Want to Tend to Your Pastor’s Heart? Show Up.

Sunday nights are rough on pastors, and Mondays are even worse. Not only does a pastor feel exhausted, but he questions himself. He wonders how Sunday really went. He wonders if his sermon spoke. He sometimes dwells on things that were or weren’t said, and he can very easily wake up Monday morning feeling utterly discouraged, even if everyone else feels that Sunday’s worship and activities were fabulous. Few people understand how quickly a pastor can begin to feel downhearted, even when things are going well at church.

I know almost all church members care for and want to encourage their pastor. But I don’t know how many realize that the number one way to tend to their pastor’s heart is just getting up on Sunday mornings and going to church. In truth, this is the most basic and easy thing that we are called to do as Christians, and when we don’t do it, what is a pastor supposed to think about the spiritual condition of his congregation? I guarantee that he will leave the church building feeling discouraged and troubled when he sees empty seats where his sheep should be.

Your pastor doesn’t just care about the number of people who are in the building. He cares if you are in your place. He thinks about your spiritual life, about your worldview, about the ways that you spiritually steward your family. When you fail to prioritize church attendance, your pastor has good reason to be concerned that you are struggling spiritually. Nothing encourages him more on a Sunday morning than seeing that you are being obedient to the Lord’s command to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. When you are faithful in this, you not only please God, you enhearten and strengthen your pastor.

But there’s more to church attendance than making your pastor feel better about his vocation. Whether you have just fallen out of the habit of attending or you are allowing hurt feelings or certain people in the church to keep you away, not being a part of the weekly experience of worship and teaching is spiritually harming you and your family.

Maybe you have never attended church, but you know there must be more meaning to life than just work and your kids’ activities and paying bills. You’re right. Being a part of a church and learning who Jesus really is will completely change your life. Having a worldview that is based on something other than your feelings or opinions you have pieced together will revolutionize the way that you experience life on this planet. Even more, knowing Jesus will change the way you experience the next life.

Church members, tend to your pastor’s heart by showing up. It matters when you’re there and it matters if you aren’t there.

If you’ve never been a part of a church, Olney has some amazing ones. Choose one and commit to attending, to learning about who God really is, and watch your own heart and your entire family change in all of the best ways. We all need each other in this spiritual journey. Coming to church won’t solve all your problems. It isn’t a magic pill for a better life. But it is an opportunity to learn from His word, get a pastor who cares for your soul, discover a worldview that makes life make sense, and become a part of something much bigger than yourself. A church is made up of a bunch of imperfect people who are seeking God. Come and seek Him, too. He said if we seek Him, we’ll find Him, so your efforts won’t be wasted. See you at church.