Fellowship Preaching/Teaching Leadership Celebrate Recovery Discipleship Small Groups Evangelism Worship Ministry

Church Health Check-Up: 7 Questions to Ask Every Ministry Leader

40 Days of Prayer Study Kit

40 Days of Love

The Purpose Driven Life Book

We have a lot of haphazard ministry being done in our churches around the world. Good people, who love the Lord, aren’t thinking through what God has called them to do. Ministry is too important to be done haphazardly. We can’t just say, “I’ll give it my best shot!” We need to think through what the ministries in our church are all about. Our ministries must be good stewards of all they’ve been given. For that to happen, we’ve got to plan ministry strategically. There are seven important questions that need to be answered when you’re planning an effective ministry. These are questions for any healthy ministry—whether it’s your music ministry, greeters, small group leaders, or any other ministry team.

Why are you here?

Every ministry in your church should have a clear idea of what it’s all about. That means asking two tough questions: What is the business of this ministry and what is none of this ministry’s business? What’s the business of Saddleback? We attract members, teach them to worship God, develop them to Christlike maturity, and mobilize them for ministry in the church and a life mission in the world. We do that in each stage and segment of their lives. If something doesn’t fit within that mission statement, we don’t do it.

What purpose of the church does your ministry fulfill?

Every ministry in your church should be tied to at least one of the five purposes of the church. Is this ministry designed to exalt Christ (worship)? Is it designed to reach out to the community (evangelism)? Is it designed to deepen relationships within the church (fellowship)? Is it designed to build people into Christian maturity (discipleship)? Is it designed to serve the needs of the church family (ministry)? As a pastor, you need to make sure that each of your ministries does one of these five things. If it doesn’t, your church doesn’t need to be doing it.

Who are you trying to reach?

You need to figure out who your ministry is trying to reach—the Community, the Crowd, the Congregation, the Committed, the Core, or the Commissioned. Ministries trying to reach the Community are evangelistic in nature. Ministries that serve those during weekend services are focused on the Crowd. Ministries focused on church members will work with the Congregation. Ministries that help people grow spiritually will center on the Committed. Ministries that meet the needs of people within the church or try to get people involved in the ministry of the church will focus on the Core. And the ministries that help those who’ve committed to be involved in missions (The PEACE Plan for us at Saddleback) will need to focus on the Commissioned. You need to know who your ministry is trying to reach. The Community has different needs than the Committed. The Congregation has different needs than the Core. Knowing who your ministry is trying to serve will influence how the ministry operates.

Where do you believe God is calling your ministry to be in six months?

This is the stage where your ministry leaders dream. Where would they like to see the ministry six months from now? If your ministry leaders can’t think about the future, they aren’t ready to lead the ministry. Ask your ministry leaders to get away with God and talk to him about the ministry’s future.

How does your ministry do what it has been called to do?

Did you know that your body has nine systems in it? When any one of those systems gets out of order, it’s called an illness or disease. The church (the body of Christ) has systems in it as well. And for us to be healthy, our systems have to work properly. How do your ministries do what they’ve been called to do? Ask your ministry leaders to think and pray about how to do ministry more effectively.

Who can you partner with to do what God has called you to do?

Your ministry leaders need to constantly be on the watch for people who can join them in ministry. Ask your ministry leaders to begin praying for at least one person who should be joining their ministry team. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few . . . pray [for] laborers” (Matthew 9:35-36 ESV). Ask your ministry leaders to begin praying for more laborers.

In what way do you serve people?

Your ministries should serve the people in your community. Are you meeting physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual needs (or a combination thereof)? All of those needs are valid. Part of understanding the identity of your ministries is to know how each of them serves people. Then look for ways you can add value to the services those ministries provide. In other words, look for ways each of your ministries can do a better job providing for the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of the community.

Recent Articles

Your Shepherd Will Sustain You

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”  Romans 8:32 (NLT)Pastor, as you begin this new week of ministry, it’s easy to feel the weight of unmet needs pressing in on you. Whether it’s the pressure to prepare a meaningful sermon, carry others’ burdens, or lead with clarity in uncertain times—stress has a way of creeping in.Often, stress flows from one root cause: worry. We wonder whether we’ll have what we need—wisdom, strength, time, resources—when we need it. But here’s the truth: If you’re looking to your church, your paycheck, or even your own strength to meet all your needs, you’ll be disappointed. No person or position can shoulder that. Only God can.Some pastors find security in ministry success. But what happens when attendance drops? When criticism comes? When momentum slows? Others look to their families, finances, or future plans. But those can shift in a moment.Instead, root your security in what can never be taken from you—your relationship with Christ. Romans 8:32 reminds us: “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (NLT).Yes, pastor. He will.This week, when worry takes over, stop and declare: “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need” (Psalm 23:1 NLT). You are not alone. The One who called you is also the One who will sustain you. He will give you what you need—when you need it.So take a deep breath. God’s got you. You can trust him with every part of your week.

What to Do When Someone Is Dying

Pastor, at some point this year, you’ll likely be called upon to minister to someone who is dying. Nothing prepares you for that moment like experience—and nothing tests your heart like sitting beside someone facing death.Even with all your training and Bible knowledge, walking into a room where someone is dying can shake you to your core. What do you say? How do you bring comfort? You can’t promise healing—that’s in God’s hands. But you can bring comfort.Here’s how to offer C.O.M.F.O.R.T. to someone who is dying.C: Confront Your Own FearsBefore you can help someone else, you must deal with your own fear of death. Fear of death is natural; many people avoid funerals because they’re afraid of facing death.But as a pastor, you can’t afford to hide from that fear. Instead, you need to admit it. Acknowledge it. And then trust God to help you overcome it. You’re not going to mess anything up by showing up. You’re not going to say the wrong thing. Just be present. Trust that God will use you.O: Offer Your Physical PresenceThe most powerful ministry you can provide is your presence.You don’t have to say much. You might not say anything at all. Just being there—sitting in the room, holding a hand, offering a quiet word of prayer—can be more comforting than any sermon. People should not have to face death alone.M: Minister with Practical AssistanceAsk, “How can I help?”Dying people are often in pain or discomfort. Your willingness to do simple, practical things—adjusting a pillow, turning on a fan, bringing water or ice chips—communicates love. No task is too small. These small acts of service reflect the love of Christ.F: Fortify Them with Emotional SupportPeople who are dying carry heavy emotional burdens. You can help lighten that load.One of the best ways to do this is through prayer. But don’t just say you’re praying—pray aloud with them. Reflect their emotions in your prayers. If they say they’re frustrated, pray, “Lord, Susie is feeling frustrated right now.” If they say they’re scared, pray, “God, Bob is feeling anxious and afraid.” That’s intercession—standing in the gap for someone who doesn’t have the strength to pray.O: Open Them Up with QuestionsDying people often carry a swirl of unspoken emotions—fear, regret, guilt, sadness. Open-ended questions help draw those feelings out.If they ask, “Am I going to die?” don’t pretend you know the answer. Instead, reframe the question: “What does dying mean to you?” That kind of question opens the door for meaningful conversation.And if they don’t want to talk about death? That’s okay. Follow their lead. The goal is not to force a conversation but to create space if they want to share.R: Remember the Family Has Needs TooMinistry doesn’t end with the dying—it extends to the family.Ask the hard questions that family members might feel awkward bringing up, like: “Have you made any final arrangements?” “Is there anything you’d like to say to your loved ones?” Your presence can bring clarity and peace to those standing by.Friends care for friends—and for their families too.T: Turn Them to JesusThe most important ministry you can offer is spiritual.If the person hasn’t yet trusted Christ, lovingly share the Good News. Let them know that Jesus loves them, died for them, and offers eternal life. Invite them to pray with you. This may be the most important moment of their life—and of your ministry.You don’t need all the right words. You just need to bring the presence of Christ into the room. Walk in with compassion. Offer C.O.M.F.O.R.T. And trust that God will use you to bring peace in someone’s final days.

Why Your Health Matters to Your Ministry

Your body is a tool for ministry. God wants to use you to fulfill his purposes in the world—but he won’t do it without your cooperation. That means you must take care of your body.The Bible says: "Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT).If you want God to use you more effectively in the year ahead, it starts with your health.1. Recognize that your body matters to GodThe Living Bible paraphrase says, "You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed your laws” (Psalm 119:73) God created your body and established principles of good health. You need a balance of sleeping, eating, and exercising to serve effectively.Chances are you need to work on at least one of these areas:Sleep: Some of you are tired all the time—not because you’re overworked in ministry, but because you stay up late doing things that don’t matter. A single extra hour of sleep each night could significantly increase your energy for ministry. “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night . . . for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2 NLT).Eating: Let’s be honest—God made food taste great. But self-control is necessary. What you eat—and what you avoid—impacts your health and your ministry.Exercise: Every January, people launch into exercise plans. But by February, those plans are often forgotten. Don’t let that happen. Put your plan on the calendar. Make it a commitment, not a whim.2. Develop a healthy attitude toward your bodyYou can choose the wrong attitude. You can choose to neglect it, reject it, or try to perfect it (worship your body). None of those honor God.The right attitude is to respect and protect your body. Why?Because God made it, Jesus died for it, and the Holy Spirit lives in it.3. Discipline yourself for an eternal rewardPaul writes, “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize” (1 Corinthians 9:25 NLT).You’re not getting in shape just to look good—you’re doing it to fulfill your life mission and serve God with strength.So, pastor, make this the time to get in shape—for the glory of God and the good of others. Watch how God uses you more effectively in ministry when you take care of the body he gave you.

Five Ways to Worship When You’re Wounded

Everyone gets wounded. Even pastors.Sometimes it’s physical. Other times, it’s emotional, spiritual, or relational. And if you’re not experiencing a wound right now, one is probably on the horizon.So how do you respond when life hurts? You worship.That may seem counterintuitive. But worship is the only antidote to pain that brings both healing and hope.Job is one of the best examples in the Bible of how to worship when you’re hurting. In a single day, he lost everything—his wealth, his health, and even his children. The book of Job tells the story of a man deeply wounded but ultimately unshaken in his devotion to God.Here are five ways to worship when you’re wounded:1. Grieve: Tell God how you feel.Worship doesn’t always start with a smile; it often begins with tears.Job didn’t hold back: “Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20 GW).In the ancient Middle East, people expressed grief by tearing their clothes. God isn’t afraid of your raw emotions. In fact, he welcomes them. When you pour out your hurt, you’re not being unspiritual—you’re worshiping.Don’t bottle up your pain. God didn’t design your body to store negative emotions. Let them out. Confess them to God. He can handle your honesty.2. Praise God—not for your problems, but in the midst of them.Job’s story boils down to one question: Will I worship God when everything goes wrong?It’s easy to praise God when life is good. But what about when it’s not? That’s the real test of faith.Life is rarely all good or all bad. It’s more like two parallel tracks—one of joy and one of sorrow—running side by side. Even in our darkest moments, there’s still something to thank God for. Job chose to praise God in the middle of his suffering. You can, too.3. Ask God for wisdom and strength.Pain makes it hard to think clearly. Wounds distort our perspective. That’s why we need God’s help to see straight and stay strong.The Message paraphrase says, “True wisdom and real power belong to God; from him we learn how to live, and also what to live for” (Job 12:13).Wisdom gives you direction. Strength gives you endurance. Both come from God. The BIble promises, “The LORD saves good people; he is their strength in times of trouble” (Psalm 37:39 NCV).God may not remove your pain, but he will supply what you need to keep going.4. Gather with others for support.God didn’t create you to worship alone—especially when you’re hurting.The natural tendency when we’re wounded is to withdraw. We isolate. We put up walls. We hide. That might feel safer, but it only prolongs the pain.If you never learn how to share your pain, you’ll never heal.That’s why pastors need small groups, too. You need people in your corner who will walk with you through the valleys, not just celebrate with you on the mountaintops.Don’t wait until the crisis to build those relationships. Find a group where you can be real, be known, and be supported.5. Keep going.Perseverance is a form of worship.Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. But Job refused. Instead, he said, “Though he [God] slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15 KJV).That’s radical faith. That’s worship in its truest form.What gave Job that kind of confidence? He knew his Redeemer lived: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25 NIV).Whatever you’re going through, it won’t last forever. Eternity is coming. Your Redeemer is alive. And one day, he will make all things new.Pastor, don’t let your pain rob you of worship. Don’t let it derail your ministry.

At Pastors.com, our passion is to have healthy pastors leading healthy churches for the global glory of God.