{"id":31557,"date":"2022-09-10T15:35:04","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/the-hidden-truth-behind-bivocational-ministry\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:35:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:35:04","slug":"the-hidden-truth-behind-bivocational-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/the-hidden-truth-behind-bivocational-ministry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hidden Truth Behind Bivocational Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Burst photo – Pexels<\/div>\n

By Matt Henslee<\/em><\/p>\n

A friend of mine recently shared a gripe on social media. These days that should come as no surprise, but this one hit home:<\/p>\n

As a bivocational pastor, one of the most hurtful comments I’ve heard over the years is this: ‘Oh, you’re just a part-time pastor?’”<\/p>\n

Bivocational ministry isn’t second-class ministry<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No, and there’s even some biblical precedent for bivocational ministry with Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila, for starters (Acts 18:3).<\/p>\n

And, bivocational ministry is really more an issue of salary and paperwork. In reality, there is no such thing as part-time ministry. You’d have a better chance at finding Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.<\/p>\n

While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, some choose the bivocational path to leverage opportunities to share the gospel, while others work another job because they have to.<\/p>\n

There have been several seasons in my life when I had jobs in addition to my responsibilities at church.<\/p>\n

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During one stretch, I worked from 7-4 and then had an evening shift at a running store during the week. On the weekends, I’d work at the running store on Saturday, and then gave most of my Sunday to serving the church.<\/p>\n

There was another season that I taught adults with special needs at a non-profit and led worship on Sundays at a church that was an hour away.<\/p>\n

Currently, while I’m fortunate enough to pastor my church full-time, my work here with Lifeway Pastors helps fill in the financial gaps for our family.<\/p>\n

And this has not only helped to meet needs but has also provided me with the privilege of encouraging pastors in churches of all shapes and sizes, full-time and part-time, in the trenches of gospel ministry.<\/p>\n

Ministry heroes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bivocational ministry isn’t second-class ministry. Bivocational ministers aren’t second-class ministers. In fact, I’d say they’re true heroes<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bivocational ministry is far less valued, but far more common and far more work than most really understand.<\/p>\n

Bivocational pastors won’t often find themselves on the conference circuit, but they’ll work tirelessly to provide for their families and shepherd their churches to the best of their abilities.<\/p>\n

Many of the ones I know have embraced these unique opportunities to be in “both worlds,” leveraging them to advance the Kingdom in creative ways.<\/p>\n

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See also  8 Ways to Persevere in Ministry<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They’re not lazy, nor are they unqualified to “move up” to “bigger and better.” In fact, many of these pastors have preached some of the best sermons I’ve ever heard.<\/p>\n

They don’t lack the potential or qualifications, or even the drive to go full-time. In fact, some of these guys’ leadership and organizational skills put higher profile pastors to shame.<\/p>\n

No, they’ve embraced God’s call to pastor micro-churches in obscure towns, and many will tell you it’s one of the greatest joys they’ve experienced.<\/p>\n

These guys have embraced obscurity and taken the road less traveled to the front-lines of gospel ministry, but they should be celebrated more.<\/p>\n

If you’re a full-time pastor, I have a challenge for you: Find a local bivocational pastor and reach out to him and see if you can work out a time to take him to lunch.<\/p>\n

And then, get this\u2013listen<\/em> to him, learn<\/em> from him. There’s a good chance he can offer some incredible insights into juggling the many hats he wears, and what that has taught him about focus and perseverance.<\/p>\n

There are challenges in pastoring in no-man\u2019s land, there are challenges in pastoring in a booming metropolitan area.<\/p>\n

There are challenges to full-time ministry, there are challenges to bivocational ministry, but one thing remains clear: God has called all of us to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let’s just take some time to celebrate the nobodies (by the world\u2019s standards) that are giving their overtime to tell everybody about the only one who saves\u2013Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

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Matt Henslee<\/h2>\n

@mhenslee<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Matt and his wife Rebecca have four daughters. He is the Associational Mission Strategist for the Collin Baptist Association in Texas, and coauthor of Replanting Rural Churches<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n