One of the most dangerous traps in ministry is believing that leadership replaces discipleship. Some pastors, after years in the pulpit, begin to think they have “arrived.” They preach to others about following Christ but quietly stop following Him themselves.
Yet Jesus never called anyone to graduate from discipleship. He said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19) — and that command has no expiration date. A pastor is first and foremost a disciple before they are a leader, teacher, or preacher. The moment a shepherd stops being led by Christ, pride begins to take the throne that once belonged to humility.
When a pastor feels too important to be corrected, too experienced to be taught, or too anointed to repent, the Spirit’s voice grows quiet — not because God stops speaking, but because the pastor stops listening. Even the Apostle Paul said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest… I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
True spiritual authority flows from submission — not status. The greatest leaders are those who remain lifelong learners at the feet of Jesus.
A pastor who no longer receives discipleship may still run a church, but they cease to reflect Christ.
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