7. It Allows Pastors to Shepherd
Paul tells us, in Ephesians 4v7-12, that Jesus’ resurrection, as well as accomplishing all of the rich gospel truths of Ephesians 1-3, and enabling us to live out the free and transformed lives of Ephesians 4-6, also means that he was able to give certain gifts to his bride, the church. The gifts Paul is speaking of here are leadership positions given for the welfare of the church, including the office of pastor-teacher.
Pastors were given to the church to equip the rest of the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry, which is to build one another up by speaking the truth in love to one another (Ephesians 4v7-16).
Pastors are charged with the serious stewardship of keeping watch over the souls of their brothers and sisters (Hebrews 13v17).
Pastors are called to shepherd the flock of God, serve it, oversee it and be examples to it (1 Peter 5v1-5).
Pastors shepherd the church in a number of ways such as praying for the church, guiding the church, living as an example to the church. One of the essential tasks of the pastors, in their shepherding of the church, is to proclaim God’s word to God's people in the gatherings. Their public ministry of preaching and teaching in the gatherings is a command and gift of God to his people (2 Timothy 4v2).
This means that your pastor(s), one of Jesus’ gifts to you, serves you by shepherding you through teaching you God’s word. They equip you to do the work of the ministry by speaking the truth in love to you and showing you how to speak the truth in love to others.
As someone who has trusted in Jesus as Saviour, you are part of the universal body of Christ. However, you also get to commit yourself to a local expression of that body and willingly place yourself into the care of its leadership.
Although I am a pastor, I also have the privilege, as a co-pastor, of having the gift of a pastor. Although I spend a lot of time with Matt outside of the gatherings, one of the ways I receive Jesus’ gift to me of having a pastor is by gathering with God’s people when Matt preaches. One of the ways Matt receives Jesus’ gift to him of having a pastor is by gathering with God’s people when I preach.
Therefore, one of the reasons we gather is to allow our pastors to shepherd us by teaching us, equipping us and bringing God’s word to connect with specific areas of our lives. If I am not a regular part of the gathering, then I am saying no to being lead, I am saying no to being placed under the care of called and equipped pastors. I am saying no to one of the essential gifts of Jesus to his people.
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