A Pastor as a Shepherd

 

Pastors fulfill many roles, but the most important is conveyed in the meaning of the word. Pastors are called to be loving shepherds of God’s flock.

In the article “What Is a Pastor?” we describe what a pastor is and also give a list of things that a pastor does. But there is still more to the description of a pastor. There is a personal relationship that pastors are to build with the members, and a bond of trust that should be established.

Pastors as shepherds

Ephesians 4:11 lays out certain offices given in the Church, including that of pastors. The word translated “pastors” here is the Greek word poimen, meaning “a herdsman, especially a shepherd” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions).

In the Old Testament we see examples of men that God used in positions of leadership who were first trained as shepherds. Moses and King David are just two clear examples.

Moses was trained in the knowledge of Egyptian military and leadership, yet then God prepared him for leading the children of Israel by having him tend sheep for decades.

Part of David’s training to become king involved learning to be a good shepherd.

Shepherds and the Chief Shepherd

Consider the apostle Peter’s instructions to the ministry:

Jesus Christ is called the Chief Shepherd, since He is the Head of the Church and the One who loves the flock so much He laid down His life for all of us. He set the example of how to be a good shepherd.“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Here the analogy of a pastor to a shepherd—and a congregation to a flock—is clear. Jesus Christ is called the Chief Shepherd, since He is the Head of the Church and the One who loves the flock so much He laid down His life for all of us. He set the example of how to be a good shepherd.

A good shepherd doesn’t use power to forcefully control the flock. He humbly and gently leads them. He serves the sheep that are in his care. When one has gone astray, he goes after it and tries to bring it back. A good shepherd leads by example. The flock will know and recognize the shepherd’s voice (Luke 15:4; John 10:1-5).

How important is a pastor?

Instead of giving you my personal answer to that question, I sent out a survey to areas across the U.S. and asked members of congregations for their answers to this question. Their responses describe not only what pastors do, but also how important pastors are to those they serve.

One man wrote: “A pastor can at times . . . be like a dad, uncle or brother. A dear friend and confidant who can give you both a hug and a nudge to grow, who is there through life’s storms and cheering in life’s triumphs. There is a special closeness with the pastor who counsels you for baptism.”

A woman said that her pastor “has always been there for us! He has served in so many ways, not just to the whole congregation, but also to individuals. He has helped brethren move, he has worked on their homes, and has driven far to anoint. And when needed for counseling, he never turned his back.”

Another woman wrote: “A pastor leads by example! He shows me how to follow Jesus Christ and encourages me with the challenges in my life. When my pastor talks to me, he gives his undivided attention. He makes me feel valued and listens well. My pastor has gone out of his way to come to the hospital to pray for my . . . mate. His wife is modest and sets a great example. Their hospitality and genuineness are important and appreciated.”

A man said, “[The] local pastor is someone who provides guidance, instruction, direction and unification. It is extremely important that he is able to serve towards strengthening the bond of the local family (the members in the congregation) and provide an atmosphere where everyone feels as if we are all part of the family.

“[He does this by] talking with everyone, giving everyone the time and attention so that they know they’re heard, they are valued, and that they are a valuable member of the congregation. Giving everyone the opportunity to serve as well as participate in services, study and activities. Letting everyone know that no one particular duty or service is more important than the other—from the mind-set that we all have different talents, and just because one person may be physically visible in their service, doesn’t mean that another member’s hidden (not as obvious/visible) service is [not] equally important . . .

“Promoting the bonding that so many of us need to feel part of the family of God. Excellent instruction and thoughtful messages every Sabbath should not be overlooked here.

“I will always remember when our minister showed up, without us needing to ask for help, at a time when we were strapped for options . . . He offered to help in any way possible.”

Another man said, “My pastors gave us leadership and were my mentors in my Christian walk of life. As a husband and father, it was important for me to have strong leaders and pastors of moral character, pastors that I was proud to call my friends and mentors.

A good shepherd doesn’t use power to forcefully control the flock. He humbly and gently leads them. He serves the sheep that are in his care.

“My pastors have had a servant attitude and served with humility. Showing a great deal of compassion for people, and very forgiving, especially during times of crisis . . .

“They have given of their time with hospitality, with genuine concern when you had to meet late at night at the hospital with a sick baby, or later on in life with a young adult child that required surgery. Our pastors and their wives have shared the good times and bad times as we struggle in our physical lives and have encouraged [us] to continue on the narrow path of Christianity. They have become like our family and that makes the difference, it creates a special bond that continues to develop and mature over many years.”

Another man said that his pastor “keeps confidences, is trustworthy, and does not gossip. He is always accessible, always willing to respond in a timely manner, and puts a priority on the needs of the congregation.”

A woman said, “Our pastor has congregations that are in different states, yet he visits individual members at their homes as often as possible. He listens and really cares about what we say. I love his wife, too; she really cares as well and exhibits joy to the congregation.”

Another woman shared, “It’s very important that there’s trust and confidence [between] my pastor and myself. That I could rely on him to help light my way and take me to the road of righteousness. It’s so inspiring to hear my pastor speak with clarity, honesty, loving and encouraging. I always look forward to coming to Sabbath services to hear him speak. I can never get enough of his inspiring sermons.”

And another woman said, “What really stands out to me about our pastor is he is always rock-solid in his messages and is biblically sound, backing everything up with Scripture and not his opinion.

“What I find valuable is that our pastor provides online evening Bible studies and leadership classes that are meaningful and scripturally sound.”

As you can see by these people’s replies, it’s clear that their pastors are understanding and are trying to follow the example of what Jesus instructed Peter to do.

Jesus said “feed My lambs”

A pastor is a shepherd who is to care for the flock of God. Christ’s words to Peter in John 21 are very poignant in showing Christ’s love for the flock and His desire for Peter (and, by extension, all pastors) to lovingly care for His people:

“Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs’” (verse 15). Spiritually speaking, “lambs” may be young or inexperienced members. In verses 16 and 17 Jesus also said, “Tend My sheep” and, “Feed My sheep.”

Here to serve you

The Church of God, a Worldwide Association, which sponsors this website, has pastors around the world who would be happy to talk with our readers. If you would like to talk to a pastor in your area, you can find the one closest to you on our “Congregations” page. Our pastors are more than happy to serve you.

What Is a Pastor?

 

The apostle Paul listed pastors among those God gave to serve the Church. What is the role of a pastor? How does a pastor help and serve the members?

When we hear the title pastor, it may conjure thoughts of a “preacher” or “minister” or even someone dressed in religious garments.

What is his purpose, and what does a pastor do? Are there certain qualities that a pastor should have? Why is it important for you to know what a pastor is?

Reactions to pastors

Having been a pastor for 16 years, I have had some unique interactions with people I meet. Maybe it’s on a plane, or at a meeting somewhere. After some small talk, they ask me, “What do you do for a living?”

When I tell them I’m a pastor, they often take a deep breath, seemingly trying to remember what they had said to me earlier. Some apologize for the profane language they were using. Others say, “I’m sorry, pastor,” after which I simply inform them they can call me by my name.

Most pastors don’t intend to make people uncomfortable! Considering the role a pastor is supposed to play in serving people, I personally hope I can make them feel comfortable.

The definition of pastor

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a pastor as “a minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation.”

The Greek word translated “pastors” in Ephesians 4:11 is poimen. It means a shepherd, but it is used metaphorically of an elder taking care of God’s flock, the Church. (See our related article “A Pastor as a Shepherd.”)

All pastors are elders (also known today as ministers). However, not all elders (ministers) are pastors with the responsibility to care for congregations.

To learn more about what a pastor is, let’s first look at what God says about the kind of leadership He wants.

Christian leadership

Notice what Jesus Christ said to His disciples in Matthew 20:25-28 in response to some who were seeking a position or title:

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles. They include instructions for Timothy and Titus on how to be leaders in the Church, able to train other leaders.“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This is the key to understanding what a real Christian leader is, including those who may eventually become pastors.

In verse 26 the New King James Version puts Christ’s words as, “Let him be your servant,” while the King James Version says, “Let him be your minister.” The Greek word translated “servant” or “minister” is diakonos.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines diakonos as “one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master; a servant, attendant, minister.” But the word is also used for “a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use.” And it can mean “a waiter, one who serves food and drink.”

Some may be thinking, “Wait a minute, isn’t a minister the one in charge?” Yes. Ministers, especially pastors, have the responsibility to lead congregations, but Jesus Christ clearly showed us that those in leadership positions should also serve.

What is an elder?

Elders are those who have shown a commitment to serve faithfully in spiritual leadership roles in the Church.

Elders, including those appointed to the position of pastor, must be officially ordained. One cannot ordain himself; there is a clear chain of authority given through those God has previously placed in office. Ordination involves the laying on of hands by elders and prayer (Acts 6:6; 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14).

Qualities of a minister of God

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles. They include instructions for Timothy and Titus on how to be leaders in the Church, able to train other leaders. In these letters, the apostle Paul clearly told them what is required for leadership in the Church.

“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop [elder or overseer], he desires a good work.

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

“Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

We see here a description of what an elder must be and how an elder, especially one who is appointed as a pastor, should act.

Paul covers some of the same qualification in his instructions to Titus.

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint [other translations say ‘ordain’] elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:5-9).

The purpose of a pastor

To understand the purpose of a pastor, let’s look in the book of Ephesians. “And [Christ] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Once again, we see the purpose of ministers, including pastors. They equip the saints (meaning to prepare, to perfect or to furnish). They perform the work of the ministry. They will edify (build up or strengthen) the body—the Church. They will work to bring unity and sound knowledge to the membership.

Pastors will teach and explain things directly from the Word of God, the Bible, in a proper way. They won’t take things out of context or use Scripture in a wrong way to promote a personal belief.

But teaching is not their only duty.

What does a pastor do?

Within the Church, pastors have multiple duties. Pastors serve in the role of counselors. For those who request it, they counsel individuals preparing for marriage and work with those who are having marriage difficulties. They give guidance to those who are struggling with addictions. They visit the sick and needy and anoint and pray for those who are suffering or afflicted (James 5:14-16).

Following the example of Christ and the apostles, they teach on the Sabbath day, explaining Scripture, giving direction and support (Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2). They teach the truth of the Bible and its doctrines as they have been taught (Titus 1:9).

They also provide a mix of congregational activities, such as Bible studies, meals and activities that create fellowship opportunities where the members can grow closer to one another (Acts 2:42, 46-47).

Pastors today also serve in other ways, such as writing, serving in camp programs and helping with education and leadership development.

A pastor is there to counsel those whom God calls to repentance, change and baptism (Acts 2:38-39; see our articles “What Is Repentance?” and “What Is Baptism?” and related articles).

The Church of God, a Worldwide Association, has pastors around the world who are dedicated to serving those who are interested and seeking help. If you would like to speak with one of our pastors, you can find the one closest to you on our “Congregations” page.

See also our article “A Pastor as a Shepherd” for more about the role of a pastor.

What Is the Purpose of the Church?

 

The Church that Jesus built was founded on the Day of Pentecost, almost 2,000 years ago. Does this Church still exist? If so, what value does it have today?

In our technology-driven society, it seems that churches are becoming irrelevant—even on the verge of becoming obsolete.

Is the church irrelevant today?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out different views about a lot of things, including churches. Around the world, most church congregations closed their doors to in-person services in March of 2020 and were forced to hold “virtual” services online. This has deeply affected church attendance.

Barna Group president David Kinnaman predicted that as many as 20 percent of churches would close their doors for good within 18 months because of a lack of interest. He also noted that one out of three people attending a church service prior to the pandemic had stopped attending altogether, and that included both online and in-person services.

What is the Church Jesus built?

Toward the end of His earthly ministry Jesus Christ announced to His disciples that He would build His Church (Matthew 16:18) and that the gates of the grave would never prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18 is the first place in the New King James Version of the Bible that the word church appears. It is translated from the Greek word ekklesia, which in the New Testament usually refers to “an assembly of Christians gathered for worship . . . in the religious meeting” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament).

The Church is, by definition, a group of people with a common faith and mission, led by the Spirit of God. It is not a building or an organization, even though it meets in buildings and it is organized.The Church is, by definition, a group of people with a common faith and mission, led by the Spirit of God. It is not a building or an organization, even though it meets in buildings and it is organized.

Based on this description and promise, it is obvious that Christ meant for the Church to play an important role in the life of a Christian in the first century as well as the 21st century.

Historic event

If you exclude the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most significant event described in the New Testament is arguably the founding of the Church as recorded in Acts 2.

If we want to understand the purpose of the Church, we need to understand how it all began. And to understand the origins of the Church, we look to the writings of Luke.

Luke, Church historian

Luke wrote two of the longer books in the New Testament, the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

So who was Luke? Based on what we know from Scripture, he was a gentile physician and a traveling companion of Paul. He dedicated both of his books to an individual by the name of Theophilus. Luke’s use of Greek grammar is excellent, and he provides a clear and precise explanation of events, thereby showing himself to have been well-educated.

Based on his reference to “those who were eyewitnesses” in Luke 1, most scholars believe that Luke did not personally witness many of the earlier events that he wrote about. Luke’s quoting of the apostles indicates a close relationship with these men. He even records events that took place during the 40 days after the resurrection, when Christ personally taught His disciples. It seems obvious that this information had to come from the disciples themselves.

Scholars believe that Luke was a traveling companion of Paul based on the switch to the pronoun “we” when Paul arrived in Troas during his second journey to Asia Minor (Acts 16:6-11). Luke was left in Philippi (Acts 17:1), where he was picked up later by Paul on his third journey (Acts 20:6).

Luke also accompanied Paul on his trip to Jerusalem and Rome and was with him during his imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11).

Prelude to the founding of the Church

In Acts 2, in advance of Peter’s famous Pentecost sermon, Luke records several amazing things that happened in the house where the 120 were gathered on that Day of Pentecost so long ago (Acts 2:1-4):

• The sound of a rushing mighty wind in the room where they were gathered.
• The appearance of tongues as of fire that sat on each of them.
• The coming of the Holy Spirit.
• The gift of tongues or languages. These were known languages that would make it possible for the devout Jews who had arrived in Jerusalem from the four corners of the Roman Empire to understand the message in their own language.

Peter’s Pentecost sermon

After these events, Peter addressed the crowd that had arrived in Jerusalem from Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya and other parts of the Roman Empire.

It is unclear whether this message was delivered in the vicinity of the house (Acts 2:2) or on the Temple Mount. Because of the size of the crowd (3,000 were baptized that day), the temple is the most likely location for Peter’s sermon.

Peter’s message is the longest uninterrupted message in the New Testament, consisting of 23 verses. Of course, this was only a summary of what he said that day. During his message Peter explained that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, and as such was crucified and resurrected.

“What shall we do?”

Following Peter’s message, the miracles continued. Those who heard “were cut to the heart,” asking Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What shall we do?” (verse 37).

Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (verse 38).

Later Paul describes the Holy Spirit to Timothy as not the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) but the spirit of power and love and a sound mind.

The beginning of the Church

Pentecost concluded with 3,000 people being baptized. This is the beginning of the Church. The Church was a central focus of the New Testament from that point forward.Pentecost concluded with 3,000 people being baptized (Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12:13). This is the beginning of the Church. The Church was a central focus of the New Testament from that point forward.

By definition, the Church is a called-out group of people. Called out from where? From the world. Called out to where? To an assembly of believers.

From the beginning it wasn’t a solitary calling, intended only for one person, although each individual is uniquely called. The actual calling was also made available to others, and together, they formed an assembly.

Purpose and mission of the Church

The purpose of that first congregation can be discerned from the final verses of Acts 2, where we read about their conduct in the days following Pentecost.

In these verses, the Church is not defined as a building. The Church is defined as a body of people, a body of believers who have a common faith, a common purpose and a common mission.

Continuing in Acts 2, notice the description given by Luke:

• They had a common belief (verse 42).
• They worshipped and fellowshipped together (verse 42).
• They shared physical possessions (verse 45).
• They ate together with gladness and simplicity of heart (verse 46).
• They praised God together (verses 46-47).

Preaching the gospel and loving one another

From these events we learn about the purpose and intent of the Church. We know from the events over the following months and years that their mission was to preach the gospel everywhere. In fact, all the apostles, with the exception of John, lost their lives for preaching the gospel.

Additionally, Christ described His disciples, those composing His Church, as loving one another (John 13:35). The need to be together was evident in that first congregation on the Day of Pentecost, almost 2,000 years ago.

There are many challenges for the Christian in this life, but one of the greatest and most difficult is to be like that Church, the one founded on Pentecost, the one that preached the gospel to the world, worshipped together, prayed together, ate together, loved one another and shared its resources with one another.

Bringing many sons to glory

This Church is tasked with assisting God the Father and Jesus Christ in bringing many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10).

Christ described the Church as something He would build. Being built by Christ, with Him at its head (Colossians 1:18), makes the Church unique in history, and it is referred to as the very “body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). As such, it cannot be destroyed.

The Church is just as important today

The original purpose of the Church hasn’t changed. The Church was founded to be the Body of Christ, to be that group of people who were called, who were chosen and who remain faithful to the very end (Revelation 17:14).

Those called by God and who receive the Holy Spirit are the Church of God, an assembly of people that meets together with a common mission (Hebrews 10:25). That mission includes preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15).

When you understand the Church’s purpose and place in the plan of salvation, you see that, rather than being less important in our modern day, the Church is just as important today, if not more so, than it was on the day it began, the Day of Pentecost.

For many people in our society today, the need to attend a church or even belong to a church has been lost in the maze of technology. In reality, for those who understand the Scriptures, the Church is, and always will be, a body of people who come together to worship the true God, to preach the true gospel and to love one another.

It is difficult to imagine a greater purpose for the Church—not then, not now, not ever!