What It Takes to Be a Pastor
For individuals to step into ministry, they must be called to faith and then called to service. But calling alone is insufficient for the role of pastor. The Bible gives very specific character qualifications for those who answer the call to “shepherd the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2). Because the pastor serves as a representative of God, our Good Shepherd (John 10:14), his personal virtue and practice must be exemplary. While several New Testament texts provide qualifications for pastor (also called “overseers”) 1 Timothy 3:1-11 is the focus of this study:
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
The person called to pastor demonstrates these characteristics:
- A desire to serve (v. 1): He isn’t forced into the position. He “sets his heart” on the task. Peter writes, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be” (1 Peter 5:2).
- Above reproach (v. 2): The phrase can mean “without handles.” That is, the pastor has no character flaw in his life that others could “hold onto” that would “hold him back” from effective ministry. In v. 7, Paul will add that it is important that the leader “have a good reputation with outsiders” for maximum ministry influence. An important note here: Our ethical decisions today will impact our effectiveness in leadership tomorrow.
- Marriage loyalty (v. 2): When he uses the phrase “husband of one wife,” Paul is not warning against polygamy, but speaking to a heart-loyalty disposition. Pastors must be committed to their spouses and families. If a man does not love his own bride, how can he love the Bride of Christ, the church? Marriage is a reflection of God’s Gospel covenant with His people, so loyalty in marriage has great bearing on the Gospel ministry of the church. For this reason, divorce disqualifies an individual from pastoral ministry.
- Temperate (v. 2): A pastor is stable, steadfast and clearthinking. He doesn’t make impulsive, irrational decisions. He is careful with his speech and wise in his actions.
- Self-controlled (v. 2): This fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22) is “the ability to govern our desires.” The pastor has learned how to bridle his anger. He isn’t given to gossip, drunkenness or habitual sin. He will sin, but sin doesn’t control his life.
- Respectable (v. 2): The word in this passage is translated “adornment.” The English word “cosmetics” comes from this word. One writer states, “Our lives are to be the cosmetics of the Gospel.” That is, the respectable pastor is gracious, kind, redemptive, generous and loving. When they are these things, they become the fragrant “perfume” of Jesus to everyone (2 Corinthians 2:15).
- Hospitable (v. 2): Hospitable people are those who welcome others into their lives and graciously share what they have. The pastor must be willing to share his home, his car, his tools, his possessions and his time.
- Able to teach (v. 2): The elder/pastor is a position that carries spiritual authority. Therefore, the pastor must be able to study, interpret and communicate God’s revelation accurately. Paul charges Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Not given to drunkenness (v. 3): Notice that the passage does not forbid drinking. This is a matter of each pastor’s personal conviction. However, the pastor must refuse excess in anything—alcohol, food, television, sports, spending. A spiritual leader must be disciplined and under the control of the Holy Spirit.
- Gentle and peaceable (v. 3): The violent person mentioned is one “ready with a blow.” They are quick-tempered. But, godly leaders are “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). They are patient, equitable and reasonable. They don’t let conflict continue because they see themselves as “ministers of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
- Free from the love of money (v. 3): The Bible doesn’t teach that money is evil, but that it is the source of all kinds of evil, and those greedy for money have fallen into ruin (1 Timothy 6:10). The pastor isn’t a royal king but a humble servant. And, his lifestyle will reflect a level appropriate for his church.
- Manages his family (v. 4): The pastor’s home is the proving ground for leadership among the family of God. While no parent can guarantee the spiritual outcome of his children, a leader with rebellious children, a chaotic family schedule and disconnection among family members will lose the respect of his congregation.
- Spiritual maturity (v. 6): The pastor must not be a “recent convert.” Because the task of ministry is spiritually challenging, wrestling in spiritual dimensions and guiding the spiritual destinies of people, it is essential that the leader be spiritually qualified for the task. It is advantageous for those wishing to pastor to serve as an apprentice in ministry and have gained some theological education, whether formal or informal. However, in some cases, the pastoral candidate may only have minimal training and experience. In such cases, this principle means that their spiritual maturity must be at a level where they may say to others, “Come follow me.”
At this point, it should be clear that these qualifications are more than suggestions. They are essential virtues required for each pastor, whether the senior pastor or an associate pastor under their charge. And, just as with every area of our spiritual life, the pastor must continue to cultivate growth in each of these areas.
The Pastor’s Role and Responsibilities
To complete our pastoral profile, we must answer the question, “What does a pastor do?” Most people in church see their pastors for a few hours on Sunday and have a limited idea of the greater role and responsibilities of those called into pastoral ministry. The ministry of a pastor is shaped by four duties. Pastors are called to disciple, shepherd, equip and serve.
The Pastor as Disciple-Maker
After His resurrection, Jesus commissioned His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). This command wasn’t only given to pastors, but to all Christians. So, it is important that pastors lead their churches in making disciples.
A “disciple” is an apprentice or a student. In ancient culture, the disciple lived with his teacher in order to live more like his teacher. Today, disciples of Jesus grow in their personal knowledge of Jesus and become more like Jesus every day. Having been baptized (Matthew 28:19; an expression of personal surrender) and learning the ways of Jesus (Matthew 28:20), disciples take on the character, discipline and mission of their Master.
The pastor has this goal in mind. He isn’t called just to produce converts. He isn’t charged with making people more religious. He isn’t content for people to simply become more committed to church. His responsibility is to help his people become more and more and more like Jesus Christ. And so, much of the ministry of the church will be directed toward this disciple-making goal.
The Pastor as Shepherd
The Bible describes God as a shepherd who cares for His people (Psalm 80:1, 95:7, 100:3; Ezekiel 34:11-16, Isaiah 40:11). In the Old Testament, God appointed kings to shepherd His people (2 Samuel 5:2) and later sent Jesus Christ into the world as our “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). When the church was formed, leaders were handed the responsibility of caring for the flock of God. In 1 Peter 5:1-4, the apostle commands:
To the elders [pastors] among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Pastors operate in God’s stead as under-shepherds—under God’s authority, under God’s accountability and under God’s power. We serve the Lord by serving His people. And, we receive a heavenly reward for our service.
Like a shepherd, a pastor guides, protects and pursues. First, like the Lord who “leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2), the pastor guides his church toward holy living and a Kingdom mission. This spiritual pathway will be discussed in greater detail in the remainder of this book. Second, the shepherd protects his flock from danger. Peter warns that “our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The pastor protects his flock by praying for them, instructing them in truth and gently leading them out of sin into freedom. Third, the shepherd looks for lost sheep. Jesus told a parable of the shepherd who left 99 sheep to find the one who had wandered away (Luke 15:1-7). Pastors don’t give up on people. They declare, “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays” (Ezekiel 34:16).
The Pastor as Equipper
In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul explains why God has called some people to ministry positions in His church:
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The repeating theme of this passage is maturity, growth and completion. As God’s people mature, the church functions the way that it should. As the church operates well, each part doing its job, the people mature. Growth produces ministry and unity which, in turn, produce greater growth.
Pastors are called to assist this growth process. We equip people with life skills and spiritual disciplines so they may grow in the knowledge of God and, out of that knowledge, make God known to others in the church and the world around them. As mentioned previously, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). That is, God has had a plan to develop and deploy each Christian to participate in His Kingdom purposes. The pastor keeps this in mind as he develops people through the teaching and training ministries of the church.
The Pastor as Servant
The early church leaders often referred to themselves as “servants” of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1). Having been called into ministry by Jesus, they serve at His command. This means that, like Jesus, the pastor does not “come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
The failure of many pastors to see themselves as servant leaders has grossly hindered the effectiveness of the church of Jesus. Too often, pastors assume a superior role to their people. They demand respect, rather than earning it. They insist on being followed, rather than leading with humility. They require from their people what they don’t practice themselves. Not only does this abuse God’s people, but it reflects nothing of the character of Jesus who was the greatest servant of all.
This failure of servant leadership can be seen most notably in the life of King Saul. God’s people requested a king (1 Samuel 8:5) so they could be “like all the nations.” At this moment, they had forgotten that God was their king. In chapter 9, Samuel was sent by God to find a leader for God’s people and the Lord told him, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me” (1 Samuel 9:15-16). The student of Scripture should not miss the difference between what the people asked for and what God gave them.
The people asked for a melek (Hebrew word for “king,” 1 Samuel 8:5), but God appointed a nagid (Hebrew word for “prince;”translated “leader” in 9:16). God gave them someone who would not be their highest authority (a king), but would serve under God (a prince).However, when Saul was crowned, the crowd shouted “Long live the king!” (melek; 10:24), and Saul began to believe in his exalted position. Later, after Saul refused to humbly submit to the Lord’s command and offered a sacrifice, he was disciplined. God rebuked Saul and said, “But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader (nagid) of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command” (1 Samuel 13:14).
Saul was appointed prince, but he believed he was a king. The pastor isn’t a king, but a servant prince. This means he models humility in his speech and his lifestyle. He doesn’t insist on special privileges. He doesn’t require exalted titles. He doesn’t take the best seat at the table. He doesn’t move to the front of the line. He doesn’t bend the rules, believing “they don’t apply to him.” He isn’t above correction. Rather, the pastor who serves his people is the one who leads his people well.
SO WHAT?
Ministry is hard. Even the Apostle Paul faced extreme challenges in ministry:
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
The pastor today is in good company. Every ministry leader faces criticism, conflict and the constant pressure of collecting financial resources to fund ministry initiatives. Pastoral ministry isn’t for the faint of heart or those wishing to build a personal résumé. The most effective pastor is not the one who views their ministry as a career, but the one who views their ministry as a calling from God.
Calling inspires endurance and faithfulness.
Understanding calling also helps the pastor identify and cultivate emerging leaders in their church. Calling, not ambition, is the criteria for selecting new ministry staff or volunteers. The pastor who understands how God calls is able to help their people understand how God may be directing their lives. When those called to ministry are mobilized in ministry, your church will succeed.
The biblical qualifications for pastors are helpful on several fronts. First, the list (1 Timothy 3:1-11) provides a helpful framework for selecting new pastors on your church staff. Equally, the list offers a helpful framework for selecting elders (under-shepherds) who will serve the church. It’s common for churches to invite successful businessmen or community leaders to serve on their leadership board.
But, the church of Jesus must be directed by spiritual people, not just successful ones. A person who knows how to run a company may or may not know how to run a church. A person who is rich may or may not know how to be a good steward of ministry. Because the work of the church is first a spiritual work, leaders must be selected according to spiritual criterion. The church that neglects this priority may attract customers, but will not make disciples.
The list of requirements also provides an excellent model for my own personal evaluation. I want to be an increasingly effective pastor. This means I must maintain the qualities whch first qualified me for ministry many years ago. In other words, I must constantly be above reproach, loyal to my wife, self-controlled, hospitable, etc. My elder board, to whom I am accountable, annually uses these qualifications to evaluate my “public life” and alert me to “blind spots” (see Chapter 9).* The goal is to make me better as a leader of Christ’s church.
Finally, the one called to pastor must understand what their role is, according to Scripture. Too many pastors have a misshapen view of their position, leading to abuses of leadership and neglect of God’s mission. Every day, the pastor must ask, “Who am I? What has God called me to be?” The answer is clear: God has called the pastor to reproduce spiritual students of Jesus (disciple-maker), lead and protect those in his care (shepherd), prepare people for works of service (equipper) and humble themselves for the benefit of all (servant).
The importance of this chapter cannot be underestimated. The church which accomplishes the right mission must be led by the right person. The calling, quality and commitments of a pastor will determine the direction of their church.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
- A pastor should be able to clearly communicate his pathway to personal faith in Jesus. Take a few minutes to write down how God called you to faith.
- How did God call you into ministry? When did you feel a “burning in your soul,” and what things did God use to confirm your calling?
- Looking at the list of requirements for pastors (1 Timothy 3:1-11), which of these virtues would others say exemplify your life? Which ones need development? What can you do to begin developing these virtues? Ask a good friend—one who will be honest with you (see Proverbs 27:6)—to help you accurately appraise yourself.
- Of the four roles of a pastor—to disciple, shepherd, equip and serve—which one is most “natural” for you? Why? Which role will take some future development? What can you begin doing now to begin this developmental journey?
- What is the most important thing you learned from this overview of the pastor's calling?
* While Chapter 9 of Next Step Church is not on this site, this chapter from Next Step Discipleship contains the same information regarding blind spots.