What a Pastor Is (And What He’s Not)
Pastors are not superheroes or religious handymen—they are shepherds called to teach, pray, protect, and equip the church. And the rest of us? We’re not spectators. We’re ministers too. If we want a healthy, growing church, we all have to carry the weight together and give our pastors the space to do what God actually called them to do.
KEY VERSES:
- Acts 20:17–28
- 1 Peter 5:1–4
- 1 Timothy 3
- Ephesians 4:11–12
- Matthew 14
- Mark 6
- Luke 6
- John 6
- Luke 15
- Acts 6:2–4
- 1 Timothy 4:12
- Ezekiel 34
- Romans 12:6–8
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Introduction: What is a pastor, really? Everyone has opinions—but the Bible gives clarity.
- Common Misconceptions: Pastors are often expected to do everything. One survey even averaged 114 hours/week of “expected” work!
- Defining the Terms:
- Pastor = Shepherd (cares, protects, feeds)
- Elder = Spiritually mature leader
- Bishop = Overseer who watches over people and doctrine (Acts 20:17–28; 1 Peter 5)
- Qualifications of a Pastor (1 Timothy 3):
- Blameless, faithful to one spouse, temperate, not violent, hospitable, able to teach, not greedy, respectable, etc.
- Most of these are things all Christians should aim for—pastors just live them out consistently.
- What Pastors Actually Do:
- Teach and Equip: Pastors equip the church to do ministry, not do it all themselves (Ephesians 4:11–12).
- Pray: Like Jesus, pastors need space to be with God (Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 6; John 6).
- Shepherd: Seek the lost (Luke 15), protect from wolves (Acts 20), care for the hurting, and lead by example (1 Timothy 4:12).
- The Cost of Neglect: A church that doesn’t prioritize biblical teaching falls into chaos. Real stories from the speaker’s past church underline this truth.
- Final Challenge: Support your pastor. Don’t overload him. Pray. Get involved. You’re in ministry too.
TALK ABOUT IT:
- What do I expect from my pastor—and are those expectations realistic or biblical?
- Am I taking ownership of ministry in my church or leaving it all to a few people?
- Which of the pastor’s qualifications (1 Timothy 3) do I struggle with most—and why?
- Do I make space for God's Word in my life the same way pastors need to for their teaching?
- How can I support and encourage my church leaders better this week?
- Have I ever confused being busy at church with being spiritually mature?
- What’s one practical way I can lighten the load in my church community?
APPLY IT:
- Shift your mindset—your pastor isn’t the only one doing ministry. You are part of it.
- Pray for your pastors to have space to study, teach, and rest.
- Don’t expect one person to meet everyone’s needs—support a healthy team approach.
- Start growing in your own knowledge of Scripture so you can minister to others.
- Check your expectations of church leadership—are they biblical or just personal preference?
- Offer to serve in a way that lightens your pastor’s load.
- Commit to being a mature believer who reflects the same character God calls pastors to live out.
Don served in the United States Navy, and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He went on to obtain a Master of Divinity from Trinity International University. He has served as a Senior Pastor in Evangelical free churches in Minnesota, Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania.