Five Lessons on Pastoral Leadership (Especially for Young Pastors)
by Deek Dubberly on June 9, 2010
in 1 Timothy, Audio, Biblelife, Churchlife, Pastoring, Sermon
I finished up chapter four of 1st Timothy this past weekend with my church. We’re doing a verse-by-verse study through this book and last Sunday I preached a sermon titled “Five Lessons on Pastoral Leadership” out of I Tim. 4:12-16. Timothy was a young pastor serving in a church where many, even other leaders, were significantly older and possibly more experienced than him. This undoubtedly proved difficult as Paul urged him to confront false teaching and wayward leaders. I too am a young pastor. I serve in a church where many, including all the deacons and lay-leaders, are older than me and have served in this particular church longer than I’ve been around. How was Timothy to address these situations? How am I to address the people God has called me to serve? This sermon seeks to provide a biblical response to these and other related questions. Here’s a brief outline and commentary of what I shared: 1. Lead by Example(I Tim. 4:12)—Whatever the reasons people may have for not wanting to follow the leadership of a person younger than themselves, Paul here says to Timothy to live in such a way that those reasons cannot substantially be claimed.
2. Lead by the Word(I Tim. 4:13)—The leadership of a pastor should be, first and foremost, directed from and manifested out of the authority of the Word of God. Leaders lead per their devotion to the Scriptures and their delivery of the Scriptures. 3. Lead by Being Yourself(I Tim. 4:14)—Timothy had been given a gift by God for leading God’s people. The text doesn’t say, but maybe it was something like the gift of teaching, discernment, or prophecy. Whatever it was, Paul urged Timothy to be the leader God had created, called, and gifted him to be. No apologies necessary for being the person God made you to be! 4. Lead by Hard Work and Growth(I Tim. 4:15)—Devote yourself completely to living out the Christian faith (i.e. ‘leading by example’), to preaching the Word (a la ‘leading by the Word’), and being comfortable in your own spiritual skin, so to speak (that is, ‘leading by being yourself’). As you do this you will grow as a person and as a leader. Let your followers see this progress! 5. Lead by Faithfulness(I Tim. 4:16)—Paul sums up these instructions with the command to “persist in this”—that is, be faithful in carrying out and existing within all these things I’ve told you about. People want a leader they can count on. It’s very simple, though not very easy. Here’s the sermon audio:
[HT: Post header image clipped from CreativeMYK] |
John MacArthur On What A Pastor Is Supposed to Do
by Deek Dubberly on May 22, 2010
in 1 Timothy, Audio, Biblelife, John MacArthur, Pastoring
A small taste of what I’m listening to this morning… Here’s John MacArthur preaching to what I think are a group of graduates from The Master’s Seminary. He is speaking from I Tim. 4:6-16. His address is titled, “12 Marks of Excellent Pastoral Ministry.”
MacArthur describes this address as “a wonderful summary of what ministries should look like.” At sermon’s end he asks the question, “So what does a pastor do?” His answer?
Anyone else been listening to good sermons lately? Do share in the comments below. |
D. A. Carson on ‘The Role of the Pastor’
by Deek Dubberly on April 5, 2010
in 1 Timothy, Biblelife, D. A. Carson, Pastor, Pastoring, Preaching
 D. A. Carson This is definitely one of the greatest sermons/addresses I’ve ever listened to on the nature of pastoral ministry. It’s by D. A Carson so I’m not surprised. It’s been out for a while but I just found it last week. Here’s where I found it over at 9Marks. And here’s a download link and an audio player to listen to it here on my site.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think. |
Are you Qualified to be a Leader in the Church?
by Deek Dubberly on March 22, 2010
in 1 Timothy, Audio, Biblelife, Churchlife, Pastoring, Preaching, Sermon
I’ve been preaching through the book of 1st Timothy now for just over two months. This past weekend I finished a mini-series of three sermons on the qualifications for ministry. I’ve titled these messages, “The Man and the Ministry.”
“The Man and the Ministry—Part 1″
“The Man and the Ministry—Part 2″
“The Man and the Ministry—Part 3″
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Why is the Death of a Believer ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord?’
by Deek Dubberly on March 8, 2010
in Biblelife, Churchlife, Family, Funeral, Pastoring, Preaching, Psalms, Sermon
I helped to officiate a funeral this weekend. My role, besides giving the invocation and reading the obituary, was to share a few words at the graveside. I shared the verse, Psalm 116:15. It says,
I asked the question, “Why is it precious to God when a Christian passes through this life to the next?” In an attempt to both encourage the family as well as faithfully bear witness to the gospel I answered this question as it relates to three different persons or groups of persons: the individual who passed away, the Christians affected by his death, and the non-Christians affected by his death. So why is it precious to the Lord when his faithful pass? Because its a homecoming, an encouragement, and a challenge. 1. Homecoming—for the deceased→The deceased believer is at home with Jesus. They were not made for this world with its sin, suffering, and shame. They were made for God and now they are with him and enjoying him and worshipping in a more fully realized sense than ever before. 2. Encouragement—for the believing bereaved→ This is not the end. Your loved one is not lost and gone forever. They are merely on the other side. They are with God. And one day we will be there with them. 3. Challenge—to the unbelieving bereaved→ May this occasion be an opportunity for you to be challenged by considering the brevity of life, your need for a savior, and the invitation of the gospel. Have you ever had some close to you pass away? What words were shared with you that were helpful as you tried to endure the grieving process? |
Trivializing Truth Into Candy—Pastors, What Are We Feeding Our Flocks?
 Pastor Gumball, by Naked Pastor This artwork from Naked Pastor is disturbing. (Don’t be worried by his name, though. I can assure you everything in this post is fully clothed.) It’s disturbing because its true. How many pulpits in churches around the globe are more like contemporary Christian candy stores than platforms from which the great and deep truths of God’s Word are passionately and consistently expounded? I’m afraid the answer is a simple but scary, “Too many.” Preachers, let’s make sure that we don’t, as Naked Pastor put it, “Trivialize the truth for the sake of popularity.” What truths do you think are trivialized and turned into “gumballs” most often? |
15 Temptations Pastors Face
by Deek Dubberly on February 12, 2010
in Churchlife, Family, Pastoring
I certainly find myself (unfortunately) relating to some of these. Given my fallen, fleshly state I understand my vulnerability to all of them be it not for God’s daily grace of protection and provision in my life. How about you? Any of these a real and present danger in your life? Any others that may not be on this list? Credit Where Credit is Due:
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Everyone faces temptation (I Cor. 10:13). Even Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11). Here are a few germane to the role of a pastor.The Pastor’s Home
Dr. Richard Mayhue contributed an excellent little chapter called “The Pastor’s Home” in the book, Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, edited by John MacArthur. He writes that,
Mayhue closes this section by saying that,
What a wonderful description and goal for all of us who minister. Can you think of any other things that a godly, peaceful home can supply and accomplish in a pastor’s life? |
Pastors…A Word of Reminder that We Need to Remember
by Deek Dubberly on January 23, 2010
in Biblelife, Churchlife, Pastoring
A shepherd in the Near Eastern world of the Scriptures was responsible for protecting, nurturing, feeding and keeping up with his sheep. Likewise, pastors of local churches are responsible for all of these same things in a spiritual sense. The Greek word from which most English translations get the word “pastor” is most frequently translated as “shepherd.” In fact, of the 18 times the NT uses this Greek word, only once is it translated as “pastor.” The other 17 times it is simply “shepherd.” The Apostle Paul uses this word to refer to pastors in Eph. 4:11. Jesus uses it of Himself John 10:14. There he says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” As a pastor it’s important for me that I am a “shepherd” of the members of my church. BUT…its also important for me to remember that I am also a sheep. I think all pastors would do well to be reminded of and to remember that we too are sheep. Our shepherd is Christ Himself. For pastors to remember that they too are sheep is helpful in several ways. It helps us to:
Can you think of any other reasons why its beneficial for pastors/”shepherds” to remember that they are also sheep? |
A pastor is an individual who, by virtue of what the word “pastor” means, behaves toward his parishioners in a way very similar to how a shepherd behaves toward his flock of sheep.
