I like the idea of the pastors and church staff becoming more familiar and spending time with the flock.  This is a wonderful idea, and can help open new doors and expand relationships.  I wish that more pastors would take the time to sit down and get to know people, even putting aside some of the more minor responsibilities.  And then, in the last paragraph, this idea went south…

“Tell the pastor to talk about his week or something. The preacher absolutely doesn’t get special treatment in this. Heck, download a free sermon from open.lifechurch.tv and tell the band to play last weeks songs on Sunday.”

Just because the church staff wants to get more intimate with a set of the congregation is no excuse to go lax with preparations of the sermon and services for the rest of the flock.  This sounds like a real, “fast food,” mentality.  “Oh, we don’t have time to pore over the Word of God and see what the Holy Spirit wants to share with the believers.  Let’s just go through the drive-thru and have some leftovers.” People don’t need to hear about their pastor’s week--they need to hear the Bible being taught.

--
CS

Adam has a killer point!  Too many pastors have become professional at their job to the point where they no longer understand what it means to work for a living (in the secular sense - I know that what we do IS work… relax… you’re starting to sound like my wife!)

Remember, the rest of the world has to work and live OUTSIDE of the Christian bubble (it’s starting to sound kind of nice, actually!)

It would do us all some good to turn a wrench or swing a hammer for a day or two.

As far as preaching on Sunday, living in the same world that Jesus lived in (working for a living) would allow time for God to significantly speak to you… let’s face it, the Bible isn’t as difficult to understand as we make it sound… but that’s a topic for another day!

I;m not even slightly challenged by McLane’s idea.  A much better challenge would be to get to know 10 people who don’t go to any church in their native environment.  After all, who are we really to minister to?

Are we talking about being a better preacher or a better pastor. There is a difference you know.

For those who think this is a bad idea or somehow now good for a church, I’d be curious as to why.

@CS- please see Jeremy’s comment above. I think he covers why those of us in professional ministry need to be dared to leave the office.

CS- yes, that does make sense. And that’s why I’m saying 1 week of a slightly less prepared or even canned message isn’t going to kill anyone. Conversely, lets say a staff of 5 spent time with 50 different people that week in their jobs??? Those 50 people will listen to every word you say for the next 51 weeks simply because someone took the time to get to know them on their turf. Not to mention, in those 50 encounters your church staff met tons of co-workers… which addresses another major problem of church staff; many don’t know non-church people!

In this instance, I don’t think its devaluing the message. Instead, I think that the dare may deeply impact the message going forward and make an overall ministry stronger.

What is some non Christians walked in the church the same week as the challenge was done.  It would suck if they thought the pastors would wing the sermons and not be prepare for anything…

there are some flaws to this

I’m not sure why this has to be an all or nothing proposition.  I agree and disagree with Adam at the same time.  I think it’s a wonderful idea to meet with members of your church in their world.  Not sure how this would work in reality - would I sit and watch my accountants and lawyers do paperwork?  Would I be distracting the factory worker from their job?  I do think it’s a good idea and would demonstrate love and interest and care.  However, I disagree about the ‘message prep is overrated’ thought.  The Word make the difference in the heart.  It’s what the sower sows, the pastor preaches, it’s what is profitable for equipping the man of God.  I would never want to get in the pulpit and ‘wing it’. 

That’s why I wonder why this has to be ‘all or nothing.’ Set aside some time each week for a month to meet with congregation members - Monday-Wednesday.  Leaves the rest of the week for preparing to give the Word.  I think the idea is great - but not to the neglecting of the ministry of the Word.

Won’t work. A pastor nowadays has no clue how to relate to the working people in his congregation. He is without question the most clueless member of the church. He will never face the world as his congregants must every day. Many pastors have their needs taken care of by the church--the people that really work pay the pastor’s mortgage, their gasoline, their healthcare, their utilities, their education. What they get in the way of a salary is high dollar spending money. There is no way the pastor can relate in light of all the perks he has.  Yet the preacher touts how much he is at church....it’s his JOB! He is paid to be there! And the preacher taunts those who are not in church! Hey--we have JOBS too! This plan is cute....but will never work. (and few bosses would allow it in the real world!)

Adam,
As others have said this isn’t new. I pastored for 23 years, and about 12-16 hours a week were spent with the people of the community, and of the church. In their homes, or at their work. this was simply part of being a pastor. to be with the people, talking about faith and life in their world.
the rest of my time was preparing my sermons, BIble Studies, calling on the sick, or those in grief, or on new people in the community.
the least productive time was spent in meetings planning how the church operated.
Charley

I kind of forgot that I commented on this discussion board, as I have been busy with all the other stuff related to the workings of the church. The idea is good for those Pastors that don’t do some sort of calls on the congregation already, but I thought that doing calls on the congregation and preparing a message for Sunday were part of the same job. I don’t really see how spending half of 1 day is going to make it so you know the congregation, but if you can spend a whole half day with ONE member of your congregation, all the power to you. I also take offense at Read On’s post.  How did you become so informed on how clueless the Pastor is. Do you think the pastor has never worked a day in his/her life. Maybe you need to follow your Pastor for a half day. I am Pastor to a 2 church charge. I admit they are small churches but I still keep track of the people in both Congregations, and not knowing the people is not an option.The fact that you think the Pastor has a free ride through life is especially hurtful. It sound to me as though you need to talk to your Pastor. You can do that while you spend half a day with him/her. You must think that all a Pastor does is write the message all week, again I don’t know the situation of the church you attend. I have a better idea yet, you should come follow me around.

I think this is a great idea.  As volunteer youth workers who do not have an office in the building.  We are out there all the time.  Often kids are in our home 6 out of the 7 days in a week.  We try very hard to get out there and attend the kids sporting and school events and interact with the parents.  Get to know them in their environment. 
I think it would be great for some pastors to take the time to visit people in the church and get to know them.  Often you have to be in a nursing home or sick and in the hospital for a pastor to visit you.  What does it say when your pastor wants to get to know you or spend time with you when you aren’t sick and laid up.  And the thought of a pastor getting up and talking about his life, his week instead of giving the sermon that’s in the book for the week.  I say this because we were once at a church where the pastor gave a sermon out of a denominational book that he had every week and there was nothing personal in the sermon.  It’s good to know that pastors are human too.  I can’t speak for everyone but knowing that the pastor has struggles and stresses during the week makes me feel okay with how i’m doing.  We are all human, even pastors.