PASTORAL THEOLOGY
LECTURE 48
FINISH THE COURSE
Green Acres (aka “Greener Pastors”)
Oh how many Pastors seek greener pastors for themselves, but the grass in not usually greener on the other side!!!
− Why?! When they first started at their current pasture, they were all excited beyond belief…what ever happened?!
− It usually just doesn’t go the way the Pastor wanted it to go; it’s as simple as that.
− At some point they begin to start entertaining the idea of ‘moving on’; after a while it becomes a determination.
− Some key ‘camel back breakers’ for this are: a) loss of membership, and blame goes to the Pastor; b) loss of finances;
c) lack of expected growth; d) divisive members speak out more; e) internal family problems; f) dislike of city;
g) testimony tarnishing on Pastor or church; or h) expectation that the church is generally unhappy with him.
− The Pastor typically is just waiting for one of these ‘key’ events to occur, and then he’ll make his exit; he wants to
have a ‘legitimate’ excuse for leaving…even though he had made up his mind long ago on it.
− Often times, the majority of the congregation is totally shocked at the ‘announcement’.
− Some Pastors will leave the same week that the ‘big event’ occurs; others will honorably
wait a month or so and try and help the church get situated to search for a new Pastor.
− Often, the shepherdless church becomes prey to wolves and the church never really
recovers and either splits and dies out, or becomes something other than Baptist.
− The departed Pastor gets excited about his new found Pasture and starts trying to move
ahead for the Lord, but often enough they find themselves with the same general problems
that they had at the previous pasturate; and, they quickly become disillusioned and after
the typical 3 to 5 year wait, begin looking for a yet greener (usually browner) Pastorate.
− Some are simply looking for a ‘greener’ pasture…i.e. more green…more greenbacks…more money! They will find
the best ‘package’ for them; kind of like looking for the best paying job in the nicest part of the country.
− So many will say: “God has called me to this other church.” Well said; but is it really true? How do you know?
Explain your rationale. It needs to be quite overwhelmingly obvious to you, your wife, and your church! Usually, you
are just guessing, your wife has lots of doubts, and the church is totally dumbfounded with the decision. Hardly
sounding like it was God’s call…
− The only time a Pastor should ever consider going to ‘greener pastures’ is: a) his church wants him to go; and b) he
has found a suitable replacement for himself and God has clearly displayed to you and the church that you are to leave.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Acts 20:36-38 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Gal 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Prov 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Going out to Pasture (aka: the ol’ grey mule ain’t what he used to be…)
Is a Pastor ever suppose to ‘retire’ from the pastorate?
− Everyone else retires around age 65, why can’t the Pastor?! Afterall, I’ve worked hard
in this ‘job’ for over 30 years; I deserve some R & R just like everyone else….don’t I?
− Many Pastors will retire from the pastorate to ‘go into evangelism’; and what they
mean by this is getting a very nice
RV to travel around the beautiful US of A going from nice, friendly Baptist church to nice, friendly Baptist church
preaching and fellowshipping with them for a Sunday or Wednesday at a time. They become ‘pulpit supply’; they
have a ‘ministry’ of ‘helping churches’; they have some special ‘niche’ that they preach on. They are fairly well
known in some circles so they can get a fair number of churches to ‘have them’ every year. In this new ministry, they
often will try and get ‘monthly support’ coming in for it; they also will get love offerings every where they go;
afterall, they’ve got to survive just like everybody else. This is ideal for them, for they don’t have the stresses of the
pastorate, they are free to ‘enjoy life some’, they can be on a permanent ‘vacation’, they get to do what they like best…
preach, and they can make a decent living at it too!
− Some Pastors have their health fail, and must ‘step back a bit’ in their ministry, but that doesn’t mean that they need to
‘step out of’ their ministry. It is very reasonable to have a man you’ve trained take over as Senior Pastor, and you take
a less demanding role as a Pastor. But, don’t quit the ministry! Never do!
− Some Pastors, plain and simple, have just gotten ‘burn’t out’ of the pastorate; they’ve gotten tired of it; they’ve lost
their love for it. These might rightly ‘go out to pasture’; for they will not be good for any flock, no matter what pastore
they are in.
− I believe that one should stay actively ministering in the area that God has spiritually gifted them with until the day
they take their last breath! The only limitations to this in the pastorate might be: a) being found in gross sin; or
b) having such poor health that they can not at all function in that capacity.
− A Pastor may lose stamina, spunk, vitality, speed, etc., but it doesn’t mean that he’s an ol’ grey mule that needs to go
out to the ol’ pastor pasture and fumble around there until he dies. So many will become Pastor Emeritus; this simply
means that they are being still honored as a Pastor, but will function very little as that. As Emeritus, they usually still
will get some sort of salary and housing. This is reasonable, for Pastors typically do not have any ‘retirement’ monies
coming their way from the church.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
1 Chron 23:1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
1 Cor 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
2 Tim 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2 Peter 1:14-15 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
Phil 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Leaving a Legacy
What legacy should a Pastor leave behind?
− Some Pastors leave (or die) and the church quickly fades away into oblivion or into the
cesspool of apostasy. There really is not much left after he goes. Why is that? Why
doesn’t the church continue on?
− Some Pastors leave behind a bunch of dysfunctional churches, hurt Christians, and tarnished testimonies. They go
from one church to the next, messing things up. How sad!
− How many souls were won as a result of the Pastor? How many of the church’s members were brought into the fold
thru the efforst of the Pastor? How many members grew and became mighty servants of the Lord as a result of the
Pastor’s ministry? How many men did he train and send out to start other churches? The greatest legacy is that of
being responsible for birthing churches; and even having granddaughter churches and beyond! What a great legacy
this is! Especially if these churches continue on in the faith doing exactly as their Mother church did!
− Some weigh a legacy on how well known the Pastor was; or on how many books he wrote; or on how many degrees he
held. This might be somewhat impressive to men, but probably not to God (or to me).
− Some Pastors will have started some great ministry (other than the church) that becomes highly successful and
‘profitable’; often a building that is built will be named in his honor (College buildings are classic for this).
− Leave a legacy of won souls; leave a legacy of men trained for the ministry; leave a legacy of churches started.
Prov 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Ps 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Tim 3:10-11 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2 Cor 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Heb 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Finish my Course
What is a Pastor’s course? How do you know when you have ‘finished’ it?
− God has a course, plan, end goal, for everyone, especially Pastors. He will keep leading you along to ‘finish it’.
− A Pastor’s course involves growing that church to perfection; getting that church to where it is mature and able to
continue on for decades to come; getting that church to fulfill its command to reach the ends of the Earth with the
gospel.
− Some feel they have finished their course when the church has reached 100 and they have the new building project
finished. Or, when a man is trained for the pastorate and has become mature enough to take over as Senior Pastor. The
latter sounds reasonable, but shouldn’t be ‘the’ decider on finishing a course.
− Some use an age limit as reaching the finished line: i.e. 60, or 65, or 70, etc..
− Whatever God has clearly told you to do as a Pastor all along is your course. Many will say: “God wants me to be
involved with getting churches planted all over the state I am in; and I am to do this until I physically am not able to
anymore.” But, once they hit 60 or so, they start thinking otherwise.
− It is important to understand, at least to some degree, what your specific course is as a Pastor. I wonder how many
really understand what it is?...
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 4:7-9 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 13:25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Presenting the Bride
The ultimate goal of a Pastor is to present a spotless, chaste, virgin Bride to the Lord Jesus Christ.
− A Pastor will someday actually do this. Just think about that day; fixate upon it; be concerned about it. Dream of it.
− This will be a great motivator for the wise Pastor; it will motivate him to do his level best to have that church looking
as good as it possibly can.
− You definitely don’t want to present a Bride dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt. Don’t settle for mediocricy. What
does Jesus Christ ‘deserve’?
− Your eternal position in Heaven depends upon what type of Bride you present to Jesus.
2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Matt 19:27-30 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.