The Minister's Ministry

Chuck Swindoll discusses three major pitfalls ministers can fall into when serving in their ministries.

Message Overview

  • Importance of speaking the truth in love regarding ministry
  • Managing expectations in ministry, drawing from personal experience

The Dangers of Unrealistic Expectations

  • Contemporary obsession with success, rapid growth, and instant gratification
  • Ministry is about giving glory to God, not personal success

Biblical Reflection on Moses

  • Moses’ privileged upbringing and his leadership in Egypt
  • Moses’ downfall due to rash actions (killing the Egyptian)
  • Importance of humility and learning from failure

The Wilderness as God’s School

  • Moses' 40 years in the wilderness seen as a time of preparation
  • Spiritual lessons from isolation, trials, and being refined by God

God's Guidance and Sovereignty

  • Reflection on God's role as the potter, molding Moses into gold
  • Application of Moses' experiences to the listener's journey in ministry

Three Key Weaknesses in Ministry

  • Intensity: Running before being called
  • Insecurity: Retreating after failure
  • Inferiority: Resisting God’s call

Final Reflections on Ministry

  • Encouragement to embrace failure as a learning process
  • Warnings against trying to escape the difficulties of ministry

Poetic Insight

  • A poem about life’s trials and the exchange of youth for wisdom

Conclusion and Prayer

  • Trusting God's plan and His refining process
  • A prayer for the graduating class and their future in ministry

*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.

About the Contributors

Charles R. Swindoll

Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word and His grace. A pastor at heart, Chuck has served as the founder and senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. His leadership as president and now Chancellor Emeritus of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry. Chuck and his wife Cynthia, have four grown children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.