Cracking The Code

To The Best and Most Revealing Insights For Developing Habits, Routines and Rituals That Will Transform Your Life and Ministry!

Greetings Pastors and brothers,

The life of a pastor can be a challenge. We’ve all heard of “burnout”, perhaps you have even experienced it yourself. The stats for those in the pastoral ministry don’t look good.

It Seems That Many Pastors…

• Are frustrated with ministry and dealing with people
• Lack joy and fulfillment in their life
• Have marital and family issues
• Struggle with finances: don’t have enough, don’t make enough, don’t know how to invest in God-honoring ways
• Are out of shape physically and suffer health issues
• Are burdened and stressed out and don’t know what to do…after all, if that is you, you probably don’t have a Plan B

Why Is This? Personally, I Don’t Think It Is That Difficult To Figure Out:

1. They have a complete misunderstanding of the role and responsibilities of a Shepherd.
2. They lack a crystal clear vision and purpose for their life and their ministry. By the way, your life comes first.
3. They don’t have their priorities in order and sometimes don’t even have any priorities.
4. They are complacent and apathetic…just like their sheep.
5. They don’t know how to use their time wisely…thus leading to frustration and lack of fulfillment.

Here’s The Deal, I Want To Help You

• To develop habits, routines and rituals that will transform your life and ministry
• To use your time, talents and treasure effectively
• Go from the stress in your life and ministry to peace and fruitfulness
• To achieve greater health and bodily discipline
• Understand and achieve genuine biblical wealth…not “name it and claim it” and not “get rich quick”
• To have success, fulfillment, fruit and joy in your life and ministry
• To be flat out more effective in ministry
• To wake up early every day energized and eager to pursue the vision, calling and lifestyle that the Lord has given to you

A Dedication To Richard Baxter and His Work The Reformed Pastor

How Did All This Come About?

The Pastor Reformed was birthed out of the idea of providing simple and to the point devotionals from Richard Baxter’s book The Reformed Pastor.

Baxter’s Book Is Required Reading For The Pastor

It challenges the common, complacent attitude and work ethic of the typical pastor…including most “reformed” pastors. Unlike the majority of “pastors”, it is clear from The Reformed Pastor that Baxter spent much of his time shepherding his flock as well as the citizens of his town in one-on-one situations.

So, it was from Baxter’s book that prompted me to challenge the notion that a pastor should be spending the majority of his “ministry” time studying, preparing messages/teachings and giving messages. This “ministry” is not what is seen in the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles. And is not what is meant when the Apostles said they were going to “devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The New Testament does not portray the Apostles or the Elders of a local church as men who sat on their rumps most of the week researching the scriptures, expositing the scriptures and delivering 1-2 messages per week to the flock. Far from it! They were on their feet, meeting with the flock, meeting with individuals and families, ministering to their unsaved neighbors and those in need. And, in some cases they had jobs to do and masters to serve.

That is why and how I originally started The Pastor Reformed. The name “The Pastor Reformed” is an obvious play on words and the title of Baxter’s book. My premise is and the overwhelming evidence is, those who claim to be Elders and in the shepherding ministry need themselves to be “reformed.” Not so much in their soteriology, but how they go about their lives and ministry.

As you know, the pastoral ministry is not an easy ministry. The life of a genuine shepherd has numerous challenges…many of which are brought on by the misunderstanding and misapplication of what the role and life of a true Elder-Shepherd is to be. These will be brought to light and discussed on this site.

From this, grew my desire to encourage my brothers in ministry in not only spiritual ways, but other ways as well. To let you in on my vision, my calling, my desires, my challenges, my struggles, my heartaches, my joys, my blessings, my successes and how I am overcoming .

Over time, I have dealt with my own challenges and struggles to accomplish the “desires of the heart.” Like you, I want to be the best person, the best husband, the best father and the best shepherd that I can be. I want to accomplish my goals. I want to help others do the same. I want to become more perfect, mature and complete. I want genuine fruit in my life. I want to reveal to you everything I have learned and continue to learn.

Every Secret, Trick, Tip, Thought, Idea I Have Discovered…

I Will Uncover And Share With You!

• To “run in such a way, as not without aim;
• To box in such a way, as not beating the air;
• But to discipline my body (and my mind) and make it my slave,
• So that, after I have preached (lived my life) to others,
• I myself will not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)

I hope you want the same thing for yourself.

If so…then, the purpose of The Pastor Reformed is to equip, encourage and enlighten you and other pastors. The Pastor Reformed is not limited to just your spiritual life and your role as a pastor.

The Pastor Reformed Will Deal With And Help You:

• Spiritually
• Mentally
• Physically
• Financially

The Pastor Reformed Provides To Those Who Guard The Soul:

• Exhortation
• Edification
• Enlightenment

In the end, you will learn how to achieve “peak performance” in your life and ministry. Follow The Pastor Reformed and you, in time, will achieve your goals and visions for your life and ministry.

You will be challenged spiritually, mentally, physically, financially and philosophically. You will likely be offended. But you will grow, you will change, you will be more “complete, perfect and mature.” And this will make you a better pastor, husband and father. 

The Pastor Reformed Will Show You:

Now is the time for you to run “I.S.A.W.” It is time for you and all of us in the pastoral ministry to “RUN!”

Here’s How You Are Now To Run:

1. Run: In such a way that you may win
2. Run: Exercising self-control in all things
   • Spiritual
   • Mental
   • Physical
   • Financial
3. Run: With aim, purpose and vision
4. Run: Disciplining  the body

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Blessings to you.

Chris: The Pastor Reformed

PS: Please let me know how this information is helping and transforming you.

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