Celebrating A Faithful Shepherd!

Sermon: Celebrating a Faithful Shepherd!

Scripture: 1Thes 5:12-13 “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.”

Introduction: What is a Pastor? The word "pastor" derives from the Latin noun which means "shepherd" and the term is a verb which means "to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat". The term "pastor" also relates to the role of elder within the New Testament church and is synonymous with the biblical understanding of minister. A pastor is God’s faithful steward who managing of God's resources and Christ Jesus' flock. The pastor takes responsibility, but not ownership. Many of God’s people have a wrong concept toward the Pastor, giving him a title as an “Employee of the Church” “Team Manager” or even “CEO.” He is more than all of the above, who is the Pastor? Well, he wears lots of hats—father, husband, part-time electrician, part-time projectionist, part-time snow-remover, part-time custodian, administrator, chaplain, and even part-time plumber. But really, the Bible’s understanding of the role of the pastor comes down to one concept: Shepherd! As such, he is a God-called, anointed person who is charged with feeding, protecting, leading, and admonishing the sheep under his care. He is a gift from God. Jer 3:15 “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Sometimes the weighty responsibility makes pastors the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, and the criticism considerable. Feelings of disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may begin to plague the best of them. I know that you appreciate your pastor and that’s why you are having this special recognition. You may ask yourself, “What can I do for my pastor?” Well, here are some things every church and every believer can and should do for him.

1. Know Him. Be well acquainted with your minister and esteem him for the sake of his work and his Master. He has many trials, and his work is hard: endeavor to cheer his heart. Acknowledge the fact that he is unique. His style, personality, gifts, character traits, etc. are unique to him. Let him be who he is. Throw away the measuring stick. The best way to know a person is to sit across the table from him.

2. Esteem Him Very Highly. Christian ministers, who preach the whole truth, and labor in the word and doctrine, are entitled to more than respect; the apostle commands them to be esteemed, abundantly, and superabundantly; and this is to be done in love. The idea is just as men delight to serve those whom they love, delight to serve your pastor. That’s what Paul tells us to do in I Thess.5:13. Always speak honorably and respectfully of him. He deserves your highest and best opinion. He is the messenger of God to your soul. He is your shepherd and teacher. So, take care of them, provide for them, and see that they want neither the necessaries nor conveniences of life. Know them, esteem them, and remember them.

3. Remember Him. Remember him at the throne of grace. It has been said that after a pastor has been at a church for some time, the church takes on a bit of his style and personality. That may be true, but I believe that a church can, through its praying, make a lasting imprint on his soul. Pray for him that he will be anointed in his preaching—that he will be humble, patient, full of faith, joy, and peace. Pray that God will constantly renew his passion for Christ, his church, and the unsaved. Remember a pastor’s first priority is to his family! Like any other Christian man, he is first provider, protector, and priest to his wife and kids. Don’t let the church pull him away from his to the point that it leaves a bad taste in their mouth of his family and creates unnecessary friction at home.

4. Follow Him. Follow his commitment, doctrine, and dependability as he shows you the way of faith by word and example. A leader is not a leader if no one is following him. Follow him as he follows Christ! Follow him, giving support and assistance. Using your skills and gifts to bless Him and the work. No pastor can do the work all by himself. He needs your help. There are some things that you can do well that either he can’t or doesn’t have the time for. Follow him with joy and contentment. If you hear a negative comment, respond with a positive one. If misinformation is being spread, correct it with accurate information. Sometimes, silence or just walking away will speak volumes.