Michael Carlino

"The hospital room and the funeral home are some of the best classrooms in which to learn pastoral ministry. I have held the hands of elderly saints and prayed over them as they took their last breath. I have won over my ‘enemies’ because I took the time to visit them when they were in the hospital. I have watched despair turn to hope as I’ve sat with a grieving widow and talked about Christ. The hospital room and the funeral home present pastors with learning opportunities that can’t be found elsewhere. Death reminds us of our frailty and brokenness. It jolts our hearts out of the delusion of invincibility. Death restores our focus on the eternal things when we are daily tempted to live in the temporal."

- Michael Carlino

"When a pastor senses he is growing frustrated with a weaker person or is growing impatient over the lack of change and growth, it’s helpful to take a step back and consider this question: How does my timeline for change contrast with God’s timeline? The truth is that we are never guaranteed a certain rate of growth that is the same for every individual. Each person is unique, facing different challenges in the fight against sin."

- Michael Carlino

"The godly, faithful life of pastors, or lack thereof, will set the tone for the entire church they serve."

- Michael Carlino

"Don’t excuse yourself from the biblical calling to set an example for the flock. Yes, you are a sinner, and you are not perfect. God knows that pastors need the cleansing blood of Jesus and the good news of what Jesus has done, just as much as anyone else. But we also know that God sets a higher standard for leaders. Our acceptance before God has already been fully met for us in Christ. So seek to be an example to others in freedom, knowing Christ has already met the standard you could never meet."

- Michael Carlino

"Pastors are called to be guardians of the truth. And like a father protecting his daughter from attack, this calling requires courageous, sacrificial action. A pastor must care for his people, yes, but it means guarding them and guarding the truth by protecting them from false teaching. It means helping them understand and grow in the good news of God’s word…if we lose the truth, we have nothing left to give our people."

- Michael Carlino

"Peter’s exhortation to pastors can be summarized in a single sentence: “Be shepherds of God’s flock under your care until the Chief Shepherd appears.” And in case you missed it, Peter is pretty clear about the who, what, when, and how of a pastor’s biblical calling."

- Michael Carlino

"How can a pastor set an example for his people if he only sees them once a week? A pastor should certainly prepare to preach the word, but the word must be ministered both publicly and privately. A pastor best accomplishes this by going to where his people are and spending time with them. Where are your people during the week? You may want to meet a young professional at his workplace, visit an elderly woman in her home and work in her garden with her, or invite a young married couple to your home to talk about the challenges and joys of marriage and raising a family. Let them see the example of your family life as they set out to establish theirs. The shepherd must spend time with the sheep if he wants to be the example God calls him to be."

- Michael Carlino

"Allow me to add a final plea for this priority to find its way into ever shepherd’s ministry. It takes a pastor to recognize a pastor. As you look for those who have the gift to serve in pastoral ministry, try to set aside for a moment a person’s apparent immaturity and discern who may have a special gift from God to teach his word and care for his people. Even if you don’t have a formal process for identifying and training, you can start by taking this individual to the hospital with you. Let them tag along on your visits to shut-ins. When you sense it’s time, let them lead a Sunday school class or a small group Bible study where you can observe them…The process begins with pastors. If pastors do not accept this role and make this a priority, who will? If pastors do not look to identify and train leaders, who will?"

- Michael Carlino

"Pastors must study and prepare themselves so they can hear God’s word. A pastor internalizes that word and then preaches it to the people by the Spirit, calling his particular people to respond in obedience. This is more than a human activity; it is a divinely designed spiritual experience between a pastor and his congregation. And the work of preparation is an essential component. It does not happen when a pastor preaches another’s sermons or skimps on the work of preparation. The heart work is key as well, and it is well worth the investment of time as it bears spiritual fruit."

- Michael Carlino

"We must never forget that we as pastors are where we are today because someone first spoke the word of God to us, taught us, and invested in us. Now we are in the privileged position as preachers of God’s word and pastors of God’s people to do the same in the lives of others."

- Michael Carlino