The flâneur and the philosopher are joined this week by Jack Wilkie, author of the Church Reset Substack, and of a book by the same name, Church Reset: God’s Design for So Much More. Jack was previously a pastor in the Churches of Christ but has since focused on his writing ministry and his podcast, Think Deeper.
Jack recently wrote a post titled, “Why I Won’t Be Encouraging My Sons Toward Ministry.” We discuss with him why this is, and why he left pastoral ministry himself.
We discuss the nature of the pastoral role as well as the current pulpit supply-chain, taking uprooted young men and placing them around the country in a Christian brain-drain. We consider the sacred-secular divide this creates and offer some alternative models of church and discipleship.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.
Takeaways
The current system of filling pulpits in churches is flawed and disconnected from the rest of the church community.
There is a need for a more organic, homegrown approach to leadership development in churches.
Small churches should focus on training and equipping their own leaders instead of relying on hiring pastors from outside the congregation.
The emphasis should be on the quality of leadership and the growth and maturity of the church, rather than the size of the building or the number of attendees.
Finding the right church involves considering factors such as the spiritual health of the congregation, the influence on family and children, and the opportunity for active participation.
Disciple-making is the responsibility of every member of the church, and it involves training and guiding others in their walk with God.
Churches need to move away from a consumeristic mindset and prioritize hospitality, community, and a focus on Christ-likeness in everyday life.
The church should provide guidance and wisdom on practical matters of life, such as parenting and finances, in addition to theological teaching.
Unity in the church requires a balance between specific requirements, expectations, and encouragement, while respecting individual differences and preferences.
Churches should prioritize roots and generational connections, encouraging families to stay close and passing on wisdom and values to future generations.
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Pulpit Supply-Chain Issues