Pastor: Lead Your Church From the Pulpit! by SermonCentral .com

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Pastor: Lead Your Church From the Pulpit!

Pastor: Lead Your Church From The Pulpit!

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 10, 2025

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Pastors sometimes make the mistake of separating preaching from leading, but Brandon Cox explains how they go together.

Scripture: None

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, preaching, Pulpit

Pastor, God called you to lead. (If you’re not a pastor but you have a pastor, God called your pastor to lead you.) He didn’t call you to lead by consensus or by permission. He called you to lead by following His voice—and to do it boldly.

Somewhere in the history of democratically governed churches, we got the idea that pastors are present to fulfill two roles: chaplain and Bible teacher. So often the pastor is expected to do the ministry while someone else charts the course of the church. I would argue strongly that God places shepherds in the midst of His flocks to lead with vision, passion and conviction.

In other words, pastors are to shepherd the congregation, leading and guiding them as individuals to live missionally in the world, but also as a community of people corporately living missionally in the world. In preaching, you dissect the Scriptures, but you also cast a vision from those Scriptures about what the church should look like, how it should function and where it should go as time unfolds.

Pastor, never shy away from being bold with your vision for God’s people. Cast the vision often, for as Andy Stanley often says, “Vision leaks.” Cast it to the congregation, to groups of leaders and to individuals. Remember, where there is no vision, people will find another parish!

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Talk about it...

Keith B

commented on Jul 1, 2015

Good article. One of my biggest frustrations as a pastor is working with a board that has a much different idea of what our church should be doing.

Mike Jacobson

commented on Jul 1, 2015

good challenge. Thanks

Paul Muller

commented on Jul 1, 2015

Every time the church board meets I explain to them that their job is not to say no or to slow things down. Their job is to help the pastor and other team leaders in the church accomplish their mission. We (the board) is a support team for those that are "doing" the work. Board members are welcome to bring solid evidence, based on research and facts as to why we should not go forward with a particular plan. I do not allow "opinions". I have 300 people in the church I don't need 300 opinions. Our board members support our leaders, regardless of what color carpet the decorator ordered or what style of songs the worship leader has chosen to play. Every team leader in our church is empowered and as such the boards job is to trust the individual leaders and support their ministry. Freedom Motorcycle Church, Rapid City S.D.

Roopram Parshotam

commented on Jul 1, 2015

Excellent and scriptural. Encouraging.

Jonathan Larsson

commented on Jul 1, 2015

The real issue here is that churches have abandoned scriptural leadership. A plurality of elders in each congregation who together provide direction, oversight, teaching, and preaching, will promote unity, stability, and fulfillment of purpose for the church. "Boards" and denominational hierarchies are not scriptural, and they are not helping.

Zena Talamoni

commented on Jul 1, 2015

Hi, very interesting discussion but I have a question for Brandon and maybe others can help me too. I totally agreed that if you are a pastor, you are called to lead. What about other groups in the church? In ours, we have about 5 different groups and each group has its own leader but it seems that our lead minister always wants to control everything, including final decisions that I feel it should come from the leaders of each group? I need your input on my problem.

John Sears

commented on Jul 2, 2015

Zena, let me say gently that it's possible that what you see as a control freak is a pastor wanting to make sure that the church stays on mission and is directed by the church's core purpose. Does the pastor let other people cast vision? In other words, is he interested in hearing what other people believe the Bible wants the church to look like? Not DO! But look like and become. Has he asked the church, "What do you think the Bible tells us our community of believers should look like?" If he is not hearing your passion (as long as it's Biblical), he may be too much of a control freak.

Steve Aguirre

commented on Jul 2, 2015

The first church, of which Peter was the leader: Acts 6:1-4 NKJV (note verse 2): 1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ?It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.? God bless us all.

Pastor Paul A. Taylor, Sr.

commented on Jul 3, 2015

I'm up late because I'm off tomorrow. As I was deleting my messages I felt compelled to read your article. I just finished studying St. John 21:15-17. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ?Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?? ?Yes, Lord,? he said, ?you know that I love you.?(O) Jesus said, ?Feed my lambs.?(P) 16 Again Jesus said, ?Simon son of John, do you love me?? He answered, ?Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.? Jesus said, ?Take care of my sheep.?(Q) 17 The third time he said to him, ?Simon son of John, do you love me??Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ?Do you love me??(R) He said, ?Lord, you know all things;(S) you know that I love you.? Jesus said, ?Feed my sheep. Your article confirmed some things. It's powerful and the truth. I pray and ask God to give me. (us) wisdom and understanding in leading and guiding our flocks. Our flocks look to us lead, love, and guide them. In doing this our relationship with Jesus Christ should be evident and seen in our walk If you love me feed my sheep".Thanks. Great article.