Author Archives: Andrew Schank

About Andrew Schank

Andrew Schank is an Independent Baptist Missionary/Pastor who loves to blog about spiritual matters! His main ministry website is http://www.togetherinthegap.com. Andrew is also a contributing author to two other blogs/websites including http://linked2leadership.com and http://www.ifbkjv.com. Pastor Schank's Church website is http://www.greatcommissionbaptist.org
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4 Ways To Maintain A Burden For Souls

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Occasionally, even the best of, God’s laborers get lax in their burden for seeing souls come to Christ. There are many reasons for this, but it suffices to say that every pastor, evangelist, and missionary should set an example in having a burden for the lost. After all, if the spiritual leadership of a church does not have a profound burden for the lost, then how can one expect the average member of that same congregation to have a burden for souls?

It is imperative that every man of God have a burden for souls. Listed below are four ways, or suggestions as to how God’s men can MAINTAIN this burden and passion for souls!

#1 – Pastors Can Maintain A Burden For Souls Through Prayer

The primary way a pastor can keep his burden for souls is through his prayer life. In fact, a deepening sense of urgency for the lost is a natural by-product of a fruitful prayer life. Abraham is an O.T. example of a man who maintained a burden for souls through his prayer life!

#2 – Pastors Can Maintain A Burden For Souls Through Observation

It is amazing what one can surmise by thoughtful observation. I have been moved to purposeful action by things I have seen while soul-winning. The education you receive by observing the plight of others is invaluable in the ministry. It also humbles you to realize that it is you but by God’s grace.  

#3 – Pastors Can Maintain A Burden For Souls Through Musing Upon The Scripture

Many a time, while reading a verse or passage, I have been stirred for my neighbor’s soul. One cannot haphazardly read through Luke chapter sixteen where it records the story of the rich man and Lazarus. God’s Holy Spirit will use the Scripture to move your soul to action… if you will listen!

#4 – Pastors Can Maintain A Burden For Souls Through “Q” And “A” With Individuals  

More than one time, I have had a deepened sense of souls needing to saved after having conversations with people while on visitation. Sometimes pastors experience a disconnect from men and women in the community by staying in the office. One needs to get out and get busy! This will increase your contact with new people. Conversations that naturally result will fuel your passion for souls to be saved! Guaranteed!

Conclusion…

If God’s men do not consistently carry a burden for the souls of men, then tell me… who will! May God help all of us to have an increased brokenness over the future of each soul we meet!

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Assumptions On Our Part | Coping With Criticism – A Pastor’s Nightmare

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The age old adage, “Never assume anything!” should ALWAYS be applied when criticized. When any two people meet and converse, there is the likelihood that conflict can erupt. Some of the tension that occurs while criticism is taking place are the assumptions that we make in the heat of the moment. More often than not, our assumptions are unfounded!

There Four Common Assumptions We Make As Pastors/Spiritual Leaders When Being Criticized…

#1 – We Often Assume That The Person(s) Are Being Mean, Cruel And Are “Full Of The Devil”!

Does this sound familiar? Countless times I walked away from someone thinking this very thing. After considering my actions and the situation later, I come to realize that they probably were not “full of the Devil”, but were certainly used by him. However, we cannot assume that everyone who disagrees with us or has an issue is trying to be cruel and mean when they come to us. After all, we always say that people should come to the pastor with their problems. Why is it when they come that we think bad of them?


#2 – We Often Assume That The Person(s) Are Absolutely Wrong And We Are RIGHT!

Why is it that we usually think we are right and that person is just plain wrong, or, in the very least, does not have their facts straight? The truth is that they probably do have their facts in order, but we are just too blind with pride to admit it! Assuming that we are always right will lead one to a major problem as a leader. A good spiritual leader will guard against thinking that their peers are beneath them.

#3 – We Often Assume That The Person(s) Are In A Conspiracy With Others!

I am not sure why many pastors are paranoid about people aligning themselves against them. I know that it is prevalent in many places and it has happened to many on a number of occasions, but not every person who comes to me with a criticism is one of those people. If we do not get this paranoia under control, it will hinder our ministry. People criticize for a number of reasons, but not all are co-conspirators.

#4 – We Often Assume That The Person(s) Are Just Goofy And Have Issues Themselves Thus Rendering Themselves Irrelevant!

There have been a few occasions where I have to admit that I thought this about one who criticized me. After a meeting one night, I had a fellow to rebuke me in a kind way about wearing a beard. Even though he had no Bible verses to back up his assertions, I just felt like this guy was… well… different! When you travel a lot and meet different types of people, you will, no doubt, run into people who are goofy and weird in our eyes. This is because we are from another region or something. However, just because someone may be goofy, does not mean that we should see them as irrelevant.

Conclusion

In summary, we need to be careful that we do not make assumptions about those who criticize us in haste. God uses all types of people, and it could be that He is giving us some wisdom through those who come to us with their criticisms. Our pride will rob us of some godly wisdom if we are not careful. It suffices to say that we must be careful about assumptions we make about those who criticize!

Look For Our Next Post In This Series: Sinful Responses To Criticism

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By J. Oswald Sanders / Moody Publishers

Charles Colson called it “the best book on Christian leadership I’ve read.” Discover why this timeless classic continues to equip tomorrow’s ministers—and challenges today’s shepherds—toward greater effectiveness! Revised and updated, Sanders’s hard-hitting study explores the essential qualities of a godly leader—and offers sterling examples from Scripture and Christian history. Includes study guide.
In these pages, J. Oswald Sanders presents the key principles of leadership in both the temporal and spiritual realms, illustrating his points with examples from Scriptures and the biographies of emenent men of God.

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Are You Twisting God’s Word?

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As a little boy, I learned what it meant to twist words around. I had a teacher in the 4th  grade named Mrs. Bethea. She had this thing about always asking her, “Can I?” Now you know how little boys can be always asking, “Can I?” I soon learned that if you wanted to do something, then you needed to say, “Mrs. Bethea, do you want me to do such and such?” Evidently, this was how to reach her.

All I was doing with my wonderful teacher was twisting her words. I stated things differently, but I was still doing what she did not want me to do. Though I got what I wanted, I was really in the wrong. In essence, I was manipulating her. Kids are really good at that, aren’t they?

What may work with a 4th grade teacher, a mom or a dad, will not work with God. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has tried to change God’s Word with the intent to trick and subdue mankind. Unfortunately, many of the men who occupy pulpits around the world have aided Satan in his trickery; knowingly or not. This is all done under the banner of making things easier to understand and such. These people will have to stand before God and give an account of their compliance with Satan’s agenda.

I want to caution my readers about something that people often do not think about. There is a huge difference in giving an interpretation and conveying a translation. A translation simply seeks to take a word and bring it over into another language. This is done, giving the greatest diligence, to find the right word or phrase to convey the writer’s original thought as expressed in the original document. An interpretation, on the other hand, may give a translation, but it is often infused with the interpreter’s bias. As you know, you can make a document say what you want it to say.

There has been a concerted effort in the last 100 years or so, among English speaking people, to update the English Bible. While many of these so-called translators are very sincere, scores of others are not. Open homosexuals have chaired translating committees and made it plain that they were going to change what the Scriptures said about their sin. Furthermore, under the noble idea of making the Bible to be more easily understood, the Scripture has not been faithfully translated, but maliciously interpreted. This is seen in the fact that many verses are left out completely in some modern English versions. Be careful what version of the Bible you align yourself with. Without reservation, I suggest you stick with the King James Bible.

Whether or not you agree with my much abbreviated assessment of this issue, you will have to agree with me that many preacher’s twist God’s Word. Just as you do not like to have your words twisted around, please do not twist God’s Word around! When you are expressing your opinion… declare it so. Pontificating your thoughts is not what God has called us to do. Rather, we should preach and teach the Word of God, not the word of Andrew (or your name). There is but one interpretation and many applications of the Scripture. Keep it that way in your ministry!

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