Lesson 52

What does God teach us about pastors?

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers… God’s idea

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? 1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve… Pastor means shepherd

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? 1 Timothy 3:2-7

1 Timothy 3:2-7 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? 1 Timothy 3:2-7 qualified

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? 1 Timothy 2:12-13 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. a qualified man

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. called by the Holy Spirit…

What kind of person can serve as a pastor in a congregation? Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders [footnote: ordained elders / had elders elected] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. …through a congregation

Key Point #1 A man who is qualified and called can serve as a congregation’s shepherd.

At a wedding reception, a woman compliments the pastor who conducted the service. “You are truly a holy man,” she says as she shakes his hand. How should the pastor respond?

Agree or Disagree? If God wants you to be a pastor or teacher, he will give you some special sign before you get to high school. Give a reason for your answer.

The pastor serves a congregation by…

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? 1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. by preaching and teaching God’s Word

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… by baptizing and…

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? 1 Corinthians 14:33,40 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace… everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. …giving communion

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? Isaiah 40:1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. by publicly forgiving penitent

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? 1 Timothy 5:20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. by publicly forgiving penitent

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? 1 Corinthians 5:4-5,13 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you. by publicly forgiving penitent not forgiving impenitent

What does God want a pastor to do publicly in a congregation? 2 Corinthians 2:6-8,10 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake… by publicly forgiving penitent not forgiving impenitent welcoming back penitent

Key Point #2 God wants a pastor to preach and teach his Word publicly and to administer the sacraments and the keys.

A pastor’s job is to run the congregation like the CEO of a company. What’s wrong here? A pastor’s job is to run the congregation like the CEO of a company.

Sometimes people say it’s not right to excommunicate others because in Matthew 7:1, Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” How would you respond?

What’s wrong here? Once a person is excommunicated, that person can never come back to the former congregation again.

Why is this correct? Technically, congregations don’t expel people from the congregation; people expel themselves.

What if… a person who is about to be excommunicated quits the congregation first? a person who has been excommunicated claims that the congregation’s action wasn’t fair? a pastor tries to excommunicate some people to get his own way in the congregation?

Is it wrong to call a pastor “Father So-and-So”. Why or why not Is it wrong to call a pastor “Father So-and-So”? Why or why not? Is it wrong to call a pastor “Reverend So-and-So”? Why or why not?

Where can you find other hymns about the public ministry? Search the hymnal… Which hymn in the “Confession and Absolution” section summarizes the ministry of the keys? Where can you find other hymns about the public ministry? Of those, which is your favorite? Why?

“Everyone is a minister.” What’s correct about that statement? What’s wrong with that statement? Give examples of public ministers besides pastors.

What’s wrong here? The main reason we have pastors is that it just wouldn’t work if everyone was up front preaching and teaching and no one was in the pews listening.

Lesson 52 God wants a man to serve a congregation as its pastor by publicly preaching and administering the sacraments and the keys.

Vocabulary… “Pastor” shepherd

Vocabulary… “Minister” servant

Vocabulary… “Ministry” service

the call that believers extend to someone to serve them Vocabulary… “Divine Call” the call that believers extend to someone to serve them