The Ministry of a Pastor

.... Now let’s talk about the most common of the major ministries, which is the ministry of a pastor. The word ‘pastor’ means ‘shepherd’, and this helps us understand their duties. They are to both nurture and guard a congregation of believers as a shepherd would tend to a flock that the Lord has entrusted to him. And in their nurturing, they must always focus on Jesus to represent Him through the good counsel they give:

.... "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."

(Jeremiah 3:15)

.... After an apostle has established a church and then passed from the scene, pastors will normally arise to provide leadership in their place. With an attitude that is similar to an apostle, they are to be shrewd and ready to make the most of every opportunity. They are to gather in souls whenever possible, like an evangelist, and they will have the primary responsibility for training new Christians.

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.... Within a local church gathering, the pastor coordinates all other ministries and insures they are all of the same heart and mind. He counsels and guides them, and coordinates their efforts. But He also receives ministry from them, such as flowing in a time of worship that others might lead, or in receiving prophecy that has been duly judged:

.... "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good."

(1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)

.... Pastors also serves as an overseer and coordinator for the disciplinary process of the church -- though the actual responsibility belongs to the elders of that church, and may be initiated by any individual Christian as the need may arise (1 Corinthians 14:40; Acts 20:17,28; Matthew 18:15-19).

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.... Yet for all of this, the pastor is not the head of that church! Only Jesus Himself may serve in this role – so the true-hearted pastor must strive to know the Lord’s mind in every matter (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18). Taking everything together, he is a thoughtful, nurturing counselor and coordinator to Christians, in the midst of everything that the Lord Himself is doing in the local church, to help each of those persons do their share in serving the Lord and fillfilling their own calling (Ephesians 4:15-16).

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.... Pastors also serve as an example of Christ-like character, which the Lord will naturally wish to promote within that church. As such, they are promoted to their office on the basis of proven faithfulness, beginning in their own home:

.... "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

(1 Timothy 3:1-7)

.... "For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict."

(Titus 1:7-9)

.... Based on the examle of Aquila and Priscilla, husbands and their wives may also serve together as a pastoral team (1 Corinthians 16:19).

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Daily Bible Reading: Philippians 1