Books

Christian Leadership Training Course

By J.C. Choate

Lesson 30

Goals of Preachers

A preacher needs to set some goals for himself and his work. Life is short and there is much to be done. If you don’t have any future plans, if you don’t set some goals, you will never amount to very much. It is not that you are in competition with anyone or that you are too ambitious. The fact is, you are a Christian and you want to accomplish as much as you can for the Lord while you can. You must therefore set a pace for yourself, drive yourself to excellence. Don’t be satisfied to just get by. You can do far better than that.

I would suggest some personal goals and some goals for your work. Let’s begin by talking about your personal goals.

First, I would suggest that you decide that you are going to continue to study and to grow spiritually. You can do that through several methods. You can set aside some time each day to read and study. You might want to attend a preacher training school. For your secular education, maybe you can take some courses in a local college. Then there are correspondence courses offered by brethren in different parts of the world. Some of these are college type courses. So you can advance your education if you really want to. You will have to work at it, and it might cost you some money, but it would be worth it.

Second, set aside some time each week to devote to your family. Use that time to be together, to do things together at home, or away from home. You might want to go on a picnic, shop together, visit relatives or friends. When you work to the point of neglecting your family, then all will be hurt.

Third, spend your personal time wisely. Don’t waste it. You cannot call it back.

Admittedly, it is difficult to separate personal goals from goals for the Lord’s work when you are a preacher, but here are some goals for your work.

First, make a program for yourself for each week, who you are going to visit, how many studies you are going to have, and where you are going to preach. Surpass those numbers if you can, but at least try to do that many.

Second, set a goal as to how many you are going to convert during the coming month. Don’t set the number too high, not to be able to meet it, and then to allow that to discourage you. Set it at a level that you can meet and perhaps pass. If you go beyond that number then you can always increase the number for the next month. If you don’t have any goals, it will be easy to let things drift and not to accomplish what you might otherwise. By setting a goal, you will be challenged to put forth some extra effort. Try it, and I think you will find that it works.

Third, how about setting a goal for establishing some congregations of the Lord’s church. All you need to do is to see the need and go out and do it. Actually, you can do what you want to with the help of the Lord. Most of us go no further than we aim for.

Fourth, you may have as a goal to move to another city or part of the country to work, or to go to a neighboring country to start the Lord’s work. Why not dream some and make some plans in that direction.

Fifth, you may have as your goal that of building the largest congregation of the church in your city, area, or even the whole country. You may have heard of the denominational preacher in Korea who dreamed of having the largest church in the world. He worked at it, and perhaps many thought he was wasting his time. But he succeeded. But how wonderful to help the Lord’s church to grow and to let the congregation where you work be a place to send forth the truth to the country and to the world.

Sixth, what about setting your goal to build a self-supporting congregation. What an example that would be to many other preachers and congregations all over the country!

Seventh, another goal might be to see elders and deacons appointed in the congregation where you preach. That would be another worthy goal and one that would encourage many other brethren to put forth an effort to do the same thing.

As you follow Christ (Luke 9:23), and seek first and put the Lord’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), there is no end to what you can accomplish. Don’t limit yourself or let others set limitations for you. The preachers who get things done are the ones who are busy, who have vision, who have zeal, and who go out and go to work. They are able to do that because they make plans and set goals for themselves and then they don’t stop until they reach those goals, and then go on to other goals.

If you do your part, the Lord will be with you, bless you and help you to succeed. Try the Lord. He will not disappoint you.