I've always thought stepping onto the pulpit felt like a hero's journey. 

The congregation looks at you, expecting to be saved by the words you speak. The pressure to be a spiritual Superman is immense. 

But yesterday, as I walked up to the pulpit, I realized something—heroes can have limps, too.

To Struggle is Human

I couldn't sleep the night before my sermon. 

My heart pounded like a drumline as I reviewed my notes at dawn. This was not because I was new to preaching but because I was conscious of my new fragility.

Due to my recent transplant, my immune system is a fragile glass house, susceptible to the slightest tremor of infections and illnesses. 

As I stepped onto the stage, my vulnerability was palpable, not just to me but to everyone.

Embrace Your Struggles 

Here's the first lesson: Leading while embracing your struggles is okay. 

We are human before we are pastors. Your community doesn't need you to be their savior. They need you to be someone who understands, has walked through the valley, and come out the other side.

By embracing my vulnerability, I connected more deeply with my congregation than ever before. 

I led, not like Superman, but like a man with a limp.

You Serve, You Don’t Save

As I began preaching, a transformation took place. 

The nervousness and fragility shifted to the background. I was there to serve, not save. This is the second lesson: our role as pastors isn't to be the ultimate savior. That's a job that’s already taken. We're there to guide, to offer wisdom, and to serve. 

The moment you relieve yourself of the 'savior' burden, you free yourself to serve authentically without the unbearable pressure of trying to be someone you're not.

Limping While Leading is Authentic Leadership

The third lesson is about authenticity. 

Leading with a limp allowed me to be my genuine self. The congregation doesn't need another superhero. They need someone who understands their struggles because they have their own. When I spoke from that place, my words had more power than ever. 

Authenticity is the foundation of trust, and trust is the cornerstone of any community.

A New Day

I’m excited about the preaching journey ahead of me. 

If you want to hear more, comment, and I’ll send you my sermon notes. You can also catch the sermon on my podcast, Charlie Mitchell Teaching & Audio Experience, available soon.

So, pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders let go of the Superman cape. 

Embrace your limp. 

Lead with authenticity. 

Our role is not to save but to serve, to be a pillar of realness in a world hungry for genuine connection. 

And remember, even Superman had his Kryptonite.