Confessions of a Pastor: 34 Years of Lessons Learned | Special Deeper Dive Episode

Added: 2026-04-29

[00:00:03][music] [music] >> Well, God bless you, Bishop Joseph Walker the 3rd here at Mount Zion Church in Nashville, Tennessee. I'm [music] so excited to have you connected today on this YouTube channel to Deeper Dive.

[00:00:28]And I'm excited today because we've got a special [music] episode celebrating 34 years as pastor of Mount Zion. I cannot wait to share [music] with you some important things on this episode from the heart of your pastor. It's going to really bless you. Before we get to that though, I want to give you an opportunity right now, as you're on this page to connect [music] with us. Make sure you like, subscribe. Make sure you comment.

[00:00:52]And make sure you follow me at Joseph Walker 3, follow my wife at Dr. Steph Walker, and follow our ministry at Mount Zion, Nashville.

[00:01:00]Make sure you do that. We're going to give you an opportunity now to give.

[00:01:04]Let's do that because I am appreciative of all of you who sow into the vision of this ministry. And I appreciate you so much. So, let's do that. I'm grateful [music] to God and I'm thankful for this opportunity as we give our tithes and offerings today. Let me pray over you.

[00:01:17]Father, I pray today that those who are giving [music] today, God, I pray you will bless them as they intentionally sow into the kingdom of God. Thank you for being such an amazing God. And we give you glory and praise now >> [music] >> in Jesus' name. Amen. All right. So, as we get into this today, I want to tell you it's a special [music] edition.

[00:01:36]I've been titled this, What Your Pastor Really Wants You to Know.

[00:01:40]Celebrating 34 years at Mount [music] Zion. Man, uh it's been a blessing. And I want to really lean in before I jump into this deeper dive. I want to start with something important. [music] To every member, to every leader, to every volunteer, to everyone [music] who helped celebrate my 34th pastoral anniversary, thank you.

[00:02:05]Thank you for the love, the prayers, the words of encouragement, the cards, the gifts, the generosity you showed.

[00:02:14]It's still coming in because I love you so much. 34 years is not just a number.

[00:02:20][music] It represents thousands of sermons, hospital visits, counseling sessions, prayers, leadership decisions, and moments where God allowed me to walk with people through some of the most [music] important seasons of their lives.

[00:02:39]So, today, I want you to know it's going to be a little different.

[00:02:44]Because instead of a traditional teaching, I want to [music] talk about something that pastors don't always get a chance to say out loud.

[00:02:53]We're going to look at scripture, but we're also going to have a real conversation about something important.

[00:03:00]What does it actually [music] mean to support your pastor?

[00:03:06]Maybe even more interesting, what are some things pastors [music] appreciate that people may not realize?

[00:03:14]Let's talk about that.

[00:03:17]First of all, support [music] strengthens the shepherd.

[00:03:21]The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 and 13, "We urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.

[00:03:36]And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake."

[00:03:40]The key verse there is those who labor among you.

[00:03:46]>> [snorts] >> Pastoral ministry is work, y'all.

[00:03:49]Sometimes people only see the public side of it.

[00:03:52]People see the sermon on Sunday morning, but they don't always see the hours of preparation during the week.

[00:04:01]They see the worship experiences, but they don't see the meetings, the counseling sessions, the prayers, the late-night calls when someone is going through a crisis.

[00:04:14]See, a pastor carries the spiritual responsibility of helping guide people's lives.

[00:04:19]That's a sacred assignment.

[00:04:22]And one of the things that strengthens a pastor the most [music] is knowing that people that they serve are standing with them.

[00:04:34]Cuz support doesn't mean you agree with every decision.

[00:04:38]Support means you believe in the vision.

[00:04:42]See, support means you pray for your pastor. You support your pastor. It means you stand with the mission of the church.

[00:04:51]Let me ask you a question that might be a little interesting.

[00:04:56]Your pastor prays for you more than you realize.

[00:05:00]But when is the last time [music] you intentionally prayed for your pastor?

[00:05:07]Because when the church prays for its pastor, [music] it strengthens the entire ministry.

[00:05:13]Do you know sowing financially strengthens the mission of the church?

[00:05:18]Words of encouragement matter more than you think.

[00:05:23]The Bible even says in Proverbs 16:24, "Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

[00:05:34]Sometimes people underestimate the power of encouragement.

[00:05:38]A simple card, an appropriate DM on social media, a quick thank you for the message.

[00:05:48]Those small moments matter more than people even realize.

[00:05:52]Because most pastors spend most of their time pouring into others.

[00:05:59]But encouragement becomes fuel.

[00:06:02]Let me tell you something. People may not realize, >> [music] >> after a pastor preaches a sermon, sometimes the question in their mind is simple.

[00:06:11]Did that really help anybody?

[00:06:14]Did they really reach anybody?

[00:06:16]Your encouragement answers that question.

[00:06:19]Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say to your pastor is simply that word helped me.

[00:06:26]You'd be surprised how far [music] that can go.

[00:06:29]One of the things I say often is that never take for granted >> [music] >> that your pastor knows. Never look out in the crowd and say, "Oh, everybody's doing it, so what difference does my little card or my little message mean?"

[00:06:40]It means the world.

[00:06:43]See, presence also >> [music] >> carries spiritual energy.

[00:06:47]Let's talk about something else that pastors really appreciate.

[00:06:51]Your presence.

[00:06:52]Yes, your presence. [music] You.

[00:06:56]The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together."

[00:07:02]Cuz there's something powerful about people gathering together in worship.

[00:07:06]When people show up with the expectation, it creates [music] spiritual energy in the room.

[00:07:13]Let me say it like this.

[00:07:14]An empty room and a full room feel very different.

[00:07:20]When people come to church excited, engaged, and ready for worship, whether in the virtual space, we know you're there. It lifts the atmosphere.

[00:07:29]It encourages the leadership. It reminds the pastor that the work is making a difference.

[00:07:34]Your pastor wants you to know your presence matters.

[00:07:39]But let me take it one step further.

[00:07:42]One of the greatest ways you can support your church >> [music] >> and your pastor is by inviting someone else.

[00:07:48]When you bring someone to church, you're not just filling a seat. You're participating in the mission of reaching souls.

[00:07:57]And nothing excites the man or woman of God more than that, seeing lives change.

[00:08:01]What does your pastor really think when people leave before the benediction?

[00:08:09]Let me tell you something. When people leave before the benediction, we're thinking, you're leaving before I declare blessing over you. We're thinking, Lord, cover them by the blood that no no accident happens. Because see, the benediction is a blessing.

[00:08:24]It's preparing you for the week. It's blessing your family with a covering.

[00:08:28]It's sanctifying the word over your life, confirming that word. So, we're thinking, my goodness. We know some people have to bounce for work or whatever, but we just really want you to always know [music] it's our desire to speak that benediction over your life.

[00:08:42]You know what?

[00:08:43]Somebody raised this question. What is the moment every pastor loves during the service?

[00:08:48]Well, for me, the moment I love is fist bump [music] fellowship. I love going down, shaking hands, loving on people. I absolutely love putting my eyes on people, seeing people. Because I'm a person of fellowship. It's one of those moments I love, but I will say it it rivals also the worship. Because worship is an opportunity where I [music] can give something to God.

[00:09:09]Not just receive a word, but give. I It's the worship those worship moments right before I preach.

[00:09:15]Man, [music] they prepare the way. It's like preparing the way for the seed to be sown.

[00:09:20]Right?

[00:09:22]Yeah, the mission at the end of the day is souls. At the end of the day, everything we do comes [music] back to one thing.

[00:09:30]People.

[00:09:32]Jesus said in Luke chapter 19 and verse 10, "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

[00:09:40]That is the heart of this church.

[00:09:43]Souls.

[00:09:45]See, when you invite people to church, when you share messages and they receive them, and they encounter God, oh my God, and they partner with what God is doing work mission, that is how lives are transformed.

[00:09:58]Can I tell you something honestly?

[00:09:59]Nothing excites a pastor more than seeing someone's life transformed by the power of God.

[00:10:05]Oh, I know you see me up there extending an invitation, but y'all nothing gets me keyed like seeing a life changed, knowing what someone was, and knowing that the word of God that [music] was preached and ministered through me has transformed their life.

[00:10:22]That's what it's all about for me.

[00:10:24]End of the day, that's what it is all about.

[00:10:30]Someone raised this question.

[00:10:32]The one thing that gives pastors energy.

[00:10:37]I'll tell you what, your prayers and your presence together.

[00:10:41]You being there, man, that energizes us.

[00:10:43]Imagine, man, it's like someone working in the kitchen.

[00:10:46]You know, working hard, laboring, and come to the table and nobody's ready to eat. [music] That'll drain you. But when everybody's like, "Yes, it's time to eat." Everybody's excited, man, that gives a pastor energy. Like, "Yes, the bill is prepared and they're ready to receive it."

[00:11:00]Right? Here's another one. What what makes a pastor smile more than anything?

[00:11:07]I'll tell you [music] what, breakthroughs.

[00:11:11]Somebody's breakthrough will make you smile, man.

[00:11:14]Watching somebody get a victory, watching somebody get hired, watching somebody get healed, man, that will make a pastor smile more than anything.

[00:11:23]When you reflect over my journey as a pastor for 34 years, I I reflect over all the experiences and blessings I've had um to watch people's lives be transformed.

[00:11:35]Someone asked me um how's it feel to be in one church for 34 [music] years.

[00:11:40]I know that's rare today, uh but I've never had any other church but Mount Zion.

[00:11:46]And I'm grateful to God because of that.

[00:11:48]It happens because the church family decides to walk together.

[00:11:54]It happens because we pray together.

[00:11:57]It happens because we serve together.

[00:11:59]It happens because we grow together.

[00:12:02]Mount Zion, thank you.

[00:12:05]Thank you for loving me. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for tuning in to Deeper Dive. Oh, I'll tell you what, the fact that I can watch the engagement and see you sharing it with other people, thank you. Taking Sunday's messages and sharing it and showing up on Sundays and in the rain and the cold, even when you travel, you're virtually [music] locked in. I'm thankful for you praying for me and supporting me and my family. I'm thankful for how you have helped support the vision, invested in the ministry, invested in us [music] personally, and thank you for that.

[00:12:40]Don't take it for granted, man.

[00:12:42]We don't take I read every card.

[00:12:44]I'm thankful for every [music] tangible expression of gratitude. Thank you.

[00:12:49]But more importantly, I'm thankful [music] for our community. I'm thankful because we are family.

[00:12:54]Thank you all for making me the happiest [music] pastor on the planet.

[00:13:01]Because let me tell you something, you believe in the vision.

[00:13:05]And because when a church [music] and a pastor move in unity, incredible things begin to happen.

[00:13:11]And you know what?

[00:13:13]Best is yet to come.

[00:13:15]I made this covenant with you. I'm going to keep on teaching this word.

[00:13:20]I'm going to keep on preaching and teaching this word. I'm going to keep on believing God for the best in you.

[00:13:28]And I'm going to thank you for believing God's hand is upon my life to minister to you. We are assigned to each other.

[00:13:37]And thank God what God has joined together, let nobody put asunder.

[00:13:42]Thank you, Mount Zion, for 34 amazing [music] years. I hope some of these questions have helped you.

[00:13:48]And when you see me and I see you, sometimes just a "Hey, Bishop." We just say, "Hey, keep pushing."

[00:13:55]That's what encourages each other. Let's keep encouraging each other.

[00:13:58]And let's keep on growing believers and producing achievers.

[00:14:03]Listen, if you want a relationship [music] with Jesus Christ, you want to be a part of a ministry like Mount Zion, have a heart for people, and want to see you better, then text the word salvation to 78228.

[00:14:16]And that's a way my team and I can pray for you.

[00:14:19]Text prayer to 78228. [music] We love you.

[00:14:22]We thank God for you.

[00:14:24]May God bless you.

[00:14:25]That's my prayer.

[00:14:27]Be blessed.

[00:14:30]>> [music]