When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11.2.

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 1618.

One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 293. Sadly, Paul,

we live in an age where it seems like all around us nearly every day, pastors and Christian

ministry leaders are failing and destroying their ministry and reputation. Today's episode

includes a variety of questions that we've received pertaining to pride in ministry,

and specifically pastors. So here's the first question from a congregant. What are the warning signs

that a pastor, or an elder or ministry leader, is consumed with pride? When should my family

decide to leave the church? I know that you say that every pastor is in the midst of his own sanctification, but when is

enough enough?

What are the inexcusable red flags which signify it's time for us to go?

I'm going to start by saying self-glory, self-glory is the mortal enemy of a healthy and fruitful ministry life.

Because if it's driven by self-glory, then there are two things happening.

Your Lord isn't getting the glory that is his due, and people are now followers of you,

your fans rather than followers of Christ.

What a pastor or a spiritual leader is meant to be is not the painting that people look at in awe,

but you're supposed to be a frame that is a window to the glory of Christ.

So people look through you and they see their Lord in all his glory and they want to

surrender their lives to him. That's what's supposed to happen. So self-glory is absolutely the

mortal enemy of what ministry is to be and what the church is to be and what should happen in the

lives of people in the congregation. So I'm going to make a bunch of statements here that are my best attempt to answer this question.

A pastor must never consistently put himself in the middle of the story, as if the grand story is about him.

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