5. Books a pastor should read.
“I have learned that when a church member recommends a book to me, it’s usually a book about something he thinks I should be teaching or preaching.”
6. Encouragement.
“Thank God for the Barnabases in my church. It seems like God uses them at key and critical times when they communicate with me. I hope I never take them for granted.”
7. Ideas on how to do things better in the church.
“Some of these messages are from well-intending members. Others are from members who thinly disguise their criticism as a suggestion.”
8. Sermon suggestions.
“I have a few members in my church who would be happy if all of my sermons were from the Book of Revelation. I’m glad this Mayan thing passed. I was getting inundated with those requests.”
9. Theological and biblical questions.
“I love it when people have genuine questions about what the Bible teaches. That indicates God is giving them a real hunger for His Word.”
10. Jokes/forwarded spam.
“There are a few members in the church who feel like they have to forward me every joke or political issue they get in their email. Usually I’m one of 30 or 40 recipients, so I don’t feel obligated to respond.”
Interestingly, if we had just taken the responses from the under-40 group of pastors, “theological and biblical questions” would have ranked fourth instead of ninth. The younger pastors seem to be encouraging and receiving biblical conversations.
If you are a pastor or staff member, what would you add to this list? If you are a layperson, do any of these items of communication to pastors surprise you?
