Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry.

Answer

God’s plan is for believers to possess a personal ministry[1]. In Ephesians 2:10, the scriptures states that believers are the workmanship of God, created in Christ to execute good works, which our Heavenly Father prepared beforehand for us to perform. God has a given task, personal ministry, or good work for every believer[2]. Having a personal ministry plan is essential for evading pitfalls, overcoming trials, and ministering effectively to one’s flock. My personal ministry plan is focused on avoiding the pitfalls found in Paul D. Tripp's Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenge of Pastoral Ministry.

Goal

My personal ministry plan is focused on the attainment of the following goal:

• To avoid the pitfalls found in Paul D. Tripp's Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenge of Pastoral Ministry.  

Objectives

For me to avoid the pitfalls established by Tripp, I will focus my personal ministry on the following objectives:

• To have a personal relationship with God
• To develop a constant culture of reading as well as studying God’s word to prepare me to respond to every man
• To engage in regular worship and be sanctified to the Lord on a regular basis
• To development myself as a servant leader by being a people personality and a work-driven person.

Objective 1: To have a personal relationship with God

Action Plan

• Constantly talking to God in prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul directs believers to pray without ceasing. I will spare 15 minutes of my time everyday to pray. Praying connects believers to God.
• Obeying God’s commandments. In John 14:15, the scripture states that believers can demonstrate their love for God by obeying His commandments. I believe that as believers we become stronger and brighter in mind, integrity, and spirit by obeying God’s will. I intend to consistently obey God’s commandments including being honest and kind to others and attending church meeting regularly.
• Taking action whenever I hear God’s voice. In situations where I feel that God is guiding me or telling me something, I will always take action on it immediately. I believe that the insight I receive from such an experience will show me where I should take my next step.
• Departing from evil always. In Psalms 34:14, the scriptures cautions believers to depart from evil acts, and to focus on doing good, seeking peace, and pursuing it. In relation to this, I will focus on strengthening my relationship with God by quenching or terminating my relationship with evil. I will focus on getting rid of issues associated with envy, gluttony, lust, sloth, wrath, greed, and pride.
• Stopping materialistic tendencies. In John 2:15, the scripture cautions believers against loving this world and the things it provides to them, as the love of the world prevents believers from having the love of God in them. I will refrain from indulging with worldly materials and issues such as drunkenness, flesh, greed and love for material wealth, gluttony. Instead, I will direct my efforts towards nurturing my life with spiritual things like patience, compassion, faithfulness, self-control, and love so that I can grow my relationship with God.
• Constantly working on my salvation. In Philippians 2:12-13, the scripture directs believers to work their salvation with trembling and fear. My focus in on establishing a lasting relationship with God as a means of evading pitfalls established by Tripp. Therefore, I intend to continue working out my salvation gift. I believe that such an undertaking will preventing from quenching the Holy Spirit within that sealed me for the redemption day.

Objective II: To develop a constant culture of reading as well as studying God’s word to prepare me to respond to every man

Action Plan

• Praying constantly for hunger the Word of God. I intend to focus on persistently asking God to give me hunger for His word. I am focused on ensuring that God’s Word in the lamb unto might feet, as well as the light unto my ways. Having adequate knowledge of God’s Word will greatly enable me to evade the pitfalls discussed by Tripp.
• Scheduling a time for reading the Bible. I intend to set aside 45 minutes of my time to study and meditate on God Word’s as directed in Joshua 1:8. My preferred time for Bible reading will be prior to going to bed. I believe that designating a specific time for reading God’s Word will assist me in remembering to read the Bible and incorporate the teaching in my daily life or routine.
• Keeping track of my Bible reading. I will achieve this by marking the date I complete a book or chapter in my physical Bible. By tracking my progress, I will manage to establish a habit of Bible reading.

Objective III: To engage in regular worship and be sanctified to the Lord on a regular basis.

Action Plan

• Setting time for worship. I will set aside 20 minutes of my time to worship the Lord in praise and music prior to engaging in my bible study.
• Volunteering to be a member of our Church’s worship team. I will become a member of our church’s worship team so that I can take part in worship sessions, particularly on Sunday services, in the church. This step will greatly build me as worshipper.
• Worshipping with awe. In Hebrews 12:28-29, the scripture directs believers to worshipping God with awe and reverence for He is a consuming fire. In relation to this, I will focus on worshipping God with an overwhelming feeling of fear, admiration, and reverence.
• Reading the Bible and researching online for ways of being a good worshipper. I will focus on reading scriptures that talk about God’s worship and conduct additional online research on how I can be a great worshipper.

Objective 1V: To development myself as a servant leader by being a people personality and a work-driven person.

Action Plan

• Taking the initiative to be a servant leader. I will always take it to myself to reach out to people whenever I know that they are hurting. I will not wait on others to ask for my help. Some of the measures that I will embrace to accomplish this goal is making extra phone calls and paying visits fellow believers. I will also be sending encouragement texts to believers when praying for them, especially when they are in trouble.
• I will always commit myself offering genuine or sincere apologies. According to Tripp[3], servant leaders take responsibility of their mistake and genuinely ask for forgiveness.
• Seeking out real accountability. The willingness or readiness to be held responsible is among the missing ingredients in the contemporary church leadership. Tripp[4] assert that servant leaders seek out responsibility.
• Offering myself sacrificially to my church. Serving is an essential aspect of giving. In Romans 12:1, the scripture directs believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, which is acceptable and holy to God.
• Volunteering to perform menial task. I will engage in menial tasks such as carrying more garbage cans and plungers. I believe that great meaning and purpose exist in the menial. In John 13: 14-17, Jesus Christ directs believers to volunteer in serving others. As such, the highest perspective exists in the lowest rung.

[1] Tripp, Paul David. Dangerous calling: Confronting the unique challenges of pastoral ministry. Crossway, 2012

[2] ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Tripp, Paul David. Dangerous calling: Confronting the unique challenges of pastoral ministry. Crossway, 2012