The Marks of a Good Minister Pt. 2

Introduction:

Last week in our time together we began answering the question: What makes a good minister of pastor? The text we have just read together lays out for us eleven responsibilities that a pastor must do in order to be considered a “good minister.” We covered the first six, which are more general, in our time together last week. They are:

Warns against false teachers. (v.6a)

Nourishes himself with the Word and good doctrine. (v.6b )

He avoids pointless speculations. (v.7a)

He exercises toward godliness. (v.7b-9)

He is committed to working hard. (v.10)

He preaches and teaches with authority. (v.11)

In the next five marks of a good minister that Paul gives to Timothy he gets a little more personal with his young protege.

In order to get a firm grasp on these next five we need to have an understanding of just what type of person Timothy was.

Timothy was not chosen by the congregation at Ephesus to be there pastor, he was placed their by Paul using his apostolic authority. This means that by and large, he was likely not wanted and chapter 1:3 sort of clues us in that Timothy didn't want to be there either.

He was by nature a fairly timid person and some of that was likely because he was pretty young to be in his position.

1 Corinthians 16:10 NKJV

10 And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

Most seem to think that at this point, Timothy was in his mid-thirties, which may not seem that young but when the rest of the elders in the church were older than him, his relatively young age may have been a sort of handicap to his ability to lead. The combination of his timidity and his youth probably made him a natural target for criticism as he tried to step up and take the reigns of the church to move them in a healthy direction.

Knowing this about Timothy gives us some insight into the personal nature of the next 5 marks of a minister that he gives. However, the aged apostles advice to the young Timothy is still wisdom to be followed today if one wants to bear the marks of a good minister.

1.) A good minister is an example. (v.12)

Given Timothy’s age, it is very likely that there were some in the Ephesian congregation who had difficulty accepting his ministry.

There is only one way for a young minister like Timothy to prove that he was mature beyond his age.

He had to live a mature life, a life that would be an example to the believers in Ephesus.

Regardless of age, the life of a good minister must reflect maturity and be an example to those he leads.

In fact, the Apostle Paul would tell the Corinthian church:

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Paul, spells out for Timothy here in vs.12 just how his life was to be an example for the Ephesians to follow:

A.) In his speech.

Timothy needed to be wise in what he said and how he said it. He had to control his conversation and guard his tongue at all times.

Colossians 4:6 NKJV

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

There are many ways in which a pastors words can get him in trouble.

One way is to listen too little and talk too much, which makes it really easy to say dumb things.

Gossip

Worldly humor.

Being truthful.

We must be careful with our words, pastor or not, because we will all stand before the Lord one day and give account for everything that we say.

Matthew 12:36 NKJV

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

B.) In his behavior.

He had to be disciplined and controlled in his conduct. Not just his words but his actions always needed to display godliness. In the normal goings on in life

James 3:13 NKJV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

C.) In love

It’s not always easy to be loving to everyone, especially when you are facing opposition. But, the “good minister” needs to display a Christ-like love in all circumstances and to all people.

Love is the word “agape”- This is the kind of love that God has for us. It’s selfless and sacrificial love. A love of the mind, reason and will. That loves those who are undeserving and utterly unworthy of that love.

Romans 5:6–10 NKJV

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

D.) In Spirit.

He was to walk being led by the Spirit and keeping his mind on the things that please the Lord.

Spiritual mindedness.

E.) In faith.

He was to always remain faithful to the Lord in spite of the demands, hardships, pressures, temptations, trials or oppositions that may come his way.

F.) In purity.

The life of the minister is to be moral, clean, just, and honest. To strive to stay away from covetousness, lust and any other type of sin. To live his life at a higher standard than the world around him.

Christian leadership is a “character profession.” You can only speak with authority if your life lives up to the message you are proclaiming.

2.) A Good minister devotes himself to public worship. (v.13)

There are three things that Paul tells Timothy to give attention to: Reading, exhortation and Doctrine.

This defines the major work of the pastor and the worship of the church.

We read the scriptures, Exhort (Preaching) and then doctrinally instruct (teach).

Paul is instructing Timothy to be sure that his ministry is defined by biblical preaching. To keep the word at the center of the church.

He would give these same instructions to his other young protégé Titus:

Titus 1:9 NKJV

9 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 2:15 NKJV

15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

3.) A good minister doesn’t neglect his gifting. (v.14)

Paul is referring to Timothy’s spiritual gift given to him by the Holy Spirit when he was called into ministry. Timothy had heard with his own ears that God had uniquely gifted him and would bless his preaching.

This advice to “not neglect his gift” is sound instruction for all have been called into ministry.

When God calls you to a task, he gifts you for that task, but we have to fan the flame and use and cultivate that gifting.

Timothy no doubt felt the pressure to just abandon his calling and thereby forfeit his unique gifting from God, so this command from Paul is simply him telling Timothy to fight that temptation and stay the course.

4.) A good minister meditates and gives himself wholly to scripture. (v.15)

He lives, breathes, eats and drinks the scripture and all its instruction. He meditates or thinks upon its application to daily life for his people.

William Barclay has an excellent statement in his commentary on the pastoral epistles:

“The great danger of the Christian leader is intellectual sloth and the shut mind. The danger is that he forgets to study and allows his thoughts to run in well-worn grooves. The danger is that he never gets outside the orbit of a limited number of favorite ideas. The danger is that new truths, new methods, the attempt to restate the faith in contemporary terms comes merely to irritate and to annoy him. The Christian leader must be a Christian thinker or he fails in his task; and to be a Christian thinker is to be an adventurous thinker so long as life lasts.”

Paul is telling Timothy to give all that he has to knowing and applying God’s word. To work hard at it.

If the minister isn’t busy doing ministry then he should spend his time thinking upon it, planning, strategizing, and premeditating where he will go next. So much so that the people he ministers to can see his progress and maturing.

Speak of pre-written sermons etc.

5.) A good minister guards himself and his teaching. (v.16)

Take heed- To keep a strict eye on or keep paying attention to.

Paul is instructing Timothy to keep a close eye on his life and his preaching & teaching ministry. Life and doctrine go hand in hand. Our doctrine informs our life.

The “good minister” needs to constantly be asking himself:

What am I like to others?

Am I being consistent?

How is my speech?

How is my love, faith and purity?

How is my doctrine?

Am I truly being biblical?

Do I really believe what I say?

Am i believing it more as time goes on?

Paul put it this way:

1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Pastors seldom take the time to look in the mirror and examine themselves because they are so busy caring for others. But, caring for his own life and doctrine is every bit as important as caring for those he ministers too.

You can’t help others if you’re out of sorts yourself.

God must work in the minister before he works through the minister.

So the good minister makes sure he is allowing God to do his work.

Conclusion:

The good minister cares for his flock that God has given him by:

Warning against false teachers. (v.6a)

Nourishes himself with the Word and good doctrine. (v.6b)

He avoids pointless speculations. (v.7a)

He exercises toward godliness. (v.7b-9)

He is committed to working hard. (v.10)

He preaches and teaches with authority. (v.11)

But he also cares for them by taking care of his own life being sure to:

7. Be an example.

8. Devoting himself to public worship.

9. Stirring up his gift and cultivating it.

10. Meditating on and giving himself wholly to the Word of God.

11. Guarding himself and his teaching.