YES THIS IS PART OF MY OFFICES AT CHURCH. YEP, ISN'T GOD GOOD AND THE FOLKS AT RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH?
VIEW OF MY STUDY BOOKS IN LIBRARY ROOM
VIEW OF RESEARCH BINDERS IN LIBRARY ROOM
DESK IN LIBRARY AND STUDY ROOM WITH VIEW OF BOTH BOOKS AND BINDERS.
A LOOK THAT THE ROLL OF THE PASTOR'S OFFICE
A LOOK THAT THE ROLL OF THE PASTOR'S OFFICE
The Pastor's Office includes the church pastoral leadership, as well as the directors of our ministry divisions.
The meaning of the Greek word we translate as pastor is shepherd. The job title pastor therefore refers to a spiritual shepherd. (See Ephesians 4:11)
In this way, Jesus is referred to as the great Shepherd of the sheep. (Hebrews 13:20) He is the role model for all of God's pastors. Jesus is the great Shepherd and all of His pastors are the lesser shepherds.
In this way, Jesus is referred to as the great Shepherd of the sheep. (Hebrews 13:20) He is the role model for all of God's pastors. Jesus is the great Shepherd and all of His pastors are the lesser shepherds.
By looking at how Jesus shepherds the sheep we can see how a pastor should shepherd the flock of God - God's people.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians we learn that the office of pastor (spiritual shepherd) is one of the offices that contributes to the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry for the building up of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11) In the same letter, we learn some important aspects of how Jesus Christ carries out his role as the great Shepherd.
Paul writes,
"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church."
Ephesians 5:27-29 - NKJV
This exhortation, although it is directly applied to husbands, also applies to pastors and exhorts them to follow the model Christ provides.
Christ is the great Shepherd of the Church, the husband is the shepherd for his wife and, likewise, the pastor is the shepherd for his flock in the church. The pastor is to give his life for the flock in ministering the Holy Spirit and the Word to them. He is to nourish and cherish (that is, tenderly look after) his church.
The role of pastor - it is important to recognise - is not peculiar to the New Testament church. We see it also in the Old Testament church of God. God had high expectations, even back then, of His pastors and He upbraided them when they did not fulfil those expectations.
As the mouth piece of God Jeremiah declares,
"For the shepherds [of the people] have become like brutes, irrational and stupid, and have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him or required Him [by necessity and by right of His word]. Therefore they have not dealt prudently and have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered."
Jeremiah 10:21 -
Paul writes,
"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church."
Ephesians 5:27-29 - NKJV
This exhortation, although it is directly applied to husbands, also applies to pastors and exhorts them to follow the model Christ provides.
Christ is the great Shepherd of the Church, the husband is the shepherd for his wife and, likewise, the pastor is the shepherd for his flock in the church. The pastor is to give his life for the flock in ministering the Holy Spirit and the Word to them. He is to nourish and cherish (that is, tenderly look after) his church.
The role of pastor - it is important to recognise - is not peculiar to the New Testament church. We see it also in the Old Testament church of God. God had high expectations, even back then, of His pastors and He upbraided them when they did not fulfil those expectations.
As the mouth piece of God Jeremiah declares,
"For the shepherds [of the people] have become like brutes, irrational and stupid, and have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him or required Him [by necessity and by right of His word]. Therefore they have not dealt prudently and have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered."
Jeremiah 10:21 -From this we see God expects His pastors to -
seek Him
inquire of Him
require Him - which is to petition Him in prayer.
We also see that He expects, as a consequence of doing this, that they will -
conduct themselves wisely
ensure that the flock stays together in unity
Ezekiel also provides us with a similar understanding of God's expectation for His pastors. He writes,
"Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?'"
Ezekiel 34:2 - NKJV
What does God expect from His shepherds, His pastors? He expects them to spiritually feed (that is, nourish) God's people.
Ezekiel continues,
"The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them."
Ezekiel 34:4 - NKJV
seek Him
inquire of Him
require Him - which is to petition Him in prayer.
We also see that He expects, as a consequence of doing this, that they will -
conduct themselves wisely
ensure that the flock stays together in unity
Ezekiel also provides us with a similar understanding of God's expectation for His pastors. He writes,
"Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?'"
Ezekiel 34:2 - NKJV
What does God expect from His shepherds, His pastors? He expects them to spiritually feed (that is, nourish) God's people.
Ezekiel continues,
"The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them."
Ezekiel 34:4 - NKJV
