Or What Should He Be Doing?

To start answering that question, I’d like to share a story that a pastor told me lately.

I was having breakfast with one of these friends, who holds a couple of decades of pastoral experience. After giving our order to the waitress, we started chatting about my upcoming candidation vote for Lead Pastor.

He immediately began reminiscing about his first Lead Pastor position. “Make sure you carve out time for sermon preparation.” He said. Then he began expanding on his statement.

He explained that he used to start each week off with good intentions. But then he described how quickly time would slip away each and every week. From meetings to visitation, emails to administration, crisis to community events; little by little, his week would disappear.

There never seemed to be enough time.

Then he looked down and shook his head slightly. “I remember one week in particular.” He said. “Saturday was supposed to be my day off. But there I was, Saturday night, looking down at my Bible, filled with anxiety and no idea what I was supposed to preach on.“

In less than 12 hours from that very moment, this pastor was supposed to deliver a message to his flock and he hadn’t even started.

Are you shocked?

Well unfortunately, this is a typical scenario for many pastors. Every pastor has obligations that must be adhered to each and every week. But no two weeks seem to be the same.

Moreover, new opportunities for ministry are around every corner. Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to say, “no“. And yet, in the back of every pastor’s mind is a still, small voice, whispering:

“Sunday’s coming. Don’t forget to feed my sheep.“

1 Timothy 4:11-16

This week, we’re going to be in 1 Timothy 4, looking at what a pastor should be spending his time on, but also discussing the numerous tasks and duties that prevent him from fulfilling his true calling.

“11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Tim. 4:14-16)

Getting Some Context

To start this week’s topic, check out the following context:

Paul begins this passage by stating, “Command and teach these things.” The obvious question is “What things?” Well, 1 Timothy was written as a single complete work.

And since it is a direct statement, we can deduce that Paul is referring to all that was previously written, including everything covered in the previous chapters, like false teachers, a woman’s role in the church, qualifications for Elders and Deacons, and a bunch of other stuff in between.

Timothy must command and teach all of that! (Yikes! Timothy has his work cut out for him!)

The Next Verse Is Fascinating!

It’s almost like we see Paul’s train of thought, like Paul knows he might get a rebuttal from Timothy, “But Paul, I’m just a young pastor! These other pastors and elders are never going to listen to me!“

But Paul has travelled extensively with Timothy, spreading the Gospel on various missionary journeys. Paul has mentored and discipled Timothy and knows he’s ready. So it’s no surprise that immediately after this instruction Paul writes,

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.“

Timothy’s character will compensate for his youth. His speech, behaviour, love, faith and purity will compensate for his youth.

Timothy’s Primary Call

So Timothy is to command and teach church structure and practices. This is all a part of pastoral leadership. He has been called to lead the church of Ephesus. Leadership is definitely a significant role of a pastor.

However, leading the church should not be his primary role. A pastor is a shepherd. Timothy is a shepherd.

As we see from these remaining verses, Pastor Timothy’s primary call is to devote himself “to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.“

He must not neglect his “gift” of preaching and teaching. He must, “Be diligent in these matters” and give himself “wholly to them, so that everyone may see” his progress. He must, watch his “life and doctrine closely” and “persevere in them“. (1 Tim. 4:13-16)

But Why?

Why? What’s the big deal? Why is this so important for Timothy? Well, as the passage indicates, because his Spiritual life and the Spiritual life of his hearers depend on it. It’s like God‘s using Paul to get a clear message to pastors everywhere:

“Pastors, you must organize and lead the church, but don’t you dare get so caught up in church business that you forget your primary function: To read, preach and teach the Word of God.“

Now, publically reading Scripture is pretty straightforward, but for the majority of this week’s study, we’re going to explore a pastor’s responsibilities of preaching and teaching.

Are they different? If so, what’s the difference? And more importantly, why are they so crucial to pastoral ministry? Click the green “Subscribe Now” button below, to receive these upcoming posts, straight to your inbox.

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CAN I GET YOUR FEEDBACK?

What would you consider a valuable use of a pastor’s time? What would be considered a waste of his time?