Each summer, our church's youth ministry changes our Wednesday night youth group format. Normally, after the last worship song, students gather into smaller groups to discuss the message, their lives, and all that falls between. But in the summer, instead of these discussion groups, we host a huge, free barbecue for anyone who attends. My team sets up tables, cooks, cut vegetables, and serves our large group every Wednesday night. It's a special way to celebrate summer. I look forward to it every year.

But it didn't start smoothly. Our first year, I did all of the purchasing and most of the setup for the big barbeque meal myself. I had a small team who could have helped, but I took on most of the logistics myself, even down to setting up many of the tables and grills.

I did it all because I knew I would feel guilty if I didn't.

Short on buns

This is a very pastoral struggle. I see it more in those who pastor groups under 200, but it remains something most preachers and pastors wrestle with: ...