In this portion of the letter the Apostle Paul focuses on Timothy’s role as a pastor.

What is a real pastor, as compared to, let’s say, a professional clergyman for whom it’s just a job, or a

religious “bunkshooter”?

There’s a wide range of opinions about pastors.

Put four Christians together, and you’ll probably get five different opinions of what a pastor ought to be.

How can a pastor ever hope to be effective if he looks out on a congregation that has differing opinions about

what he’s supposed to be and to do? The poor guy’s dead meat!

The only way a pastor can be effective is if he and the whole congregation adopt the Scriptures as the divine

and final authority for clarifying his role as a pastor—and if the elders of the church nip in the bud any

promotion of other notions

pastor are we looking for?”

Every church has its unique “ethos” or distinctive character.

A pastor that is right for one church may not be the right pastor for another church.

That’s why it’s essential to pray for the Lord’s guidance in leading you to the pastor he has chosen.

century counterpart of a pastor today.

Unfortunately, some congregations ignore what God’s Word says about this important matter.

They want a pastor who is a religious celebrity, or a champion of their social or political agenda, or the CEO of

their large ecclesiastical enterprise. And then there are pastors want to be lord of their own fiefdoms.

In the light of God’s Word, that is all unvarnished stupidity!

current as tomorrow’s newspaper.

If a congregation is united in the conviction that a particular candidate has been called by God to be its pastor,

then he is worthy of the people’s respect.

Please understand that this is not my opinion. It’s from God’s word, as we’ll see.

The way the Apostle Paul put it, a pastor commands respect from everyone. That’s biblical.

If he’s your pastor God says you must respect him, unless he clearly violates a standard set out in God’s Word.

This is also an enormous weight upon a pastor’s shoulders. He dare not betray this trust that is enjoined by the

word of God.

soul, because they know of renegade pastors who betrayed the trust placed in them by a church.

Some churches have been ruined by power-hungry pastors who don’t care for the flock. There are jerks who

have no right to be pastors.

why we must pray fervently for God’s guidance and wisdom.

This is also why a pastor must commit to a close accountability relationship with the church’s elders, to confront

him if he ever violates the clear standards of God’s word for pastors and elders.

The Apostle Paul was adamant about this. Timothy was the shepherd of God’s flock, and not even his youth

was an excuse for anyone to withhold proper respect.

Christians who refuse to respect their pastor without biblical support will have to give account to God for their

actions. That’s not a trifling matter.

God doesn’t look the other way when people attack a shepherd of his flock. There will be accountability

of which I was the permanent senior pastor. It’s one of the hardest things for a pastor to say to his own

church family.

It’s probably something the elders of the church should say to the church family every year. It should be said!

But I have the privilege of helping you prepare for your new pastor. So it’s imperative that I say these things.

By the way, I have been here long enough to see that Crossroads is a church that loves and respects its pastors.

Paul had also told the Elders from Ephesus, where Timothy was now the pastor, to be on their guard,

because even in a healthy church people will rise up to cause trouble and division (Acts 20:28-31)

pedestals. They are fallible mortals, just like all of us. They belong on their knees.

There’s a story about a little old lady. (Have you noticed it’s always a little old lady; I’m still waiting for a story

about a large young lady) . . . anyway, she was saying good-bye to the pastor who was leaving. She said,

There was probably a better way to state it, but she showed real respect to a real pastor. He did not shrink for

declaring biblical truth.

godly leaders have watched his life and have tested him in all aspects of doctrine and pastoral ministry.

They place their hands on him, recognizing that he has been set aside by God for the huge responsibility of

Which things? Everything Paul has written in this letter.

In Chapter 1 verse 3 Paul told Timothy to command certain people there to stop teaching false doctrine.

A pastor has the right and the responsibility before God to say hard things when necessary, for the sake of

protecting God’s flock.

under Christ’s authority. But pastors have a huge responsibility for which they are accountable.

There is no room for an authoritarian attitude in a pastor of Christ’s church.

A real pastor doesn’t “throw his weight around.” It’s the weight of God’s Word that he wields. God’s

commands of his people are often heavy.

nothing less!

A real pastor is not afraid of people’s reactions to God’s commands.

Perhaps it was his relative youth in comparison with Paul. Maybe in Ephesus he was still considered young.

never did, and . . . credited with virtues you never had.’ (I.F.Stone)

I have officiated at the funerals of a few scoundrels in my time. Some relative stands up to give a glowing

tribute in memory of the deceased, and I have to glance over at the casket to make sure I’m at the right

funeral. That’s undeserved respect.

Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.)

A pastor should be an example to the church of this kind of brotherly love.

remaining true to the Christian faith in all respects.

The Ephesian Christians desperately needed a model of godliness who would remain pure in the debauched

culture of Ephesus.

This is clearly just as big an issue today. Too many pastors have fallen dramatically and tragically because they

failed in personal purity.

congregation should expect from its pastor.

It goes both ways.

Pastors don’t command respect just because they have the title of ‘Pastor.’ They must live up to it.

Now Paul focuses on a pastor’s main agenda—in any church.

If there is one thing a church should grasp and never let go of concerning a pastor it’s this: a pastor’s life and

ministry in the church revolve around the Word of God.

This is central. A real pastor is not the CEO of a corporation or the manager of a business.

This included the apostolic letters and later the gospels.

People did not have personal copies of the Old Testament or the apostles’ letters, or the gospels.

Many of the people were illiterate. Some of the church members were household slaves

That’s why Scripture had to be read publicly.

The early Christians had to listen to the God’s Word, and remember it.

In the first century church the Christians applied their minds to the Word of God more than most Christians do

today.

Scriptures.

It’s urging them to obey and to apply the truths of God’s word in their lives. It’s basically preaching.

It also means giving stern warning against error in doctrine and against immoral behavior.

Earlier in this letter Paul said elders must be able to teach (3:2). How much more the one who is to be an

example to the church, the pastor Timothy?

Christians must know God’s word. Biblical illiteracy is dangerous. Biblical doctrine is of immense importance

to a church.

False teaching comes into a church and flourishes if the church members don’t know God’s Word well enough

to recognize error.

Prayer is a spiritual exercise of people who know and obey God’s Word. Otherwise praying is mere idleness.

The gift was the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.

Eloquence, education, charm do not a real pastor make.

A real pastor accepts the responsibility to cultivate and develop the pastoral gift given by the Holy Spirit. He

must never neglect it.

laid hands on you.’ Paul refers to this on two other occasions—in 1:18 and in 2 Timothy 1:6.

When a pastor is ordained, we affirm this gift of the Holy Spirit to serve as a pastor.

A pastor must never neglect this spiritual gift that gives prominence to the authoritative word of God.

A real pastor is careful to keep his life under control.

He should give people no reason to be suspicious of his motives or of his morality.

It should be obvious to everyone that the pastor is passionately committed to preaching and teaching the Word

of God.

It should also be clear that if a congregation is to grow and advance spiritually, their pastor is a worthy example

to follow.

Pastors must be spiritual leaders like that.

A pastor must be especially vigilant in two areas:

and his integrity.

This is Paul’s counsel to Timothy and to all pastors. Make sure your standards are high so that you are as good,

or better than what people say you are.

A pastor must never become so accustomed to his ministry that he just slips into auto pilot or cruise control.

The danger of neglecting one’s own salvation is serious. Even the apostle Paul was vigilant about his own life,

lest after preaching to others he miss the mark (1 Corinthians 9:27)

a pastor.

Until Christ returns these are the marks of a pastor that matter most in the church.