Meet Dan Rolfe

Dan Rolfe is the pastor of Servants Heart Fellowship in Rocky Mount, NC. You can read his blog here. I've known Dan for a little over a year now and have benefited from his helpful encouragement and and firm grasp of the gospel.

If and when I get sick, Dan is one of my friends that I hope comes to pray for me in the hospital. He is also an expert regarding all things Benny Hinn (man, that is funny stuff).

Dan, thanks for your time. Please describe your morning devotions. What time do you wake up in the morning? How much time do you spend reading, meditating, praying, etc.? What are you presently reading?

I get up at 5:30 and read the Scriptures from the daily office - a reading from the psalms, an OT reading, a NT epistle reading, and a gospel reading. I then spend anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes praying and meditating before waking up my children to start the day.

I’m presently reading Finally Alive by John Piper.

What book(s) are you currently reading in these three categories: (a) for your soul, (b) for pastoral ministry, or (c) for personal enjoyment?

a. I am re-reading Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. I’ve also been reading Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards a few pages at a time for the past year. I’ll pick it up, read a chapter, and spend a month digesting it.
b. A Workman Approved by God, a wonderful transcript of the 2008 Sovereign Grace Pastors College Preaching Conference.
c. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, A. Conan Doyle and I just started On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson.

Apart from Scripture, what book do you most frequently re-read and why?
Recently it has been A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent. This gospel-saturated little book has stopped me dead in my tracks at times. It has an impact much larger than its size. Before I got the primer I would say Knowing God by JI Packer. I first read this in college and keep coming back to it.

When you finish a book, what system have you developed in order to remember and reference that book in the future?
I write in my books. But I don’t have a system in place so I’m always saying, “Now, where did I read that…?” I need to improve here.

If you could study under any theologian in church history (excluding those men in Scripture), who would it be and why?
Probably Martin Luther. I did a major college research project on Luther and I’ve always been fascinated with his life. I still occasionally use his small catechism for devotional purposes. From the way he wrote (especially to other pastors), I’m certain studying under him would be anything but boring.


What single piece of counsel (or constructive criticism) has most improved your preaching?

I have a good friend (an older, wiser pastor) who listened to some of my sermons and was caring (and bold) enough to tell me that I sometimes sound self-righteous when I preach. This has helped me improve.

What books on preaching, or examples of it, have you found most influential in your own preaching?
Christ Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell



What single bit of counsel has made the most significant difference in your effective use of time?

CJ Mahaney said that single-staff pastors should devote most of their time preparing for the Sunday morning meeting. He said this is the most effective way to serve the entire church. This has helped me prioritize how I spend my time.

What single bit of counsel has made the most significant difference in your leadership?
An experienced pastor once told me to stop trying to please everyone and to simply lead the church. While at lunch together, he leaned across the table and said, “You must do this Dan. No one else will.” This has been huge for me.

Where in ministry are you most regularly tempted to discouragement?

Everywhere. But I do recognize this as a subtle form of pride and I fight against it. Probably in my preaching, but again, I recognize this as my own sin. I was helped while attending T4G when several speakers shared the difference between being dissatisfied with my preaching (a good thing) and being discouraged with my preaching (a bad thing).



Do you exercise? If so, what do you do? If not, why not? (Please be specific.)

I lift weights three times a week. Two sets each of arm curls, French curls, military presses, butterfly presses, and bench presses. Can you tell?

Currently, what sport do you like to play and/or watch?

I enjoy professional football and baseball (watch, not play). I occasionally play tennis.

What do you do for leisure?
Spend time with my family - I have a wonderful family.

If you were not in ministry, what occupational path would you have chosen?
Prior to attending Bible College I had landed a decent state job as a contractor guard (my actual title was “Escort”) at a psychiatric prison in NY. I’d probably still be there, escorting construction workers in and out of the prison. I know, I can already hear the jokes…