PASTORAL THEOLOGY
LECTURES 1 - 10
STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM #1
Be familiar with these items; you don’t have to necessarily memorize
the statements; you don’t have to memorize the Scripture or the references.
I. The Calling of the Pastor
When God calls you to the ministry, what should you do? What are 2 examples from Scripture
When God calls you, immediately follow and ‘leave your nets’:
Matt 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Is it important to have ‘desire’ in order to be a pastor?
Desire the office
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
What is the best way to know that you’ve been called as a pastor?
The best way to know that you’ve been called as a Pastor is to prepare for whatever the Lord may have for you, including being a Pastor; serve Him with fervency awaiting His verification of what He’s equipped you to do; pray for confirmation, which He will most undoubtedly do for you.
God will never call someone that….?
When God calls, He equips. He equips them with a spiritual gift from the Holy Ghost. This gift will most affirmatively be enough to accomplish the task to which He has called you to. He will never call someone to do something without giving that person the ability to do it.
II. PREPARATION
What are the 4 main methods of Preparation for the ministry?
1. Limited Preparation 2. Seminarian Preparation
3. Four-year stand alone Bible College Preparation 4. LocalChurch, Pastor-trained Preparation
What is a logical reason for the limited preparation way?
1. Limited Preparation
- learn it as you go mentality
- time is short, so let’s get going
What had been the method that was the gold standard for many decades?
2. Seminarian Preparation
- at least 1 doctorate is needed (8 yrs of training)
- it had been the gold standard for ministerial preparation
What are some reasons that men choose 4 year stand alone colleges?
3. Four-year stand alone Bible College Preparation
- most pastors aren’t willing to or capable(?) of
- thoese colleges will have the best professors available
- other pastors will grade you based upon the impressiveness of your Bible college
What is the most scriptural method? Why is it so logical?
4. LocalChurch, Pastor-trained Preparation
- the most Scriptural (only) method, hands down
- the most logical method: family not disrupted, service in church retained, job retained, Pastor knows you
well, doctrine is going to be right on, sending agent remains Scriptural
- your church and pastor know you well and know when it is time
- OJT opportunities are numerous
Is it important to have all the skeletons out of the closet prior…?
1. Personal
- skeletons all out of the closets?
- beyond reproach
- devotion time solid; study time solid; evangelism time solid; service time solid
Should the family be all active in the ministry and doctrinally sound?
2. Family
- all very active and committed in the ministry?
- all very doctrinally and morally sound?
What is one of the biggest preparations for foreign service to be done?
6. Foreign Field Preparation
- Language!
God doesn’t want _____ breeding ______.
7. God’s Preparation
- doesn’t want mediocracy breeding mediocracy
- unique challenges will come forth
What are 5 slogans that explain how a man should be preparing for the ministry?
GET BUSY; WALK THE TALK; DON’T BE FLAKEY; GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER; BE IMPRESSIVE
Is there any biblical support for a man being ‘impressive’?
“Have your profiting appear to all” – BE IMPRESSIVE
III. THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY
How many so-called ‘qualifications’ are there?
To help in that regard, in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 Paul lists at least twenty-four different requirements, standards, guidelines, qualifications (whatever your conviction is on this) for a Bishop (a pastor) to have prior to his ordination, and during his pastorate.
What is typically the only ‘qualification’ that is examined?
An interesting question is: “If a would be pastor, or current pastor, fails in just one of these 24 ‘qualifications’, is he immediately and permanently disqualified from ‘the ministry’? Most would answer that “If he is divorced, then that is a permanent disqualfication”. Interesting; what about the other 23 so-called qualifications?!
What famous saints of God had some big problems going into the ministry (or while in)? What were the problems?
Ask the apostle Paul… he had Christians murdered! If you committed adultery and had the woman’s husband murdered, is that disqualifying? Surely it must be! But, what about King David? The Lord allowed him to continue as king… the spiritual leader of millions of Jews!
What is the key word in these ‘qualifications’? How does one become ‘this’?
Being ‘blameless’ is the key in all of these areas. I believe one is ‘blameless’ if he doesn’t have blame attached to him anymore.
If one is in the ministry and begins having a problem with one of these areas, they need to do everything within reason to remove ‘blame’; they may even need to step down from their position for a while until blame is reasonably removed.
If you are not blameless in all 24 are you forever banned from the ministry?
I don’t believe that forever bans you from pursuing the ministry. These deficiencies surely will hurt your effectiveness for the Lord, but I don’t believe they are truly disqualifying. Paul’s use of the word ‘must’ seems to show the importance of each of these areas, but doesn’t necessarily imply that if you don’t that you are forever banned from the pastorate.
What can we learn from the statement “The husband of one wife”?
1. The husband of one wife: this removes any woman from pursuing the pastorate. Does every would be pastor need to be married? Probably not, though a case could be made in that regard. However, Paul was probably not married (a widower) at the time of his appointment by Jesus Christ. Paul wrote this to Timothy because at that time ‘polygamy’ was a big problem in the society. A polygamous man was not qualified for the pastorate. But, if he divorced the second (and others) wife, he would then, potentially be the husband of one wife, not a polygamist; the Lord allowed the Jews to do this after they had married pagans (Nehemiah).
If you are divorced and not remarried, you are still, technically, the husband of one wife no matter how you define divorce. And it may very well be true to say that one who legally divorces and then remarries, is not married to the other woman anymore, and is only the husband of one wife.
What are some other ‘tough’ areas to be ‘blameless’ in that seem to be forgotten?
5. Given to hospitality. 6. Apt to teach. 9. patient. 12. One that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity. 13. Not a novice. 18. Not soon angry. 22. Holy.
What is a standard misguided popular belief about being ‘qualified’ for the ministry?
Don’t fall into the misguided popular belief that all that’s necessary to be ‘qualified’ for the ministry is to be saved, a man, trained, and not to be divorced. If this is your belief paradigm, then you need to add all the other 23 ‘qualifications’ mentioned here.
What should the areas of ‘qualifications’ be?
It might do better to require salvation, being a man, being a Baptist, being well trained, being devoted to God, and having gotten oneself ‘blameless’ in these areas!
IV. ORDINATION & COMMISSIONING
Name 6 common misconceptions about ordination and commissioning:
Ordination Council; Perpetual Position; Vague Commission; Separate Entities; non-church Commissioners; Delay in going
What are some things that are not so great about an ‘ordination council’?
1.Usually, there will be an ‘ordination council’ set up to ‘critically evaluate’ (grill) the ‘candidate’ to see if he is correct material for the pastorate. This council is often made up of area pastors of like faith, and not the pastors or members of his own church. They typically ask somewhat ‘controversial’ leading questions of the candidate in order to try and ‘stump’ him, or at least ‘rattle his cage’.
2.It is common practice to ordain a man to the office of the pastorate in a type of perpetual, permanent status; meaning, the man is a pastor until he ‘retires’. But this has no scriptural support.
How is ordination typically ‘vague’?
3.The ordination of a man to the pastorate typically is quite vague. Many times it will be stated something like: “ordained to the Gospel ministry”, or “ordained to be a preacher of the Gospel”.
It needs to specify what capacity he will be serving in.
4.Many times, and maybe rightly so, the ordination and commissioning are one in the same. But, the common practice is that they are different entities all together…totally separate events. Often, the man is commissioned to a field to plant a church, and then at some distant time period, when ‘enough’ families are faithfully attending the new work, the man is officially ordained as that mission work’s (or church’s) pastor. I feel that the commissioning is all part of the ordination, the appointing, the church vote.
Who is commonly the entity involved in the commissioning?
5.Who commonly is the entity involved in the commissioning of pastors, preachers, evangelists, missionaries? Pretty much anything but a church of the Lord Jesus Christ’s! Denominational boards, Missionary boards, Seminaries, para church Bible colleges, para church Ministries, and even one’s own self!
What does Acts 13 teach us about commissioning?
6.When one is commissioned they need to then go! But, the common practice seems to be to commission them and then they start the deputation trail 3 or so months later, and then finally act on that commission 2 to 3 years later! In Acts 13 we see the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul to be involving them immediately being sent out…and to immediately be doing the work that they were commissioned to do!
What are 6 principles that we learn in the NT about ordination and commissioning?
Acts 1:21-26 *Those ordained have been part of the church for a while
Acts 14:21-23 *The commissioning involves prayer and fasting
1 Tim 2:5-7 *Ordained to a specific position and to a specific people group
Titus 1:5 *Every city should have a good church and a good pastor ordained to it
Matt 28:18-20 *Go to teach the Gospel, baptize the converts into the church membership, and teach them to observe the N.T.
Acts 13:1-4 *The Holy Ghost speaks to the church; maybe specifically to the leadership
Who does the Holy Spirit typically call and ordain?
Certain prophets (preachers?) and teachers might be the ones chosen
Jesus Christ chooses from His disciples; those that are closely following Him and being taught by Him
The ones busy ministering (serving) and fasting (getting close to God) are the most likely to be chosen
The one that is called has been part of the church for a while
What is the ideal scriptural model for who should be sent out?
Ideally sent out 2 by 2 (men)
They had two men to send out. The Scriptural model is clearly two by two (not husband and wife as the ‘two’). Also, there can be ‘helpers’ sent to them once there (i.e. John to their minister).
What are some things that a church may do just prior to sending them out?
Go ye therefore because all power has been given unto Jesus
The commissioning involves prayer and fasting
They are commended to the Lord’s care and direction
It may be wise to have an all night prayer service prior to the ordaining and commissioning
The leaders of the church lay their hands on those being sent out
V. PLANTING & PASTORING
What should the commission be as far as what we see the ‘missionary’ doing after he is sent out?
“We now commission you to go and ‘raise support’ for 2 to 3 years”; and then have another ‘real commissioning’ once this mammon centerred commission is out of the way.
What is the ‘operative’ word in being a missionary that is commissioned?
So, how does the newly commissioned man of God go about fulfilling his church’s (and God’s) commissioning to plant a church?
The first step would be to “Go”! And that might be the only step that really matters in all of this….
How does Acts 1:11 relate to ‘deputation’?
Why stand ye….?
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
What’s so hard about the word “Go”?! Don’t delay. Don’t spend months ‘preparing’ to go.
What do we learn from Titus 1:5 about a church planters goal?
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:
There is a lot of going to get going to do. There needs to be a going to get churches in every city and men to pastor those churches. What are you waiting for?! Think big! Think Titus 1:5. Go to an area, a region, a country and get churches in every city!
What are 2 aspects of church planting that a missionary might fulfill?
I Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
Go ahead and go plant that church; if God has called you to do that, then that is what you do. It may be that God moves another man to pastor that church that you planted. All glory to God however He wants to do it…as long as there is the increase. Some may just be used to plant churches, others to remain at one and see great increase. Both are extremely important!
VI. Sheep, Shepherds, and Feeding
What can we learn about sheep?
Sheep were created by God to be shepherded by man; they were not intended to live in a wild state;
Sheep are pretty easy going and will do just about anything they are led to do.
What is there no doubt about that a shepherd does?
A shepherd practices shepherding; thus, he herds sheep. He takes care of a herd of sheep…well, actually, a flock of sheep. There is absolutely no doubt that a shepherd takes care of sheep. Thus, there is absolutely no doubt that a pastor (shepherd) takes care of church members (sheep of the flock). The pastor may preach, teach, be in charge of the business of the church, run meetings, go to conferences, help plan and purchase buildings, but, the number one thing that he is to do is to shepherd that flock that the Lord has given him charge over.
What Old Testament people were shepherds?
The very first shepherd was Abel. He was also humanity's first murder victim, slain by his brother Cain. Abraham and Moses were shepherds. King David was the best known shepherd of Bible history. He wrote the beloved Psalm 23. Shepherds were the first people to see the newborn Jesus Christ.
What was Peter’s problem as being a shepherd?
Peter was going to be left to take over the role of ‘chief shepherd’ of that flock (the church of Jerusalem).
But, Peter was not fully committed to being their shepherd yet. His infamous statement “I go a fishing” painfully showed that. Jesus Christ had to make sure that Peter was going to be committed to feeding His sheep.
What is the Peter Principle here?
There are sheepish Shepherds – they aren’t really that interested in shepherding sheep. They often will follow the “Peter Principle” – having something else in life that they focus on other than feeding the sheep (i.e. being a famous preacher, building programs, administration, etc.).
How often should sheep be fed?
How much time should a pastor, shepherd, spend preparing for and actually feeding the flock?! Is 30 minutes preparation and one meal a week reasonable?!
A pastor should prepare to feed the sheep daily: at least have a meal ready for those that are hungry.
Three big meals on Sundays , another big meal on Wednesday night, maybe a special meal on a Thursday (Bible
VII. FEED THE FLOCK (part 2)
What does Acts 20:28 exhort shepherds to do?
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.
What is Jesus’ blood related to from Acts 20:28?