I recently was asked to fill this out by a young guy who is finishing school and preparing to launch a church. I thought I’d share my thoughts.
Ministry Interview Questions:
1) Briefly explain your current occupational position:
Lead Pastor of Lifepoint Church
2) What was your educational background?
BS in Religion from Liberty University
3) What was the most valuable course you took during college?
My student ministry Courses. They taught about reaching “disconnected” students.
4) What was the least valuable course you took during college?
Anything not pertaining to my area of study. I didn’t take them seriously.
5) Are there any courses or emphasis you wish you would have taken during college?    Why?Â
I wish I had taken courses on leadership…that is if they exist.
6) What one piece of advice would you give to a church planter?
Don’t go to seminary. Go into the world. Care more about people and Jesus than traditions and committees. If it comes down to love or knowledge…choose love. You’ve got to love people! Jesus didn’t choose the educated, he chose normal people. Never forget to be normal.
7) What is your biggest daily challenge as a pastor?
Making sure the vision is simple, clear, and happening.
8)Â How much emphasis do you place on regularly attending ministry seminars and conferences and why?
I think it is huge. When you stop learning you stop leading.
9) How important is creativity when it comes to ministry, especially in regards to sermon preparation?
Creativity is the difference between someone remembering and applying a principle to someone hearing and forgetting. We live in a visual world. Constantly ask the question: Do I have to say it or can I show it?
10) Church attendance is decreasing at an alarming rate and statistics would indicate the church today is failing instead of succeeding when it comes to reaching non-Christians. Although its never just one thing what specifically must the church do to reverse this trend?
Shatter the stereotype! Let’s quit preaching at the world and start playing with them. Let’s return to the mission of Jesus…people followed him.
Your #6 answer, “Don’t go to Seminary”, does not necessarily pertain to the rest of your answer! A seminary education is much like your answer regarding your college education – some couses are more interesting and applicable than others. Seminary training may not be for all christian leaders, but it is very benefical to many others. Your #8 answer definitely applies, “When you stop learning, you stop leading” – maybe you could find some seminary courses in christian leadership that would be beneficial in addition to the conferences. I am certain that God calls individuals to many different areas of ministry and equips them differently as well.
I am finding it hard to understand that “seeing individuals praying while holding a beer” is cool.
MH,
Seminary in itself is not a bad thing but when someone comes out of school with their head full and their heart empty it is sad. I’ve seen too many seminary graduates more concerned about properly dissecting a passage in greek than about sharing and showing the love of Jesus to those who don’t know Him. It’s just my thoughts.
About the beer comment…I simply think that seeing someone who has no concern about God or church bow their head and pray in a bar with a beer in their hand is a cool thing. It makes me wonder if that is what it was like when Jesus was having dinner with Matthew and “disreputable sinners.” There is something neat about seeing believers abandon our safe environments and enter a non-believers world. I think that is exactly what God did when he sent Jesus.
Jeff,
1. Your comment…”Jesus didn’t choose the educated, he chose normal people.”
So, if I am educated then are you saying I am not “normal”? Define normal.
2.Your comment…”Seeing someone who has “no concern about God or church” bow their head and pray in a bar with a beer in their hand is a cool thing.”
If these individuals have no concern for God — How do you know they were praying? Was there time for individuals to “respond” to the Spirit ..a time for true worship?
I agree…Christians should abandon our “safe” environments…in order to reach the lost, but what are we called to do once in that environment as well as on a daily basis…be conformed or transformed? (Romans 12:1-2)
I would like to hear more about your experience.
Can you give me some scripture references to ponder and review in regards to your point about the dinner with the “disreputable sinners” and Matthew.
Thanks!
Kevin,
1. Maybe “educated” isn’t the best word. Perhaps a better word would be elite, self-righteous, or arrogant. I think it is safe to say that Jesus didn’t pick the brightest bulbs on the strand to surround Himself with. He chose common folks.
2. If you don’t get excited about seeing someone who is far from God take one step closer than what is wrong with you. Sure, this guy didn’t bow his knee and surrender his life to Jesus but he is atleast being exposed to the teachings of Jesus and showing respect during a prayer. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I think God gets excited when one of his gets closer to home.
3. Matthew 9:9-13–”9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,†Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?[d]â€
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.†13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[e] For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.â€
See Also: Mark 2:16 & Luke 5:30
Jeff,
There have definitely been some interesting comments to your interview answers. I just wanted to say thank you for all you do & I ,personally, thought your answers were excellent & right on the mark! You are a tremendous pastor, speaker, writer, and leader. I am so glad and blessed that we have a pastor who is “real” and isn’t just trying to be a “people pleaser”. I truly believe that you have a true passion for Jesus and reaching the lost. People don’t always have to agree with what you do or say — if that were the case, you probably wouldn’t be doing much. In the end, you have only one that you need to be accountable to— GOD!!!!! Keep up the great work & have a BLESSED DAY!!!
I think some questions have come from a lack of information, causing some to be left to their own conclusions.
First, as for the guy holding the beer (which was a different post), you have to look at the context. Jeff saw this guy while attending Forefront’s bar/church service in Virginia Beach. Think about it from the guy at the bar’s perspective. He comes to the bar, probably like he always does, to have some drinks at the end of the day. But, instead of the normal scene, there is a church service going on. I mean, that’s got to be a shocker right there. But, as this guy is drinking his beer, he is finding himself wrapped up into what the band is singing, preacher is saying, etc… So, when the pastor leads a prayer, the guy at the bar with beer in hand, bows his head to pray. I think that is what Jeff is referring to as cool. Seeing a guy starting to make a spiritual transformation.
Second, the seminary argument is tougher to define because it’s a matter of opinion. I’m not speaking for Jeff on this one, so this is just my opinion. It seems the major problem with seminary is that many attenders are just on a quest for spiritual knowledge. In the right context, spiritual knowledge can be a huge asset. But, using it for the sake of knowing more about Arminianism vs. Calvinism, debating dispensationalist, to exegete Jude in a concise 300 page report, or being able to only read the Bible in Greek; then you’ve wasted your time! Again, I don’t want to totally discount seminary, but I do want to say it’s definitely not a requirement for ministry. I met a guy that was pursuing his Doctorate from DTS a few years back, and he said in our conversation, “I’ve learned so much in seminary that it’s actually hard for me to relate to people now.”
The best place to look is at the characters Jesus chose as His disciples. They were like the Island of Misfit Toys! After Jesus was gone, Peter and John, who were just regular working class guys, find themselves in front of the council. Acts 4:13 says, “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”
The council wasn’t wowed by there knowledge of theology or the scriptures. They were amazed by how ordinary these guys were, but yet bold in their belief and love for Jesus. My favorite line is, “They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” That should be all of our prayers!
Just my 2 cents….
I like your 2 cents
Who is this DH guy anyway?
Putting in our 2 cents….it’s all in the family…
Thanks for the clarification lil’ bro…lack of info does make the reader form their own conclusions..especially when we don’t see or know the entire picture…and can only form our thoughts from what we read…
controversial kapusta
I have a friend attending seminary right now and oh what a change he has already undergone. When he left back in September he was ready to abandon everything and change the world but now…now he is constantly discussing tradition, interpretation and questions nearly every method of church growth that deals with creativity and marketing. Quite honestly, he has lost some of his passion and instead has filled his mind with the thoughts of a 50+ year old “bible scholar” which more often than not seem to focus on religion and not on relationship.
I don’t blame this all on seminary but I do see an undeniable correlation. I am not saying this happens in every case but when the church is decreasing in numbers instead of increasing this is a thought which is worth pondering.
I am starting to see that when one is truly called to ministry education is good but simply living life and discussing it with those around us is even better. After all, this is what Christ did while He was here on earth and it is what He called his disciples and followers to do also. Education is good but in the end nothing seems to replace a calling from God and the passion to simply follow that calling.