5 Simple Ways to Bless Your Pastor This Week
Treat with Honor
A few months ago, I took one of our older, unused cameras from the closet and offered it to our twelve-year-old daughter for $80. My husband, upon hearing the exciting news from her, pulled me aside and reminded me of the camera’s worth. I had offered a $750 camera to our child for a fraction of its value. Thankfully, I made this costly mistake with my most frugal child, and she later declined my offer. Because I misunderstood my camera’s worth, I was negligent with it.
Similarly, when we do not understand what the word says about pastors, we fail to treat them with the honor God commands.
Why Bless Your Pastor This Week?
God has given you the priceless gift of your pastor—when is the last time you thanked God for him? The Bible has deemed this office and those who fill it with the highest honor. In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul writes, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” This is not merely a commendation for those who aspire to this office; it is also an exhortation to the entire body. We align ourselves with God’s word when we esteem the virtue of this office by honoring and esteeming our pastors as God commands. I have come to learn that pastors are easily blessed, and it costs us very little to do so. In fact, you could do five simple things this week to bless your pastor—it will cost you nothing but will richly bless him.
How Can I Encourage My Pastors?
Camryn Zamora
In this short, practical guide, Camryn Zamora helps believers esteem the role of pastors as commanded in Scripture, recognize their role in supporting church leadership, and follow through with simple, intentional acts of service.
1. Pray for your pastor.
Preaching God’s word and guarding the church is a weighty responsibility, so share the burden by praying for your pastor this week. Charles Spurgeon was asked about the secret to his success and longevity in ministry. He replied, “My people pray for me.” Your pastor is a fellow sojourner with one of the most important jobs in the world. Hebrews 13:17 says, “. . . they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” Your pastor is accountable for the task of watching over your soul, often caring for your soul at great personal cost. In Ephesians 4:11–14, we see that Christ gave his church the gift of shepherd-teachers “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” so that the whole church grows into Christ-like maturity. Your pastors are Christ’s gift to his church, given to mature your knowledge of Christ, ensure your stability against false doctrines, and enable your unity with fellow believers to promote the gospel. By his teaching and through his example, you become more like Christ. Not only is that a weighty responsibility for him, it is also an incredible gift for you. He needs your prayers to do this job.
As you pray for your pastor this week, pray for his preaching, his personal holiness, and his leadership.
His Preaching
- Faithfulness in time management and sermon preparation (Col. 4:5–6; Eph. 5:15–17)
- Boldness to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27; 2 Tim. 4:3)
- Growing knowledge of God’s word (Col. 1:9–11)
His Personal Holiness
- Increasing affections for Christ (Josh. 22:5)
- Safeguarded from temptation (1 Tim. 4:16)
- Walking in holiness and fear of the Lord (Rom. 12:1)
His Leadership
- Increasing affections for the saints (Phil. 1:9)
- Deepened love for the community and the lost (Rom. 10:1)
- Leading in humility and gentleness (1 Pet. 5:2–3)
2. Exhort him.
Not only does your pastor have the honorable task of watching over your soul, but he is given that task as a fellow saint who is, like you, trying to battle sin and persevere to the end. Your shepherd is also a fellow sheep. Every failure, weakness, and deficiency is a mark that he is a redeemed sinner. Like all of us, your pastor needs encouragement as he runs this race. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Your pastor is not an exception. He needs daily encouragement and stirring up.
You can thank your pastor for specific ways you have seen him care for the church: visiting members, faithfully preparing sermons, publicly defending the gospel against opposition, speaking out against false teachers, or carrying the burden of mourning with members who are suffering. Thank your pastor for specific things he has done to grow and encourage you or your family.
You can also thank your pastor for living a life worth emulating and for his commitment to lead the flock in holiness. We often neglect sharing with him specific ways you have seen him grow, but we all need others to tell us where God is sanctifying us, so tell your pastor where you see evidence of God’s grace in his life.
Thank your pastor for specific things he has done to grow and encourage you or your family.
3. Learn.
One of the most important ways you can bless your pastor this week is by learning from him. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul writes, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” We learn through regularly and faithfully attending church and listening to his sermon. This requires that we take God’s word seriously by showing up ready to worship our God through hearing his preached word and applying it to our lives.
One of the most practical and beneficial ways you can learn from your pastor’s preaching is by discussing his sermons with other church members. Our family always discusses the sermon on our way home, but I also strive to discuss the sermon with two or three sisters from church each week. This is enormously beneficial for my own soul as I process God’s word with other saints, and it helps build unity in the body as we encourage each other to continue to feast off the portion our pastor prepared for us that week.
This week, let your pastor know how his sermon convicted or encouraged you. Be specific with your feedback. If you discussed the sermon with other saints, let him know what you discussed. Tell him how his preaching is making you more Christ-like and how it is working in the lives of others in the body.
A couple years ago, I realized my pastor’s affection for the local church had become mine. I saw this same growth in other members in our body, which continued to nurture my affections. I told my pastor how God was growing my love for the church. Preaching is the most important and personal aspect of your pastor’s job, so when you see it bearing fruit and sanctifying the church, tell him.
Do not assume your pastor knows how you are applying the truths of his sermons to your life or how you are growing under his leadership. Learning from him is one of the most significant ways to show your pastor “double honor,” so take the time this week to tell him.
4. Serve.
We serve our church because it is one of the most important acts of worship to our Lord. But serving the church has the added benefit of also blessing your pastor. You serve your pastor when you are a committed member who attends member meetings, prayer meetings, and faithfully serves the body. This week, you can serve your pastor by visiting a member in the hospital, discipling a new Christian, taking meals to a family in need, or volunteering to serve in the nursery. Your pastor cannot serve the church alone, nor is that beneficial for the body. Through his teaching and example, he is equipping you to serve. When you live out your covenant responsibilities by serving others, you look the most like your pastor, imitating him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).
Assess how you currently serve your church. Do you serve willingly and sacrificially, or do you simply show up to church and leave after? Are you someone your pastor can call on when there is a need in the church? If not, ask your pastor how you can serve. Find a need and faithfully serve there this week.
5. Release.
Finally, release your pastor from unfair expectations. I heard a story of a pastor who was supposed to get lunch with a member, but he was behind on his sermon preparation. In the morning, he received a text from his church member releasing him from his lunch obligation. The member knew his pastor was still preparing his sermon, and he wanted to free him to prepare. What a beautiful example of a saint who considered not only his pastor but the entire body of Christ. Too often we fetter our pastors to obligatory meetings and social expectations when what our pastors need the most is adequate time to prepare their sermons each week. Of course your pastor wants to meet with members, but do not tie him to your expectations.
Conclusion
When we moved overseas, we packed up our lives in twelve, 108-quart tubs. It forced me to sift through our belongings and pack only the most treasured items. That experience taught me what I cherish most. We protect, cherish, and invest into that which we deem valuable, or as was the case for me, we pack our treasure at the expense of leaving other items behind. Your pastor is a priceless gift. If you understand this, you will protect and cherish him by seeking to bless and encourage him so that he can guard your soul with longevity and joy.
Camryn Zamora is the author of How Can I Encourage My Pastors?.
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