God's Plan

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (The Message)


We all have a variety of opinions on how to treat our pastors. Our ideas have been influenced by what we have been taught, observed in churches, watched in our parents, etc. But what does the Bible say about how to treat our spiritual leaders? God sets a very high standard in this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5.


Will you accept God’s challenge to honor your pastor and overwhelm them with appreciation and love?

HONOR

What does God mean when He calls us to honor our pastors? Very simply put, it is a call to respect our spiritual leaders.


We live in a time when respect for clergy is at an all-time low. Up through the 1950's, pastors were often seen as one of the most respected members of their communities. The last several decades have seen a dramatic shift and this lack of respect is taking a heavy toll on our pastors.


Throughout Scripture, God calls us to honor people in positions of authority, but there is only one place He says to give someone “double honor.” It is found in 1 Timonthy 5:17 when Paul is talking about how to treat our elders (pastors) in the local church.


Will you become a “double honor” supporter of your pastor?

APPRECIATE

In the mid 1990's, Focus on the Family challenged the American church to begin observing October as Clergy Appreciation Month. Many churches have since set aside this month to show their pastors how much they appreciate their hard work and service.


We would encourage you to radically love on your pastor during the month of October. But appreciation of our spiritual leaders must go beyond a few weeks each year.


To truly appreciate someone is to express thanks and to give them the proper value they deserve. Pastors are often the targets of criticism and complaints, but rarely are they the recipients of praise and compliments.


Will you overwhelm your pastor with appreciation throughout the year?

love

Love your pastor. What does that really mean?


Pastors live in a world of "conditional" love. If they preach the right way, people love them. If they do what key leaders want, they receive love. If they visit at the right time, they are loved.


Pastors are real people, just like you and me. They need unconditional love just like we do. God calls us to love our leaders whether they perform according to our expectations or not. God's love is not dependent on perfect behavior. It is grounded in grace and forgiveness.


Would you help us break the cycle of conditional love in our churches and overwhelm your pastor with unconditional love?