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Pastor
of a Church: Qualifications and Duties
Prayer: That God will call more laborers into His vineyard.
OFFICERS OF A CHURCH
It cannot be said that officers are essential to the existence of a
church; for a church must exist before it can appoint its officers.
After this appointment, if, in the providence of God, they should be
removed by death, it might affect the interests, but not the being of
the church. It has been well said by an able writer, that "although
officers are not necessary to the being of a church, they are
necessary to its well-being." No church can reasonably expect to
prosper which does not obey the law of its Head in regard to the
appointment of officers.
It is obvious too, from the teachings of the New Testament, that
pastors and deacons are the permanent officers of Christian churches.
Paul, referring to Christ's ascension gifts, says: "And he gave some,
apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-12).
Apostles, prophets, and evangelists filled extraordinary and temporary
offices. There are no such offices now. Pastors and teachers, the same
men, are the ordinary and permanent spiritual officers of the
churches, while the office of deacon has special reference to the
secular interests of churches. Of these officers in order:
1. PASTOR. This term was first applied to ministers having oversight
of churches, because there is a striking analogy between such a
minister and a literal shepherd. A shepherd has under his charge a
flock, for which he must care, and for whose wants he must provide.
The sheep and the lambs must be looked after. The Lord Jesus, "the
great Shepherd of the sheep," the chief Shepherd, virtually says to
all his under-shepherds, as He did to Peter, "Feed my sheep," "Feed my
lambs." (Jn. 21:15-18) It is worthy of remark that this language was
not addressed to Peter till the Saviour obtained from him an
affirmative answer to the question three times propounded, "Lovest
thou me? " As if he had said, "I love my spiritual flock so well, I
cannot entrust the sheep and lambs composing it to any man who does
not love me." And love to Christ must be regarded in all ages and in
all places as the pastor's supreme qualification. All other
qualifications are worthless if this is absent. Talent and learning
are not to be undervalued; but they must be kept under the control of
piety, and receive its sanctifying impress. With regard to the
pastoral office, there are two things worthy of special consideration.
2. The Work of Pastors. Truly theirs is a work. Paul says, "If any man
desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work" 1 Tim. 3: 1).
It is indeed a good work - the best work on earth - but a work. We
must not suffer the term bishop to suggest any such idea as the word
in its modern acceptation implies. In apostolic times there were no
bishops having charge of the churches of a district of a country, a
province, or a kingdom. A bishop was a pastor of a church, and the New
Testament, so far from encouraging a plurality of churches under one
pastor, refers, in two instances at least, to a plurality of pastors
in one church (See Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1).
In the former passage the elders of the church at Ephesus are called
overseers, and the word thus translated is the same rendered bishop in
Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 2:25. Thus does it
appear that pastor, bishop, and elder are three terms designating the
same office. This view is further confirmed by a reference to I Peter
5:1-2, where elders are exhorted to feed the flock - that is, to
perform the office of pastor or shepherd taking the oversight thereof,
etc. - that is, acting the part of bishops or overseers. For the word
translated taking the oversight belongs to the same family of words as
the term rendered bishop in the passages cited.
It is plain, therefore, that a pastor's work is the spiritual
oversight of the flock, the church he serves. Like a good literal
shepherd he must care for the feeble and the sick, as well as for the
healthy and the vigorous. Some he can feed with "strong food," while
others can digest nothing stronger than “milk.” He must exercise a
sanctified discretion, and "study to show himself approved to God, a
workman that needeth not, to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth." (11 Tim. 2:15) Much depends on dividing the word of truth
rightly; and hence the necessity of study - prayerful study, imbued
with the spirit of the Master.
The administration of ordinances as well as the preaching of the word
is the proper business of the pastor. It does not accord with the plan
of this volume to elaborate any topic, and therefore the work of the
pastor cannot be enlarged on, nor is there room to present the many
motives to pastoral fidelity. The mention of two must suffice: the
church, over whose interest the pastor watches, has been "bought with
the precious blood of Christ" (I Pet. 1:19); and the faithful pastor
will, when "the chief Shepherd" comes, "receive a crown of glory that
fadeth not away" (I Pet. 5:4). What motives to diligence and
faithfulness could possess more exhaustless power!
Discussion by Leader:
1. How may a young man determine whether he has been called to the
ministry or not?
2. Why does this church in particular need to pray that God will call
young men from this church to His ministry?
3. Why the great need of God-called, trained pastors today?
4. What is wrong with so many pastors, well-educated pastors, today?
Parts for Assignment:
1. Can a church exist without pastors and deacons?
2. What two offices are permanent offices of the church?
3. Why the name Pastor?
4. What is the work of the pastor of the church?
5. Discuss why there are three names given in the New Testament to the
one office of pastor - pastor, bishop, and elder.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of the qualifications of a pastor? Name several.
2. What are the duties of a pastor? Name several.
3. What do many churches require of a pastor today that the New
Testament does not require?
4. What are the most important duties of a pastor? If he fulfills
these Scriptural duties, will he have time for many duties that people
seem to-think is required of a pastor?
5. How can we help our pastor to fulfill his duties?
Midi playing is; I Have
Decided to Follow Jesus
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