The Purpose Of The Pastor

THE PURPOSE OF THE PASTOR

John 21:14-17

By Dr. Larry A. Bergeron

Red Bay Church of God / September 24, 2000 / AM

Turn In Your Bibles To The Gospel Of John, Chapter 21, Verses 14 Following. We Will Be Reading From This Passage In A Moment.

INTRODUCTION

Last Week we looked at the topic of The Purpose Of God (To Save the world by Reconciling the World to Him Through the Cross & Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In Christ we become one with God and Jesus in both purpose and relationship. God has Given Us His same purpose , and we have all been given the ministry of Reconciliation. That is what God is doing.

Today: Today we’re going to look at the Purpose of the Pastor. Why do we have pastors? What is the Biblical Purpose of the Pastor?

There are many names giving to the position of pastor: Preacher, Reverend, Overseer, Bishop, etc. The term I like the most is Pastor and Shepherd. These go hand-in-hand.

Today I want us to look at a few verses in the Bible that tell us what the purpose of the Pastor or Shepherd is.

I want to begin by looking at the Gospel of John, chapter 21, starting with verse 14.

STAND FOR THE READING OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE (context: Shortly after the Resurrection of Christ. Peter went fishing on the Sea of Galilee with a couple of the other disciples. Fished all night and caught nothing. In the morning Jesus shows up and tells them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. They do, and catch 153 fish. John recognizes that its Jesus, and Peter goes to meet him at the shore, where Jesus has bread and hot coals ready for cooking fish. )

14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” [THESE = ANYTHING]

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

PRAYER

SERMON

TWO PRIMARY PURPOSES OR RESPONSIBILITIES OF PASTORS

1.THE PASTOR’S 1ST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LOVE HIS LORD

(this is also your 1st responsibility—Matthew 22:37-40 THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT)

LOVE FOR GOD INVOLVES AT LEAST TWO THINGS:

OBEDIENCE AND RELATIONSHIP

A. OBEDIENCE

37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’£ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’£ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is not hard to do when I recall all that God has done for me.

John 14:23-24

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

If my love for Jesus is kept fresh, then I will obey His Word.

This is why Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.

HIS COMMANDS ARE NOT GREVIOUS

John 15:9ff. Tells us what his command is . . .

9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.