GRN: What advice would you offer to young or aspiring ministers on maintaining a strong walk with God in the context of a busy ministry?
Dr. Payne: This is such an important question for young pastors and ordinands! First, make sure to guard and cultivate daily time (alone) with God; preferably in the morning. Maintain this vital spiritual discipline with Spirit-filled tenacity. A pastor or aspiring pastor should never get too busy in ministry to commune with God through Bible reading, meditation, and prayer. Imagine being too busy to fit God in our schedules! It can happen to all of us if we are not careful.
We spend time with those whom we love, and seek the presence of those whom we need. Since we dearly love and desperately need our blessed Savior, we should feel compelled to spend regular time with Him; reading His soul-nourishing Word and pouring out our souls to Him in prayer. We need to be reminded daily of God’s astonishing grace in Christ: that He lived a righteous life, died a sacrificial death, and rose again from the dead for our salvation. We need to be reminded of His love, wisdom, and power, especially as we face various challenges and difficulties in ministry.
In Mark 1:35 Jesus rose before sunrise, went out to a “desolate place”, and spent time alone with His Father in prayer. Later Jesus taught that secret prayer should precede public prayer (Mt. 6:5-6). Our Lord’s teaching and example underscore that time alone with God is vital for maintaining a strong walk with Him.
King David also emphasized time alone with God. He longed for God’s holy presence. “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Ps. 63:1). Communion with God was not a burden to David. It wasn’t drudgery. It was a delight and fueled His personal relationship with God. By God’s grace, may it be the same for us!
Second, in addition to daily time with God, make sure to drink deeply of the means of grace in Lord’s Day worship. Don’t forget that you are not only an ordained officiant in public worship, but a humble participant. You need Christ and the means of grace as much as anyone in the sanctuary! Don’t get so caught up in the preparation and delivery of the Word and sacraments that you neglect the benefits for your own soul; like a mother who prepares dinner for her children and forgets to eat dinner herself.
As you herald the gospel, exercise your faith in Christ. Revel in His perfect work of redemption on your behalf. Remember that His lavish grace and promises rehearsed in public worship are not only for your congregation. They are for you too, dear pastor! As you proclaim the imperatives of God’s Word to your flock, remember that they are a guide for your Christian life as well. As you administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper, don’t merely proclaim God’s gospel promises to others, but abide in Christ and His justifying righteousness yourself. Every element in the liturgy—from the call to worship to the benediction—is for strengthening and comforting of your own faith, and not just for the congregation you serve. This is really important! Drinking deeply of the means of grace in Lord’s Day worship will help you to maintain and strengthen a strong walk with God in the context of a busy ministry.
Third, in addition to daily time with God and drinking deeply of the means of grace in worship, make sure to foster good reading habits. Read good books that will sharpen you intellectually, challenge you personally, and mature you spiritually. Read theological gems from centuries past, such as books written during the Protestant Reformation or Puritan era. Read quality volumes written in our own day, many of which are being published by Reformation Heritage Books, Crossway, Reformation Trust, Christian Focus, and Banner of Truth. I recently read a challenging and edifying book on the effects of modern digital technology (social media) on society and the human soul. It is good to not only read three hundred year old works. Read modern books that will help you navigate the modern world as a Christian and a pastor. Read books that will encourage your own walk with God, and make you a healthier Christian.
I should also mention the importance of reading Christian biography. Many years ago I was challenged by an older pastor to make biography a continuous genre in my reading regimen. Biography not only inspires and instructs us through the lives of others, it encourages self-reflection about our own lives and ministries.
Of course, in our age of infinite digital distraction, developing good reading habits is impossible apart from setting boundaries with our devices. Time away from screens is critical for young and aspiring ministers. Did you catch that? Time away from screens is critical for young and aspiring ministers. It’s also important for one to establish reading goals. Think of it, if you read ten pages per day, that’s 300 pages per month. With this moderate pace you can read twelve 300 page books every year, or twenty-four 150 pages books! Imagine all the edifying books a pastor could read simply by regaining all the wasted hours on social media?
Of course, there are additional ways for a young minister to cultivate his walk with God such as Sabbath observance, family worship, fellowship and accountability with fellow ministers (e.g. GRN Company of Pastors), personal evangelism, etc. All of these are important for a young minister to maintain a strong personal walk with God in the midst of a busy and often challenging ministry context.
GRN: What advice would you give on the weekly preparation and preaching of the Word of God?
Dr. Payne: First, make sure to prepare your own sermons. Is this advice really necessary? Sadly, yes it is. A growing number of pastors are using the latest AI technology to produce (not write!) sermons. Perhaps, like me, you’ve received emails from marketing companies that offer highly curated sermons for your congregation. Insanity! Not only is it unethical to have artificial intelligence write one’s sermon or article (and then for the minister to take credit for it!), but it strikes at the very heart of the minister’s piety. Let me explain:
When a pastor spends hours studying and praying over a biblical text; when he struggles to prepare a useful outline; when he fights for the right words, sentences, paragraphs, and transitions; when he agonizes over the best way to teach and apply the text to his beloved flock (and to himself!); the Holy Spirit sanctifies the pastor through this demanding, weekly, spiritual exercise. To short-circuit this meaningful process is essentially to undermine what God powerfully uses to sanctify his ordained servants. To be blunt, if a minister or aspiring minister is not, for whatever reason, willing or able to write his own sermons, he should resign and do something else. It’s as simple as that. God’s people need and deserve a minister who writes his own sermons.
Second, in addition to writing your own sermons, let me encourage you to preach verse by verse, straight through books of the Bible (lectio continua). Make this the main diet of your preaching. This method, recovered during the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation, exposes God’s people to the rich contours of Scripture. It unpacks the logical flow of Scripture’s arguments and instruction. It highlights both the indicatives and imperatives, and keeps the preacher from passing over difficult or controversial texts. Topical preaching is useful and, at times, necessary. But systematic expository preaching should be the meat and potatoes of one’s preaching ministry. The apostle Paul declared to the Ephesian elders: “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Dear young pastor, may you be able to boldly say the same at the conclusion of your ministry.
Third, as you prepare your sermons, pray the text into your own soul before and after you preach it to your congregation. Prayer should be the sacred bookends of our sermon preparation. Puritan Joseph Alliene (1634-1668) exhorted ministers to “come from your knees to the sermon and from the sermon to your knees.” Preaching and prayer must never be strangers. Charles Simeon (1759-1836) asked God to make him “feel deeply” the sacred truth that he was about to preach to his flock in Cambridge. He did not want his preaching to proceed from a cold or unfeeling heart, but a heart deeply moved by the gospel.
Fourth, and most importantly, preach Christ. Preach Christ again and again. Preach Him from every text. Preach His two-natures. Preach His cleansing blood. Preach the incomparable gift of His justifying righteousness. Preach His righteous life. Preach His cries of dereliction and substitutionary death on the cross. Preach His hell-conquering resurrection. Preach His heavenly session. Preach His three offices. Preach union with Christ and the glorious benefits that flow from that union. Preach His loveliness. Preach His second coming. Preach Him as a friend to the worst of sinners. Preach Him as the righteous judge of the nations. And after you’ve preached Christ, young pastor, preach Him again. If you’re preaching does not highlight and herald the Person and finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ, it is woefully deficient. A sermon without Christ is like a well without water. Indeed, it can hardly be called Christian preaching at all.
Paul summarizes the apostles’ preaching ministry in this way: “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (I Cor. 1:22-24).
Therefore, dear pastor, when you are done writing your sermon, ask yourself: Does my sermon clearly and unapologetically proclaim Jesus Christ and His gospel of salvation? Does it set forth Christ to the congregation, in all of His saving grace, power, and glory? Does it unapologetically call everyone to cling to Christ by faith, and embrace a life of grateful and growing obedience to His commands?
GRN: What advice would you give on maintaining a healthy marriage and family life while in the trenches of gospel ministry?
Dr. Payne: There is a temptation for young ambitious pastors to sacrifice their marriage and family on the altar of gospel ministry. Some reading this may have even experienced it. However, the neglect of one’s wife and children must be resisted at all costs. Here are a few safeguards for the young or aspiring minister to consider:
First, schedule quality (preferably weekly) time with your wife. This, of course, won’t look the same for everyone. Pastors are in different stages of life. Nevertheless, every minister should make regular time with their wife a priority. For those with small children, this can be a challenge. If this is you, see if there are members of your congregation that would be willing watch your kids once a week, as a ministry to you and your wife.
My wife and I have made the first half of Mondays our special weekly time together. It’s Jon and Marla time, and we guard it carefully. We usually go for coffee and a long walk, and often pray together along the way. Afterwards we have lunch. To eliminate unnecessary distractions during our date, I almost always leave my phone in the car. Also, we try our best to guard our conversation against especially stressful topics.
Sometimes, on a Monday, when a member of the church is hospitalized or a covenant child is born, we make a pastoral visit together. Those have been some of the sweetest times of all (one month we did this three Mondays in a row!). Other than the Lord’s Day, our Monday dates are the highlight of our week. When you’re in the trenches of ministry, spending regular quality time with your spouse (if possible, away from the kids) is key to maintaining a healthy and happy marriage. Perhaps it’s time for you to get some dates on the calendar.
Second, in addition to scheduling quality time with your wife, make regular family worship a priority in your home. Our Confession states that “God is to be worshipped … in private families daily” (WCF 21.6). Family worship is essential for minister’s family to be spiritually healthy.
A good and practical time to gather for family worship is after dinner. It doesn’t need to be long and drawn out. Sing a psalm or hymn, read a passage of Scripture, briefly explain and apply the Scripture, and then spend a few minutes in prayer. During prayer time, give the kids an opportunity to pray for things related to worship, missions, and the life of the church. You may also want to spend time reviewing the shorter catechism. What a blessing for the minister’s children to be led by their own father at home (Eph. 6:4). What an encouragement for the minister’s wife to sit under her husband’s loving spiritual leadership during the week, a reflection of Christ’s love for His bride (Eph. 5:25).
Third, take time to plan family vacations. In my early years of ministry, I didn’t take all of my allotted vacation time. Ministry was busy and demanding, and I didn’t always make it a priority for us to get away. In some ways I wore it as a badge of honor. That was wrong. Every pastor and his family need regular time away; to periodically come out of the trenches of ministry and enjoy some refreshing time together.
GRN: What advice would you give to young ministers on responding to criticism?
Dr. Payne: First, don’t take yourself so seriously. Don’t think of yourself too highly. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment” (Rom. 12:3). Dear pastor, be a lion for the Lord’s cause, and a lamb for your own. With this godly approach, criticism will be received with humility, and not hubris.
Second, remember that God is sovereign over criticism. Nothing happens in this world by accident—including criticism. King David remembered this important truth during his escape from Absalom. It was during his flight that Shimei, a relative of King Saul, cursed David and threw stones at him. One of David’s men wanted to kill Shimei for his antics. But the King ordered him to stand down. David received Shimei’s criticism as a part of God’s sovereign plan to humble and chasten him (2 Samuel 16:5-14: Heb. 12:3-11).
Pastors young and old need to remember that criticism may not always be fair, but it’s always a feature of God’s sanctifying purpose to humble and mature us. Remembering this point helps us to respond well to criticism.
Third, don’t respond immediately to criticism. In our day criticism is often communicated digitally through email, text, or social media. The temptation for many is to respond to criticism right away, often without reflection and prayer. Pastors must resist the temptation to respond while the sting of criticism is still fresh. Take time—at least 24-48 hours—to think about what has been communicated. Then humbly ask the Lord (and your wife!) what may be true in the criticism, and what may need to change in your life. When responding to criticism, don’t be overly defensive. Acknowledge your weakness and ongoing need for God’s grace and patience.
It’s also important to consider the source of criticism. When it comes from a church member, family member, or friend, it’s worth reflecting upon and responding to. When, however, it’s from a venomous online troll, it’s not. Dear pastor, ignore the edge-lords, even the so-called Reformed ones! They do not care about you. They are not worth your time. They live behind their screens to stir up trouble and tear people down. Any response to their online vitriol—even a humble and reasonable one—will be met with further vitriol. Therefore, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself” (Prov. 26:4). Pray for the trolls, but don’t respond to them. When you feel tempted to get embroiled in an online duel, call or visit an elderly member of your congregation.
GRN: What advice would you provide to young ministers as it concerns anxiety and stress management amidst the pressures of full-time ministry?
Dr. Payne: Pastoral ministry is an unspeakable joy. At times, it’s also grueling. The weight of souls is heavy, and Satan brings his most pointed attacks against God’s ordained servants. Consequently, every pastor carries some degree of stress and anxiety. Even the great Apostle Paul had “anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28). So what can a young minister to do to manage stress; that is, in addition to spending daily time with God and drinking deeply of the means of grace every Lord’s Day?
First, he should commit to a regular exercise routine. Pastoral ministry can be extremely sedentary! This often leads to physical unfitness. To manage stress, pastors need physical activity. For me personally, running has been a profound source of relief from stress and anxiety. When the fresh air and sunshine hit my face, and the endorphins kick in, I can feel stress melting away! A good workout at the gym also helps to manage stress. Obviously, healthy eating plays an important part as well.
Second, go for long walks, and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Don’t underestimate the therapeutic effect of the beautiful colors and fragrant aromas of nature. This is our Father’s world, and He created it for us to enjoy! A walk on the beach, a stroll in the park, or even a jaunt around the neighborhood can change one’s perspective almost immediately.
Third, get away from all your screens, and make it a habit to read good books. According to experts, reading (engaging the long term attention span) is one of the best ways to relax. When we get absorbed in a gripping novel or an inspiring biography, it calms us down. Alternatively, we have clear and indisputable evidence that too much time online — especially on social media — raises anxiety levels astronomically. Pastors need less swiping and scrolling, and more page turning and quiet reflection.
