Bivocational? 4 Ways It Makes You a Better Preacher by Adam Russell

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Bivocational? 4 Ways It Makes You a Better Preacher

Bivocational? 4 Ways It Makes You A Better Preacher

By Adam Russell on Oct 26, 2021

Vineyard Campbellsville

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Noah built a boat, Boaz was a farmer, Peter was a fisherman, Paul was a tentmaker and Jesus was a carpenter--they all had a common life before they had an extraordinary life.

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Preaching, work, hard work, Bi vocational, preaching (view more) (view less)

I know that none of us wants a "normal" job, because having a job is so rigid and unexciting. It’s unbecoming of a person who is called to the greatness of the pulpit. We think, "I can’t possibly be here, or there, every single day, doing the same exact things, with the same exact people, people who have never done anything important, people who are perfectly content to never do anything important! I was meant for more!"

Maybe you’ve heard people say these things.

Perhaps you’ve said these things.

Or at least thought them.

Having been a bivocational pastor my entire career, I've wrestled with these thoughts, and I have four observations:

1. "Work" and "calling" are not mortal enemies. They are the left and right hands of process and progress. Every meaningful endeavor in life contains a certain amount of grinding. There is an intestinal fortitude that comes from showing up, every day, holding course and not giving up. It is the very same resolve one will need to accomplish "greater things."

2. Being broke makes for great stories, but not much else. It’s pretty unreal how a steady paycheck and a few hundred bucks can change what’s possible in the immediate here and now. I’ve also noticed that people are willing to be more generous with an artist or pastor who is already working. How many times has an artist or missionary asked me for money, and in my head I’m thinking, “You could just get a job, right?”

3. There is a part of work, even really hard, physical labor that ennobles and dignifies human life. To wake in the morning and build something or complete a project has an illuminating effect on the human spirit. I know that lots of people are miserable in their jobs, but people without a job are even more miserable. One of the best ways to fight depression and malaise is to go to work.

4. Abraham, Moses and David were all shepherds. Noah built a boat, Boaz was a farmer, Peter was a fisherman, Paul was a tentmaker and Jesus was a carpenter—they all had a common life before they had an extraordinary life. In fact, one is a foundation for the other.

Scriptures: Psalm 23:1-6

Adam Russell (website: Vineyard Campbellsville)

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Adam Russell is the lead pastor and one of the founders of Vineyard Church in Campbellsville, Kentucky. He and his wife Heather have three children (River, Seth and Magnolia) and also own a local health-food store and a couple acres of wine grapes.