THE BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PASTOR

THE BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PASTOR

INTRODUCTION

As people of the Book we must look to the Word of God for the qualifications of a pastor, not to examples of previous pastors we have had here, or elsewhere. “It will be hard to find someone to fill our pastor’s shoes.” cf. The shoes of every previous pastor any person here has had belong in the closet of history. As Bible believers we must look to the Word of God for qualifications not to the example of our previous pastor. For some Christians the hard part of any transition is learning to listen to another shepherd’s voice.

The proof of a pastor’s ministry: Do people follow him or the Lord? If the people leave when he leaves then they are saying, “We follow the man, not the Lord.”

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.         I Corinthians 11:1

THEME: THE THREE BIBLICAL TERMS FOR “PASTOR”

I. PASTOR      Ephesians 4:11

NOTE: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV

     A. The Greek Word “Pastor” Is Found Seventeen Times In The New Testament

          1. About sixteen times it is translated “shepherd”

          2. About seven of these references refer to shepherds

NOTE: The shepherds at the birth of Jesus

          3. About eight of these references refer to Jesus Himself

               a. Six times Jesus uses this word referring to Himself

               b. Twice it is referring to Jesus (Hebrews and I Peter)

          4. Only one time is it referred to as pastor of a church

Ephesians 4:11

NOTE: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers     Ephesians 4:11

     B. The Meaning Of Pastor

          1. A herdsman or shepherd

          2. Christ the Head of the church

          3. The overseers of the Christian assemblies or churches

          4. The position of kings and princes over their people

          5. The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd

               a. To watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep

               b. To defend the sheep from attackers

               c. To heal the wounded and sick sheep

              d. To find and save lost or trapped sheep

               e. To love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust

II. BISHOP

     A. Usage

          1. Greek- Episkopos

          2. Used seven times in the New Testament

               a. Once regarding the position Judas lost

NOTE: For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’       Acts 1:20 NKJV

               b. One time it refers to Jesus

NOTE: For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.      1 Peter 2:25 NKJV

               c. Five times it refers to the office of the bishop

     B. Meaning Of “Bishop”

          1. Greek

               a. Episkopos – Episcopal

               b. Skopos – English, scope

               c. Skopos – English, skeptic

          2. An overseer

NOTE: A man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done right

NOTE: The first law of Administration: Never do what others can do so they may reap ministry rewards in heaven

NOTE: For members to do nothing makes Christianity a spectator religion

NOTE: Christians are not given gifts from the Holy Spirit to do nothing but rather to do ministry

          3. Guardian

          4. Overseer of a Christian church

          5. Other meanings

               a. Investigation

               b. Inspection

               c. To look after, care for with concern

               d. To visit, go to the poor and afflicted, the sick

               e. To look upon in order to help or to benefit

               f. An observer, a watchman

               g. To look diligently

               h. The distant mark looked at, the goal or end one has in view

               i. That act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of people, in order to judge them

III. ELDER

     A. A Jewish Term

          1. The title given to Jewish leaders in the synagogue

          2. The word elder is found almost 200 times in the Bible

     B. The Elder In The New Testament Church

          1. About fifteen times it refers to pastors of churches

          2. When the word elder is used, it indicates that the majority of converts in that church were Jews

NOTE: When the word bishop is used it indicates that the majority of converts in that church were Greeks

IV. THE BIBLICAL FUNCTION OF A BISHOP, PASTOR OR ELDER          1 Timothy 3

NOTE: Watchful leading of believers on the basis of Christ’s work

     A. There Are Two Basic Areas Of Ministry

NOTE: These demonstrate the life style of the pastor

          1. His private life

          2. His ministry

     B. This Office May Be Sought And Desired

          1. There are qualifications

          2. The duties      Acts 13:4

NOTE: But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.          Acts 13:4

               a. The prayer services

               b. The study of the Word

                    1) For preparation of sermons

                    2) For personal spiritual development

                    3) For meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation

                    4) For leading from God in direction to move the church

NOTE: Everyday needs of culture influence this development

     C. Qualifications      I Timothy 3:1-7

          1. Moral reliability (blameless)      vs. 2

NOTE: A bishop then must be blameless …       I Timothy 3:2a

          2. Married to one wife      vs. 2

NOTE: … the husband of one wife …       I Timothy 3:2b

          3. Discipled family      vs. 4-5

NOTE: (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)    I Timothy 3:4-5

          4. Teaching ability      vs. 2

NOTE: … able to teach … vs. 2

NOTE: Preaching ability is not mentioned. There is a Holy Spirit gift of teaching but no Holy Spirit gift of preaching.

          5. Maturity vs. 6

NOTE: Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.      I Timothy 2:6

          6. Reputation vs. 7

NOTE: … he must have a good testimony among those who are outside

I Timothy 3:6

NOTE: According to the standard of the non – Christian world (Has to be around lost to win them)

V. HIS PRIVATE LIFE      I Timothy 3

     A. His Personal Life: Blameless (above reproach)

NOTE: What a person is on the inside will eventually come out

          1. Temperate (sober): sensible, discreet Titus 2:2

               a. Not given to wine (controlled by habits)

               b. Not greedy of filthy lucre (gain or profit as a motive for being in the ministry)

               c. Not covetous – Not a social climber, willing to become all things to all men

          2. Of good behavior i.e. good example

               a. Just – righteous

               b. Holy – doesn’t flaunt his sins

          3. Given to hospitality- willing to help those who have needs

     B. His Family Life cf. I Timothy 3:5

          1. The husband of one wife

NOTE: Example of Christ and His One Bride

          2. Rules well his own house

               a. His wife is submissive to him, in love and respect cf. The Church to Christ

               b. His children are in subjection by the means of honesty (gravity)

                    1) They are faithful (saved)

NOTE: If he can’t lead his own household to the Lord, how can he lead strangers?

                    2) They are proper examples, not accused of riot or unruly

NOTE: Riot: cf. Ephesians 5:18 drunk with wine, wherein is excess

NOTE: Unruly cf. I Timothy 1:9 disobedient

VI. HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY

     A. As An Individual

          1. Not a novice (a new convert)

          2. Not self-willed

NOTE: Bull headed cf. Jeroboam

          3. Good report of them which are without (outside of Christ)

NOTE: Good reputation cf. Napoleon: “Laws are for common men, not the likes of me”

          4. Lover of good men

     B. Methodology (way he ministers)

          1. Apt to teach cf. Great Commission

          2. Patient

NOTE: Willing to repeat so someone can learn; babes in Christ

          3. Not a striker or brawler

NOTE: A fight draws a crowd i.e. sensationalism gimmicks; but not a church

     C. Doctrine

          1. Vigilant       I Peter 5:8 (roaring lion)

NOTE: Every aspect of the church’s ministry must be doctrinally correct

          2. By sound doctrine      Titus 1:9

CONCLUSION

I. PASTOR

II. BISHOP

Ill. ELDER

IV. THE BIBLICAL FUNCTION OF A BISHOP, PASTOR OR ELDER

V. HIS PRIVATE LIFE

VI. HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY