Stress Out (6 of 7)
Series: Joy Ride
James Merritt
Philippians 4:4-7
Introduction
1. When I finally surrendered to god's call on my life and decided to go into the ministry, I went into it both ignorant and optimistic. I was ignorant, because I didn't grow up in the home of a pastor and didn't know much about the life of a pastor outside of what I saw on Sunday morning. I was optimistic, because frankly I did figure that compared to a lot of other professions it was a particularly relatively stress-free job, that would always be enjoyable, that everybody would always like me and even love me. Somewhat like a spiritual Disney world.
2. There was an article written in the los Angeles times years ago by psychologist Richard Blackmon who said, ''pastors are the single most occupational frustrated group in America.'' about seventy-five percent of pastors go through a period of stress so great they consider quitting the ministry (yes - by the way that happened to me). Seventy percent actually do. The mental breakdown is so high that some insurance companies can charge up to four percent extra to cover church staff members compared to employees in other professions.
3. I have both told and written about a time in my ministry in one of my pastorates that I was under such stress and such pressure, I began to lose my hair, developed a blood pressure problem, and I even began to sweat through my suits before I got up to preach. I know some of you think that being a pastor is kind of a put your feet up on the stool, read a few books, take it easy kind of life, but let me assure you whether it is dealing with attendance, leading a staff, seeing to it that the buildings are maintained, volunteers are recruited, people are ministered to and counselled, preparing sermons, answering emails and phone calls and trying to meet the high standard people set on you has a rocking chair on my front porch.
4. I know I am not the only one dealing with stress. The instit ...
Series: Joy Ride
James Merritt
Philippians 4:4-7
Introduction
1. When I finally surrendered to god's call on my life and decided to go into the ministry, I went into it both ignorant and optimistic. I was ignorant, because I didn't grow up in the home of a pastor and didn't know much about the life of a pastor outside of what I saw on Sunday morning. I was optimistic, because frankly I did figure that compared to a lot of other professions it was a particularly relatively stress-free job, that would always be enjoyable, that everybody would always like me and even love me. Somewhat like a spiritual Disney world.
2. There was an article written in the los Angeles times years ago by psychologist Richard Blackmon who said, ''pastors are the single most occupational frustrated group in America.'' about seventy-five percent of pastors go through a period of stress so great they consider quitting the ministry (yes - by the way that happened to me). Seventy percent actually do. The mental breakdown is so high that some insurance companies can charge up to four percent extra to cover church staff members compared to employees in other professions.
3. I have both told and written about a time in my ministry in one of my pastorates that I was under such stress and such pressure, I began to lose my hair, developed a blood pressure problem, and I even began to sweat through my suits before I got up to preach. I know some of you think that being a pastor is kind of a put your feet up on the stool, read a few books, take it easy kind of life, but let me assure you whether it is dealing with attendance, leading a staff, seeing to it that the buildings are maintained, volunteers are recruited, people are ministered to and counselled, preparing sermons, answering emails and phone calls and trying to meet the high standard people set on you has a rocking chair on my front porch.
4. I know I am not the only one dealing with stress. The instit ...
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