“If you never did anything in advance, there is relatively little you can do at the time”

In seminary, I began wondering how I would shepherd people through deep valleys. In class, one of my seminary professors, Dr. Crawford, once told a story about a family that faced a terrible tragedy. I raised my hand and asked, “How do you minister to someone in that situation?” He said, “If you never did anything in advance to prepare them, there is relatively little you can do at the time.”

His answer has echoed in my thoughts for years. Each Sunday when a pastor preaches, he is called to prepare his people for times of weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing. If the Word is not preached, his flock will not be prepared. It is a job of supreme significance.

Pray for your pastor.  Be in church this morning.

2 thoughts on ““If you never did anything in advance, there is relatively little you can do at the time”

  1. This message of this post is in-keeping with what my pastor says pretty regularly. To paraphrase, his job is not to fix us, or tell us what to do but rather to see that Christ is formed in us.

    Praying for my pastor, you, and every other preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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