WHAT IS A PASTOR-TEACHER? (Shepherds 5)
We have seen some names for pastors: “shepherd,” “bishop/overseer” and “elder.” In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul refers to a pastor as a “PASTOR-TEACHER.” Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Apostles had absolute authority over the church. This office ended in about AD 90 when the last apostle died. Prophets are those who receive a message from God and pass it on. Sometimes this message was prophetic but mainly they preached God’s Word. The prophetic part of their ministry ended when the Bible was complete. Evangelists are specially gifted to share the good news of Jesus with others. Evangelists replaced the apostles in traveling and starting churches.
The term “PASTOR-TEACHER” is one word referring to the inherent teaching responsibility of the shepherd to teach the Bible. One of the main duties of a shepherd is to make sure his sheep have proper nourishment. He makes sure they are fed so they grow healthy. Your body needs nourishment to be strong and healthy. Your spirit needs nourishment to be strong and healthy as well. What does God give us to nourish our spirit? — His Bible.
In Ephesians 4:12 we learn that the purpose for teaching God’s word is: “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Again we see that as leaders we don’t have to do everything ourselves. Our job is to equip and train each person to be able to use their own spiritual gifts to serve. Our purpose is to train others to minister for Jesus as they live their lives. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” We train others who then train more people and so on. Paul says we do this so the Body of Christ, the church, grows.
Each Body has different parts doing different functions. We have arms ,legs, hands, feet and other body parts that are different but all are important for the body to function. That is true in the church as well. Different people have different gifts, but all are needed to work together to get the work done. Our job is not to try to do everything but to teach Christians God’s Word and train them so they can grow and duplicate it in others. Again, pastors are to teach God’s Word, guard and protect the sheep and to oversee the ministries of the church.
Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
What are you doing to help prepare others to live for God and serve Him? Do you look for others who can do things you can’t do and give them opportunities to use their gifts for God?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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