Should Your Pastor Preach Every Sunday?
What If Preaching Isn’t Their Gift?
Should pastors preach every Sunday? It’s a question many churches wrestle with as they seek to balance effective ministry with pastoral health.
Many pastors enter ministry inspired by great preachers they admire, but they soon find that preaching every Sunday drains their energy and doesn’t align with their primary gifting. Despite theological training and ministry preparation, some pastors discover they’re better equipped for other areas of ministry.
A Common Struggle
This scenario is more common than we care to admit. Many pastors wake up feeling trapped in a cycle of sermon prep that no longer brings them joy. While some pastors thrive in the pulpit, others find greater fulfillment in visiting the sick, mentoring others, or leading administrative efforts.
Nevertheless, they’re expected to preach every Sunday because that’s what tradition demands. Fear of disappointing their congregation or losing their job often keeps pastors silent about their struggle.
Should Pastors Preach Every Sunday?
The early church offers a model that suggests sharing responsibilities could be a solution. In Acts 6:2-4, the apostles delegated tasks to others, freeing themselves to focus on their primary calling:
“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Similarly, sharing the preaching load with elders, deacons, or lay leaders could allow pastors to focus on their most gifted areas, creating a healthier balance for both the church and the pastor.
Exploring Alternatives to Preach Every Sunday
By rethinking the traditional expectation that pastors must preach every Sunday, churches could better support their leaders and enhance their ministries. Allowing pastors to design roles around their strengths might even reduce burnout and turnover, which are significant challenges in the Western church.
This approach aligns with Romans 12:6, which says:
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”
Imagine the benefits of a church where pastors are empowered to lead in ways that energize them rather than deplete them. Sharing the pulpit could create a richer, more diverse preaching experience for the congregation while allowing pastors to thrive in their God-given callings.
Dive Deeper Into Scripture
- “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” (Acts 6:2-4, Read on Bible.com)
- “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:6, Read on Bible.com)
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- Do you think pastors should have input into defining their pastoral roles? Why or why not?
- How could sharing preaching responsibilities benefit a church?
- What are some ways churches can support pastors in their areas of gifting?
You are pushing the envelope here ….yes ? ….. how dare we let a pastor use the spiritual gifts God has given him instead of the ones we want him to have ?….. how dare we let the man we have called to provide spiritual leadership actually lead …..
I sense some sarcasm in this comment…I love it! Thanks Dave!
That’s what our church is doing right now. We have a couple of gifted young men who work alongside the seasoned pastor and share preaching duties. It takes a lot more work and communication on their part to make things cohesive. As far as attendees go, some like the model we have while others prefer to have the same person preach week after week so they know what to expect.
We were lucky in hiring our current pastor, because he looked at our job description and picked it apart. We wanted someone who was good with computers, and he basically told us his limits are checking his email. He was very clear from the get-go as to what we should expect him to do, and what he won’t do or isn’t good at. Too bad all pastors aren’t like that, but many fear that the truth will cause them to not get hired!
Thanks for your comment Bridgit. It’s good to hear from you again!
I have had way too many conversations with pastors and other ministry staff who have accepted a job description to get the job. They deeply want to serve the Lord, yet lack the faith to be honest with what they can truly accomplish and where their passions lie.
Your Lead Pastor is wise to have the integrity to refuse being pegged into a position that would not allow him his full potential for the Kingdom.
I do agree that having a preaching/teaching team would definitely help especially if public speaking isn’t a pastor’s strong point. I see no reason why it can’t happen. That will certainly alleviate a lot of pressure. However, we should also be careful not to go to the other extreme of completely relieving a pastor of the responsibility to preach. It’s still a Biblical mandate for pastors and elders to preach/teach. If a pastor isn’t “gifted”, perhaps a suggestion would be to seek training. I fully believe that anybody can learn the skills to communicate better.
Thanks for giving LeadBiblically.com your valuable time! I greatly appreciate it!
Your caution is well warranted. Teaching the Word is and should be a primary focus on the church. Someone MUST be preaching! Training is an excellent option and a progressive church would continue supplying funds for future training in all areas of pastoral ministry. Even the best can always get better!
This being said, there is still the enjoyment factor. More and more, I am seeing gifted matched with fulfilment. I’m not saying that pastors shouldn’t do things that they don’t enjoy; that’s just part of life. I’m just trying to suggest that maybe joy in service has a very tight connection to fit in gifting.
Thanks again for taking part in the discussion! I love getting reader feedback!