PASTOR APPRECIATION
Summary of What Elders Are Called to Do
Shepherd the flock (care, nurture, protect)
Acts 20:28 – Keep watch over yourselves and the flock.
1 Peter 5:2–3 – Be shepherds, serving willingly and by example.
Teach and uphold sound doctrine
1 Timothy 5:17 – Especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Titus 1:9 – Encourage by sound doctrine and refute false teaching.
Guard the church from false teaching
Acts 20:29–31 – Be on your guard against “savage wolves” who distort the truth.
Titus 1:9 – Must hold firmly to the trustworthy message.
Lead with humility and serve as examples
1 Peter 5:2–3 – Not lording it over others, but being examples to the flock.
Hebrews 13:17 – Keep watch as those who must give an account.
Live lives marked by integrity, faithfulness, and godliness
1 Timothy 3:1–7 – Qualifications for overseers (above reproach, faithful, self-controlled, etc.).
Titus 1:5–9 – Qualifications for elders (blameless, disciplined, upright, holy).
In addition at Calvary they lead a provocative ministry, moving us to good works
They are also passionate about making disciples that worship God, follow his lead (exhibit the attributes of His character) and walking in power and humility (which is the topic of the message today)
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13: “Acknowledge those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”
So today, we clap, we bless, we give gifts, and we say “thank you.” But I believe the greatest honor we can give them is to receive and live out the Word of God they pour into us.
Supporting Our Pastors
Supporting pastors includes prayer, encouragement, hospitality, and meeting needs. But financial support is clearly part of God's system of blessing for them and you:
Deuteronomy 18:3–5 (ESV)
3 And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.
This passage reinforces that God chose the priests and Levites to minister before Him, and the people were to support them materially through offerings and first fruits.
We should certainly keep them in prayer! We should regularly bless and appreciate our pastors because they sow spiritual seed into our lives and families. Scripture tells us in Galatians 6:6: “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.”
I don’t say this for pity, guilt or any other purpose but illustration to get your attention. I served as youth pastor for ten years along with Sharon at our previous ministry. We invested time, opened our home, gave rides, attended key events, fed, clothed, counseled, rescued and ministered to teens most of the time when we weren’t working full-time. I remember receiving no more than three cards during that period and they weren’t gift cards. The Lords continually blessed us so that is not the issue.
Let me encourage you to invoke the law of seed time and harvest in your lIves. When you get blessed, bless your pastors! When you get a bonus, a raise, unexpected blessings, break off some for those laboring in ministry and prayer for your family, your kids, teens, counseling you, marrying you, visiting, guiding you through a loss. The worship pastor should have gift cards thick as a deck of playing cards to choose from regularly as her ministry blesses us every service!
Sharon and I have found our pastors are good ground to sow into. When we get blessed, we share with them because they’ve poured into us. It unleashes a cycle of blessing that continues. Just imagine if the whole body of Christ did their small part. I hope that landed in the spirit intended.
Humility Unlocks God's Power
Matthew 11:29, where Jesus says:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (KJV)
In a world that often equates strength with dominance and leadership with control, Jesus offers a radically different model: meekness. When He invites us to take His yoke and learn from Him, He doesn’t point to power or prestige—He points to His gentle and humble heart.
Meekness isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. It’s the ability to lead with grace, to respond with patience, and to serve without seeking recognition. Jesus shows us that true rest comes not from striving, but from surrendering to His way.
Our message today is about humility — not the world’s idea of humility, but God’s.
Everything around us—the world, the culture, the people—tends to applaud power and strength, independence and intelligence, boldness and superiority.
But in the third beatitude, a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom, Jesus highlighted something different, saying:
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5 NIV
The English word "meek" means gentle, humble, or submissive; modest, mild, or unpretentious. In fact, when Paul describes the “fruits of the Spirit”, the words "meekness" and "gentleness" are often used interchangeably.
But, let’s be clear: If such descriptions paint a frail and feeble picture in your mind, you can be certain that meekness/humility isn’t weakness the way God intended.
Meekness is strength under control. It's power from God operating in us under His authority.
We just read that Jesus Himself is called “meek.” But as you probably know, He was far from passive, apathetic, or a pushover. Instead of relying on His own power—like summoning legions of angels to avoid hanging on that cross—He leaned into God’s strength and restrained His limitless power.
Jesus’ kingdom will be packed with those who harness their strength for God’s glory and who humble themselves under His will.
If you think about it, humility is a prerequisite of surrender which we must do to saved.
A key point of this message is for us to continually realize: Humility is recognizing that we are completely and utterly dependent on God.
Moses – Humility and Dependence
Numbers 12:3 – “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”
Moses confronted Pharaoh, not in his own power, but in God’s power (Exodus 7–12).
He lifted his staff at God’s command and parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21).
He constantly consulted God for direction to guide and sustain Israel — water from a rock, manna from heaven, guidance in the wilderness (Exodus 16–17).
He modeled dependence on God in leadership and intercession.
Point to Christ: Jesus, like Moses, confronted the enemy and delivered God’s people from death. But unlike Moses, His humility was perfect — He always obeyed the Father’s will.
Moses – Pride and Independence
Numbers 20:11–12 – “Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff… But the Lord said, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy… you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’”
· In frustration, Moses acted independently — striking instead of speaking.
· Water flowed (God was faithful), but Moses forfeited the Promised Land.
Lesson: Humility brings victory; pride brings loss. Even the meekest man faltered when pride crept in.
Point to Christ: Where Moses failed, Jesus succeeded. Christ is the greater Deliverer — He never faltered, never acted independently, and humbly obeyed to the point of death (Phil 2:8).
Paul – Strength Made Perfect in Weakness
Paul learned the same truth. With his “thorn in the flesh,” he begged God to remove it. But God answered in 2 Corinthians 12:9–10:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
And Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Moses and Paul both show us: Humility isn’t weakness. It’s the recognition that God’s strength is perfected when we rely on Him and not ourselves.
Misperceptions of Humility
The world tells us humility is weakness — that independence, boldness, and superiority are what matter. But Scripture flips that upside down.
Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Numbers 12:3 – Moses was the meekest man on earth, yet he stood before Pharaoh and led millions.
2 Corinthians 12:10 – Paul rejoiced in weakness because it revealed Christ’s power.
Jesus referred to himself as meek and humble!
Humility is not self-pity. It’s not timidity. It’s strength under God’s control.
Pride Defined
If humility is dependence, pride is independence. When we get down to it, sin is a form of pride.
· John 15:1 – 8: 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
· Proverbs 16:18 – 20: 18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. 20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
A wise preacher told me to remember these acronyms:
· PRIDE = Personal Reliance Instead of Divine Enablement — pride cuts me off from the Source of life.
· EGO = Edging God Out — pride edges Him out and puts ME at the center.
You may be thinking, I wish so in so was here to hear this message, but isn’t it interesting that you are here
Pride can be subtle but catastrophic. Let me make it plan like it came to me:
· If we are making big decisions without consulting the Lord and getting wise counsel, that’s pride
· If God tells us to care for, protect and use our bodies in certain ways and we don’t, that’s pride
· If we are in relationships or living situations that God forbids, that’s pride
· If we treat our wives or husbands other than God instructs with honor, love and respect (thoughts, actions and words), that’s pride
· If we are letting school, news, social media and the internet raise our kids instead of modeling for them and training them in the things of God, that’s dangerously prideful
· If we handle our finances in ways other than the stewardship principles of tithing, giving, saving and being content to live below our means, that’s pride
· If we are excessively meditating on worldly information (news, entertainment, social media) and not the daily bread of God’s Word, that’s just crazy
· If we are harboring unforgiveness instead of obeying God’s Word to extend mercy and grace, that’s pride
I hope you get the point faster than I did, when I think I know better than God, it’s pride. When I forget that He is the source of all that I am, have, do and accomplish, it’s pride.
In Him I live, move and have my being!
Acts 17:24-28: 24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Recognizing these areas of pride and repenting, unleashes the power and flow of His Spirit in and through our lives.
This is a key people, to God’s power being unleashed in this world!!
Jesus said that we would do greater works because he went to His Father. There is a clear record that he raised the dead, healed the sick, cast out demons, fed multitudes and certainly drew all men unto himself. When he went away, we received power through the Holy Spirit to work his works! Not just smart, cute, articulate you but POWERFUL YOU! So burdens can be removed, yokes can be broken and people are drawn to God as He Is glorified!
Humility is Increasingly Required in our Journey
Humility is the pathway at every stage of our walk:
· To be saved – Ephesians 2:8–9: salvation is by grace, not works, so no one can boast.
· To live daily – James 4:6: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
· To fulfill our calling – Micah 6:8: walk humbly with your God.
· To follow Christ’s example – Philippians 2:5–11: Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, and God exalted Him.
Godly Situational Awareness
Now, let me close with a word about situational awareness.
The world defines situational awareness as being alert to danger and that is important. But godly situational awareness means being alert to what God is doing.
John 4:34 Then Jesus explained: ‘My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.’”
· John 5:19 – Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing.
· Isaiah 30:21 – “This is the way, walk in it.”
We should be constantly tuned into and scanning for what God is doing in us, our environment and through us to help others! That is Godly Situational Awareness and it stems from humility.
Closing – Pilot and Moses
The Pilot:
A pilot may have skill, training, and confidence in his plane. But if he ignores the control tower, he’s flying blind. The tower sees what he cannot — weather, obstacles, other aircraft. Ignoring the tower leads to disaster. Humility is listening to God’s higher perspective and trusting that HE knows the ordained path.
Moses – Victory through Humility:
When Moses stretched out his staff at God’s command, the Red Sea parted. That wasn’t weakness. That was meekness — power under God’s direction. His awareness wasn’t focused on Pharaoh or the water; it was on the voice of God.
Moses – Loss through Pride:
But later in Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, out of anger and pride, he struck the rock. Water still came forth because God is faithful, but Moses lost the blessing of entering the Promised Land.
Lesson: Humility brings victory; pride brings loss. Even the meekest man faltered when he edged God out (EGO).
Conclusion & Call to Action
So today, as we celebrate our pastors and their humble ministries, let’s remember:
· Humility is not weakness. It is God’s strength made perfect in our weakness.
· Pride edges God out, but humility invites Him in.
· Jesus, Paul, and Moses all show us that humility positions us for God’s power, while pride keeps us from His best.
Let’s humble ourselves to be saved by forsaking our own way and accepting Jesus as LORD and savior.
Let’s humble ourselves to live daily as God's ambassadors.
Let’s humble ourselves to fulfill our calling and flow with His Spirit to do the greater works Jesus prophesied.
Discussion
What is one thing from the message that resonated with you?
What qualities of shepherding (care, nurture, protection) do you see demonstrated by leaders in our church? Where might we grow in this area?
How can everyday believers (not just elders) help protect the church from distorted truth?
Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Can you share a time when your weakness allowed God’s strength to show through?
How does John 15:5 (“apart from me you can do nothing”) challenge our culture’s emphasis on independence and self-reliance?
How does sowing into the lives of spiritual leaders create a cycle of blessing for the whole church body?
Where is God calling you to humble yourself right now, in relationships, finances, decisions, or ministry?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
What can we pray for regarding the sermon? Do you have any prayer needs?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!