Hey Pastor, “What’s Your Problem?!”

Bill Hybels tells the funny story about visiting a small church while on his summer study break in Michigan. The first Sunday he was there the person singing special music walked up on the platform with their own mic, and plugged it into the mic cord causing a loud pop followed by a screech. It was both startling and nerve shattering.

The second weekend he attended the exact same thing happened. “This is a problem!” he said to himself. Then he wondered, “is there a leader in the house?” He went on to say that leaders are problem solvers; their job is to solve problems.

This week we talked with Dan Reiland about solving problems in our small church, one at a time.

Pastors are notorious for being blind to all the problems after their second year. They see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil.

The church members just shake their heads and wonder, “when is someone going to fix this problem?!” I know this is true pastors, because I do it! When Jonny arrived at our church, he proceeded to point out to me all the problems. That is, the problems that I had been blind to.

Dan talked about asking outside pastors to come into your church, and see the things you stopped seeing years ago. He’s so right! Jonny did that for me, but you could get a pastor to come without paying his salary. He will gladly critique your church with your cheerful permission.

If you are committed to being a problem solver for your congregation, bring in some outside eyes. If they attend a service on the weekend, they will see some of the problems you don’t see anymore.

We have three questions for you:

1. What is the biggest personal problem you need to solve?
   
2. What is the problem that is most begging to be fixed in your church?
   
3. What is the problem your family would like you to help them solve, or to solve for them?

The answers to those questions will keep you busy this weekend, or for a few weeks.

Ask for God’s help, make your list, and get to solving problems! You can do it pastor. Use the six steps Dan talked about in episode 75. We believe in you!