10 Commandments for Guest Speakers

This spring and summer I have been honored to be able to preach several weekends at First Baptist Church Vandalia, Ohio while their pastor, David Starry, is on a 3 month sabbatical.

I have been calling every Tuesday afternoon for a few minutes to touch base with Luke Francis, the Executive Pastor, and some staff members as we plan services each week.

So far, so good. (Or so I've been told!)

Recently, Luke and and I swapped some text messages where we thought about some of the principles related to how a guest speaker can best serve a church while the lead pastor is on sabbatical or an extended leave.

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10 Commandments for guest speakers...

1. Exalt the Savior. Lift up Christ higher and higher as you celebrate the good things God has been doing in the life of the church.

2. Teach the Word. Understand the culture and style of the congregation as you explain and apply the Word of God in practical, applicable ways.

3. Plan with others. Debrief, celebrate, plan, and pray with key staff on a weekly basis in a creative, worship-planning meeting.

4. Know the church. Support the church's vision, mission, values, strategy, and discipleship measures.

5. Support the vision. Use the church's vision language liberally in your messages.

6. Leverage your tools. Use the church's social media to deepen the impact of your message.

7. Pastor the flock. Be available for pastoral care and prayer after services.

8. Be a servant. See this opportunity not as a way to further your own platform but to be a servant who elevates the role and influence of the lead pastor.

9. Quote the leader. Raise the visibility of the lead pastor by creatively quoting him, using his illustrations/examples/visuals in your messages.

10. Follow the norms. Reflect the culture and practices of the church including dress expectations, methods of scripture reading, time expectations, invitation methods, etc.

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All this must be done, of course, while being a man of integrity and purity who is seeking to abide in Christ, hungering for the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit for ministry.

It's been important for me that FBCV has gone through Auxano's Vision Frame process. Their clarity has enabled me to reinforce and support the vision of the Lead Pastor while he has been gone.

If your church would like to explore how Auxano's Church Unique Vision Frame process could give you greater clarity, reach out to me via email at rick@auxano.com.