One of the things a pastor and his family should regularly do is exercise hospitality. When I was a fulltime pastor, each year my wife and I would go through our church’s directory and make a rough plan that outlined when we would invite various families over to the house.

Just because the church doesn’t do something to your specific liking doesn’t mean that it’s wrong or wayward. Given enough time, you just might conclude that the sacred cow that needs to be slaughtered isn’t something the church is doing but your own idea. If you patiently wait for about five years before making major changes, you’ll have the opportunity to pray and carefully consider these questions.

The pastorate is filled with many challenges, doesn’t offer great wealth, and can be a crucible where providence can make you feel like you’re being crushed. But it also has some wonderful benefits, and chief among them is the fellowship with your band of brothers. My ministerial colleagues are, to me, the best fraternity in the world.

Doctors have to learn the names of all of the parts in the body, computer techs have to learn what a dongle is, and surfers have to learn where the stringer and rails are on their surfboards. Don’t hold theology and the study of the Scriptures to an unfair standard. Buy a dictionary!

The last thing we should be is a theological junkie—people searching for our next knowledge fix—something that we can bandy about with our friends so they see how much we know. If our knowledge fails to make the journey from our head to our hearts, then above all else, we have failed to love God and our neighbor.

You should be mindful that your mind and thought processes are a vital part of your ministry, which means that you should take care of your physical health.

Time is precious—we receive each moment from God as a gift. Don’t waste time. You can never recover lost time. Use every minute as best as you can for the glory of God.

These days, much has changed in the broader church. People do not view the pastor as a student of Scripture but as the CEO of the church, an administrator, or a manager.

So regardless of your place in life, whether you have no degrees or many, never forget that you can always continue to learn. Pick up a book and learn something new.

As you consider the Old Testament, do not press the narratives into the service of application apart from Christ. First consider how Christ is organically connected to the text. How does the New Testament authoritatively explain the particular Old Testament text before you?