RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-05-24	What Is The Teaching Pastor? (Ep.4:11-14)
		Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Eph 4:13 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; Eph 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting The teaching pastor is also called the Pastor-Teacher. The term comes from Paul's epistle to the Ephesians. The position of teaching pastor is a specific role in churches that follow the biblical model of having a plurality of elders or pastors. The task of the teaching pastor centers on teaching God's word as the title implies. He is likely the one responsible for the weekly messages and may be involved in other teaching venues as well. Most teaching pastors are afforded plenty of time in the study, prayer, and meditation on the Word. Because of the time commitment teaching requires, other elders of the church take up tasks such as visitation, and daily administration of business. The teaching pastor has a mandate to “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Ti.2:1). The Biblical titles described in Scripture are the elders who are also pastors, and the deacons. The deacons have the same moral qualifications as the elders, but they are not required to be able to teach (1Tm.3:2). We see the importance of the deacon in Acts 6. The church was growing, and the apostles could not meet everyone's needs. Some were being neglected. Then the apostles basically said they needed help (Ac.6:2-4). Act 6:2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Act 6:3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; Act 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." In verse 2 the word “serve” is where we get our word deacon. So, the role of the deacon is to serve. Thus, the teaching pastor should not “leave the word of God and serve tables” (v.2), but they should continually be praying to do the “ministry of the word” (v.4). Paul gives three action words for the teaching pastor. They are to “speak,” “exhort,” and to “rebuke” with all authority (Ti.2:15). The pastor's authority comes when he speaks the word of God, and no other time. The pastor is “worthy of double honor” because he “labors in the word and doctrine” (1Tm.5:17). And yes, the double honor does include pay. Yet the pastor is subject to a stricter judgment (Jm.3:1). Jas 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. Something that is often misunderstood is the priority of the pastor toward the flock or church family (Ac.20:28). His time is not geared toward the community at large. The purpose of the pastor is to “feed the sheep” (Jn.21:15-19). Jesus told Peter three times to feed the sheep making sure he would not miss the point. So, the pastor feeds or edifies the body of Christ (Ep.4:12) so the body is equipped and will do the “work of ministry”. Thus, the pastor teaches the word to the flock, and they go out and do the work of ministry. In many churches it is the pastor who is expected to do all the work of ministry. And no, that does not work too well. All elders or pastors are really under-shepherds, with Jesus as the true Head of the church. Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. So, “every part does its share,” which causes “growth of the body” (v.16). The pastor must be a team-oriented person, because he must work with the flock to accomplish Christ's goals. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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