Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 20 and also to I Peter 5.

Over the past couple weeks, we’ve talked about preparing your church for a new pastor.

We talked about how just like in marriage, finding a good fit for your church is as much or more about being the right kind of church as it is about finding the right man to be your pastor.

One of the things that makes for a godly church is engagement in missions—being a missional church.

That means reaching out to your community here, there, and everywhere.

And last week, we talked about how you need to be cultivating a desire for a pastor.

We talked about how important a pastor is to the life and growth of a church and how we need to be praying, fasting, and searching for a pastor.

This week, we’re going to start turning our attention to what to look for in a pastor.

We will frequently pick back up on the topic of what kind of church Hilltop needs to be in order to ensure a “happy marriage,” but we’re going to be looking this morning at one of the most important qualifications in a pastor.

In the last week of Jesus’ life, he had a discussion with his disciples on what makes a good leader.

Look with me in Matthew 20.

FCF: We’re a lot like James and John here in this passage, at least on the inside.

We naturally desire fame, glory, power, and status.

Our sinful nature likes to put itself first.

Main Idea: But, in one of his last teaching moments before his death, Jesus showed us that being a leader means being a servant.

Scripture Introduction: Peter picks up this topic in his letter, in I Peter 5, and expounds on it a little.

That’s where we’re going to focus our attention this morning.

Prayer for Illumination

Transition: A Pastor must be, above all, a servant-leader.

But what does it mean to be a servant-leader?

A Pastor must be willing to suffer.

(vv. 1, 8-10)

The whole book of I Peter is about suffering!

Peter says that suffering helps refine their faith and reveal their salvation:

He encourages servants to submit to their masters and endure suffering, looking to Christ as the example:

He encourages Christians to use their suffering to help them focus on holiness:

He tells them not to be surprised by suffering:

But what does suffering have to do with who you pick as your pastor?

Pastors are called to be a witness to the sufferings of Christ.

(v. 1)

Not just a witness, but a living testimonial to the sufferings of Christ

As a pastor endures suffering, he models Christ for his people.

A Pastor/Elder/Shepherd has Christ as his example, who laid down his life for his flock.

Part of being a servant-leader is a calling to embrace suffering on behalf of others.

Pastors must bear the burdens of their congregation

They must endure the disapproval of their congregation and community—one of the hardest forms of suffering to endure.

They often endure suffering in forms of long hours, low pay, and little results for their labors.

There’s no way to know for sure whether a pastor will have the endurance necessary to weather the storms that will come while pastoring your church, but you can look at his track record to get an idea of his ability and willingness to endure suffering.

When you’re evaluating a pastoral candidate, get to know them and their spiritual journey.

Ask them about some of the hard times they’ve gone through and what they learned through those.

Their answer will give you a little idea of this aspect of their spiritual walk.

A Pastor must be willing to lead (v.

2)

Leading is an act of service

Some people lead because of their ego, which clearly contradicts this passage, as we’ll see.

But others are hesitant, or even unwilling to lead.

They may pretend (or even think themselves) that their hesitance to lead is owing to their humility, when in fact, it could be their ego in disguise.

Unwillingness to lead or fill the role of pastor could be nothing more than an unwillingness to be vulnerable to others, to put themselves in a position where they will be judged, talked about, etc.

This is just pride in disguise.

It takes courage to lead.

It requires humility and self-sacrifice.

A Pastor must be willing to lead and not lead from compulsion

If someone asked me, ‘Why do you serve as a missionary in Papua New Guinea?’, there are two answers I could give.

I could say, “Because God called me.

I didn’t really want to do it, but I don’t really have a choice.

I could try running away from my calling, but I know that God would have his way anyhow, so I might as well just do it.”

Another answer is, “Because that’s where God called me, and it’s a joy and privilege to serve him there.

I love seeing people’s eyes light up when they hear the gospel in their language for the first time.

I want to see people’s lives changed by the power of the gospel in their language, just as my life has been changed.”

Now, both of those statements are true, but the first one focuses on my compulsion by God to the ministry, whereas the second focuses on how privileged I am to be chosen by God for this ministry.

Papaw Hill used to always talk about how much of a joy pastoring was.

As I got older, I realized that pastoring did, in fact, involve a lot of suffering.

So, occasionally, I’d ask him about some of the harder times, and he would share them with me, but he always preferred to talk about the good times and all that God had accomplished through him.

For him, it was always a joy to serve the Lord.

When you’re evaluating pastoral candidates, ask them: “Why do you want to be a pastor?”

A Pastor must be willing to serve (vv.

2b-3)

Motives are important (v.

2b)

In a small church, financial gain is not a likely motivator for a pastor—no pastor gets rich in a church of 20.

But, pride can still be a motivator.

Being thought well of by people—being a ‘big fish in a little pond’—can sap the effectiveness of a pastor.

Another poor motivation is the ‘stepping stone’ mentality.

Some pastors think of small churches as a ‘stepping stone’ to a bigger church.

It’s natural for larger churches to want a pastor with some experience first, but whoever comes in as your pastor shouldn’t have his eyes already set on the ‘next church.’

A pastor who is thinking about the next church can’t focus his attention and efforts fully on this church.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

What is your vision for Hilltop Baptist Church in 5 years?

What kind of church do you see yourself pastoring after this one?

Being a Servant-leader means leading by serving.

(v. 3)

A good pastor doesn’t make executive decisions often and he doesn’t manipulate people.

A good pastor leads by example.

A good church willingly follows and serves a good pastor.

It’s easy to take advantage of a good pastor, and many churches do.

He’s called to suffer, but that doesn’t mean you should heap on more suffering.

He’s called to be content with his pay, but that doesn’t mean you should be content with paying him less than he deserves or needs!

He’s called to serve, but that doesn’t mean you should treat him like a servant.

He’s called to lead, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t lead as well.

Conclusion

Are you praying for your future pastor?

That he would be willing to suffer?

Willing to lead?

Willing to serve by example?

Are you praying for yourself and your church, that you would be willing to follow his leadership?

Willing to share his burdens?

Willing to serve him?

The most effective and healthy churches are those that are “clothe[d]…with humility” (v.

5)—where the shepherd humbly lays down his life for the flock and the flock does the same for the shepherd.