Being a pastor is the highest privilege someone could ever receive because they have devoted  their life to fellowship with Christ, the Source of Life, their hearts to love God, the Source of Love, their minds to understand the Bible, the Source of Wisdom, and their efforts to preaching, the means of Grace for everlasting salvation of a soul. What a privilege!

 

But every pastor faces the following frustrations.

1. People (conflict, apathy, failure, ineptitude, immaturity)

2. Lack of money  (both privately and as a church)

3. People’s expectations

While having to deal with these frustrations, a pastor’s high level of responsibility is further understood in the types of metaphors used to described their role. 

* A farmer (2Tim. 2:6)

* A shepherd (1Peter 5:2)

* A father (1Cor. 4:15)

* A doctor (Matt. 25:44)

* A teacher (Col. 1:28)

Each of these metaphors reveal the focus, responsibility, importance, gravity, and professional commitment required of a pastor. 

 

WHO CAN BE A PASTOR?

Being a pastor is not merely a career choice. Candidates must be Biblically qualified, divinely called, and equipped through gifting and training. If someone is attempting to be a pastor who does meet these criteria, they continually be overcome with the frustrations mentioned above.

* Those who are Biblically qualified (First Timothy 3:1-7)

* Those who are Divinely Called (Ephesians 4:11)

* Those who are Equipped (Ephesians 4:16)

 

WHAT PASTORS DO

Pastors gladly endure adversity and trials, are subjected to criticism, willingly make sacrifices, all for the privilege of serving Christ & His people. This attitude is essential for not allowing the frustrations which afflict all pastors to overcome them and drive them to despair.

To best deal with these pastoral frustrations, pastors must do six things to shepherd those in their care – 

1. PREACH
Preaching is the most public aspect of pastoral work. Great preaching is always sweaty!  That is, it’s preparation and delivery is always hard work! Great preaching: informs, inspires, and incites (leads to a positive response)!  Note the contrast between average and great preachers.

Average Preachers:
(i) preach too long

(ii) don’t conclude well

Great Preachers:
(i) connect well 

(ii) state the problem clearly 

(iii) conclude with an achievable solution

Dr. F.W. Boreham is considered to be one of the 20 greatest preachers of all time. In 1924 he was widely considered to be one of the most influential preachers in the world. His sermons were listed to by thousands and read by millions. How F.W. Boreham became a great preacher:

(a) He developed his voice by learning to lower it to produce a more authoritative tone.

(b) He broadened his content through reading more widely to be more interesting.

(c) He learnt from great orators (criminal lawyers, actors, preachers) and felt that no other speaker in the public arena should be able to outdo the preacher.

 

2. ASKING
A pastor must continually be asking of people- their souls, their time, their money, their energies, their consideration, their service, their attendance. Good asking is visionary, passionate, credible, and demonstrated by the Asker. If you are a pastor and are not prepared to ask of people, you are in the wrong job!

 

3. STRATEGISING

Most problems are not solved by prayer. Prayer is often the means of gaining wisdom so that a strategy can be achieved to solve a problem. Strategy answers the “Yes, but how?” questions.  Leaders’ training, evangelising, spiritual passion, events, managing staff/volunteers – all require strategies! 

 

4. TRAINING 

The most effective pastors are the most effective trainers! Training by a pastor involves-

(i) showing  

(ii) releasing

(iii) reviewing

(iv) repeating

 

5. ORDERING

The most effective pastors are orderly because they manage their time well!  The most effective pastors have learned when to say-

 “No”,  

“Yes, but not now”,

 and, “Of course now is a good time” 

¶ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Colossians 4:5

 

6. READING 

To be a better pastor you must be a better reader!  

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
Second Timothy 4:13

Good pastoral reading involves reading widely (especially biographies), & deeply. Some recommended reading for pastors would include –

– How To Read A Book By Mortimer J. Adler

– Any F.W. Boreham Book

– Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

While Evangelists intercept,
and while Prophets intercede,
and while Apostles interrupt,
Pastors interact.

 

Apostles are there before the journey starts.

 Evangelists are there when the journey starts. 

Prophets come and go throughout the journey.

Only the Pastor walks the entire journey with you.

.

PASTORS MATTER, BECAUSE…

People  Are  Seeking  To  Obtain  Reassurance.

Pastors pastor by:  Preaching,  Asking, Strategising, Training, Ordering, Reading.

So that…

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.
Ephesians 4:13-14

Ten little church members came to worship all the time,
One fell out with the pastor, and then there were nine.
Nine little members stayed up late,
One overslept and then there were eight.
Eight little church members on their way to heaven.
One took the low road and now there are seven. 

Seven little church members all chirping like chicks.
One didn’t like the music, so now there are six.
Six little church members seemed very much alive.
But one got ‘travelitis’: this left five. 

Five little church members pulling for heaven’s shore.
One got tired and disgruntled, and this left four.
Four little church members, busy as can be:
But one got his feelings hurt, and now there are three.
Three little church members and the story’s almost done.
For two of them got weary and this left one. 

Now everybody knows that one much can’t do
But one brought a friend last month and then there were two.
Two little church members each won one more,
Now, don’t you see? 2 + 2 = 4. 

Four church members worked early and late.
Each one brought one and now there were eight.
Have you got the message, pointed and true?
Come on, folks, we’ve got a job to do. 

For you see, these eight church members, if they double as before,
In just seven weeks we would have 1,024!
In this little jingle there is a lesson true,
You belong to one or the other—
either the building or wrecking crew.

Pastors, let’s grow in our calling, craft, skill, and commitment to Christ’s people for Christ’s glory.

Amen.

 

© Andrew Corbett, 2016