Scripture

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Observation
Foundations are boring. They lurk underground and can take months to pour. In high school I labored on a construction crew building the university’s gymnasium. From August until February we emptied many concrete trucks. No one was impressed. When the steel flew up in a matter of days everyone was so impressed on how quickly we were working. Few gave a thought for the concrete under the steel.

Foundations may be boring but they do make a great difference. Just talk to the designers of the Tower of Pisa. They must be thought through carefully and laid expertly. I remember my boss of 30 years ago coming back with the verdict that over a 300 foot span our foundations had only a half inch of variance.

Application
I want to be a foundation builder not just in my own life but in the lives of other leaders. Superstructure is impressive but foundations are where everything begins. I see many enthusiastic and well trained ministry students plunging into pastoring only to find that they are building on mud not concrete.

I made a list recently of the foundations every pastor needs. These are the footings I want in my life. Here they are:

1. Transparency—When a pastor is transparent with God the hearers will sense his authenticity and their lives will change.

2. Anointing–Without Jesus a pastor can do nothing so he must seek for his life the anointing Christ has upon his.

3. Devotions—Before a pastor can feed others he must first feed himself.

4. Family–A pastor’s ministry flows out of his home-life so he must shepherd both his home and his church well.

5. Friends—A pastor is the result of the friends he keeps therefore he must break out of isolation and seek restoring friendships.

6. Health—A pastor should present himself as a healthy sacrifice to God through exercise, good eating, rest, and frequent laughter.

7. Planning—A pastor should plan daily in the presence of God to become fruitful.

8. Serving Leadership—A pastor is called to lead and by leading to set others up for success.

9. People Skills—The greatest gift Jesus gives a pastor are his sheep and so they are worthy of a pastor’s very best.

10. The Word–A pastor proves he values the word of God by making his messages interesting.

11. Suffering—Pain is part God’s plan in ministry to make pastors better, not bitter.

12. Harvest—There is no higher calling for a pastor than to create a church where people find their way to heaven.