I have learned as a pastor that there are some people—maybe it is because of past experiences—who are not really willing to hear the serious preaching of the Word of God until they learn from experience that the pastor and the other leaders of the church actually love them and care about them and are ministering in sincerity. I have had people who were almost irrationally opposed to the ministry, but then their parent will be dying, and the minister goes and holds the parent’s hand, and they are willing to see that,
No, this is for my sake. It is not being imposed upon me.And that should be happening in a church as we go along.It is for your sake,Paul said, and you should know that.Peter spoke in a similar way when he was commanding the elders to minister in that kind of way. Here is what Peter said:
Richard D. PhillipsShepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you do, not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock(1 Peter 5:2–3). That, he says, is the kind of leadership and pastorship that will produce confidence and trust in the message that is going out.1
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.