Wednesday, August 30, 2017

The Pastor And The Church

Temple Baptist Church - 8-30-2017
1 Peter 5:1-4

Introduction: 

A.  As Peter begins this last portion of his epistle to the Jewish believers, he instructs the elders or pastors of the local churches.

B.  First, we see the importance and establishment of the local church. Verse 2 says, “Feed the flock of God which is among you.”

1.  The word “flock” speaks of gathering.  God has always intended for His sheep to assemble.

2.  The phrase “which is among you” tells me that this flock is one of many and is local to your home.  I know that in some areas you cannot find a good, Bible believing church to attend and must drive great distances to find one, but I am always suspicious of those who pass many good churches to come to yours because “it is the only one that does not compromise.”  I am against compromise and will not attend a liberal church, but many times, it is the problem of the traveler and not the churches.

3.  In Hebrews 10, Paul exhorted these dispersed Jewish believers to be faith to their local church.

C.  Pastors are God called men who are giving the responsibility of caring for the local church.  When our Lord resurrected, He gave gifts to the local church to serve in His absence.

a.  He gave the gift of the Evangelist.  This is the missionary.  The word “evangelist” means to bring good news or glad tidings.  He is to preach the gospel to every creature.  These missionaries are sent out of local churches (Acts 13) and are responsible to their sending church.

b.  He gave the gift of the Pastor-Teacher.  These are God called men (not women) who are biblically qualified to oversee the local church.  These men are also qualified to teach or feed the local church. 

D.  The pastor is God’s under shepherd who comforts and cares for His sheep. 

Ephesians 4:12-14  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

E.  The pastor is not a dictator!  It is God’s house, God’s flock and God’s sheep, not the pastor’s. 

F.  Now let us look at the work of the pastor.

1.  He is to feed the flock.

a.  Study.  This takes hard, diligent work – 2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

b.  Approved unto God.  Preaching what God wants preached - Acts 20:26-27 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

c.  Not ashamed of what he believes.  2 Corinthians 3:5-6 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

d.  Rightly dividing the word of truth.  Isaiah 28:10, 13  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little  …  (13)  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

2.  He is to take the oversight of the flock.

a.  He is to willingly watch. 

1)  Not by constraint.  Though he is a God called man, pastoring a local church should be the love of his life.

2)  Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.  Though he lives by the gospel, money should not be his purpose.

b.  He is to diligently watch. 

1) Watch for false prophets - Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

2) Watch for false doctrine - 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

3.  He is to be an example to the flock - 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

a.  In word – his message - 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

b.  In conversation – his life - 2 Corinthians 6:3-4 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

c.  In charity – his love - 2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

d.  In spirit – his fervency - Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

e.  In faith – his confidence - Hebrews 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

f.  In purity – his holiness - 1 Thessalonians 2:10  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

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