Pastors and the Church

Thanksgiving and encouragement for the way the church exhibited “Family” this week

How did you get into the vocation or the career that you have?

What was it about that career or role that brought you to apply and be employed with?

I am going to be a bit autobiographical this morning and openly answer those questions for you about myself this morning.

I want to talk about being a pastor, especially in the current climate of our culture and the church.

Last summer Barna Research Group released a study they had done on the sharp increase in pastoral burn-out over the last 3 years.

When asked 42% of pastors answered “yes” to the question, “Have you given real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time ministry within the last year?”

That was UP 13% from just one year prior when it was at 29%

The top five reasons pastors gave were:

The immense stress of the job

Feeling isolated and lonely

Current political divisions

Unhappiness with how the role was affecting the pastors’ family

Lack of optimism about the future of their church

When you couple the pastoral burnout rate with the deep distrust that our society has regarding pastors (only 34% of the American population view pastors as ethical) you can wonder why anyone would want the job.

So why am I a pastor? Why do I seek to lead, shepherd, and preach the Word of God to this congregation week after week, as I have been for 8 years here and the last 22 years of my life?

There’s probably two reasons:

First of all - I can’t do anything else, or that is to say I am called and compelled and constrained to this ministry.

That wasn’t always the case - I went to Bible college at Moody Bible Institute thinking I was headed for a life of ministry in overseas, global missions.

But it was on the evening of February 5, 1998 at Moody’s annual Founders Week Conference a pastor from Philadelphia—James Montgomery Boice—preached from Romans 11:33-36 on the glory of God.

I didn’t hear an audible voice from God, but during that message I sensed the Holy Spirit saying to me “Jeremy, this is what you are supposed to do. Glorify me by preaching the Bible to the church.”

I talked with some professors, pastors, friends, and family and they all told me they agreed with that sense.

The missions professor that had to sign off on my change of major even said to me, “I wondered how long it would take for you to figure that out.”

So I went into pastoral studies, graduated, and have been in pastoral ministry vocationally ever since.

I was licensed to ministry in 2003, ordained to ministry in 2012, and that ordination was further confirmed and validated this last summer in 2022.

But it’s more than just the calling of God in my life.

I saw it exemplified in the lives of pastors that I sat under in my life.

Pastor Chris Bauer, the senior pastor of Santa Rosa Bible Church is a faithful man who discipled and mentored me in ministry as I served under him for 8 years. He served SRBC for over 25 years

Pastor Doug Schmidt faithfully served Woodside Bible Church for over 25 years as well - has gone the distance faithfully in ministry.

I could tell you of others including Dr. Boice, John Piper, and other mentors in the faith and the ministry that served well and set an example for me.

I see the fruit of their lives and the health of the churches they led and their godly example has inspired and encouraged me along the way.

But I’ve also seen the bad examples, the pastors who have not lived faithfully, have not served well. I’ve seen, and felt the wreckage first-hand they can cause in the church.

I have seen pastors disqualified in ministry for plagiarism, alcoholism, embezzlement, narcissism, pride, adultery, and a whole host of other sins.

One of the things I can affirm to you this morning is this:

Big Idea: Godly pastors are a gift to the church

I aspire and aim and desire to be a godly pastor to be a blessing and gift to you and to this church.

I want to leave this church a better church than when I first started. I want to be found faithful to the Lord and glorify him in everything I do.

I want to love you well, and labor to help you mature in Jesus in every way.

But I also want you to know what every pastor should know… I am only an interim pastor.

I won’t always be here, I won’t always be serving this congregation and this church.

There’s a date on the calendar, I don’t know that date, but there’s a date on the calendar somewhere in the future that will be my last day as the Lead Campus Pastor at Woodside Bible Church in Plymouth.

The Apostle Paul knew that to be true in his ministry to the church at Ephesus. He knew that to be true of Timothy’s ministry as a pastor there as well.

This letter has been Paul equipping and instructing Timothy in what the church is, and how it is to be organized and led well.

In verses 17-25 he lays out to Timothy how the church should relate to their pastors.

If you would permit me in teaching this passage this morning, I’d like to pretend that you are Timothy and I am the apostle Paul.

Or, if you’d rather, I want to equip you to relate to your next/future pastor Biblically.

And I want the Holy Spirit’s instruction here to direct you in how to relate to your pastor.

Scripture here gives us three guidelines for the church to follow in relating to their pastors:

We support our pastors financially (1 Tim 5:17-18)

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Focus with me here on who Paul is talking about to Timothy — elders.

This is the term that is used in Acts 11, 13, 14, 20 and other places in the NT to describe the office of pastor/elder.

It’s an overlapping term with the office that is mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:1 of overseer. An overseer/elder/pastor is all one and the same office.

These are the specific appointed men who lead the church by exercising oversight and teaching/preaching. They are the pastors of the church.

When Paul talks about these “elders who rule” he is talking about the essential function of an elder - giving oversight, exercising authority over the church.

This isn’t done in a tyrannical or heavy-handed way - but as a pastor, or shepherd.

Remember in chapter 3 Paul laid out the character qualifications of a man who desired to be an elder. He had to be a man above reproach, who was a gentle, sober-minded, respectable leader.

His management of the church is an aspect of care for the church.

So Paul says the elders who are doing their job well - who is managing and leading the church well are due something: “double honor.”

Now the question might be, what does Paul mean when he says “double honor”?

Is that like the elder who does a good job of leading and preaching and teaching should get an extra scoop of ice-cream at the next church Family feast? Maybe…

If you remember that the word honor was used to describe how the church should care for true widows - it meant by financially supporting them.

The word is used in classic Greek literature to refer to a “physicians honorarium” or salary.

Paul is telling Timothy here that the church should pay the pastor well.

Giving double honor means not only compensating him well, but respecting, encouraging, listening to, and esteeming the pastors.

And he makes it even more explicit - especially those pastors that labor in preaching and teaching.

Doubly honor the pastor that labors for you and over you as he preaches the Word to you.

What’s his reasoning for this command

His basis or foundation for saying this is in the Bible.

He quotes two passages one from Moses in Deuteronomy 25:4 and one from Jesus in Luke 10:7.

Moses uses a metaphor - don’t muzzle the ox when it treads out grain. When your in the field and you’re harvesting your grain, the ox is there doing the work, he’s pulling the equipment to bring up that grain - so let him eat. The ox doing the hard work should get something from his labors.

Jesus’ words are more direct - the laborer deserves his wages. Or the worker should get a paycheck.

So Paul is here telling Timothy the pastors in the church should be able to work for the church and labor in preaching and teaching and the church’s responsibility should be to pay them well so they can work hard and well at that job.

Illustration:

When you think about it, I don’t believe this command is that strange our unusual.

All you have to do is replace the vocational title there and you’ll hear how common sense it is.

Let the doctors who heal well be paid… of course.

Let the teachers who educate well be paid… absolutely.

Let the engineers who design and build well make an income… yep.

And when you think of the types of professional human-care services that we utilize I think it actually would be strange NOT to consider how to compensate them.

For instance, would you expect that you could go to a therapist, talk with them about your problems and needs for 50 minutes, and then not pay them?

What about the doctor or physician you go to when you’re not feeling well and need some treatment. If they do some examinations, prescribe some form of medication and their work, you don’t just assume its free - they are paid and due that wage.

If you go the gym and have a personal trainer work with you, or take aerobic or fitness classes, you pay them.

All of that to say, would it make sense to receive weekly spiritual direction and the teaching of the Scriptures, to be prayed for, and to have access to sit down and talk with a pastor and share your burdens and needs and NOT financially give to support his work???

Support your pastor financially!

Application:

Let me sound just a note of appreciation and gratitude to those who give to the general budget here.

I am grateful for the job, and grateful for the income that I receive from your giving to the church.

We are content, and we are encouraged and honored by the financial support of this church so that I can give attention to serving this church and don’t have to find other sources of income.

But I also want to encourage the whole church today to consider if and how you are giving.

I won’t get any bonus or pay raise if this sermon goes well.

But I would speak to this entire congregation and ask, is our ministry worth your support?

Our budget is given by about 60% of the members and regular attenders of our congregation.

The ministry is free of charge just as Jesus’ grace is completely a gift - we’ll never require or obligate you to give, but I would encourage you… as a matter of showing double honor, to support your pastors financially.

Guideline #1 - Support your pastors financially…

Guideline #2 for relating with your pastors...

We respect our pastors (1 Tim 5:19-21)

Paul here addresses how the church should handle accusations against a pastor.

Pastors are not perfect, we are sinful humans, just like everyone else.

But what should the church do when a pastor is accused of something… How should they handle it, and the pastor himself?

First all - let’s think about what a church should do with an accusation:

1 Timothy 5:19 ESV

19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

So here’s the thing - people can get upset with pastors.

I mean, I just told 40% of you to start giving… and you might not like that.

You might think, oh, he’s just a lover of money and greedy… wants a ferrarri.

You might want to see me lose my job because you didn’t like something I said or felt I didn’t meet your expectations or who knows what else.

Scripture here tells the church, don’t entertain accusations against an elder…

Don’t let people wreak division and havoc by constantly assaulting the character of a pastor with some of their petty gripes or attempts to take him down by a trumped-up charge.

But you might say, does that mean a pastor just gets off free doing whatever he wants… no accountability in the church… no holding him to a high standard of character.

Catch the “except” phrase - “except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.”

There has to be validated, credible, accurate and reliable testimony and validation of sin in the pastor’s life that merits discipline.

When that credible, validated, multi-attested evidence is presented, then you can do what verse 20 talks about.

Discipline that pastor - 1 Tim 5:20

1 Timothy 5:20 ESV

20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Let the church know, and call him to repentance… and do it so that everyone make consider their own walk with God.

Now again, why is this process here?

It’s a matter of showing respect for the pastor, as well as protecting him and the church from frivolous accusation and petty attempts to denigrate his character.

Basically - if there is verified, persistent, unrepentant, disqualifying sin - then publicly call it out.

If not… then shut down those trying to snipe at the pastor.

1 Timothy 5:21 ESV

21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

Don’t show favoritism among the church… no prejudice or partiality…

I’ve heard about churches where financially rich members of the board of trustees or an interest group had a gripe with the pastor and would hold the church hostage with their wealth saying if they didn’t get their way from the pastor he’d either be fired or they withhold funds from the church.

No… show respect to your pastors.

Honor them in integrity, uphold them with dignity.

Don’t slander, gossip, accuse, or assemble a posse against your pastor.

But if there’s real, verifiable, disqualifying sin - then go about it the right way. Give dignity even there.

#1 Support your pastor financially

#2 Respect your pastor

The third guideline is to…

We select our pastors wisely (1 Tim 5:22-25)

Here’s where Paul talks about ordaining, or selecting/hiring a pastor.

He says “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.”

This is the act of commissioning or ordaining leaders.

This happened to Paul in Acts 13 when he and Barnabas were commissioned by the elders of the church in Antioch to the work of church planting among the Gentiles.

It is an expression of divine sanction or approval.

So when he says don’t be quick to lay hands or take part of the sins of others he is talking about commissioning and ordaining too soon or the wrong people.

The authorization of the church to minister carries with it the participation of the ministry of those authorized by the church.

The church should be careful against ordaining 1) immaturity and 2) folly.

Don’t make a guy an elder just because he gives a lot to the church, but is spiritually immature.

Don’t hire a pastor because he’s clever, or popular, or young and attractive.

Be discerning and wise!

The way to exercise that discernment - give it time. Go slow. Be patient and pay attention.

Look at verse 24-25.

1 Timothy 5:24–25 ESV

24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Sometimes you can’t see a guys arrogance or selfishness or laziness right away… sometimes folks hide sin all the way to judgement.

But sin will be revealed…

Same with good works… sometimes you can’t always see a persons humility, faithfulness, gentleness and patience… but be sure those good things cannot remain hidden.

The fruit of a pastors life will show up - so don’t be quick about making a guy your pastor because he looks good on the outside.

Exercise discernment and wisdom and patience.

Conclusion

There is a date coming… again, I don’t know when that is… I desire to be here for a lot longer.

But when that day comes when I’m not your pastor any more, I want to help you know how as a church to support and relate to and select my successor.

Here’s why - because I want you to have a pastor who loves Jesus because he knows Jesus and all that Jesus has done for him.

I want you to have a pastor who is laser-focused on exalting Christ and putting the spotlight on Jesus.

I want you to grow and flourish as a church in advancing the gospel and making disciples of all nations.

I want to leave this church a more mature, Christ-like church than when I first came here.

I love being your pastor.