Pastor – jeremycouture.me

A Mentor I Only Met for Five Minutes

Can someone you’ve only met briefly be a mentor?

I was saddened to hear about the recent passing of Dr. Jim Shaddix. In addition to a family man, he was a pastor, a seminary professor, and a mentor to many. I would dare say he was one of my mentors, even though I only met him once for five minutes.

The ministry of Dr. Shaddix became visible to me during a low point in my life in 2013. I was forced out of my first pastorate just before the four-year mark. Weeks stretched into months as I searched for a new place to serve through an endless supply of resumes. I’m embarrassed to admit it now, but one of those resumes landed at Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado – a church that Jim Shaddix had just served as pastor and a church that was way beyond my abilities. He went on to teach at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and I was intrigued by a pastor turned professor.

God was gracious and a door opened up for me to serve another church in Kentucky, just a few hours from where we currently lived. As I worked to hone my preaching craft, I came across Dr. Shaddix’s book, Power in the Pulpit, and I devoured it. Years later, I was asked to teach some students of my own through Southeastern Seminary’s extension program, and I was pleased to see that Dr. Shaddix was the principal teacher of that course. I enjoyed previewing his lecture videos before I share them with my class.

In 2023, I was pastoring my current church in Indianapolis, IN and I had the urge to offer my own course in sermon preparation and delivery. I had several men in the church, and two young staff pastors, who were eager for some instruction on preaching. I reached out to Dr. Shaddix by email to ask for his permission to include his materials in the course. Even though I wasn’t student at Southeastern Seminary, and he had never heard of my ministry (I’m sure of it), he sent me the kindest message in return. He gave me his permission as well as an offer to help anyway he could in the days ahead. I was proud to share his note with my Preaching Cohort during our first meeting – a note from a man that I considered as a mentor even though we had never met.

In 2024, the Southern Baptist Convention came to Indianapolis, IN and I was happy to see that Jim Shaddix was on the schedule to preach at the Pastor’s Conference. I don’t always get to listen to the preachers at the conference, but I made it point to be in my seat with my notebook open during his sermon. During a later, I waited in a long line at the Southeastern Seminary booth in the Exhibit Hall to meet him personally. I expressed gratitude for his recent sermon and for the influence of his book. He listened graciously and offered some encouragement. At one point, we were interrupted by another well-known preacher with an urgent message, but Dr. Shaddix finished our brief visit, and I was glad.

Mentoring can come in different ways. Sometimes it comes through a close, personal friendship. Sometimes mentoring a scheduled and structured and sometimes it happens organically. It can even happen from a distance as seasoned models and expert practitioners share their wisdom through all the channels we have today.

Here’s a link to Dr. Jim Shaddix’s obituary: https://www.brightfunerals.com/obituaries/Dr-Jim-L-Shaddix?obId=35207262

Should We Read the Psalms in Church?

Should we read out of the Book of Psalms together as a part of a public worship service? At first glance, they may seem hopelessly outdated or intended only for private study. Some of the Psalms contain sentiments that are so severe and malicious they are hard to square with Christ’s teaching about loving one’s enemies. When these shallow impressions are pushed aside, the Book of Psalms becomes a rich resource for gathered worship. Here are five reasons why.

The Psalms are part of the history of worship. The Psalter had a prominent place in ancient Israel and the early church. Paul calls first-century believers to “teach and admonish one another” with “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” in Colossians 3:16. In a world before the Contemporary Christian Music establishment, this is a clear reference to the Psalms of the Old Testament.

The Psalms are deeply personal. Composed by various authors and collected over many centuries, the Psalms were written as a response to Israel’s covenant relationship with God. They address a wide range of human experiences, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and they do so, often, in the first person.

The Psalms use evocative language. The poetic form and terminology of the Psalms draws the reader into a spirit of adoration. The vivid imagery and colorful language begs for a response. These passages of Scripture are meant for a worship setting, by design.

The Book Psalms is organized into user-friendly parts. The 150 individual psalms can be organized into five books. These books contain passages that are all 50 verses or less, except for Psalms 18, 89, 78, and 119. Even these longer portions can be subdivided easily to be include in a public worship setting.

The Psalms are interconnected with the rest of Scripture. According to the Luke 24:44, the Psalms were considered the most important part of the Old Testament’s primary divisions: “The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” The 90^th Psalm is based on the so-called “Song of Moses” in Exodus 15. The historical books of 1 & 2 Samuel provide the historical background for many of the psalms attributed to King David. The Psalms are quoted in the New Testament more than any other book. These links all show how central the Book of Psalms is to the rest of the Bible.

1 Timothy 4:13 says in part, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture.” This expression may take on many forms in a gathered worship service, but it can only be enhanced by reading the Psalms.

Preaching and Teaching for Spiritual Renewal

What is the starting point for spiritual renewal and revival in the church?

This post is the first in a series tracing the dynamics of spiritual renewal in the Church as outlined in Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal by Dr. Richard Lovelace.

Spiritual renewal is another way of describing our biggest need in the Church – spiritual revival. Dr. Richard Lovelace made a name for himself tracing out the dynamics of spiritual renewal as a professor of Church History at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and as the author of Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal. In his book, he identifies preaching and teaching as the starting point for personal spiritual renewal in the life of the local church. As individuals are revived, so is the Church.

The kind of preaching and teaching that brings renewal encourages an intelligent response to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit. According to Lovelace, the core doctrines of Christ’s redemptive work are justification and sanctification. Justification is God’s full and final forgiveness extended to all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. This state is based on God’s righteousness, not our own. The doctrine of justification leads, by necessity, to the doctrine of sanctification, which is the incremental progress believers make, empowered by the Holy Spirit, towards moral and spiritual maturity. In addition, sanctification means being set apart for God’s holy purposes. As believers are set apart, they should experience the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and a spiritual victory over their sins.

Lovelace summarizes these doctrines with the following statements: You are accepted, you are delivered, you are not alone, and you have authority. From his perspective, these are the themes that are overlooked in churches that struggle with spiritual apathy. Renewed and revived churches, on the other hand, feature preachers who are not afraid to bring these themes out of the pages of Scripture. Vibrant believers need frequent reminders of what it looks like to live in light of Christ’s work and the Holy Spirit’s presence. Vibrant believers are necessary for vibrant churches.

Effective preachers will explain, emphasize, illustrate, and apply God’s Word. Based on Lovelace’s advice, they should also look for ways to highlight these key doctrines. Those who are listening should look for reminders that they are accepted and delivered in Christ. They should take hold of the resources they have in moving toward maturity and victory. These expectations will make preaching and teaching a primary factor in our spiritual renewal.

Photo by Kevin Gonzalez on Unsplash

Exalting Christ in Our Leadership

What does it look like to be a good leader in the church?

This past Sunday I shared 5 principles about being a good follower in the local church and the greater kingdom of God from Hebrews 13:7-19. Each one of the principles I shared can also be applied to leaders so I promised to share those this week through this blog post. You can find a link to my sermon notes on good followership here.

Jesus Christ is exalted when followers follow and leaders lead. Here are 5 ways that leaders can step up to make a difference in their local congregations based on Hebrews 13.

1. Set an example that others can follow (v. 7). The first generation of leaders may have passed off the scene in the church that recieved the book of Hebrews, but they left behind a pattern that was worth replicating. The best leaders set the tone for others in performance as well as their behavior.

2. Spread the right doctrine (v. 9-14). Like many of the other first century churches, some of the original recipients of Hebrews struggled with false teaching. Christian leaders today would do well by grounding everything they teach in the Word of God. This may seem obvious in theory, but it’s not so obvious in practice.

3. Showcase your sacrifice (v. 15-16). This principle sounds prideful, but it’s not intended to be. These verses describe two practices that believers should engage in regularly, two “sacrifice.” They are the sacrifice of praise and the sacrifice of service. Pastors and teacher in the Church should lead the way in worshiping God and serving others with a spirit of humility.

4. Step up for your sheep (v. 17). Shepherding is one of the most familiar metaphors for leadership in the Bible. Sometimes sheep bite, butt, buck, and wander away (metaphorically speaking of course), but they still need to be cared for. Pastors and elders especially, will be held accountable for the “flocks” of believers under their care.

5. Share your prayer requests (v. 18-19). The writer of Hebrews is transparent about his needs and concerns. His request for prayer in verse 18 should be a model for today’s Christian leaders.

The writer of Hebrews (your guess is as good as mine) was concerned with the believers under his care. He wanted them to be good followers as well as good leaders so that their congregation would grow and flourish. We need good followers and good leaders in our churches today as well.

A Fresh Way to Craft a Strategic Plan for Your Church

There are several ways to build a strategic plan for your church. Here is a fresh way that may help you achieve clarity and buy-in.

A strategic plan is a document that establishes the mission, vision, values, and strategy for a church, organization, or business. Instead of being framed and hung on a wall, a strategic plan is meant to shape what happens down the hall and in every corner of the organization. A biblical strategic plan for a church is theology in action.

There are two approaches that churches use most often in establishing their strategic plans. The first is what I call “the leader on the mountain” approach. This is where the senior leader (typically the senior pastor) gathers his thoughts and ideas and shares them with a select group of leaders in a meeting or the whole congregation in a sermon series. The “the secret committee” approach is where the church elects a select group of members to research the options, formulate their recommendations, and then to share them with the congregation.

Each of these two pathways has their own strengths, but they also have weaknesses. This blog post about a fresh way to craft a strategic plan that features both clarity and buy-in from the congregation. This way could be called “the open invitation” approach. Here’s how we used it recently to establish a strategic plan in the church that I serve as senior pastor.

First, I gathered information about the basic components of a strategic plan for a church: mission, vision, values, and strategy. I found a biblical background for each component and reacquainted myself with today’s “best practices.” Care was taken to search out the best goals and ministries for our particular context.

Second, I announced that our church would gather for a series of meetings to “rediscover” our purpose and plan as a church. These meetings were held over a period of five weeks and open to anyone who wanted to attend. I used the idea of “rediscovery” to tie our future plans back into our history and legacy as a a congregation.

Each meeting included some form of collaboration and feedback in the form of question and answer, round-table discussion, story-boarding, or written comments. I engaged with several participants one-on-one after the meetings and in-between meetings during the week. Ongoing feedback was incorporated as we moved closer to our completed plan.

Third, I shared a summary of our shared results in a public message to the church body the Sunday following our last weekly meeting. The message was framed as plan for a “new season of ministry” at the church, rather than the end of series of meetings. Since that presentation, I have been working with the church staff and other leaders to implement our new strategic plan.

Strategic planning is a must for any organization, especially a church. The “open invitation” concept certainly has its weaknesses, but its strengths seem to loom larger in a church and season of ministry that requires a great deal of trust and thoughtful interaction. Church leaders who are looking for a fresh way to craft a strategic plan should consider this approach.

Why Small Groups?

The COVID-19 crisis has forced us to rethink a lot of things, including church. For the first time in our lifetimes, we were unable to gather in-person as a church for months as a time. When we did come back together, we had to alter some of our habits to accommodate increased health concerns.

Now that we are meeting together regularly, we are asking ourselves a whole new set of questions. What about bible study classes and small groups? How do these smaller assemblies relate to our worship services? What schedule and format would work best for our church? Are these ministries even necessary?

As our Sunday morning, Small Groups and through-the-week Life Groups resume in-person meetings, I wanted to address the question of groups. Here are 3 of the top reasons why small groups are important to the local church.

The biblical reason: Jesus used groups. Not only did Jesus mandate that we make disciples in His name, but He also modeled disciple-making. In Rediscovering Discipleship, Robby Gallaty points out five different types of groups that Jesus used in His earthly ministry. Jesus ministered to crowds numbering in the thousand, but He also focused on a “congregation” of 70 to 150 self-identified followers. Beyond that, He spent significant time with a small community of 12 men. Three of those men were singled out for additional interaction and training. The point is that if Jesus utilized small groups, so should we.

The personal reason: groups are an avenue for care and shepherding. Small groups can provide a level of personal interaction that is not possible in a worship service. Prayer requests and concerns can be shared in more detail. Questions can be asked and answered. Group members can be encouraged and cared for. Unbelievers can be led to faith in the context of a group and believers can be equipped for spiritual growth in a group. Small groups invite people of all ages to get more personally involved in the life of the church.

The practical reason: groups encourage people to stay. Thom Rainer has quoted multiple studies that indicate that people who attend groups are five times more likely to stay connected to the church than those who only attend the worship service. People stay in a church because of relationships and involvement. Small groups are an excellent place to develop both.

If someone were to ask me why we should restart our small groups ministry in-person or why they should be personally involved, I would start with these 3 top reasons. Small groups allow us to make disciples for Christ in ways that other types of gatherings cannot and that should be enough to move us to action.

Why We Need Revitalized Churches More Than Ever

s__4220051

It has been a turbulent year. The COVID-19 crisis caught us off guard and threw the whole world into a panic with a rising death toll, social distancing restrictions, and a slumping economy. The recent protests, rioting, and civil unrest sparked by George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis has proven racism and injustice are alive and well in our country. This is also a presidential election year, which means we will also be confronted with all of the political issues that divide us as we move close to November’s election.

The Church was always been an “essential” element of society, whether it was recognized as such or not. But now more than ever, we need strong, healthy, revitalized churches in America. We need churches to grow past their disunity and dysfunction so they can make an impact on the world for Jesus Christ and the gospel.

Here are three reasons why we need revitalized churches now more than ever.

The reputation of the church is tied to God’s glory.

The local church gathers in God’s name and for His glory. Like the Israelites of old, New Testament believers belong to God and are called by His name (2 Chronicles 7:14). New believers are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

If the reputation of the church “stinks,” so does people’s impression of God. That is especially true in a neighborhood or community where a church is perceived as uncaring, quarrelsome, or snobby. An unhealthy church robs God of His glory.

The church is a place to model healthy, diverse relationships.

All people are made in God’s image and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect (Genesis 1:26-27). Those who have a biblical worldview should lead the way in loving those who are different than themselves. The church is an ideal place for those relationships to happen. In fact, if Christians can’t model healthy, diverse relationships in the church, what does that say about the gospel we say we believe?

Strong, healthy churches are a blessing to the communities that surround them.

In Reclaiming Glory, Mark Clifton explains that one of the characteristics of a dying church is that “they cease, often gradually, to be a part of the fabric of their community.” Conversely, revitalized churches and the people who belong to them look for ways to meet emotional, physical, and spiritual needs within their community. This outward focus allows believers to showcase their reason for hope – the gospel of Jesus Christ.

These turbulent times provide a wonderful opportunity for the church to become the best version of herself. Christ Himself is calling churches all over our country to shake off their apathy and to put His Word into practice (Ephesians 5:26). Not just for themselves, or their children, but for the sake of the cities, towns, and neighborhoods in which they have been planted.

What reasons would you add for the need for revitalized churches? Please leave your response below. I would love to hear from you!

Three Ways the Coronavirus Crisis Has Affected Me Personally

protective-mask-5021416_640

The Coronavirus crisis has affected us all in profound ways. Every aspect of our lives has been interrupted with no clear timeframe (at this point) for when they will return to normal. Some of the things we used to take for granted, like seeing the doctor or going out to eat at a restaurant, have become forbidden for the time being.

Here are three ways the COVID-19 crisis and the quarantine has affected me:

I am uneasy and off-balance because I’ve lost my routine.

Before Coronavirus hit, I had a daily and a weekly routine. I got up early and got ready for my day. I kissed my wife and dropped my kids off at school on my way to work. I came home after work and got ready for whatever activities were planned for that evening. I took most Fridays off and I spent most of my Sundays and Wednesdays at church.

Now that routine has been disrupted and I’m having a hard time finding a new normal. Most of the same things are still happening, they’re just jumbled up and in a different order. I’m still kissing my wife, but I see her more during the day since we are both working from home more often. My kids are still getting an education, but they are working from home too. I am still preaching, shepherding, and leading, but I am doing it from a distance and that feels odd.

I am grieving the loss of community.

By nature, I am an introverted extrovert. That means that I’m not afraid to be alone, but I enjoy social time with small groups as well. I miss being able to visit with people at the ballgame or the grocery store. I miss being able to study for my sermons at Starbucks. And I miss being able to worship and minister with my family of faith at church.

I’m certain we will be able to rebuild a sense of connection in our neighborhoods, schools, and churches, but for now, I feel a sense of loss. I’m enjoying the extra time with my family, but I need to rhythms of life that tie my family to a larger community.

I am hopeful for the future.

While many things were good before the crisis, not everything was good. I was too negative, too busy, and too dependent on myself – and I wasn’t the only one. If there is an upside to this, it’s that we have an opportunity to change. Moving forward, we can choose to see the positive instead of the negative. We can slow down and appreciate all of life’s blessings. And we can put our faith and trust more fully in the God who created us and sustains us day by day. He is not caught off guard by the Coronavirus and He will use it and the complications surrounding it to strengthen our faith in Him (James 1:2-4).

I hope and pray that the Coronavirus crisis ends soon, but that the lessons I learned from it last forever.

How has the Coronavirus crisis affected you? Please share in the comment section below.

Three Books to Read about Preaching

jorge-salvador-Ar0KbnOHhik-unsplash

Most people who go to church only thing about preaching on Sunday, but preachers think about preaching all week long. I have the privilege of explaining God’s Word every week to an eager congregation. Here are three books that have had the biggest impact on my preaching.

1. He Is Not Silent by R. Albert Mohler

41fz3IoB3fL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_ Albert Mohler argues that preaching God’s Word is a central, irreducible, and non-negotiable part of authentic worship. The kind of preaching he has in mind is expository preaching. He defines expository preaching as “reading the text and explaining it – reproving, rebuking, exhorting, and patiently teaching directly from the text of Scripture” (p. 52). This book has been foundational in my approach to preaching. It would help anyone who wants to make the most of their ministry.

2. Biblical Preaching by Haddin W. Robinson

41G7zdZdvqL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_ Haddon Robbin makes a case for expository preaching and then explains in step-by-step detail how to produce an expository sermon. The thing that I like best about the approach described here is the flexibility. Messages that are based on the text of Scripture need to conform to the contours of each passage preached. This book is great for the preacher who wants to sharpen his skills or the church member who wants to get the most of the messages he or she hears.

3. Planning Your Preaching by Stephen Nelson Rummage

51kUpd7ZGpL._SY346_ Preaching is a privilege, but it’s also a great responsibility. Preaching expository sermons week after week can benefit from careful planning. In this book, Stephen Rummage explains how a preacher can plan his preaching up to a year in advance. I don’t usually plan that far ahead, but I have used his approach to plan out my preaching calendar for almost a decade. It works! Preachers who want to make the most of their time and resources would do well to use the techniques described in this book.

As always, you can find these books at your online retailer or bookstore. If you decide to pick up one of these books as a last-minute Christmas gift for your preacher, make sure you don’t include a note that says, “Your preaching stinks. I hope this helps you get better.”

Working Toward Effectiveness

paulette-wooten-mRtcYQfbapc-unsplash

Yesterday I preached a message from 2 Timothy 2:1-7 on effectiveness in ministry. In the passage, Paul paints four pictures of effectives ministry for his associate, Timothy: a strategic teacher, a selective soldier, a self-disciplined athlete, and strong farmer. Yesterday I preached the message, today I’m working on putting it into practice.

The pictures presented in the passage all have an application to my life and ministry, but the picture of a selective soldier stands out me right now. The picture of a selective soldier is a picture of priorities. A soldier can’t follow the order of his commanding officer if he’s wrapping up in civilian affairs.

I have a tendency to try to be all things to all people. This seems like a positive quality, but it’s not. It’s not good for me to be involved in so many things that I don’t do anything well. It’s not healthy for me to find my joy and self-worth in making other people happy, no matter how noble the task. I know myself well enough to pushback against this natural impulse.

Effectiveness in life and ministry means setting priorities. As a result of yesterday’s message, I am trying to prioritize three things: preaching, gospel conversations, and quality time with my family. Some weeks are “messier” then others and I don’t set aside enough time to prepare for my preaching responsibilities. Since I have been gifted as a pastor-teacher and I have been called to serve Unity Baptist Church, effectiveness for me preparing and preaching to the best of my ability.

I believe that preaching is important, but so is personal evangelism. I’ve had the privilege of studying evangelism at the highest academic levels, but that doesn’t make me an evangelist. Sharing the good news about Jesus Christ and pursing gospel conversations makes me an evangelist. I am praying right now for opportunities to share Jesus this week.

As a vocational minister, my personal life and my work life are intertwined. Sometimes these roles get out of balance. At various times in my life, I’ve prioritized my work life over my family life. I honestly feel like I’ve improved in this area, but I don’t want to repeat my unhealthy patterns of the past. I just came back from a week-long family vacation and I praise God for an opportunity to prioritize time with my family.

These are just some of the things I’m thinking about to work towards more effectiveness in my ministry. I want to serve Christ as faithful soldier who choses his duties wisely.

What are you doing to improve your effectiveness in ministry?

Photo by Paulette Wooten on Unsplash