Ministry is not for everyone.
What are the dangers in being a pastor?
What should we look for in a pastor?
1 Peter 5:1-3
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5:2-3. NLT
Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
Elders among you
Elders — The pastor needs to be mature in the faith. Most of the time this requires a passage of time and experience. Should not be a younger man. Life has a way of teaching us wisdom and trust in God.
Time to see the faithfulness of God. Maturity
Among you. — A shepherd is among the sheep.
Shepherd the flock of God
The sheep belong to God, not the pastor.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd that every pastor will be accountable to.
serving as overseers - a pastor's role is one of serving the people
not by compulsion but willingly
serving as overseers, not by compulsion Teaching for pay. $
George Mueller took away the pastor's salary.
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,
NLT—-Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care
Power trip “I’m a commander in the Lord's Army.”
Seeking to rule over you. Paul says that we are helpers of your joy.
2 Corinthians 1:24. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. KJV= helpers of your joy
Desiring others to be established in the Lord.
Desiring others to do well in life.
Seeking titles or honor above the people. Reverend, Pastor.
Those in full time ministry vs those who are laity.
We are fellow Bothers and Sisters in the Lord.
We are all slaves of our Master.
Serve in Humility.
I am not better than you. We are fellow servants (Slaves of God)
A pastor needs to be approachable.
being examples to the flock
Is he an example of a believer.
Can he say as Paul said to , “follow me as I follow Christ.”
Lead by example. Hypocrisy is a killer.
Servant of all. Romaine— unplugging a Toilet
Faithfulness
Knowledge of the Word. Love for the Word. Rightly dividing the Word
God’s word had the answer. 2 Peter 1:3
Is he a man of the word? Can you tell he has been with Jesus?
Family life in order. Talk with his family. Do they think he is a Godly man.
Love for God’s people. Love for his Family.
Is he a man of prayer?
Heart for reaching out
Does His testimony match his proclamation of faith.
Does he practice what he preaches?
Worldliness.
Is he caught up in the things of the world. Covetousness.
Seeing people as family and not numbers.
A Pastor‘s goal ought to be teaching through the entire Bible.
Paul told Timothy I have not failed to clear to you the entire word of God. Exodus 18:20. Instructions
Takes years, but I want to hear well done good and faithful servant.
If I’m teaching through entire books, I don’t get to pick and choose the topics that I want to cover. The word of God addresses life in every situation.
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A pastor needs to be convicted by his own teaching. There is a danger in thinking that I must teach others without applying these things to myself. It seems to me a lot easier to teach others of things that you were fully convinced of yourself. Preaching to others.
A pastor must not see it as his job to teach others something that he is not applied to himself.
AW Tozer said; Cattle are driven; sheep are led; and our Lord compares His people to sheep, not to cattle.
It is especially important that Christian ministers know the law of
the leader--that he can lead others only as far as he himself has
gone....
The minister must experience what he would teach or he will find
himself in the impossible position of trying to drive sheep. For this reason he should seek to cultivate his own heart before he attempts to preach to the hearts of others....
If he tries to bring them into a heart knowledge of truth which he has not actually experienced he will surely fail. In his frustration he may attempt to drive them; and scarcely anything is so disheartening as the sight of a vexed and confused shepherd using the lash on his bewildered flock in a vain attempt to persuade them to go on beyond the point to which he himself has attained....
The law of the leader tells us who are preachers that it is better to cultivate our souls than our voices. It is better to polish our hearts than our pulpit manners, though if the first has been done well and successfully it may be profitable for us to do the second.
We cannot take our people beyond where we ourselves have been, and it thus becomes vitally important that we be men of God in the last and highest sense of that term. The Price of Neglect, 151-153.
A pastor needs to let the word of God and the spirit convict.
If I can convince you to do something by emotions than someone else can convince you not to do those very same things by your emotions. The word of God establishes and make strong.
Always let the conviction of the spirit prompts us to be obedient, regardless of our feelings.
Let the Word and the Spirit of God convict. No need to yell or give impassioned pleas for people to respond. Just teach the word and let the spirit use the word to touch people‘s hearts. I’ve known some of the most mono-tone pastors have a very effective ministry just because they speak the Word and the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of the people. God‘s word is living, powerful, and effective.
DANGERS for a Pastor
Putting it in auto-pilot.
Losing their passion for God, His Word, His people.
No personal learning/study. No time with God. Busyness.
Leads to simply — Copy / Paste other “Successful Pastors”.
Simply Repeating something I have heard another pastor say.
Danger in Seeking followers.
Seeking Self Attention-”Look at me”. Look to me.
Instead of pointing people to Jesus.
Do not put your confidence in man they will let you down.
Do not follow a man but follow Jesus Christ.
Comparing with others.
Looking at numbers. Only 10 people here.
Best fed, Best Loved, Established Disciples
Be faithful in the little things.
Some are not satisfied with where the Lord has them.
Always looking for more. Not being content
On the other hand
Vision— we need to continue to reach out
Have a heart for the lost. Have God's passion.
Seeking “Success “. Seeking $Dollars.
Using worldly methods to attract people.
Comparing my flock (my Church) with others.
How big is your church? Aspirations of a BIG CHURCH
Is this just a step in your desire for a big church.
Having a goal (Agenda) different than Jesus'.
To make Disciples. Again Exodus 18:20
Pride-Look what I’ve accomplished.
Pointing people to himself, rather than Jesus.
Humility - ‘I am not worthy’ for God to use me in this position. '.
Doing ministry without the Holy Spirit. Routine.
Not letting people do ministry they are passionate about.
Using their gifts for God.
Ephesians 4:4. Trying to micro-manage everything.
Also a trap thinking the pastor is the paid one. He should do this. Acts early church growing pains. Why should we wait on tables? We will give ourselves to the study and the teaching of God‘s word.
Red Flags. Absolutely not qualified for a pastor
Asking for money Didache— Traveling teachers.
Is he in debt? A Slave. Not trusting God - covetousness. Idols
Does his hobbies consume his time.
He should be given to the study of His Word.
Acts 6:4. but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
John 17:14. I have given them Your word…
John 17:17. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Demanding respect
Lording over people. Looking down on others.
“Ministry would be all right if I didn’t have to deal with people”
Prideful. Unapproachable.
Pointing people to himself.
Unwilling to serve.
Does he have a heart and passion for God and His people.
Lack of faith in God.
He cannot take people beyond what he is experiencing.
Is he willing to teach through the entire Word of God?
Teaching the Word instead of the traditions of men.
Not focusing on one topic.
Being willing to change according to the Word.
When our traditions or beliefs are contrary to scripture.
Sometimes we can hold onto our traditions, in spite of the clear teaching of the Bible.
Legalistic— Rules and Regulations not found in the Bible.
Without biblical answers
Is he Without love for God, His people, His word.
Does he have a shepherd’s heart.
Lead sheep- Not drive the sheep.
Proverbs 27:23
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
Unwilling to step out in Faith.
Sees Ministry as a job and not a calling.
Does he feed the sheep or beat up the sheep?
Transparent—. Does he share his Weaknesses/ Struggles.
We are not looking for perfection, but honestly. Transparency.
You might ask; Where are we going to find this perfect pastor? Shepherd the Flock - High calling on God with a great responsibility.
Every shepherd (pastor) will give an account to the Chief Shepherd
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Luke 16:1-2
The Parable of the Unjust Steward
He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
Pastors have a special stewardship from God.
Romans 14:12
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
James 3:1
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
That should cause us to Fear Him.
I find many take this very lightly.
Greater influence on many people
Pastors represent God. Pastors can misrepresent God.
Every pastor should ask these questions about himself.
Do I have this heart? Do I meet these standards?
Every church should ask these questions about their pastor/teachers. If not there should be Red Flags.
The greatest qualification is humility. We are all in the process of sanctification. That is, giving our lives over to the control of the Holy Spirit.
