What Should You Be Doing In Your Ministry Right Now

During this pandemic, I’ve been doing everything. 

And, I’m sure you have been too. 

This season has required so much leadership that I’ve been involved in many decisions that normally don’t require me. 

And now, I’m asking the question, “Wait a second...what am I supposed to be doing again?” 

It feels like it’s time to refocus on what I’m supposed to be doing—what I’m called to do and not do...well, everything I’m doing. Are you with me?  

This week, I heard a leader in my life frame his role as a leader around 4 questions. 

I found them very helpful so I thought I would share them with you in the hope that they might help you refocus on what’s most important during this season. 

Question One: What are the things only I should do?

You have been gifted by the Holy Spirit for a particular role. 

This is what you are called to do. 

In addition, you have specific skills that only you bring to your church or organization.  This is where you should be focusing most of your time. 

If your primary gifting is preaching, you should probably be preaching, and often. 

If your primary gifting is discernment, you should be helping to make decisions, and a lot of them.  

There are particular roles and tasks in your church or ministry that you should be doing. 

You should not delegate them or ignore them because these are the tasks and roles you are particularly gifted and called to do.  

In this season it’s crucial for you to prioritize time for you to do the work you were created to do.  

Question Two: What are the things only other people should be doing?

Here’s the deal: There are a few things I am good at - Teaching and strategic leadership, for example. 

And, there’s a bunch of stuff I’m dangerously bad at. 

Details, finances, counseling...just to name a few.  

There are tasks and roles that I should not be doing. 

Not because I don’t like doing them, but because it’s actually bad for our church if I do them. 

I will make everyone’s job harder. 

Here’s the question: Do you know what you shouldn’t be doing? 

Have you taken the time to listen to feedback so that you know what shall be forevermore off limits to your job description? 

You might think that I’m joking but I’m dead serious.  

I challenge you to go on a mission of painful discovery to find out what you shouldn’t be doing, what everyone around you wishes you would stop doing, for the well-being of your church. 

Then, create a stop doing list. Trust me on this one.

Question Three: What are the things other people could be doing?

There are tasks and roles where you earn a passing grade but others can and should be trained and equipped for the work. 

There are multiple reasons for this. 

First, even in the area of your primary gifting, you should be training others to do what you do. 

If you are a strong preacher, find some young preachers to invest in!  

Second, there are areas where you have a degree of competency, but if you handed those tasks off to others, you could focus more on your primary gifting. 

That gifting could become a towering strength and a real value for your church. 

Third, some of the work that you are passable at is an area of true gifting for someone else. 

With that in mind, even if you enjoy a particular task, if someone else was created to do that work, you have no business doing it. 

You are robbing them of the joy of doing it and you are robbing your church of the highest level of effectiveness and efficiency. 

Hand it over! 

Question Four: What are the things other people think I should be doing?  

There are certain tasks you just have to do. 

There are forms that must be filled out. 

Hours must be tracked. 

Expense reports must be filed. 

If you are the senior pastor, funds must be raised. 

You get the idea.  

Here’s the deal with this: It doesn’t matter if you like doing it, this is an integrity issue. 

Every job includes a few tasks that aren’t an exact match to our gifting and aren’t our favorite thing to do.  

Instead of thinking of these tasks as drudgery, I encourage you to view these tasks as an opportunity to express your integrity. 

It’s a character thing. 

I don’t love it but I do it because it’s right that I do it. 

I do it to serve others and I do it to serve my church.  

With the busyness and complexity of this season, I wonder if anything has been neglected that really needs attention. 

Is there something you are expected to do that you’ve gotten lax with?

Wrap Up

So, what are you supposed to be doing right now? 

It’s gotten a little crazy during this pandemic season and I’m guessing that your task list has grown to include a few things that really don’t belong with you. 

Perhaps you’ve neglected a few things that really deserve your attention. 

I challenge you to take some time to process these four questions in an effort to refocus your time and energy around what’s most important for you to do in this season.