What's the Job of a Pastor?

Many people today have very strange ideas about what a Pastor is and what he's supposed to do. They get their teachings usually from modern tradition or from their own denomination rather than from the Bible. So according to the word of God, what is the job of a Pastor? What should he do?

The answer is very simple. As simply put as possible, the Pastor should: 1. READ, 2. FEED, 3. INTERCEDE, 4. SPOT THE NEED, and 5. LEAD.

Let's look at each one of these in light of the scriptures:

1. READ THE BIBLE

The Pastor's job is to spend as much time as possible in the Scriptures reading and studying them. We find this in the book of Acts in the following passage:

Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

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.

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Here we find Peter and his congregation coming to him with problems. Rather than deal with them, Peter tells what he's supposed to be doing. He says he should not "leave the word." In other words, the Pastor's job is to spend as much time in the scriptures as possible, so that he might bring a powerful message to his congregation. He's to STUDY, and READ God's word and learn it inside and out, so that he might devote himself to "the ministry of the word" (vs 4).

2. FEED THE CONGREGATION

A Pastor is not only supposed to be learned in the scriptures, but he must also know how to minister or preach the word of God others. He must also know how to TEACH them, so that once people are saved, they will grow in the Lord. This is easily found in the following passages:

John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

God's intention for preachers and pastors is to not only PREACH the word, but also TEACH new converts from the scriptures. This is an important work, and is something all those who claim to be Pastors should know how to do.

3. INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS

We've already look at Acts chapter six above. And in verse 4 we read that one of the things that Pastors should do is give themselves "continually to prayer." This is to pray for others both lost and saved. They are to beg God to save the lost and help them to hear the Gospel, and they are supposed to intercede on behalf of other Christians who are suffering and plead God to give them grace and if possible deliverance.

Below Paul also tells us:

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

In the first verse, we have the Apostle Paul, who instructed us to be a follower of him, telling other Christians that he did not cease to pray for them. And in the second verse we find Paul instructing Timothy, a young preacher, to pray and intercede on behalf of all men. Thus, a true Pastor should follow this example as well, found often in prayer, praying for not only his own congregation, but also for other Christians, and even those lost people in his community and abroad.

4. SPOT THE NEED OF OTHERS

All throughout Paul's writings, we find him caring about other Christians and helping them. In fact, he often took up offerings for the poor saints. This is something that is greatly lacking among modern Pastors today who usually are paid large sums of money to Pastor churches, but often do not put a dime back into the offering plate to help the less fortune church members in his congregation. But there are oftentimes many Christians who come to church who have great needs, and it is the supposed to be the CHURCH that helps one another. Some verses on this are as follows:

Romans 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

2 Corinthians 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

2 Corinthians 9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

This "ministering" Paul speaks of was usually in the form of an offering unto the poor saints to help them in their affliction while they were suffering for Jesus. Sadly, many churches would rather give to the lost in the form of clothing, food, money, etc. before they would help those in their own church. It's not wrong to give. But shouldn't the Church come first? A good Pastor would be faithful in helping those in his own church and make sure their needs are met, before going to the lost world and helping the poor there. And any help given to the poor should be with the goal in mind of using that generosity to forward the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the poor.

5. LEAD THE CONGREGATION

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

The Pastor is supposed to be the spiritual leader of the congregation. That is, he's supposed to lead the people according to the scriptures. But he's not to be a DICTATOR. People should follow him as he follows Christ. And if he's a good Pastor, he will learn how to EXHORT people, rather than EXTORT people.

We live in a day and age of many Pastors who abuse their spiritual authority, and try to pressure people to do certain things. Further, some are so dictatorial that they might even force people to do things against their will. Such a Pastor is not of a sound mind, nor is he a good example of a Christian. For Jesus never forced anyone to do anything against their own will.

A good Pastor knows how to preach the scriptures and encourage people to do right, but he knows that he can't make people do anything. They should live for Jesus and obey the scriptures because they want to, not because their Pastor makes them do so.

And the Pastor should LEAD his congreation. This means he should be doing what the scriptures say, and not just telling his congregation to do it, while he himself does nothing.

We live in an age of Pastors who have the mentality of "do what I say, not what I do!" This is a horrible example of a true servant of Jesus Christ. In fact, it's a PHARISEE! For Jesus said the following of those old religious leaders in Matthew 23:3-4...

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Be very careful of Pastors who are quick to tell you what to do, but they never do it themselves. Or, they preach against something, but they partake of that same thing themselves. Those types of Pastors are not fulfilling God's plan in their life, and are most likely nothing more than hirelings, who only care about themselves, and not the people of God.

Once again, the Pastor's job should be:

1. READ

2. FEED

3. INTERCEDE

4. SPOT THE NEED

5. LEAD

Is your Pastor fulfilling his ministry? If not, why not print up this small article and give it to your Pastor? Ask him to prayerfully consider this treatise. And plead with him to put God first, his congregation second, and himself last. For a true Pastor will always want what's best for his people before he gets what's best for himself.