PASTORS –Pastor Winston McClurg
I. GOD
A. His Plan
1. Salvation Is God’s Will
II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2. Reconciliation Is Available By Christ Jesus
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
B. His Promise
Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
C. His Provision
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
1. Some pastors volunteer:
a. For the right reasons. They have ability/desire to do good. Some of them may make good pastors. Others may fall and be destroyed not having been called to pastor.
b. For the wrong reasons. They like the attention, money, power, etc. Family members are preachers and pastors. It's a family tradition. Mother or father want their son to pastor. These individuals do harm to many members of the body of Christ to fulfill their own lusts. They like to speak and be heard.
2. Some pastors are called: "He gave some, pastors" Amp Version "He gave men to us" God personally choose these individuals to do a work as a pastor.
II. PASTORS
A. His Purpose
1. The term translated pastor is “poimeen” and it is normally translated shepherd. Indeed, it is never translated pastor, except in the Ephesians text.
Derickson’s Notes
2. (4166) poimh-n, — poy-mane’; of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literal or figurative): — shepherd, pastor. AV - shepherd 15, Shepherd 2, pastor 1; 18
He to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow.
3. To shepherd:
a. Gathers the sheep. Collect, control, draw, and limit are part of gathering
sheep.
b. Keeps the sheep from falsehood or things that are not true.
c. In the case of Christ, He died for the sheep.
d. Watches over the sheep.
e. Stick with the sheep to assure their safety. Won’t leave them.
f. Know his sheep. His sheep will also know the shepherd.
Acts 20:28 “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. 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
4. Perfecting of the Saints --- to bring into an orderly spiritual state and frame those who had been dislocated and disjointed by sin, and then to strengthen, confirm, and advance them therein, that so each, in his proper place and function, might contribute to the good of the whole.
5. For the Work of the Ministry --- that they might dispense the doctrines of the gospel, and successfully discharge the several parts of their ministerial
function.
Acts 6:2 “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”
6. For the Edifying of the Body of Christ --- to build up the church, which is Christ's mystical body, by an increase of their graces, and an addition of new members.
B. His Potential
1. Maintaining a regular prayer life --- develops a continual reliance upon God.
2. Walking in the Spirit --- lead of God.
3. Studying the Word --- able to minister the gospel effectively.
4. Building the Church:
a. Physically --- constructing a place of worship.
b. Spiritually --- Birthing babes in Christ and maturing the saints.
C. His Pressures
1. The church is given the gifts that it needs. We have a wrong concept of what the pastor of a church is. Today a pastor is a man that preaches, teaches, counsels, calls, visits, mows lawns, cleans floors, and everything else. We MUST get rid of the thought that the pastor of a church is the man that does everything.
Derickson’s Notes
2. Greater responsibility.
3. Greater judgment.
James 3:1 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive
the greater condemnation.”
4. Attacks
a. From without --- Satan desires to sift each and every pastor.
When the shepherd is smitten, the sheep scatter.
b. From within --- There will always be tares in the field until the Lord comes.
III. LAY MEMBERS
A. Purpose
1. Glorifying God.
Romans 15:5 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2. Edifying the saints.
Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Romans 15:2 “Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.”
I Corinthians 14:12 “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
3. Evangelizing the sinners.
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.”
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.”
B. Potential
1. From babes, to boys, to men. Pastors’ recognize potential in babes. He works to
help them develop.
2. Nothing is impossible when there is unity.
C. Problems
1. Goats--tares in the congregation --- Division ---Little or nothing is possible
I Corinthians 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked. 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
2. Apathy (lack of concern or interest) and ignorance (lack of knowledge)
among members.
A reporter asked a man on the street what were the two biggest problems that we face today. He replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” The reporter acknowledge that apathy and ignorance were two of the greatest problems we face today.
