Discipleship — We Need It Too

By Samson Sembeba

Why be a disciple when you can make them instead, right? The call for us as pastors to make disciples can easily get in the way of the realization that pastors need to be discipled themselves. It is easy to think that every word from our mouths as pastors is gold and that we don't need anyone telling us about our flaws. But even just reading that statement may cause you to think, "I don't do that." But do we? As pastors, do we take the time to slow down and practice self-awareness? Whether you feel as though you do it regularly or you feel as though you don't do it at all, I want to share with you a few ways God has been teaching me to practice self-awareness so that my heart is in a place for discipleship.

Sermons

Yes, that good Sabbath morning sermon. We know the process of preaching a message. It’s about what do the people need? What are we currently going through? How can we move people in a particular direction? It can be easy for us to find ways to preach to the people, but do we take time to slow down for the sermon to touch us? 

Recently I started to pray and ask myself this question for every sermon: "God, what are you seeking to teach me?" It's not just about a problematic member that we feel needs it, but instead, it is us. There have been moments when I went up to preach, still saying that prayer, and God hit me with what He wanted to teach me, and let me tell you, that put some power to the preaching. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says, "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I should become disqualified.” We are not merely preaching a message to the congregation, we are sharing it with them—it must have its imprint on us first.

Marriage

How's your marriage going? I have recently gotten married, which has shown me much of my character. It has shown me how petty I can be. More than anything else, it has shown me how selfish I am. But what an opportunity for growth! Marriage has pulled out stuff about my character that I can either ignore, thinking to myself, "she is lucky to have someone like me," or embrace and grow. 

We can get so much appreciation from the church: "Pastor, that was a good message," "Pastor, thank you for your help," "Pastor, your spouse must be lucky to have you," "Pastor, you are a blessing to our church." It is easy to fall into the trap of taking praise from the church and thinking something must be wrong with our spouse when we are the ones who need growth. Having the humility to listen to our spouse and grow at home gives us the ability to serve our churches better and focus on what God will do through us. 

Mentors/Peers

We cannot do ministry alone. Ministry is hard, mainly because we deal with people. But ministry is easier—not necessarily easy, but easier—when we do ministry with others. Let’s surround ourselves with mentors, those that are older and more seasoned with experience, as well as peers, those that are at a similar level to us and with whom we can relate. Sometimes when going to pastors' meetings, it is tempting to smile and say, “God is good” when we are struggling—though God is good in the struggle. It is tempting to find something good happening in our district so that people can move on and we can go back home. But there is beauty in opening our hearts to one another, encouraging one another where we are, and praying for one another. But that takes transparency. 

Paul says it best in Galatians 6:2: "Bear one another's burdens.” We need each other. Don’t try this ministry thing alone. Don't mistake transparency for complaining or embracing the low moments; instead, this is sharing our heart, the good and the bad. Our mentors will guide us, and our peers will relate to us, and having both will help us focus on what God is doing through us. 

Discipleship is just as much a part of our journey as pastors as anyone else’s journey. Though not every pastor takes that journey, sadly. But those who do, reap the benefits, and so does their church. As pastors, we lead not from what we do but from who we are. Don’t shy away from allowing God to complete the work that He started in us (Philippians 1:6). Allow Him today to impact your life through sermons, marriage, and mentors/peers. There is no telling what God will do.  

Samson Sembeba pastors the First Seventh-day Adventist Church of Tulsa and the First Tulsa Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma.