WEBVTT
00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:18.000
Welcome back to All Things Reformed Baptists.
00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:24.160
And what I'm gonna address today is a well, I I guess it's a question.
00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:33.359
Um, so the question that many people ask me is so what do you actually do as a pastor?
00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:38.000
Um, in other words, uh, what does your week look like?
00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:42.560
And so um I wanted to I wanted to take a moment to address that.
00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.600
I've been asked that more times than I can count.
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:53.920
And sometimes is genuine curiosity, sometimes it's the polite way of saying, you only work one day a week, right?
00:00:54.320 --> 00:01:04.000
Now, let me give you an honest look at what a typical week can look like and why oftentimes 50, 60 hours a week is not unusual.
00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:06.000
So let's let's go through the days.
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:12.239
Sunday, Sunday is the most visible day, but it's rarely just preaching.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:14.719
It includes early arrival.
00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:25.840
You gotta you get we gotta set the air conditioners on, there's prayer, there's there's uh making sure that your mental state and your emotional state and your mind is ready, right?
00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:42.319
It includes last-minute coordination with the worship and tech teams, uh, preaching, and often teaching a second time in another setting, greeting people, praying with those who stay out there, following up with visitors, and debriefing with leaders.
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:51.519
By the time I get home, you can ask anyone in my family, the emotional tank is often very, very low.
00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.480
And no, I can't just take a nap.
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:58.319
I have five beautiful kids and that keep me on my toes.
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.920
And so naps are rarely allowed.
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.680
All right, let's get to Monday.
00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:07.599
Monday is frequently recovery and admin work.
00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:23.039
Catching up on emails that piled up over the weekend, processing notes from Sunday conversations, checking in with uh the staff elders, uh, your key volunteers, uh, and beginning to outline the next sermon.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:28.159
It comes, the it's it's unbelievable how quick the next week comes.
00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:37.599
Um, many of us pastors also use Monday for hospital visits or counseling appointments that couldn't fit elsewhere.
00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:44.800
And then you got Tuesday through Thursdays, and those are usually the heaviest study in meeting days.
00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:50.639
Sermon preparation alone often takes anywhere from 12 to 20 hours.
00:02:50.800 --> 00:03:01.439
You're studying the text, you're reading commentaries, you're praying through application, you're writing, you're rewriting, you're rewriting, you're rewriting, and refining, refining illustration.
00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:17.039
After that, elder meetings, discipleship appointments, premarital counseling, conflict mediation, ministry team check-ins, and planning for upcoming events, such as baptisms, membership classes, outreach events, and more.
00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:24.960
Somewhere in there are phone calls and texts that need really extremely thoughtful replies.
00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:26.639
You get to Friday.
00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:41.919
Um now, Friday, I try to um kind of cool down and use that as a day to retreat a little bit, but you know, Friday is often a mix of you're finishing the sermon, uh, administrative work, and pastoral care.
00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:50.080
You got funerals, crises, and hard conversations don't schedule themselves around our preferred calendar.
00:03:50.319 --> 00:04:01.360
Many pastors use Friday to prepare for Sunday logistics and to protect some family time, uh, though that protection is frequently interrupted.
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:10.080
And then Saturday comes uh along, uh, and I'll be honest with you, I try to protect Saturdays as much as I can.
00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:18.399
Uh I got a lot of yard work, clean the house, be with my family, uh, but a lot of times it's rarely fully free.
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:27.600
Uh a lot of times you have final sermon review, praying through the service, responding to last-minute needs, and sometimes Saturday events or counseling.
00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:33.680
Even when the calendar looks open, the sermon is still living in the mind.
00:04:34.480 --> 00:05:12.720
Then there are things that don't fit neatly into any day: unexpected hospital runs or emergency pastoral care, late-night texts and calls when someone is in crisis, weddings, funerals, and graveside services, ongoing discipleship and mentoring relationships, vision and strategic planning, conflict resolution that can consume hours of emotional energy, community presence and informal conversations that are part of shepherding, personal study and prayer that must be guarded or they actually disappear, caring for your own soul and family so you don't burn out.
00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:16.959
Now, the reason it so easily reaches 50 to 60 hours is simple.
00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:22.399
Pastoral work is both highly relational and never fully finished.
00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.680
You don't get to just clock in and clock out.
00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:38.480
There is always another person who needs care, another text of scripture that deserves deeper study, another conversation that requires wisdom, and another responsibility that carries weight.
00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:41.920
The emotional and spiritual load is definitely real.
00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.759
You carry people's joys and sorrows with you.
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.399
It doesn't clock out at 5 p.m.
00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.639
None of this is a complaint.
00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.519
It is a privilege to shepherd God's people.
00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:55.439
But it is also real work.
00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:57.199
Much of it is unseen.
00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:08.720
The public hour on Sunday is or a little bit more, is supported by many quieter hours of study, prayer, listening, leading, and caring.
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.160
So when someone asks what a pastor does or asks me, you know, what do I do all week?
00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:24.959
The short answer is we try to feed the flock, protect the flock, and care for the flock, while also keeping our own hearts soft before the chief shepherd.
00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:31.759
That work is rarely tidy and it rarely fits into a neat 40-hour container.
00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:35.680
Now, I'm grateful for the calling that the Lord has on me.
00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:41.120
Um, and dependent on grace is an absolute must for that work.
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:45.199
Well, I I hope that answers the question of so what do I do?
00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:49.759
And and I also forgot to say that oftentimes we're continuing education.
00:06:49.920 --> 00:07:01.120
Right now, uh, even though I have my bachelor's and my master's, I am working on a two to three year certification for biblical counseling uh program right now.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:09.040
That in and of itself takes up many, many hours per week of study, examinations, and so forth.
00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:12.000
Well, I hope that answers the question of what do I do?
00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.360
What do I do in a typical week as a pastor?
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:16.720
That is it for now.
00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:22.240
Thank you for listening to All Things Reformed Baptist and look forward to seeing you next time.
00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:18.000
Welcome back to All Things Reformed Baptists.
00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:24.160
And what I'm gonna address today is a well, I I guess it's a question.
00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:33.359
Um, so the question that many people ask me is so what do you actually do as a pastor?
00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:38.000
Um, in other words, uh, what does your week look like?
00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:42.560
And so um I wanted to I wanted to take a moment to address that.
00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.600
I've been asked that more times than I can count.
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:53.920
And sometimes is genuine curiosity, sometimes it's the polite way of saying, you only work one day a week, right?
00:00:54.320 --> 00:01:04.000
Now, let me give you an honest look at what a typical week can look like and why oftentimes 50, 60 hours a week is not unusual.
00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:06.000
So let's let's go through the days.
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:12.239
Sunday, Sunday is the most visible day, but it's rarely just preaching.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:14.719
It includes early arrival.
00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:25.840
You gotta you get we gotta set the air conditioners on, there's prayer, there's there's uh making sure that your mental state and your emotional state and your mind is ready, right?
00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:42.319
It includes last-minute coordination with the worship and tech teams, uh, preaching, and often teaching a second time in another setting, greeting people, praying with those who stay out there, following up with visitors, and debriefing with leaders.
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:51.519
By the time I get home, you can ask anyone in my family, the emotional tank is often very, very low.
00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.480
And no, I can't just take a nap.
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:58.319
I have five beautiful kids and that keep me on my toes.
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.920
And so naps are rarely allowed.
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.680
All right, let's get to Monday.
00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:07.599
Monday is frequently recovery and admin work.
00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:23.039
Catching up on emails that piled up over the weekend, processing notes from Sunday conversations, checking in with uh the staff elders, uh, your key volunteers, uh, and beginning to outline the next sermon.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:28.159
It comes, the it's it's unbelievable how quick the next week comes.
00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:37.599
Um, many of us pastors also use Monday for hospital visits or counseling appointments that couldn't fit elsewhere.
00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:44.800
And then you got Tuesday through Thursdays, and those are usually the heaviest study in meeting days.
00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:50.639
Sermon preparation alone often takes anywhere from 12 to 20 hours.
00:02:50.800 --> 00:03:01.439
You're studying the text, you're reading commentaries, you're praying through application, you're writing, you're rewriting, you're rewriting, you're rewriting, and refining, refining illustration.
00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:17.039
After that, elder meetings, discipleship appointments, premarital counseling, conflict mediation, ministry team check-ins, and planning for upcoming events, such as baptisms, membership classes, outreach events, and more.
00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:24.960
Somewhere in there are phone calls and texts that need really extremely thoughtful replies.
00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:26.639
You get to Friday.
00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:41.919
Um now, Friday, I try to um kind of cool down and use that as a day to retreat a little bit, but you know, Friday is often a mix of you're finishing the sermon, uh, administrative work, and pastoral care.
00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:50.080
You got funerals, crises, and hard conversations don't schedule themselves around our preferred calendar.
00:03:50.319 --> 00:04:01.360
Many pastors use Friday to prepare for Sunday logistics and to protect some family time, uh, though that protection is frequently interrupted.
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:10.080
And then Saturday comes uh along, uh, and I'll be honest with you, I try to protect Saturdays as much as I can.
00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:18.399
Uh I got a lot of yard work, clean the house, be with my family, uh, but a lot of times it's rarely fully free.
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:27.600
Uh a lot of times you have final sermon review, praying through the service, responding to last-minute needs, and sometimes Saturday events or counseling.
00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:33.680
Even when the calendar looks open, the sermon is still living in the mind.
00:04:34.480 --> 00:05:12.720
Then there are things that don't fit neatly into any day: unexpected hospital runs or emergency pastoral care, late-night texts and calls when someone is in crisis, weddings, funerals, and graveside services, ongoing discipleship and mentoring relationships, vision and strategic planning, conflict resolution that can consume hours of emotional energy, community presence and informal conversations that are part of shepherding, personal study and prayer that must be guarded or they actually disappear, caring for your own soul and family so you don't burn out.
00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:16.959
Now, the reason it so easily reaches 50 to 60 hours is simple.
00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:22.399
Pastoral work is both highly relational and never fully finished.
00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.680
You don't get to just clock in and clock out.
00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:38.480
There is always another person who needs care, another text of scripture that deserves deeper study, another conversation that requires wisdom, and another responsibility that carries weight.
00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:41.920
The emotional and spiritual load is definitely real.
00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.759
You carry people's joys and sorrows with you.
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.399
It doesn't clock out at 5 p.m.
00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.639
None of this is a complaint.
00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.519
It is a privilege to shepherd God's people.
00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:55.439
But it is also real work.
00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:57.199
Much of it is unseen.
00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:08.720
The public hour on Sunday is or a little bit more, is supported by many quieter hours of study, prayer, listening, leading, and caring.
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.160
So when someone asks what a pastor does or asks me, you know, what do I do all week?
00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:24.959
The short answer is we try to feed the flock, protect the flock, and care for the flock, while also keeping our own hearts soft before the chief shepherd.
00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:31.759
That work is rarely tidy and it rarely fits into a neat 40-hour container.
00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:35.680
Now, I'm grateful for the calling that the Lord has on me.
00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:41.120
Um, and dependent on grace is an absolute must for that work.
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:45.199
Well, I I hope that answers the question of so what do I do?
00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:49.759
And and I also forgot to say that oftentimes we're continuing education.
00:06:49.920 --> 00:07:01.120
Right now, uh, even though I have my bachelor's and my master's, I am working on a two to three year certification for biblical counseling uh program right now.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:09.040
That in and of itself takes up many, many hours per week of study, examinations, and so forth.
00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:12.000
Well, I hope that answers the question of what do I do?
00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.360
What do I do in a typical week as a pastor?
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:16.720
That is it for now.
00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:22.240
Thank you for listening to All Things Reformed Baptist and look forward to seeing you next time.
