What’s a Pastor to do? Have you ever wondered what your Pastor does? My wife’s grandfather used to say, “They play golf most of the week and get up and talk on Sunday for about 20 minutes.” Once I was asked if the denomination supplied outlines and sermons for us to preach. I said, “Some churches may do this, but we don’t.” Today larger churches may have multiple services each week but the messages may all be the same even though the style of music in each service may be different. When I pastored churches, I conducted four services each week but each message was different. (Sunday School, Morning Worship Service, Sunday Night, and Mid-week service. Some of these messages were summarized in my articles that I have on my “Blog” and were printed in the local newspaper each week. Go to http://www.kelseypeach.wordpress.com if you’d like to read some of them.)
Biblical Qualifications. Not everyone is qualified to serve as a bishop (overseer) of a local church (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-16). Three terms are used when referring to the same individual. “Pastor-teacher” relates to the spiritual gift that God gave to some men at the moment of their salvation (Ephesians 4:11). “Elder” refers to his relative degree of spiritual maturity (1 Timothy 3:6; 5:1). “Bishop” (overseer) is associated with the role he has over a local church. Rather than being appointed by a hierarchy outside the church, we believe that each local church has the freedom to select and dismiss its own Pastors (overseers) and leaders if necessary and done Biblically. (See Acts 13:3; 1 Timothy 5:20.)
Biblical Responsibilities. Both the Apostles Peter and Paul provided us with information concerning the responsibilities of the Pastor-teachers, Bishops, Elders. Peter’s instructions can be found in 1 Peter 5:1-4. He told the elders to shepherd the flock. This involves feeding, guiding, guarding, and spiritually healing those in his care. They should function like a “spiritual pediatricians” and work in conjunction with Evangelists who are like “spiritual obstetricians” who bring new Christians into God’s family. [5] Paul told the elders from Ephesus to “take heed to [themselves] and to the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His blood” (Acts 20:28). While imprisoned and facing imminent death, he reminded Timothy of his duties as the pastor (overseer) of the church in Ephesus. He told him to –
Be Aware. Even though other people may be unaware of what Pastors do, God, Who is omniscient, is listening and watching everything we say and do (2 Timothy 4:1). He even knows all about our motives (Revelation 3:8; 1 Corinthians 4:5). If a Pastor’s works measure up to God’s rules and standards (2 Timothy 2:5), he will be rewarded and receive the “Crown of Glory” (1 Peter 5:4) to cast at Jesus’ feet when every believer’s works will be judged (Revelation 4:10). [1] Otherwise his and our worthless works will be burned up (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10) without losing our salvation. A Pastor-teacher’s ultimate accountability is to the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:17).
Be Faithful. “…it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Those who dispense God’s truth to others must have full confidence in the truthfulness of God’s Word (John 17:17) and in His ability to keep His promises to His children (Ephesians 3:20). [2] Some of them are conditional and others are unconditional. There are promises in the Bible that Christians can’t claim. Some were addressed to the Jews alone. Don’t be deceived by those who teach the diabolical heresy called “Replacement Theology.” They teach that the Church has replaced Israel and that God is done with the Jewish nation. Many “churches within Christendom,” which will become a part of the “Apostate Harlot Church,” embrace this error. (See Romans 11; Revelation 17, 18). Question: What do the Pastors and teachers of the church you attend believe about the future of the nation of Israel? Those who believe in “Replacement Theology” will have a part in bringing in the worst holocaust on the Jews in the coming days (Jeremiah 30:7; Zechariah 12, 14; Revelation 16:13-16). At the end of the Great Tribulation, all nations on earth will turn on the Jews at a place in northern Israel, called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16; 19:11-21). Christ will destroy the Jewish believers’ enemies with the words He speaks. Their flesh will fall off their bones while they stand on their feet (Zechariah 14:12). Are you aware of the fact that Adolph Hitler used some of Martin Luther’s writings in which he denounced the Jews, as his justification to try to exterminate the Jews in the “final solution”? [3]
Be Authoritative. “Preach the Word [of God with authority]” (2 Timothy 4:2). We don’t need to apologize for it. “God said it. That settles it whether we believe it or no.” All 66 books of the Bible (but not the the apocryphal books which were written between the Old and New Testaments) are God breathed and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. All of it is for us, but not all of it is addressed to Christians (Titus 1:9). Its purpose is to make the [men and women] of God (i.e. Christians) complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; See Ephesians 2:10). Are the sermons you hear in church or on radio or TV usually about pop psychology, self love, ego-boosters, and man made religions or are they the careful exposition (explanation) of God’s Word?
Be Distinctive. A Pastor needs to know and teach the differences between the Old and New Testaments, between the Mosaic Law (Exodus 19:9-Matthew 12:50), Grace Teachings for Christians (John 13-Revelation 4), and the stringent Kingdom Rules (Matthew 5-7; Hebrews 8:10) for the people who will live on the renovated earth (Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:1-9; 35:1-10) during the millennial reign of Christ on/over the earth from the “satellite” heavenly New Jerusalem (Revelation 20:1-7; 21:9-27). This city is 1,500 miles square at the base and 1,5000 miles high, perhaps in the shape of a cube or a pyramid. It will be the source of light for the earth during the millennium (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 21:23). Those teachers who don’t rightly divide the Word of truth will cause many people to be confused and frustrated. (See the warning in James 3:1.) False teachers like to allegorize the Bible and change the intended purpose and meaning of the writer, especially when the subject is Bible prophecy. The Bible is to be interpreted literally, (i.e. normally, historically, grammatically, and contextually). When interpreted correctly, one will realize that God has different rules for different people in different times known as “Dispensations – Rules for Living.” They are NOT different ways for people to be saved! (See our Dispensations Chart on our website.) [4]
Be Ready. Believers are told to “[set aside] the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). As the need arises, the Pastor-teacher also needs to convince, rebuke, and exhort others with all long suffering and teaching (2 Timothy 2:24-26; 4:2-5; 3:16, 17). In the last days many churches will be filled with “professing Christians” (tares) who aren’t really saved, and/or with “carnal Christians” who are saved but who don’t act like Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:19-21). These people won’t endure or put up with sound doctrine but will follow “false teachers” who tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3, 4; Isaiah 30:10). Do you fit into one of these categories? If you do, get Biblical help immediately from a competent counsellor. Sadly, many people turn to “Christian counsellors” who believe that we’re saved by God’s grace through faith in the Christ of the Scriptures, but who want Christians to live according to the Mosaic Law or Kingdom Rules. Many of them talk about the Gospel for salvation, but never tell people what it is and on Whom they need to believe in order to be saved from hell to heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-10). [6, 7]
Be Watchful. Savage wolves, masquerading either as sheep or as angels of light, have been causing havoc in churches since its inception (Acts 20:28-31; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Jesus also warned the Jewish believers living under the Mosaic Law in His days on earth of the danger of false prophets (Matthew 7:15). The Apostle Paul wasn’t afraid to identify them to the Christians to whom he wrote, and neither should a Pastor-teacher be afraid to do the same thing for the protection of the sheep in his care.
Be Equipping. Many people in churches today expect the Pastor-teacher(s) and the “Paid Staff” to do all or most of the work of ministry in the local church. No, God wants every Christian to know what his/her spiritual gift is, and use it for God’s glory and for the edification of others (1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Peter 4:10; Galatians 5:13). If you’re saved, do you know what your gift is, and are you using it with love (1 Corinthians 13)? [5] Is this subject taught correctly in the church you attend?
Being a faithful Pastor-teacher (bishop) has many other responsibilities. There are joys and sorrows associated with the work. If you are a true Christian and have a Pastor who believes in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible, that Jesus Christ is God manifested in human flesh, and is the virgin born son of Mary, Who lived a sinless life, and Who died for our sins and rose again bodily from the grave, that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in the Christ of the Scriptures alone, [6] and who is teaching Christians to live according to “Grace teachings” (not the Mosaic Law or Kingdom Law), then pray for/and encourage him in the work he is doing. If not, you should look for a different Pastor and local, Bible believing church (2 Corinthians 6:14; Revelation 18:4).
Help? We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to grow spiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17). If you need additional help or have Bible questions, contact us here or through our website: http://www.kelseypeach.com. Click on “Follow” to receive future articles as they come out. Keep looking up. Perhaps Today! [8] Believers who love His imminent return will earn the “Crown of Righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8). [1]
[1] Crowns – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/whats-free-whats-earned/
[2] Promises For Christians – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/promises-for-christians-to-claim-2/
[3] Anti-semitism – Luther and A. Hitler – https://www.gotquestions.org/Martin-Luther-anti-semitic.html
[4] FREE Bible Study Book Marker with Dispensations Chart https://www.kelseypeach.com/_files/ugd/08892a_ce5bb78881fa4f50a6c866dd9ab0adfe.pdf
[5] Spiritual Gifts – https://www.kelseypeach.com/bible-basics
[6] Which Jesus Saves? https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/which-jesus-saves/
[7] Gospel Presentations – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2022/02/16/gospel-presentations/
[8] The Order Of Coming Events – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/the-order-of-coming-events/