Pastor Ordination Service

Ordination Service

Slide # 1…the perfect pastor

I’d like to begin the service this morning by reading to you the job description for the perfect pastor.

-The perfect pastor always preaches what we want, and for only 15 minutes…and…12.5 minutes of his message includes jokes and stories.

-He preaches weekly on sin but never steps on anyone’s toe.

-He works from 8 AM to 10 PM everyday...not just on Sundays and Wednesdays

-He is 26 years old and has also been preaching for 30 years.

-The perfect pastor makes $40 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, buys good books, and donates $30 a week back to the church.

-He is tall and short, thin and heavy, and above all…he is very handsome.

-He has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and spends all his time visiting with older generation.

-He makes 15 visits a day to church members, spends all his time evangelizing the un-churched, and can always be found at the office.

Prayer

Slide# 2

Read… 1Timothy 3:1

Chuck…there are two different Greek words written here in this verse that hold great value to you…and your future Ministry…these two words are…aspires…and desires.

By just speaking these two words aloud…they have very little significance.

But when used to explain the importance of the matter at hand…they both take on very important meanings.

Chuck…these two words should hold a very special place in your heart as you daily fulfill your calling God has placed on your life.

1st Timothy 3:1 says…”If anyone aspires to the office of overseer”

The word…Aspires…means “to reach out after”

…referring to an external action (outreach).

Reaching a lost world for Christ should be the number one concern of the pastor.

I need not remind you of the decaying world that you have been called to minister in.

The Dictionary defines the word aspire as… “to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, especially for something great or of higher value.”

Chuck…there is no higher calling in life than the position you have been called to serve in.

Not only am I very proud of the life you have now chosen to follow…but God is proud and trusting in your faithfulness to Him

Next we read in 1st Timothy 3:1 “if anyone aspires to the office of overseer…he desires a noble task”.

The word desires…means “To have a strong passion” (this passion is seen in the heart)

The day you asked Jesus into your heart…your desire to serve Him began.

The dictionary defines the word desires as… “to wish or long for; crave; want”

Separately these two have two completely different meanings’…

But when used together…these two words describe the type on man who belongs in the ministry.

One who outwardly pursues…because he is driven by internally desires.

To be effective in the ministry… a man must hold on to both…(strong passions) for his calling…while also have a (burning desire) to reach out to those who need to hear the life changing message of Christ.

We read in the Bible from Matthew 22:14… “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

There is a reason that today is a very special day…not just for you Chuck…and not just for the church…but this is a very important day for God.

God realizes that there are a limited amount of men who not only (first) qualify in meeting the requirements of becoming a Pastor…but (secondly) far too few men are willing to surrender to the call.

Slide #3 …the requirements

We see in Tim.3:1 the passion and desires it takes to be in leadership…where in Tim 3:2-7 we find the very specific … requirements that are expected by a man of God. (read)

An overseer is a man called by God himself to lead in the church.

As a person reads through the N.T. scriptures…the words “Overseer”… “Bishop”…”Elder”…”and Pastor” often appear.

All these words are used interchangeably to describe the same man …one who has been called by God to serve in full time ministry.

The Pastors responsible is not only to be a leader in the church…but he is also responsible to preach and teach…to help the spiritually weak…care for the church grounds and building…but to also help mentor other men who are being called into the service of God

The pastor should also be known for his integrity…

and his Christian virtues.

He must be a man demonstrating truth…honesty…and irreproachable character.

Paul reminds Timothy that a Pastor must be gentle by nature.

He shared with Timothy that gentleness in ministry… is not a sign of weakness but a necessary ingredient for the work of the pastorate.

He must believe in his personal Testimony and use it as a passport in reaching out to his community.

Chuck…not only do you have a responsibility to God and the Church.