Six Essential Pastoral Meetings No One is Scheduling For You

Oct 2, 2025

Discover the importance of intentional scheduling in church leadership. Learn about the value of ‘work on the work’ sessions and how to plan sermon series a year in advance. Dive into strategies for nurturing low-maintenance influencers and maintaining regular check-ins with key leaders. Explore the benefits of personal counseling for pastors and the necessity of prepping sermons well ahead of time. By prioritizing these meetings, leaders can reduce stress and enhance efficiency in their ministries.

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INSIGHT

Let Your Calendar Drive Your Priorities

If you don't intentionally schedule focused tasks, urgent demands will fill your calendar.
Reserving unplanned 'gray' time helps absorb emergencies while protecting priorities.

ADVICE

Block Time To Work On The Work

Schedule recurring "work on the work" sessions to step back from daily tasks and view the big picture.
Use that time to evaluate initiatives, communication, and unfinished strategic items.

ANECDOTE

Protected Sermon Prep At Starbucks

Josh keeps a weekly four‑hour block at Starbucks dedicated to sermon prep and avoids meetings then.
He credits that protected time for consistently completing sermon work.

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It’s easy to focus on what is right in front of you—the fires, the squeaky wheel, the pop-in visit. However, a pure reactive management style does not help a church move forward. Josh and Sam discuss some meetings that take initiative but will pay many dividends.

1. Work on the work
2. Sermon series overview with your team
3. The low-maintenance influencer
4. Monthly to-do checklist with key leaders
5. Personal counseling
6. Sermon prep at least one quarter ahead

Resources:

Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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