Equipping Saints: The Role of Godly Pastors
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of the gospel reaching beyond the walls of the church. He underscores the role of pastors in equipping the saints for the work of ministry, referencing Ephesians 4. The pastor encourages the congregation to grow in ministry, learn new skills, and actively engage in different areas of ministry. He also highlights the importance of delegating tasks to others, such as deacons, to ensure the service of ministry is carried out effectively.
The pastor then focuses on the first five verses of the letter and highlights a few key points. He emphasizes that Paul establishes his credentials as a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus. The pastor reassures the congregation that they can trust in the concept of eternal life because God cannot lie. He encourages them to hold on and trust in God's faithfulness, using the example of Joseph in the Old Testament. The pastor concludes by reminding the congregation that they can trust in Romans 8, which assures them that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
The pastor discusses the qualities that an elder or pastor of the church should possess. He emphasizes that these qualities should be different from the culture and values of the world. The pastor refers to a passage where Paul quotes a Greek philosopher who describes Cretans as liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. The pastor explains that pastors should not exhibit these negative traits but instead should display Christlike character. They should be hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, and self-controlled. The pastor emphasizes that Jesus is the perfect example of these qualities, as he lived a sinless and self-controlled life.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of holding tightly to the gospel as pastors and as Christians. He refers to the passage in verse 9 that encourages holding onto the faithful message as taught, in order to both encourage with sound teaching and refute those who contradict it. The pastor highlights the book of Galatians as an example of people trying to add to the gospel, specifically the requirement of circumcision. The pastor firmly states that the gospel alone is sufficient for salvation and that adding or subtracting from it is not acceptable.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of having godly pastors in healthy churches. He acknowledges that pastors may not always live up to the ideal of being good shepherds, but without their guidance, the sheep will wander. The pastor then poses the question of what godly pastors look like. He mentions that some people may have a specific image in mind, such as a tall man with a cowboy hat, but the passage from Paul's writings provides the true qualifications of a pastor.
Key Takeaways:
- The gospel is not just for those present in the church, but for those outside who need to be saved. Godly pastors keep the focus on looking outward rather than inward, reminding the congregation that the church is a rescue vessel intended to reach the lost with the gospel. [12:45]
- Pastors play a crucial role in equipping the saints for the work of ministry. They encourage the congregation to grow in ministry, learn new skills, and actively engage in different areas of ministry. They understand the importance of delegating tasks to others, such as deacons, to ensure the service of ministry is carried out effectively. [22:30]
- Godly pastors should display Christlike character, being hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, and self-controlled. They should not exhibit negative traits but instead should strive to emulate Jesus, who lived a sinless and self-controlled life. [34:15]
- The gospel alone is sufficient for salvation. Adding or subtracting from it is not acceptable. Pastors and Christians should hold tightly to the gospel, encouraging sound teaching and refuting those who contradict it. [45:50]
- Godly pastors are essential for healthy churches. Without their guidance, the sheep will wander. The true qualifications of a pastor are provided in Paul's writings, and understanding these qualifications is important for Christians who desire to follow a good spiritual shepherd. [58:20]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. Titus 1:1-9
2. Romans 8:28
3. 1 Corinthians 3
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the qualities that Paul lists in Titus 1:1-9 that an elder or pastor should possess?
2. In Romans 8:28, what is the promise given to those who love God and are called according to His purpose?
3. What does 1 Corinthians 3 say about the role of leaders in the church and the work of ministry?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's description of the qualities of an elder or pastor in Titus 1:1-9 contrast with the values of the world?
2. How does the promise in Romans 8:28 provide reassurance in times of uncertainty or difficulty?
3. How does 1 Corinthians 3 illustrate the importance of equipping the saints for the work of ministry?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the qualities listed in Titus 1:1-9. Which of these qualities do you see in your own life, and which do you need to cultivate more?
2. Think of a recent situation where you faced uncertainty or difficulty. How can you apply the promise in Romans 8:28 to that situation?
3. Consider your role in your church or community. What is one way you can help equip others for the work of ministry this week?
4. Reflect on the gospel message. How can you ensure that you are holding tightly to the gospel and not adding or subtracting from it in your daily life?
5. Think of a person or group in your community who is not part of your church. What is one specific action you can take this week to reach out to them with the gospel?
Devotional
Day 1: The Gospel: A Rescue Vessel for the Lost
The gospel is not confined to the walls of the church. It is a rescue vessel, intended to reach those who are lost and in need of salvation. As believers, we are called to look outward, extending the reach of the gospel beyond our immediate circles. [12:45]
Luke 15:4-5 - "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders."
Reflection: Who in your life is currently outside the reach of the gospel? How can you extend the gospel to them this week?
Day 2: Equipping Saints for Ministry
Pastors play a crucial role in equipping the saints for the work of ministry. As members of the congregation, we are encouraged to grow in ministry, learn new skills, and actively engage in different areas of ministry. Delegation is key to ensuring the service of ministry is carried out effectively. [22:30]
Ephesians 4:11-12 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Reflection: What is one new skill you can learn this week to better serve in your ministry?
Day 3: Emulating Christlike Character
As believers, we are called to display Christlike character. This includes being hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, and self-controlled. We should strive to emulate Jesus, who lived a sinless and self-controlled life. [34:15]
1 Peter 2:21 - "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."
Reflection: What is one Christlike character trait you can focus on developing this week?
Day 4: Holding Tightly to the Gospel
The gospel alone is sufficient for salvation. As believers, we are encouraged to hold tightly to the gospel, promoting sound teaching and refuting those who contradict it. Adding or subtracting from the gospel is not acceptable. [45:50]
Galatians 1:8 - "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!"
Reflection: How can you ensure that you are holding tightly to the gospel in your daily life?
Day 5: The Role of Godly Pastors in Healthy Churches
Godly pastors are essential for the health of the church. Without their guidance, the sheep will wander. Understanding the true qualifications of a pastor, as provided in Paul's writings, is important for Christians who desire to follow a good spiritual shepherd. [58:20]
1 Timothy 3:1-2 - "Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."
Reflection: How can you support and pray for your pastor this week to help them fulfill their godly role in the church?
Quotes
"Here at Riverside we say that the gospel matters too much for our preferences to get in the way. The gospel is too important to do things just the way I want to do them or the way I think they should be done." [48:15]
"Godly pastors stay focused on what matters most and make sure that preferences do not take over the church. Without Godly pastors, the Great Commission becomes the great Omission because it is very easy for churches to become insular minded." [49:59]
"What Paul is doing when he lays out this is what an Elder, a pastor of the church should look like, is he's saying it looks very different than what the world looks like, it's different than the culture of the world, it looks different, you act different." #!!01:05:13!!#
"Jesus lived a righteous, holy, self-controlled life. No one else in all of humanity and all of creation ever lived a perfect life except for Jesus." #!!01:07:04!!#
"We as Christians must be and we as pastors must be completely cemented in the gospel and nothing else because there are always people who want to add to the gospel... if the gospel has to have anything added to it then the gospel alone won't save anyone." (#!!01:08:24!!#)
"Our entire culture is built and bent right now with the idea of telling us what is sin and what isn't sin... but that's why we must be submitted in the gospel in the Bible because then we have an authority not just what we feel like, what we want, what we like, we have a truth and pastors must hold unfailingly to the truth of God's word." (#!!01:09:23!!#)
"The church is a place where a whole bunch of sick people come together, and so the church really needs to be a healthy place so that we can help people who are sick get better and so we can help people who are dying find Salvation...the world needs healthy churches because healthy churches send out missionaries, healthy churches reach out with the gospel, healthy churches invest and equip members to grow and do ministry." #!!35:14!!#
"He reminds us here that we can trust in the idea of eternal life, the truth of eternal life why because God cannot lie... God cannot lie so hold on because you don't know the end of the story yet." #!!40:08!!#
"I know right now you might feel like you're in the slavery mode, you might feel like you're in the pain, you're in the suffering and you may not understand why it's not working but I want you to hear me God does not lie... God is working all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose." #!!41:45!!#
"Healthy churches require Godly pastors." (#!!53:32!!#)
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