What are the Qualifications, Duties, and Content of the Messages of a Pastor That You Should Be Looking for When Choosing One to Co-Labor with?

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WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS, DUTIES, AND CONTENT OF A PASTOR’S MESSAGES TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING ONE TO CO-LABOR WITH?

Before we look at whether the office of a pastor is gender-specific, let’s take a look at a summary that was generated from a recent study that I put together entitled “A Profile of a Pastor-Teacher.” I think you will enjoy reading this. This study discusses what qualifications, duties, and content of the messages of a pastor should a born-again believer look for when choosing one to co-labor with. I think that you won’t only find this informative, but this should also assist in determining whether the office of a pastor could be occupied by a male and/or female.



Is the pastor born-again?

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)



Is the office of a pastor the name of one of the offices in the church you are attending, the others being called apostle, prophet, and evangelist?

By the way, a pastor should not be designated as a priest, which was a title attributed to the sons of the high priest, who served in both the tabernacle and temple of the Jews during the Age of the Jews in the Old Testament.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;



The pastor should introduce to the Christian converts the beliefs and duties of the Christian faith with special assistance by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.



The calling of a person to the office of a pastor would be evidenced to the assembly by an authentic testimony.

This testimony would reveal that this person was full of the Holy Spirit (those whom the Holy Spirit directs; those who are spiritually minded) and wisdom (skilled in teaching). In the Book of Acts, we see this testimony of the Spirit and wisdom evidenced with regard to the choosing of deacons for the Jerusalem Church.

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.



The pastor should be mindful of inspecting the spiritual state of each person in the assembly.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.



The pastor should establish (ground) the assembly in doctrine.

Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.



The Holy Spirit calls and qualifies the pastor.

The word qualifies doesn’t mean they go to Bible school and become certified, and therefore are qualified to be placed in this leadership office. Going to Bible school is fine, but this should be only a part of the preparation for the office and not be the sole determinant. The word qualifies means the Holy Spirit works in the lives of those, who are called to this office, and produces in them His qualities so that over time His fruit along with the qualifications for this office and the unique spiritual skill ascribed to it (being apt to teach) will be evidenced to the assembly.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Timothy 3:1-2 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;



The pastor preaches the gospel message in order to bring unbelievers to an awareness of the need to repent to God the Father, believe in His Son Jesus Christ as to who He is and what He has done, and to call on His name so that he/she can receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!



The pastor should delight in research in order to validate truth.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be… apt to teach;



The pastor should feed and lead the local church utilizing the teaching and expository (detailed) preaching of the Word of God with special assistance from the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;



The purpose of the office gift of a pastor, as with the other offices of leadership, should be:

● To provide through the content of the teachings an awareness of sinful thoughts, speech, and actions along with the divine repair or correction which is available for all that is deficient.

● For the work of Christian service whereby over time, the members recognize and exercise their spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ.

● For the maturity of every member through the instruction of divine things.



Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:



One who seeks (desires) the office of a pastor must be accordingly.

As these verses refer to the qualifications of a male pastor, we’ll describe them as pertaining to such while not implying that a woman could not be called to this office, because the masculine gender of the noun for the title bishop is used here.

1 Timothy 3:2-4 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

● Blameless: against whom no charge of immorality or of holding false [doctrine] is alleged.2

●The husband of one wife: validly divorced people who remarried were considered married to one spouse.3



Marital Conditions that are allowed for a person to seek the office of a pastor.

If the believing Christian is married to an unbeliever, and the unbeliever chooses to depart (willful desertion), then the believer is not under bondage (free from the marriage bond; not obligated to prevent the divorce) and is free to remarry. 1 Corinthians 7:15

If the believing Christian is married to either a believer or unbeliever, who decides to engage in an extramarital affair, then the Christian is allowed to divorce and remarry. Matthew 19:9

If the husband or wife dies, then the believer is allowed to remarry. Romans 7:2

If the believing Christian is married to a believer, and the believer chooses to leave the marriage while remaining unmarried without engaging in an extramarital affair, then the believer is to remain unmarried or be reconciled. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11



Marital Conditions that are not allowed for a person to seek the office of a pastor.

If the believing Christian seeks a divorce when their believing spouse chooses to leave the marriage while remaining unmarried without engaging in an extramarital affair. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

● Vigilant: conduct that is free from any form of excess.

● Sober: of a sound mind, having good understanding; exercising sensible judgment in all things.

● Of good behavior: organized in his thinking and his living, as well as in his teaching and preaching.4

● Given to hospitality: a lover of strangers; one who is ready to receive into his house and relieve every necessitous stranger.5

● Apt to teach: able and skilled in teaching true doctrine and refuting false doctrine.

● Not given to wine: to not drink in excess.

● No striker: not ready to strike a person who may displease him; not a persecutor of those who may differ from him.

● Patient: treats others with patience and tolerance rather than with a domineering disposition; not making a determined stand for one’s just due.

● Not a brawler: uses a peaceful and inoffensive approach; not quick to argue with others.

● Not covetous: not desiring the office for the sake of its financial gain.

● Having his children in subjection with all gravity: has children who exhibit obedience with respect toward him.



A pastor should give attention to exhortation (to the explanation of the Scripture passages that are read, making their meaning and relevance clear to the gathered congregation6) and doctrine (a body or system of teachings that are related to a particular subject7).

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.



The pastor should be an example (modeling) of divine love, which is produced in the heart of the yielded leader by the Holy Spirit.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.



The pastor should instruct [through reproof (rebuke) or admonition (to warn to correct some fault)] others, who have placed themselves in opposition to him and true doctrine by aligning themselves with false teachers (teaching), so that God would give them such a view of the error which they have embraced, that they will repent (turn one’s back on sinning; a change in mind) to the acknowledging (embracement) of the precise and correct knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.



The content of the pastor’s messages as relating to the assembly should not:

agree with their carnal desires; conceal the gravity of their evil propensities; deal gently with their vices (immoral practices such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, rape, incest lesbianism, pedophilia, etc.).

2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;



The pastor should be able to observe and enforce the discipline of the church.

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:



The pastor should consider the assembly’s suggestions and criticisms.

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be … not self-willed, …



The pastor is a person of integrity who sticks by his word and practices what he preaches.8

Titus 1:7-8 For a bishop must be … just…



The messages that the pastor declares [don’t] tend to corrupt the morals of others; everything in his teaching was to be such as to make men purer.9

Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,



The pastor should instruct the assembly as to how to allow God’s influence on their soul.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;



The pastor instructs the assembly on how to live with a sound mind, which will bring about a due restraint on their passions and propensities.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;



The pastor does not bring in false teaching alongside the truth, whereby the content of their messages allure through the lusts of the flesh new converts by presenting immoral sexual acts as legitimate expressions of Christian freedom, thus promising them the liberty to do whatever they please.

2 Peter 2:18-19 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.



The pastor does not bring in self-chosen doctrines that denounce Jesus by immorality under a cloak of religion.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Outside of becoming born again, I believe that the search for a Spirit-filled pastor-teacher is the most crucial decision for not only a new convert but also for every Christian. If the pastor is not Spirit-filled or guided, then guidance will be self-initiated or religious. What religion will do is bring about a system for the believer to engage in, whereby he/she will be asked to follow certain rules set up by the church to win not only God’s favor (e.g., observe certain days of the year; perform acts of kindness, etc.) but the favor (e.g., being promoted, recognized; canonized; etc.) of those in leadership.

However, a Spirit-filled pastor will teach each believer to learn how to be guided by the Holy Spirit through learning how to recognize sinful thoughts, words, and actions, confessing them to God the Father and engaging in spiritual recovery which appropriates and applies God’s perspective as revealed in the Word of God. As this process continues in all areas of a Christian’s walk eventually, they will be controlled by the Spirit where true transformation will begin to take place. Before we proceed to the next chapter, I’d like to leave you with an article concerning this.



SPIRIT-FILLED TRANSFORMATION:

5 PIECES OF EVIDENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

By Scott Wilson April 4, 2019

There’s a difference between living a “good Christian life” and allowing the Spirit of God to transform you from the inside out. The difference is not a small difference, but a drastic one.

As Galatians 5:22 suggests, this is [the] difference between a life full of the fruits of the [Spirit] (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) and a life full of the fruits of the flesh (greed, resentment, bitterness, [arguing,] and competition).



Here are five pieces of evidence that the Holy Spirit has control of your life.

1. The Spirit will make you passionate about worship and prayer.

I’m not passionate about praying and worshipping because [I’m] a quiet introvert who loves to meditate and reflect on nothingness. Not even close!

I’m passionate about prayer because I know I’m having a real conversation with a real God, who loves me and hears me, and the more I allow the Spirit to rule my life, the more satisfying that experience becomes.

This week, while I was praying, God told me to send a verse to a friend of mine, to remind her God hears her prayers. She wrote me later to tell me how she had really been struggling with this—wondering if God was hearing her. Sometimes she wondered if God even loved her.

When I sent her the verse, she thought: [How did you know?] But the truth is I didn’t know.

God knew. And when we pray, [worship,] and draw close to Him, His Spirit begins to lead through us.



2. The Spirit will make us hungry for the [Word] of God.

The Bible is living and active. It’s a supernatural book, and it really does speak to you—like the verse that seemed like such a perfect fit for my friend, it seemed as if God was speaking right to her. He was!

When the Spirit is alive and active in you, you will feel compelled by God's Word.

Falling in love with the Scripture isn’t about a passion or hunger for reading or even just learning. It’s about knowing God. John 1 describes Jesus as the living Word.

The Word became flesh and made [His] dwelling among us. We have seen [His] glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is [Himself] God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made [Him] known (John 1:14, 18 NIV).

As you read the Bible, words jump off the page and you know God is speaking to you directly from that passage.



3. The Spirit gives us a deeper love for one another.

If you say you are a believer in Jesus, filled with his Spirit, then we should be able to see it in your relationships. If you belong to [Him], you will love others with [deep] and sincere love.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7, 8 NIV).

Do you wake up thinking about what others should do for you? That’s fleshly thinking. When the Spirit is motivating your thoughts, you will wake up wondering: How can I serve? How can I help? What gift do I have to offer?

When we all [possess] that kind of attitude, God will bring a revival like we’ve never seen before.



4. The Spirit makes us [fearless] and compassionate [witnesses] for Jesus.

Yesterday, I was at the car lot, and while I thought I would only be there for a few hours, I ended up being there for nearly four hours. While I was in the process of buying the car, the financial guy asked me, “Hey, I see you are a pastor…can I ask you how you hear from God?”

We talked for a long time, and [finally,] I felt like I was supposed to pray for him, so I did. When I finished, he looked up, took a deep [breath,] and had tears coming out of his eyes.

I don’t say any of this to brag, but only to demonstrate how when you are willing to surrender to the leading of the Spirit in your life, sharing your faith becomes common practice.

I didn’t have to do anything specific or spectacular. But the moment was supernatural.

How many of you want that—you want to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit so you can have the power to be a witness in the world?



5. The Spirit makes us selfless and generous people who are eager to give.

Generosity really comes out of our trust in God. If we trust that God really is El Shaddai, the [all-sufficient] provider of all I need, I can submit to His rule and reign and love people around me knowing that [He] is going to take care of the rest.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [Therefore,] do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:33, 34 NIV).

When we’re fully submitted to the Spirit of God, we give generously, not only in [tithe] but to those around us who are in need.10

Now that you are aware of the qualifications, duties, and content of the messages of a pastor that you should be looking for when attending a church, what I’d like to do now is have us take a look at the names and functions of the office gifts that some in the body of Christ are called to. We’ll use this information not only for personal enlightenment but in helping us to answer the question. Can a woman be called to an office leadership gift in the church?



Endnotes

2Barnes’ Notes. Pc Study Bible version 5, 2006, 01 April 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

3IVP Bible Background Commentary Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005, 01 April 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

4The Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989, 01 April 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

5Adam Clarke’s Commentary Pc Study Bible version 5, 2004, 01 April 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

6UBS New Testament Handbook Series Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005, 01 April 2014

˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

7Dictionary.com, 02 April 2014 ˂http://dictionary.reference.com>.

8The Bible Exposition Commentary.

9Barnes.

10Scott Wilson, “SPIRIT-FILLED TRANSFORMATION: 5 PIECES OF EVIDENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE,” 2019. 24 August 2021 .

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