The Pastor’s Job Description

Today’s Preaching Post Fridays entry is a simple preaching outline of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 as it relates to the pastor’s job description.

From this helpful passage we note no fewer than five considerations emerging from the text; useful preaching points for your next pastor ordination service!

Five Things To Consider About The Pastor And His Job…

1) His Responsibility (vv 1-2)

¹ This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop (one who oversees a congregation), he desires a good work.
² … able to teach

Related texts:

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.  For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:17-18)

2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:2-4)

2) His Integrity (vv 2-3)

² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable…
³ not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;  

3) His Family (vv 4-5)

⁴ one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 
⁵ (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 

4) His Maturity (v 6)

⁶ not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  

5) His Testimony (v 7)

⁷ Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.