Baptist Doctrine #3
Pastor of a Church: Qualifications, Duties, and Authority
May God bless and lead our pastor in every way.
**Key Verses:**
1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
John 21:15-17: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
1 Corinthians 9:7-11: “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”
A pastor and deacons are the permanent officers of a New Testament church. While they are not necessary for the being of a church, they are essential for its well-being (see Ephesians 4:11-12: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”).
When selecting a pastor, do not use the standards of men:
1. Good mixer
2. Popular
3. Physical stature (e.g., over 5 feet tall)
Many great leaders like Paul, Spurgeon, and Moody would not have met these arbitrary standards. As Sam Jones said, would a man try to haul logs with a team made up of a mule, a billy goat, a bumblebee, and a sloth?
In any church, there are three kinds of members a pastor must deal with:
1. New converts
2. Young believers
3. Mature believers
In John 21:15-17, we find important truths for the pastor:
1. “Feed my little lambs” – Preaching and teaching.
2. “Tend my little sheep” – Counseling, comforting, and visiting.
3. “Feed my sheep” – Proclaiming the whole counsel of God.
In this passage, the Lord asked Peter, “Do you love me?” and Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” The love referred to here is a divine love (agape), while Peter’s response refers to human affection (phileo). We see from this that love for Christ must be regarded as the supreme qualification for a pastor. All other qualifications are worthless if this is absent.
Talent and learning are valuable but must be kept under the control of piety and receive its sanctifying influence. This is important because there is a significant analogy between a pastor and a shepherd. A shepherd has under his charge a flock, for which he must care, and for whose needs he must provide. The sheep and the lambs must be looked after, as the great Shepherd, Jesus, made clear.
For a more complete listing of the qualifications of a bishop (pastor), we turn to 1 Timothy 3:1-7:
1. “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
Pastor of a Church: Qualifications, Duties, and Authority
1. **Patient** – Gentle, forbearing, and considerate. Bishops are to be leaders. By such patience, your pastor has approved himself as a minister of God (2 Corinthians 6:4):
“But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.”
2. **Not a Brawler** – A pastor should exhibit peacefulness and should not be contentious or strike with his hands, nor should he be a brawler with his tongue.
3. **Rules Well** – He must rule well his own house, having children in subjection with all gravity. This demonstrates his disciplinary ability, managing two congregations: his family and the church (1 Timothy 3:4):
“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.”
4. **Not a Novice** – A pastor should not be a new convert or a beginner in the faith. He must have seasoned Christian experience. This applies to those who are to become deacons as well (1 Timothy 3:6):
“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
5. **Good Report** – A pastor should have soundness in the faith and good testimony, even from those who may not agree with him (2 Kings 4:9):
“And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.”
The work of a pastor is indeed a good work (1 Timothy 3:1):
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”
Therefore, the pastor cannot afford to be lazy. In New Testament times, a bishop was a pastor of a single church, not a plurality of churches under one pastor. However, there are instances where there seems to be a plurality of pastors in one church (Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1):
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”
From some scriptures, it appears that pastors, bishops, and elders are three terms designating different aspects of the same office (Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Peter 5:1):
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.”
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.”
The term “bishop” (meaning overseer) looks to the functions of the office, describing the pastor’s care and outlook upon his flock as a leader, guide, and teacher. It carries with it the idea of authority and rule. Therefore, it is clear that a pastor’s work is the spiritual oversight of the church he serves, akin to a good shepherd.
The administration of the ordinances, as well as the preaching of the word, is the proper business of the pastor (Acts 6:4; 1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Ephesians 4:11):
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
Surveys have determined that 75% of those saved are won by preaching in public meetings (1 Corinthians 1:21):
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
The church, over whose interests the pastor watches, has been bought with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19):
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
The faithful pastor will receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away when “the chief Shepherd” comes (1 Peter 5:4):
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
This motivates diligence and faithfulness.
All things earthly are liable to abuse, and that feature of congregational church government which places all the members on an equality in the transaction of church business has, in some instances at least, interfered with the deference due to pastors. Consider the following scriptures: Galatians 6:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:7-17:
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”
“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.”
In these passages, pastors are referred to, and there is claimed for them an authority not belonging to other church members. They are to be esteemed highly for their work’s sake. The words “rule,” “obey,” and “submit” in these quotations have significant meaning. The ruling is not unrestricted, nor is the obedience and submission.
The pastor is to rule in accordance with the law of Christ. When he rules in accordance with the will of Christ, obedience and submission on the part of the church members are imperative duties.
Pastors, in leading their flocks, do, in one sense, rule them; and it is the only sense in which they should rule them. While the proper exercise of pastoral authority relates to the spiritual welfare of a church, pastors must beware of assuming a power that does not belong to them. They must remember the words of Peter (1 Peter 5:3):
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
## Discussion Questions
1. Why does this church in particular need to pray that God will call young men from the church to His ministry?
2. Why is there a great need for God-called, trained pastors today?
3. How can we help our pastor fulfill his duties?
4. How is the pastor to lead the church?
5. Where does the authority of the pastor come from?
6. How should a church care for its pastor?
7. Is the pastor to be recognized as the leader of the church?
8. What are the most important duties of a pastor?