I have been serving as the interim preaching minister for Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, since January, my very first interim role. It has been a really fun and encouraging experience. The people of Englewood are so gracious and encouraging, and they are a fun people to preach to because they love the Word. My friend Ben Mandrell did a great work.
Last weekend, Englewood Baptist announced Jordan Easley (another friend of mine) as the next senior pastor. I am excited for both Englewood and Jordan and really believe the Lord is going to do amazing things there over the next several years.
In July, I will begin as the interim pastor of Clearview Baptist Church in Franklin, Tennessee. I am also still serving alongside one of my heroes (the infamous and no-longer tweeting Brady Cooper) as teaching pastor at New Vision Baptist in Murfreesboro. I preach 8-10 Sundays a year for Brady and love the staff and the church.
Enough with the personal updates… Here are three observations from my first interim preaching experience:
1. People really want to hear the Bible preached.
I have been reminded that when people come to church, they expect and desire to hear the Bible preached. They want to know what the Bible says, what it means, and how this impacts them. They can get commentary on the news elsewhere. Pithy statements to help them cope with life are available in a plethora of other places. But in a worship service, people come expecting the Word. And it is the Word that transforms them, that equips them for every good work.
2. The Church is much bigger than her leaders.
Pastors and other leaders come and go, and the church keeps going. A local church may struggle, but the Church will thrive. She overcomes and she will win. As leaders we come and go. In reality, we are all interim leaders. God owns the church, not us. Our leadership is really temporary stewardship. A local church will go on without us. While some may view this as sober and sad, the reality that we are a part of a movement bigger than ourselves is liberating and encouraging. A healthy church will continue the day and the week after you are gone—and this is a great thing!
3. Groups matter.
A church that has people plugged into groups, groups that care for one another and study together, is much more likely to stay healthy and connected through pastoral transition. The people are connected to one another and not merely to a great communicator who speaks each week. So if you want to build a church on your personality, on your ability to hold an audience, don’t worry about your groups. If you want to be a part of building a body that continues after you hand over your temporary assignment, then care deeply about the community that is developed beyond the Sunday morning worship gathering.
Eric,
Thank you for the excellent way you are sharing the Word every Sunday at Englewood. Planning and preparation are apparent in your excellent sermons. Not a wasted word. Englewood has been blessed to have you as our preacher during this transition. Your thoughts expressed in this blog are so true. God has blessed us by providing leaders who prepared us for the next step. Looking forward to Sunday…..
Eric,
We have been so blessed to have you as Englewood’s interim. Thank you for bringing us undiluted messages from God’s Word. You have fed us, stretched us, transformed us.
Nancy
Three excellent points. Successfully delivering God’s Word inspires the audience to go looking for more – on their own – no longer content to just show up and be spoon fed. Enthusiasm for the Gospel is contagious. Englewood has been privileged to have you for a season; and we eagerly look forward to what God has planned for us in the future.
I sit on the edge of my seat and soak up every word you say! You feed your sheep well and I will truly miss you!
You are such an Awesome Preacher! Absolutely amazed how God has gifted you with wisdom & delivery of His Word! As I said last Sunday – to keep you & get Jordan would be the best of both worlds! EBC is definitely blessed with great leadership & an Awesome body of believers we love as family! God bless you & your beautiful family! We love y’all.
Joe, Denise, Joanna, Nancy, and Teresa —
You are so encouraging and kind. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of EBC the last several months. I have looked forward to each and every Sunday and have been deeply honored to be a part of the church. I am very grateful for the hospitality, encouragement, and kindness. I have really come to love the EBC family
In Christ
eric
I have been reminded through your sermons how truly the Word is important in my life. You have made me search more deeply each week into my Bible. Thank you for this encouragement. I am going to miss you and your teachings. Thank you for serving us well at Englewood!
Eric,
it has been great to have you here at Englewood.
Thanks for investing into us over these months.
I pray that God will bless you and your family richly in the days to come!
Eric, we really appreciated the time, effort, planning and prayer that went into your messages. We enjoyed your sermons and the depth that you helped us dig into the word. We will miss hearing you. Hopefully you can come back and visit 🙂
Sincerely, The Slater Family
Karen, Bob, and the Slater’s
Thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement! I am grateful and have really loved our time together. Thanks for making me feel so loved and welcome in the EBC fam
In Christ,
eric
Praise the LORD that you preach the WORD of GOD. I have been blessed. Thank you for sharing CHRIST with us.
In HIM<
lucy
Eric,
I am going to miss you and your wonderful sermons. I have enjoyed your preaching/teaching very much. You really have a talent for explaining God’s Word so that we can understand it and apply it to our lives. Thank you for being willing to drive to Jackson and be our preacher during this time. I had no idea this was your first interim. I do hope you will come back and preach for us sometime. Take care and God’s blessings on you and your family.