1 Peter 5:1-4 - “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: 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; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

This passage provides guidelines for pastors and ministers.

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Leviticus 8:22-24  - ”He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.  Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.  Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he sprinkled blood against the altar on all sides.”

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Genesis 42:1-2 - When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”  He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt.  Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” 

While Joseph was in Egypt, a terrible famine spread over that part of the world – in fulfillment of revelation, as Joseph had explained to Pharaoh.  Joseph had stored plenty of food in Egypt ahead of time, but everyone else was starving.  God sent Joseph ahead of them to Egypt to make these preparations, so that God could save their lives when the moment of need came. 

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Genesis 46:33-34 - When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’  Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.” 

Joseph wanted to bring his family to Egypt to live with him, so that they would survive the famine that afflicted that entire region in those days.  Once he had convinced his entire family to come there – which had been very difficult – he wanted them to settle in Goshen, the most fertile region of Egypt.  To ensure that they could settle there, he coached them on what to say to Pharaoh during their meeting with him – that they were shepherds. 

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Ephesians 4:11-13 - ”It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers…”

We believe that God uses some men as apostles today, but that nobody needs to use this title for himself.  What matters is the spiritual reality or fruit of how God uses a person, not the designations people claim for themselves. We see God using some men as apostles today, even though they do not call themselves that.   continue

Ephesians 4:11-13 – “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.”

TEACHERS ARE PART OF THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY: These are pastors who are used in a special way in teaching doctrine to the Body.  Sometimes they teach at the seminars, but even in their local churches, their preaching is characterized by a clear, strong presentation of the revealed doctrines in the Lord’s Work. continue

Ephesians 4:11-13 – “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.”

PASTORS ARE PART OF THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY: All the ministries are “pastors” in the general sense in our churches, but many have the characteristic of being good shepherds for the sheep – the Holy Spirit gives them special concern and love for the sheep, and the sheep feel this love and feel secure in the church. The sheep in the church have very healthy spiritual lives, and the pastor –shepherd discerns how best to help them grow, resolve their difficulties and doubts, etc.   continue

Ephesians 4:11-13 - It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.

EVANGELISTS ARE PART OF THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY: Evangelists are pastors whom the Lord uses a lot in bringing unbelievers to salvation. That is their primary function in the Body – to bring conversions and growth in numbers. Because of the need for this in every church, pastor-evangelists are often shared between many churches instead of being responsible for a local congregation. They usually exercise their ministry in conjunction with another (more pastoral or teaching-oriented) ministry so that the new believers receive adequate teaching and substance in their spiritual lives. continue

“…It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.” - Ephesians 4:11-13

PROPHETS ARE PART OF THE FIVE FOLD MINSITRY: Prophets are also pastors, like apostles, except they are used extraordinarily often in spiritual gifts, particularly ones that point to the future – either warning of events about to take place, or directing the church about new things to do. continue

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?”  Saul asked.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” - Acts 9:3-6

We know Paul better than any character in the New Testament besides Jesus.  The book of Acts chronicles his conversion and missionary journeys.  We have more letters from him than any other Apostle, giving us a complete picture of his message, his struggles and victories, and his inner motivations.  God’s Word gives us Paul as an example to follow (Philippians 3:17).  No other man was as influential in shaping the doctrine of Christianity and establishing churches all around the civilized world of his day.  Paul was without question the most productive pastor in his generation, even if other were more famous as preachers or miracle-workers.   continue