Pastoring is the greatest profession in all the world, in my opinion. If we don’t learn to laugh with and at ourselves, we will undoubtedly suffer burnout. Whether you are a pastor or not, I hope that these “top 10″ lists will bring a smile to your face. The list below is offered lightheartedly, realizing that many dear Christians defy the stereotypes that these questions imply.

1. How early should I arrive in order to save seats on one of the front three rows?
2. Would it be too much to ask if you’d add ten minutes to your sermons? The time passes by much too quickly.
3. Pastor, I know it’s the Super Bowl tonight, but would it be possible to add the Lord’s Supper to the end of the service?
4. It’s been awhile since you’ve preached on tithing, Pastor. Would you consider doing a series in the near future?
5. Thank you for taking time to counsel me, Pastor. Now could you help me identify the ways by which I might be part of the problem in this situation?
6. I heard that Bro. Janitor is sick, have you found anyone yet to clean the toilets, because I’m available?
7. Isn’t the temperature in the auditorium always just right?
8. Would you pray for safety on the roads as we travel back from our vacation this *Saturday*?
9. I’m having trouble hearing you preach, could you turn the volume up?
10. Would you put me on the nursery schedule for Mother’s Day?

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Years ago I had the opportunity to pastor a handful of people in Enfield, Connecticut. No joy can adequately replace the joy fueled by the wonderful spirit and fervor of those dear people. And no one, other than a fellow pastor of such a church, can fully understand all of the unique challenges a fledgling pastor and church face.

Recently, Pastor Dan Weber and I reminisced about our respective experiences pastoring small, start-up churches. I hope these thoughts bring a smile to your face! In no way am I denigrating small churches or their pastors, I am simply reliving some precious memories. I hope you agree!

1. If you have ever thanked the quartet for the good singing, and you were talking about the congregational music, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

2. If your weekly pay is mysteriously similar to what you personally put in the offering plate, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

3. If your special meeting with the nursery staff also doubled as a date night with your wife, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

4. If you have ever said, “Head [singular] bowed and eyes closed” at the invitation, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

5. If you speak of growth in terms of percentages instead of actual numbers (i.e. Instead of “Last week we had 20, and this week we had 30,” rather it’s, “Hey, we were up 50% this week!”), you just might be the pastor of a small church!

6. If you’ve ever scheduled a “big day” on the day you invited the missionary with 17 kids, just so your attendance would double, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

7. If the church pictorial directory also serves as the family picture album, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

8. If you can praise people for sitting in the front row and rebuke people for sitting in the back row, and they are the same people, you just might be the pastor of a small church!

9. If the pianist calls you, “Dear,” and the ushers call you, “Dad,” you just might be the pastor of a small church!

10. If the voice message on your cell phone begins with the words, “You have reached the office of Bible Baptist Church” – you just might be the pastor of a small church!

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