Common Pitfalls that will Destroy your Ministry

Austin Gardner • August 5, 2023

photo by arsenisspyros



  1. Not taking care of your holiness 
  2. you might be tempted to think that no one is watching
  3. you are tempted when you feel alone
  4. you might be tempted to think that you deserve it because of all your sacrifice and service

  5. Not working on your relationship with God
  6. it is easy to get dry, cold, and dead
  7. Doubts come
  8. The Word of God can seem stale to you
  9. You begin to believe the Devil's lies
  10. You even doubt that your life is worth living

  11. Not working on your marriage
  12. Sex sin can come into your life, adultery, pornography
  13. You may be tempted to think of divorce
  14. you may experience an emotional divorce
  15. you may forget why you got married
  16. you may feel miserable while you are faking it and especially from what you see on Facebook 

  17. Not taking care of your children
  18. a lack of discipline
  19. lake of love
  20. failing to set a good example

  21. Failing in ministry
  22. selfishness
  23. not sharing ministry
  24. all about you, building your name, your brand
  25. Believing your own propaganda, what you write in emails and put on Facebook

  26. Believing you are too good at what you do
  27. Not satisfied with anyone else in the ministry
  28. perfectionist

  29. Not controlling your money

  30. Not controlling your time

  31. Not taking family time, vacations

  32. Taking too much time from your family for work

  33. Using your family as an excuse for not working

  34. Being so indispensable that you can't take furlough

  35. Making excuses for not staying in touch or contact with your supporters, churches

  36. Not continuing to grow personally
  37. Bible reading
  38. personal growth study and time
  39. preaching reheated messages

  40. Being too busy to evangelize

  41. Being alone, not with people
  42. technology becomes an excuse
  43. becoming a philosopher but not a practitioner
  44. forgetting to rescue from the fire
  45. arguing about theology while the world goes to hell

  46. Too much time spent talking back to your home country

  47. Not learning the language

  48. Translating messages instead of learning your language well enough to preach from it

  49. Preaching hobby horses 

  50. Not letting people go and do ministry

  51. Too controlling of your children

  52. Lack of discipline 

  53. in personal life
  54. in financial life
  55. in family life
  56. in time

  57. Not believing God is going to do the work

  58. Listening to the naysayers

  59. Letting your fear hinder you

  60. Laziness

  61. Greediness

  62. Being too sensitive and too easily hurt

  63. jealousy

  64. gossip

  65. Losing your hunger and thirst for God and His Word or His causes

  66. Focusing on your field and your ministry and forgetting the world

  67. Believing you are a leader and forgetting to serve

  68. Losing your vision and your dream


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