imbalances in a pastor's grasp of truth can become gross distortions over a lengthy pastorate.

Because we are so secure in it. You see where I'm going with this so the antidote under God is to remember that that confidence built up over years can go down the tubes in a relative short period of time and we need to be watchful and prayerful lest we enter into temptation take heed lest we fall. Then the third liability of a lengthy pastorate is this all of us each one of us perhaps is better that singularizes each one of us have pet 輪 and imbalances in our grasp upon the truth and those imbalances can become downright distortions with the passing of time

59:56 - 60:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Commit to some measure of systematic covering of the whole counsel of God, periodically reviewing with fellow elders what truths have and have not been preached.

He compares a visiting speaker who emphasizes an area of truth not strong in the pastor's ministry to a 'B12 shot' in vitamin therapy, providing a concentrated injection to bring the 'system up to par' and then be incorporated into the ongoing diet.

no man can have a fully competent grasp upon the whole of God's truth be realistic in your own assessment of your strength and your development and you can use this antidote of having a visiting speaker who will in a unique way give a concentrated injection of that truth I liken it to what happens with with vitamin therapy I mean if your blood test shows up shows that I mean you are way down in your in your folic acid in your B12 I mean you get that inch and a half needle stuck in your butt with I don't know how many cc's of the B12 in a very short time it shoots it right up now you don't need...

65:52 - 66:37 Read in full sermon