The Pastoral Challenge
(I Timothy 4:6-16)
1. At a recent pastor’s retreat each minister in attendance was asked the following question: “How many people does it take to replace a burnt out light bulb?” The answers were as follows.
2.A Reformed Pastor responded, “None. If God wants the bulb replaced, He is sovereign and will do it Himself without human effort.”
3.Charismatic Pastor: “None. The bulb doesn’t need to be changed. God can heal it.”
4. Pentecostal Pastor: “None. We need to exorcise the bulb and cast out the demon of darkness.”
5. A Baptist Pastor responded, “None. If we allow physical contact between a person and the bulb it might lead to dancing.”
6. The Wesleyan Minister replied, “None. If we just show the bulb its need, it already possesses the power to replace itself.”
7. Seeker-sensitive Pastor: “None. We don’t want to make the bulb feel unwanted or uncomfortable.”
8. This poll provides one clear conclusion: it’s no wonder some pastors are in the dark!
9. There are a lot of pastor jokes out there, because pastors have a lot of influence and most pastors enjoy a good joke.
10. Being a pastor is not a joke. The Bible takes church leadership very seriously. It has much to say.
Main Idea: Timothy was not technically a pastor; he was actually Paul’s “delegate.” Nonetheless, he approximated the pastoral role in that he was a shepherd. Timothy faced a number of challenges, as do modern pastors who are serious about the Word. Let’s look at a few of them.
I. The Challenge to Be in Constant TRAINING in the Word (6)
Good pastors are constantly reading and learning. They don’t just study for next Sunday’s sermon, they study to learn more about Scripture, theology, counseling, or the issues of the day. They build a reservoir of knowledge from which they draw, and they keep the reservoir flowing with fresh water.
A. “These things” refer to ALL Paul said, and being trained is an ongoing process (6).
Ellicott makes this comment: The Greek present participle rendered here “nourished up in,” marks a continuous and permanent process of self-education. It might be translated “ever training thyself”—a wise and never-to-be-forgotten precept...
B. Pastors do not learn all they need in school; education gives them the TOOLS to study and a launch.
John MacAruthur comments, “Much of contemporary preaching is weak and produces weak churches because it reflects a lack of biblical knowledge and a minimal commitment to the study of Scripture. For many pastors, study is an unwelcome intrusion into their schedule It interrupts the routine of administrative tasks and meetings with which they occupy themselves. They study only enough to make a sermon, not to feed their own hearts and think deeply and carefully on divine truth. This has not always been the case...pastors...were [,] above all students of Scripture, not merely communicators, administrators, or counselors. Their understanding and interpretation of Scripture was marked by precision. They labored hard at preaching and teaching.” I Timothy, page 161.
C. Teaching and preaching are so crucial they were the church’s first PAID position.
I Timothy 5:17-18, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 4:2, “...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
D. Respect the pastor’s right to set his own study AGENDA.
1. Don’t hand him books, videos, or music CDs. Not rude, but could be better.
2. Better to say, “I read this great book. If you would like to borrow it, let me know.”
3. I usually put them away for a couple of months and return them. I have stacks of books to read, videos I could see if I want to, and I may not even like the music that you like.
4. Pastors sometimes read popular authors like Wiersbe or Swindoll, but if they are deep in their studies, they might tackle Justification and Variegated Nomism or read puritan notables.
II. The Challenge of TANGENTS, Fads, and Diversions (7-8)
A. In Paul’s day, it was Jewish MYTHS.
B. In our day, it is often FADS and tangents.
1. At one time, it was setting the date for Christ’s return and End Time Prophecy. What we can know is important, but speculation can be a tangent. Because it is Bible, or sensationalism?
2. Some of the worship wars have been a more contemporary tangent.
3. All different sorts of emotional or mystical experiences surface, like holy laughter or prosperity theology, the legitimatizing of using God for self-centered reasons.
C. The better ALTERNATIVE is training in godliness.
1. Investing in our treasures in heaven instead of our treasures on earth.
2. Salvation occurs at a point in time, but godliness is a discipline that requires ongoing training.
3. Its focus is on eternal rewards. Saved people are not concerned about “making it” to heaven; we are safe in Christ. Concern: glorifying God/maturity & earning rewards in glory (storing up).
III. The Challenge to Keep the FOCUS Where It Belongs (9-10)
A. All God’s servants need to be willing to LABOR and strive.
A pastor is not a hired hand; called to pastoral ministry, and the church where he serves remunerates him. A pastor is not a pastor because he is hired, at least that is not how it should be. He is accountable to the majority of the elders and ultimately to the majority of the members, but not each member.
His job to train the members of the church to do the work of ministry, serving the Lord. Every believer is to have a ministry. So when you are serving, you are serving the Lord and the Body of Christ. You are not helping the pastor, but doing the job God has for you!
Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ...”
• The “we” in this context: “we believers.” This is to be the focus of all Christians.
• Pastors try to nudge others toward this attitude.
B. The reasons we do so is because we have set our hope on GOD.
C. God is the Savior of all in general, and of those who believe in PARTICULAR.
IV. The Challenge to Command RESPECT (11-12)
A. Pastors have a level of authority and the obligation to DIRECT people to live scripturally.
B. Pastors have authority no matter what their AGE (11-12a).
1. If you are older, your doctor, dentist, banker, mechanic probably younger than you. Some people have a hard time when their pastor is younger than them. My doctor is young, but he still addresses my old age problems; I trust him over an older quack who is not licensed or studied.
2. A young pastor who believes and is fluent in the Scriptures is much better than an old pastor who does not have confidence in the Scripture or whose understanding is superficial.
3. Young pastors should expect respect.
C. Pastor gain more influence and respect as their example becomes KNOWN (12b).
The title brings with it a certain level of respect (we might call that tentative respect), but it takes time to earn deeper respect. As a pastor grows in his own walk, the godly in the congregation will take note.
V. The Challenge to Maintain Doctrinal & Personal INTEGRITY (13-16)
A. The emphasis needs to be upon the SCRIPTURES (13).
1. Reading (the word “public” is not in the Greek)
2. 2. Exhorting (preaching, applying, challenging, encouraging) from the Scriptures.
3. Teaching from the Scriptures.
B. The pastor needs to IMMERSE himself in his work.
C. The pastor needs to guard his PERSONAL life.
Some times well-taught, hard working, respected pastors fail in their personal lives and lose their own families or discredit their ministry by moral failure; some become workaholics, and that is asking for trouble. A pastor needs to be godly, balanced, and priorities need to be: God, family, and then church.
Some churches reward workaholism and punish balance. HPC has not been that way, which is part of the reason I have been here for 39 years! I have a pastor acquaintance who neglected his family because of slave-driver board members, and now his children have no use for the Lord. They view the Lord as having robbed them of their father, when it was the church lay leadership that did so.
D. This will save both he and his hearers from sin and SHIPWRECK.
