{"id":32260,"date":"2022-09-10T16:02:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/pastoral-ministry-is-an-ensemble-not-a-solo\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:02:36","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:02:36","slug":"pastoral-ministry-is-an-ensemble-not-a-solo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/pastoral-ministry-is-an-ensemble-not-a-solo\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastoral Ministry is an Ensemble, Not a Solo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Jay Sanders<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve sung a solo in church twice.<\/p>\n

The first time, I was probably about 9-years-old. I was scared to death, but everything went just fine. I did so well, no one ever asked me to sing by myself again!<\/p>\n

Until I was in my thirties…<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It was my first funeral as a senior pastor. I didn\u2019t know the family, and they weren\u2019t involved in church in any way. They had a friend who they wanted to lead music for the funeral service. She was a young girl who wasn\u2019t too eager about the job but was willing to help the family because she loved them.<\/p>\n

Apparently, her love for the family had its limits because right before the funeral started, she came to me and said she didn\u2019t want to sing. She just wanted to play the piano.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t see a problem with this. Not having a solo isn\u2019t the end of the world. But then she asked me if I could lead the congregational hymn she was supposed to lead.<\/p>\n

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This is probably a good time for me to inform you I have no musical abilities. I believe \u201cmonotone\u201d is probably too generous a word to describe me.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d she assured me. \u201cAll you have to do is sing the first few words, and then the crowd will take over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Foolishly, I agreed…<\/strong><\/h3>\n

But there was a problem. The crowd in this particular scenario was some crowd. There were only about 20 of them and they all looked like they\u2019d rather be at a Bob Seger concert.<\/p>\n

I grew up in church but wasn\u2019t familiar with the song we were singing so I knew these guys weren\u2019t going to know it. But none of that mattered.<\/p>\n

The girl playing the piano gave me a look that said, \u201cAlright hot shot, let it rip.\u201d<\/p>\n

I let it rip.<\/p>\n

All by myself…<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No one else joined in as the girl had promised. Just yours truly. And it was awful. By now, the family of the deceased really<\/em> wished I was Bob Seger.<\/p>\n

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See also  8 Ways to Persevere in Ministry<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My crackling voice was coming out loud and clear through the church\u2019s sound system. In an attempt to soften the impact, I stepped away from the microphone.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when I remembered I was wearing the microphone. There was no escaping it. Jay Sanders was in concert that afternoon, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.<\/p>\n

Then I noticed the crowd on the back row…<\/strong><\/h3>\n

They were members of my church who were there to help feed the family. During the first few moments of my solo performance, they were laughing. I mean, who could blame them?<\/p>\n

But then they started singing.<\/p>\n

Loud.<\/p>\n

So loud that I was no longer a soloist. I was now a member of an ensemble.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen church done right quite a bit over the years, but no experience has driven home to me the power and importance of our community in Christ like that moment has.<\/p>\n

Pastoral ministry is not the stage upon which we showcase our talents for a watching audience. When done right, pastoral ministry is an ensemble. Yes, we\u2019ve been called upon to take the lead but we were never meant to perform by ourselves.<\/p>\n

Pastor, step away from your microphone. The church doesn\u2019t need your solo but they could sure use your voice to join theirs. And there will be plenty of times when you\u2019ll need them to sing when you can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s these moments of weakness and being in need that highlight the true beauty of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n

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Jay Sanders<\/h2>\n

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Jay is the senior pastor of Towaliga Baptist Church in Jackson, Ga.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n