The Pastoral Ministry

Study notes

Chapter 3. The Pastors Relationship with the Lord

The main duty of the Pastor is to give personal instructions as to how to live the Christian life, how to deal with sin and live free from the influence of the world. All ministry will spring from the Pastor's relationship with the Lord. James 1:17.

It is important that every Pastor understands the foundations on which his relationship and faith lay for he cannot minister to others the things which he himself does not understand or has not entered into. He must know God. John 17:3, 1 Sam.3:7, 2 Peter 1:3-5.

The Necessity of Personal Prayer and Study

No man can minister unless he has learned to rise early and meet with God and soak himself in the Scriptures that they have become a ready tool in his hand. Spend 1 hour in preparation to minister 5 minutes, spend a week in preparation to live one day. See that the work of God is thoroughly wrought in your own life. Your life will be their food not your words - Luke 5:15-26, Matt.6:5-15, Dan.6:11, 2 Tim.2:15, 2 Tim.3:16.

Daily and Yearly Bible Reading Schemes

It is important to have a systematic scheme for regular reading of the word of God in addition to times of more in-depth study. Also make full use of the study books available as added material to ministry already developed in your heart as it has been imparted by the Lord.

Fasting and Prayer

Daily and weekly times of prayer and fasting should be the normal practice of the ministers life, one day weekly and perhaps 3 days quarterly Matt.17:21, Matt.6:17-18, Acts 13:3. Matt 6:6

The Pastor a Reflection of His Lord

The Pastor is a leader, both in spiritual and natural realms, he is called to make sacrifices that others of his flock may not be called upon to make 1 Cor.4:15, 2 Cor.3: 18, 2 Cor.4:7-10, 1 Cor.8:13

Maturity

There is always a cry in the hearts of men and women for mature ministers of God and the purpose of the Lord is to develop the life of his people that they are able and effective ministers. As in the natural life there are 5 senses so it must be in spiritual things Heb.5:12:14.

Touch - Heb.4:15, Matt.8:1-3, 9:20-22, laying on of hands Acts 8:10, 1 Tim.5:22
Taste - Heb.6:4-5, John 6, John 4, Matt.5.
Hearing - Heb.2:1, Rom:10:1, 2 Kings 6: 8-12, John 10, 2 Cor.12.
Seeing - Heb.12:1-2, Eph.1:17-18, 2 Kings 6:13-16.
Smelling - Heb.13:15, 2 Cor.2:14-16, Luke 7.

The Pastor’s Responsibility

Preaching & Teaching the Word of God.

It is the pastors responsibility to preach and teach John21:17, 1Peter2:2. God’s word is the only spiritual food you have to offer which will cause growth to maturity, Heb.5:12-14, 2Tim4:2 and 1Tim4:13. To preach is to proclaim, to teach is to instruct. Col.1:28. It is possible to teach without preaching but not to preach without teaching.

To serve the church by equipping the saints Eph4:11-13, 1Peter4:10-11 and 2Tim3:16-17. God requires that you use the gifts imparted to you to equip and train the saints for the work of the ministry together with those that function in the church using the gifts given unto them, 1Cor12:1-11, Rom12:6-8.

To guard against false teaching by constantly bringing the truth of the word, Acts20:28-31, 1Tim 1:3-4, 2Tim1:13, Titus1:9 and 2:1. The best way to combat false teaching is to teach correct doctrine from the word of God.

Expository Preaching

Expository preaching involves:

Proclaiming the text of God’s word in a systematic way.
Explaining the meaning so that the hearers understand.
Exhorting the hearers to obey and apply the truth.

In expository preaching the preacher is simply the instrument through which God’s word, His message, is delivered to the people. It is the unfolding of God’s word and letting it speak.

Characteristics of True Expository Preaching

Takes and systematically explains the text paragraph by paragraph in the general order and in context in which it appears.
Preaches through chapters, sections and books of the bible.
Allows the text to determine both the content and structure of the message.
Is not topical but many topics will be covered in due time as the word is unfolded.
Is true to the meaning of the text.
Uses illustrations and examples that are both biblical and relevant from Christian experience.
Seeks to apply the principles and truths drawn from the bible.
Exhorts and challenges the hearers to respond in obedience to the message.

The Elements of Scriptural Exposition

Explanation to give understanding.
Instruction –Teaching.
Conviction to the hearers.
Response to the truth in obedience.
Preaching upon certain subjects
Another means of communicating truth is to take a topic or subject relevant to the hearers, for example faith.

Characteristics of Messages not Based on the Scripture

Use very little scripture - refers to it in passing or use it only as an introduction or a spring board.
Express the opinions, traditions and philosophies of men.
Promotes the world’s view of success.
Entertains more than instructs.
Promises health, wealth and material prosperity (a false gospel).
Presents an inaccurate, incomplete picture of Jesus Christ and Christianity.
Suggests non-scriptural solutions for spiritual problems, i.e. psychology.
Manipulate response through appeals or clever speech.
Tell people what they want to hear.

God’s word does not need the support of music or entertainment but is dependent only upon the ability of God to be faithful to His word, Heb4:12, 1Thes2:13. People need to hear the word of God. Many are ignorant of the bible, John8:31-32. The word of God addresses real problems. The bible teaches the whole counsel of God, Acts18:11, 20:20-27.

Things to remember:

We are commanded to preach the word for the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine, 2Tim4:2-4, 2Cor4:2.
We must never dilute, distort or devalue from it, make it say what it doesn’t or add or take away from it, 1Cor4:6-7, 1:17-19, Rom1:16-17.
We must not worry about lack of eloquence, 1Cor2:1.
Focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, 1Cor2:2.
Preach in humility and fear realising our own weakness and that it is God’s word you are speaking, 1Cor2:3.
Be careful about relying on clever or persuasive words, 1Cor2:4.
By faith allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate His power as you rely on God’s word and not your own words 1Cor2:5.

Preparation of the Preacher

Robert Murray McCheyne once said “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.” John Owen said “The word must dwell in us with power before it can go forth with power.”

As we have earlier indicated the pastor has been prepared in his personal life and relationship with God in his times of prayer and study. If he is to preach with power and passion. He is to pray:

Before he prepares his message;
As he prepares his message;
While he preaches;
During the response;
For God’s continual work in the hearers lives as they return to their homes.

Preaching is a fire that burns in his heart and it will burn in the hearts of the hearers. He is expectant that God will move as the people hear the word of God, 1Thess2:13, that people will change 1Thess1:5-7, that they will be saved, Rom1:16, that they will be instructed. The preacher is called to:

Proclaim the message of God, 2Tim 1:11
To be Christ’s servant, 1Cor4:1, 2Cor4:5
Act as an ambassador for Christ, 2Cor5:18-20.

Preparing the Message

First ask God for the word to preach. Never get up to speak without first having something to say which has been prayerfully considered. There maybe exceptions to that rule if you are suddenly called upon to speak then you will have liberty to call upon God for the word.
Most important is that you have given much time in preparation even if at the last moment you believe God has changed the theme or subject of the message, Ps81:10, Matt10:19-20.
It is always good when learning to keep a notebook with things that God has spoken to you and simple guidelines and points on which to share regarding a particular passage or subject that God has laid on your heart.
Endeavour as you mature in the things of God to learn to preach with less or no notes so as to allow the freedom of the Spirit to direct your heart. Certainly do not read from notes. Trust the Lord to bring things to mind.
You can learn a tremendous amount by listening to preachers and take note of the way they prepare and expand the scriptures using various words in the passage to highlight the next point they wish to share.
You can either expand a book of the bible or use a topic that is relevant to the hearers.
Often when reading through the bible, God speaks His word to be studied.

Getting Together Material for the Preached Word

Read and reread the passage of scripture that is to be the focal point of the message or if a topic is to be taken a passage relevant to draw the hearers into the theme.

Look up in the concordance, the passages having the word in it, for example if the subject is prayer, also look up subjects that are relevant to prayer, i.e. pray, intercession, supplication, ask, cry, call. Instead of writing down all the references, note only those that really could be used in the context of the ministry.

Select the passages chosen and arrange them in order. See what you can dispense with i.e. if a scripture is repeated. Bring together points that naturally go together. If the message is to be taken from a book or chapter find the points of your message:

By careful analysis of the text;
By asking questions about the text;
By writing the points down.

Arrange your Points

After noting all the points you need to select three or four main points. Few ministers can wisely speak for 30-40 minutes. To a beginner 20 minutes is often long enough and sometimes too long. In a house group meeting 15 minutes is certainly long enough. It is better to have more points than the time you have to share. It is good to arrange the points in order to allow the message to flow. The first point follows the introduction, the last point is the conclusion. Each point leads us clearly to the next so that the listener follows the word through easily reaching a climax.

If time begins to run out, don’t miss the concluding point but one of the others.

Use an illustration for the introduction and for each point. It is often useful to begin with a story that dramatically gets the course of the subject and then use a story or illustration for each point mentioned.

The Use of Illustrations

Nothing helps communicate the truth better than a well-appointed illustration.

Illustrations will:

Make the truth clear. It would be a tragedy if the hearer wants to hear what is preached but does not understand what is being said.
Impress the truth: the hearer needs to go away with true understanding firmly fixed in his heart. Many people have gone away remembering the illustrations more than the scriptures but the illustrations brings their minds back to the truth spoken.
To hold the attention of the hearers. Stories help those who have little attention span to break up truth and when they begin to tire an exciting story wakes them up and can be very refreshing.

Different Kinds of Illustrations

Biblical: From stories of the bible. When telling bible stories put yourself in the shoes of the persons involved.
From your own experience. Something that has happened in your own life is often more relevant than stories that have happened to others. Do not leave the hearer with yourself but with the truth you are seeking to share.
Anecdotes. Stories from other people who have lived in the past. Men of revival and others who God has used powerfully.

How to get Illustrations

Be on the lookout for them in reading and listening. Keep a notebook so that you can refer to them in the days to come.

How to use Illustrations

Be sure that you have something to illustrate so they will not become the message but only an illustration to assist the message.

Have a Clear Conclusion

At this point many speakers have difficulty in stopping and applying the important truth of the message. An untidy conclusion will render the message ineffectual.

Teaching the Bible

Expounding the scriptures - this means reading and then adding comments to illuminate its meaning and enforce its teaching. Points to good teaching:

Make thorough preparation. · Avoid being tedious
Avoid rambling. . · Bring connected thoughts.

Conversational Bible Study

Have the class meet in an informal way.
Give a portion of scripture to be studied the week before the study.
Avoid being directed off the point.

Study of Individual Books

Ask the following questions:

Who wrote the book? · To whom was it written? · Where was it written? · When was it written?
Why was it written? · What were the conditions of the people to whom it was written?
What are the main thoughts?

Delivering the Message

Things to remember for preachers:

They have a greater responsibility before God than hearers, Jam3:1.
Should not lead God’s people astray from the truth, Acts20:30.
A spokesman for God and represent authority to people, 1Thess2:13
Should live out in practice what they preach, Matt23:1-3.
Should never forget that they are learners too, John14:26.
Should not try to imitate the style or manner of others, be yourself.
Should not try to entertain or impress people with their message, 1Cor2:1-5.

Hints for Effective Preaching

Know your message very well.
Know your congregation and their spiritual needs very well.
What is unclear to you will be unclear to them.
Use words that are common, but choose fresh expressive words. Try not to overuse favourite words and phrases.
Relate your message to what your hearers already know (e.g. Jesus often preached in parables).
Stimulate the hearers to learn for themselves.
Be excited about the Lord and enthusiastic about your message - you don’t have to yell to preach.
Try to draw your hearers into the message through illustrations and examples.
Convey love, care and concern.
Learning does not occur until change occurs.

Invitations

The invitation may take one of several forms:

To receive Jesus Christ as Saviour by raising their hand or standing.
To come forward to pray and talk with someone about a problem or decision.
To make a commitment either by standing or coming forward.

Appearance and Pulpit Manner

Dress neatly and appropriately but not to draw attention to yourself.
Maintain eye contact with the audience - don’t read too much of your message.
Move about freely and naturally but not too much.
Appropriate facial expressions can be helpful.
Hand gestures should be natural and spontaneous, not planned.
Vary the tone of your voice but you don’t have to yell to communicate your point.
Avoid language, movement, gestures etc, which distract from the message. Be yourself.

Scriptural Messages are easy to Preach when you:

Read God’s word to your people; · Explain God’s word to your people so they understand;
Show your people how to personally apply God’s word.