What Is A Pastor?
In this chapter we will give a brief overview of what the Biblical definition of a “pastor” really is. We will attempt to dispel some myths that have developed and have been perpetuated for years regarding this very much-needed ministry in the Body of Christ. We will also provide some pastoral resources and counseling helps for you. Pastoring people, just like any ministry in the Body of Christ is better learned by actually doing it. We have provided what we consider to be a fair amount of information and “tools” for you to use, but all of these tools will be useless outside the realm of practical experience.
What Does the Bible Say?
Eph. 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.
It is funny that in the whole Bible, the word “pastor”, only appears once, in the verse above, yet so much has been said and taught regarding what a pastor is and does.
A Pastor Is A Shepherd
Although the word “pastor” only appears once in the Bible, the Greek word, poeima that is translated “pastors” in Ephesians chapter 4 appears many times. The literal translation for the word poemia is “shepherd”. Let’s look at what the dictionary says a shepherd is.
Shepherd: A person employed in tending sheep; one who exercises spiritual care over a community; a pastor or minister.
That’s it. The Biblical definition of a “pastor” is simply a shepherd – a person who cares for and protects the portion of God’s flock that has been entrusted to them.
Our modern day definition of “pastor” however, is very different from the simple, Biblical definition. When we think of the qualifications of being a pastor, we immediately think of someone who is a great public speaker, very charismatic, a very profound, academic person overflowing with wisdom - and college degrees! Some may even be quite surprised to find out that the Biblical qualifications for leadership don’t even mention education, they are 100% spiritual qualifications, not natural. Let’s take a look at the guidelines that the Bible gives for those who are to be involved in leadership in the Body of Christ:
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. • 1Tim. 3:1
As you can see, those who are in leadership in the Body of Christ are called to a high standard, but the standard is based upon their obedience to Christ and to His Word, not on any standard set forth by men.
What are the particular qualifications of a Cell Group pastor or Cell Group apprentice? Well, to be sure the person needs to be a person whose life lines up with the general qualifications of an overseer as described in 1 Timothy chapter 3, but then so does a deacon (the ministry of ushering would fall under the category of the deacon). So putting the obvious aside, what does a person have to do to be qualified as a Cell Group pastor? The answer is so simple it is funny, yet is the quality that so many “professional” pastors lack - you need to be a person who has compassion for and be willing to care for God’s people - that’s it! What it requires is time, effort, and commitment.
A good way to describe what a shepherd is, is to describe what a shepherd does. The following ideas are taken from The Shepherd’s Guidebook, by Ralph W. Neighbor Jr.
The Shepherd Follows His Lord’s Example
In 1 Peter 5:4, Jesus is referred to as “The Chief Shepherd”. The primary way we can be better under shepherds is to become more like the Chief Shepherd.
As we pursue Jesus, we will gradually have more capacity to shepherd as Jesus does.
Jesus shared His life with His disciples. His method of pastoring was far more than imparting information. He modeled the Kingdom of God by His very existence. So we too are called to live our Christianity day to day in the midst of the people we have influence with.
The Shepherd is a Guide
Moses said to the LORD, 16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” Num. 27:15 -17
From this verse we see that there must be two relationships in our lives for our shepherding to work as God intended it to. First, there must be a vertical relationship. You are a “man appointed over this community,” responsible to Christ, the Chief Shepherd.
Second, there must be a horizontal relationship with your flock. You are responsible for each person:
To the elders 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: 2 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; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1Pet. 5:1-4)
A Shepherd Does Not Seek Self
Exaltation
Let’s look at what Jesus said about men who took leadership positions to exalt themselves, rather than God:
“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them `Rabbi.’ 8 “But you are not to be called `Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth `father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called `teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. • Matt. 23:5
Christ has called all of us to a life of service and the first and foremost place this should be exhibited is in the life of the people who are leaders in His Body.
A Shepherd Nurtures
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. Ps. 78:70
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)
Jesus here describes the flock as having lambs and sheep. There is a difference in maturity between those in the flock and the shepherd recognizes this. The flock is made up of highly individual persons. They cannot be treated as a single entity. Each one has special needs and special capacities.
It is also clear Jesus was not interested in how much wool or meat He could get from His flock, but rather about their needs, and what could be done to serve them. Your reward for your ministry should be Christ’s “well done!”. That’s enough.
A Shepherd Protects
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:28-32)
The word “overseer” in this passage means “to inspect, to look carefully into; a watcher, a guardian.” Evaluating all the members of the flock, the Shepherd will ask himself, “What can I do to help this person? What is needed for spiritual growth?” Thus, all members are to be led to greater levels of ministry.
A Shepherd Cares for Needs
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: `this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. 7 “`Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. 11 “`For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. • Ezek. 34:1-16
The shepherd will go after the weak and needy, search for the lost and bring back the strays. The shepherd is a restorer of people. This is the heart of God for those who would have oversight of His flock.
A Shepherd Equips the Priests for Their Service
Peter tells us that every single Christian is a member of the “priesthood”:
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..... But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy......Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. • 1Pet. 2:2-5,9-10,12
What is the activity of a priest? He stands between a holy God and his fellow man. With one hand he touches God, and with the other hand he touches a person who needs the touch of God! A priest is a channel, and Christ’s activity flows through him.
Shepherds equip priests to enter their royal service, and they are always aware that the sheep are not growing unless they are able to perform priestly service.
What a privilege to be able to take part in equipping God’s people for works of service. That is just what you are able to do be shepherding a Cell Group!
