10 Things You Learn After 50 Years of Ministry

Recently I was watching an old Catalyst talk where Chuck Swindoll shared ten things he’s learned in over fifty years of ministry. Those thoughts are so great I thought I’d share them with you:

1. It’s lonely to lead. The more decisions you make, the more you lead, the lonelier you become. Leadership can be lonely.

2. It’s dangerous to succeed. Many of us have a plan for failure, but most of us don’t have a plan for success. Too much success too early can ruin any person.

3. It is hardest at home. Leading on Sundays is easy. Leading your family is something else entirely. It’s truly hardest at home.

4. It is essential to be real. You’ll never be like the famous preacher you try and emulate. Be real. Be yourself.

5. It’s painful to obey. Look in Scripture. Any time God called someone to obey him, it was a step of faith. It was painful.

6. Brokenness and failure are necessary. This is absolutely true. Until we’re broken of our own pride and self-reliance, we’ll never be vessels usable by God.

7. My attitude is more important than my actions. Some of us as ministers can be hard to be around. It’s not just our actions, but our attitudes that are important.

8. Integrity eclipses image. Ministry invites fakeness as ministers try to exhibit the aura they feel others expect from them. Image will always be eclipsed by integrity.

9. God’s way is always better than my way. You can learn this one the easy way or the hard way, but sooner or later you’ll realize that God’s way is always best. Always.

10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility. To truly be like Christ means to humble yourself and serve others. There is no other way.