Spiritual Gifts
Part 4
Pastor
Old Testament Lesson: Ezekiel 34:1-2, 5-6, 11-13
1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said:
2 "Man, preach against the leaders of Israel. They are shepherds for My people. Preach and say to them: ‘The Lord GOD says: The future will be terrible for those shepherds of Israel. Those shepherds feed only themselves! Why don’t they feed the flock [sheep group]?
5 My sheep scattered, because they had no shepherd, and My sheep became food for every wild animal.
6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They scattered all over the earth, and no one searched for them."
11 The Lord God says: "I will search and find MY sheep. And I will supervise them.
12 I will become as a shepherd searching for My sheep. I will find My sheep and save them from all places they scattered in that dark and sad day.
13 I will lead them from far countries and I will lead them to their own home. I will lead them again to the mountains and streams in ISRAEL and I will feed them in pleasant places."
Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 5:1-4
1 Now I want to tell the ELDERS in your group. I also am an ELDER with you. I saw Christ suffer. And I will share in His glory.
2 I beg you: become shepherds for God’s flock [sheep group]. You are responsible for them. Watch-over them.
Do that, not because you "must," but because you want to do that, as also God wants. Do that because your serving makes you happy, not because you want money.
3 You are responsible for those people. Don't act like a ruler over them, but become good examples for them.
4 Then when Christ, our Chief Shepherd, comes, you will get a crown that has glory that will never melt-away.
Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-16, 27-28
11 Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives-up HIS life for the sheep.
12 The HIRED man is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his. When he sees the wolf coming, the HIRED man leaves the sheep and runs-away. And the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them all.
13 The HIRED man runs-away because he works only for himself, and that man doesn't-care about the sheep.
14 But I am the Good Shepherd. I know MY sheep, and MY sheep know ME.
15 The same-as the Father knows ME, and I know the Father, and I give-up MY life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep. They are not-yet in this FLOCK [sheep group], but I must lead them also. And they will hear MY voice. Then all the sheep will join one group, and they will have one Shepherd.
27 MY sheep listen to MY voice. I know them, and they follow ME.
28 I give them eternal life. MY sheep will never become lost, and no one can take-away them from ME."
Notes to the reader:
When you see the word "PASTOR" capitalized, spell it.
When you see "pastor*" with an asterisk, you may say "pastor," but sign "shepherd." Our normal sign for pastor ("preach") will not work here.
Many theologians insist that Ephesians 4:12 names "pastor-teacher" as a single calling. The grammar of the Greek text of permits translating the text either way -- "pastor-teacher" or "pastor and teacher" as two distinct callings. Note that Romans 12:7 lists teaching as a separate gift of the Holy Spirit. For the sake of practical application, I prefer to treat pastor and teacher as two distinct gifts. Even though most pastors engage in a teaching ministry, not all pastors have the gift of teaching. And not all who have been gifted to teach have the heart of a pastor.
When you see the word "PASTOR" capitalized, spell it.
When you see "pastor*" with an asterisk, you may say "pastor," but sign "shepherd." Our normal sign for pastor ("preach") will not work here.
Many theologians insist that Ephesians 4:12 names "pastor-teacher" as a single calling. The grammar of the Greek text of permits translating the text either way -- "pastor-teacher" or "pastor and teacher" as two distinct callings. Note that Romans 12:7 lists teaching as a separate gift of the Holy Spirit. For the sake of practical application, I prefer to treat pastor and teacher as two distinct gifts. Even though most pastors engage in a teaching ministry, not all pastors have the gift of teaching. And not all who have been gifted to teach have the heart of a pastor.
We continue our study about Spiritual Gifts -- various abilities that God gives to His people for doing His work on earth.
Not everyone has the same gifts.
But God gives everyone a gift, a skill, for serving Him.
The Bible lists those gifts from the Holy Spirit in several different chapters.
We see those gifts in two groups:
The first group is "Proclamation" [announcing] gifts.
Maybe a better name for that group is
"communication gifts."
We use those gifts for telling people God's message.
The second group is serving.
Now we focus on the first group -- communication gifts.
Remember that communication about God... comes from God.
When we read Ephesians chapter 4, we see five communication gifts named:
1. Apostle
2. Prophet
3. Evangelist
Today we look at #4 -- PASTOR.
The word "PASTOR" is a Latin word
that means "shepherd."
Sometimes the Bible uses other names for that worker:
ELDER
OVERSEER [supervisor]
When we see that word PASTOR, we normally sign "preach."
Because that is what most people PASTORS doing -- preaching.
But that name PASTOR means someone who takes care of God's people, the same as a shepherd cares for his sheep.
So for our lesson today, when I say the word PASTOR, I will sign "shepherd."
The Bible says:
Jesus Christ is Himself the Chief Shepherd
and we only serve as His assistants.
How does a pastor* do that?
How does he take care of God's people?
When we look down this list of various spiritual gifts,
we see many things that a pastor* has and does in his work.
Teaching
Encouraging
Evangelizing
Counseling
Managing
Helping
Giving
Is any pastor* skilled in doing ALL of those things? No.
Most pastors* are naturally skilled in doing a only few of those duties.
One pastor* maybe is a good preacher,
but he is a lousy counselor.
Another pastor* maybe a good counselor,
but he is a lousy teacher.
Another pastor* maybe a good teacher,
but he is a lousy administrator.
So what is one thing that ALL pastors* must have?
What gift from the Holy Spirit helps a person for his service
under the title "PASTOR"?
Number 1 !!!
A pastor* must have a heart filled with love and concern for God's people in his congregation.
A pastor* must understand that he is responsible for spiritually
feeding
leading
encouraging God's people
and helping them grow in their faith.
A pastor's* work begins with his attitude.
And that must come from God's heart... to the shepherd's heart.
That attitude will guide the pastor's* actions,
in all the various ways he takes care of God's people.
Our Bible lessons today all talk about wrong attitudes that sometimes ruin God's plans for a shepherd's work --
Lazy.
Selfish.
Doesn't-care for lost people.
Not attentive to sheep that wander.
The pastor* focusing on himself and what benefits him.
Focusing on worldly pleasures.
Afraid to confront problems
when the Devil attacks the church.
We all naturally have those wrong attitudes.
That's called "sin."
Jesus Christ suffered and died so He could forgive those sins.
And then He fills us with His Holy Spirit
that gives us new attitudes.
His attitude,
His heart,
His love and concern for His people.
And that is what every pastor* must have.
Seminaries can't teach that.
Only Christ can make that heart change in any person.
Now, we must go back to that question about
a pastor's* many duties,
his various responsibilities,
and
his limited skills.
If a pastor* must do some work that he doesn't naturally do well,
what should he do?
He needs to do two things:
#1. Get training.
If he is not a good teacher,
or not a good administrator,
or not a good counselor,
or doesn't know how to introduce people to Jesus,
he can learn those skills from other people
who can do those things well.
#2. Find other people who do have those gifts, those skills,
and make them part of his team
for serving the church.
He needs to learn an important word: DELEGATE.
I don't mean a person who is a delegate, that represents the church at a conference.
The verb DELEGATE means giving a job to someone else.
Maybe God did not call you to become a pastor.*
But God gave you other Holy Spirit gifts,
other skills for serving His Church.
Use your gifts for helping your pastor* in his work.
No [none] pastor* can do all things well.
If he understands his own weaknesses,
he can watch for people who have those strengths,
and make them his team.
The Bible calls that team: a "body."
That is why God gives various gifts to different people,
so we can work together under God's leading.
The whole congregation is part of that team, that body.
While God wants the pastor* to take care of the congregation,
God also wants the congregation to take care of the pastor.
Service, help, and support go both ways.
[1 Corinthians 9:7-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17-18]
That is how all the parts of Christ's Body work together as His Church.
Not everyone has the same gifts.
But God gives everyone a gift, a skill, for serving Him.
The Bible lists those gifts from the Holy Spirit in several different chapters.
We see those gifts in two groups:
The first group is "Proclamation" [announcing] gifts.
Maybe a better name for that group is
"communication gifts."
We use those gifts for telling people God's message.
The second group is serving.
Now we focus on the first group -- communication gifts.
Remember that communication about God... comes from God.
When we read Ephesians chapter 4, we see five communication gifts named:
1. Apostle
2. Prophet
3. Evangelist
Today we look at #4 -- PASTOR.
The word "PASTOR" is a Latin word
that means "shepherd."
Sometimes the Bible uses other names for that worker:
ELDER
OVERSEER [supervisor]
When we see that word PASTOR, we normally sign "preach."
Because that is what most people PASTORS doing -- preaching.
But that name PASTOR means someone who takes care of God's people, the same as a shepherd cares for his sheep.
So for our lesson today, when I say the word PASTOR, I will sign "shepherd."
The Bible says:
Jesus Christ is Himself the Chief Shepherd
and we only serve as His assistants.
How does a pastor* do that?
How does he take care of God's people?
When we look down this list of various spiritual gifts,
we see many things that a pastor* has and does in his work.
Teaching
Encouraging
Evangelizing
Counseling
Managing
Helping
Giving
Is any pastor* skilled in doing ALL of those things? No.
Most pastors* are naturally skilled in doing a only few of those duties.
One pastor* maybe is a good preacher,
but he is a lousy counselor.
Another pastor* maybe a good counselor,
but he is a lousy teacher.
Another pastor* maybe a good teacher,
but he is a lousy administrator.
So what is one thing that ALL pastors* must have?
What gift from the Holy Spirit helps a person for his service
under the title "PASTOR"?
Number 1 !!!
A pastor* must have a heart filled with love and concern for God's people in his congregation.
A pastor* must understand that he is responsible for spiritually
feeding
leading
encouraging God's people
and helping them grow in their faith.
A pastor's* work begins with his attitude.
And that must come from God's heart... to the shepherd's heart.
That attitude will guide the pastor's* actions,
in all the various ways he takes care of God's people.
Our Bible lessons today all talk about wrong attitudes that sometimes ruin God's plans for a shepherd's work --
Lazy.
Selfish.
Doesn't-care for lost people.
Not attentive to sheep that wander.
The pastor* focusing on himself and what benefits him.
Focusing on worldly pleasures.
Afraid to confront problems
when the Devil attacks the church.
We all naturally have those wrong attitudes.
That's called "sin."
Jesus Christ suffered and died so He could forgive those sins.
And then He fills us with His Holy Spirit
that gives us new attitudes.
His attitude,
His heart,
His love and concern for His people.
And that is what every pastor* must have.
Seminaries can't teach that.
Only Christ can make that heart change in any person.
Now, we must go back to that question about
a pastor's* many duties,
his various responsibilities,
and
his limited skills.
If a pastor* must do some work that he doesn't naturally do well,
what should he do?
He needs to do two things:
#1. Get training.
If he is not a good teacher,
or not a good administrator,
or not a good counselor,
or doesn't know how to introduce people to Jesus,
he can learn those skills from other people
who can do those things well.
#2. Find other people who do have those gifts, those skills,
and make them part of his team
for serving the church.
He needs to learn an important word: DELEGATE.
I don't mean a person who is a delegate, that represents the church at a conference.
The verb DELEGATE means giving a job to someone else.
Maybe God did not call you to become a pastor.*
But God gave you other Holy Spirit gifts,
other skills for serving His Church.
Use your gifts for helping your pastor* in his work.
No [none] pastor* can do all things well.
If he understands his own weaknesses,
he can watch for people who have those strengths,
and make them his team.
The Bible calls that team: a "body."
That is why God gives various gifts to different people,
so we can work together under God's leading.
The whole congregation is part of that team, that body.
While God wants the pastor* to take care of the congregation,
God also wants the congregation to take care of the pastor.
Service, help, and support go both ways.
[1 Corinthians 9:7-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17-18]
That is how all the parts of Christ's Body work together as His Church.