Let’s Talk About the Pastor (1 Timothy 4:12-16)
Big Idea: Pastors earn respect through godly character, faithful Bible preaching, and diligent use of their spiritual gifts.
Yesterday, I surveyed my bookshelf and discovered fifty-eight volumes on pastoral ministry. These books have impressive titles like What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary, Principles of Pastoral Success, Coping with Depression in the Ministry, Confident Pastoral Leadership, and my favorite, The Art of Pastoring: Ministry Without All the Answers. Despite all these excellent books, I'm still a lousy pastor. I still need lots of help.
I think my all-time favorite book on pastoring is one you've probably read. It’s titled 1 Timothy. If I had to get rid of everything I've ever read on pastoring and major in just one book, it would be this one. It was written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young man providing leadership in the Ephesian church. The whole book is good, but this morning I'd like to focus on chapter 4, beginning with verse 12.
Today's ministry leadership faces unique challenges. Anti-authority sentiment permeates both secular and church environments. Leaders encounter skepticism. We come across many books, seminars, and broadcasts that highlight better pastoral models. Consumer mentality affects faith communities; dissatisfaction leads to relocating congregations. Ministry offers no easy path for today's pastor.
People discuss the pastor. A couple had invited the pastor over for dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the pastor was chatting with their little boy. He asked if the boy knew what they were having for dinner. "Goat," the little fellow said. The pastor was taken aback. "Goat? Are you sure?" The boy said, "I think so. This morning I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Might as well have the old goat for dinner today."
Since people talk about the pastor, we might as well talk about him too. Except let's talk about the pastor biblically. What kind of pastor is he going to be? Joe Stowell has observed that some choose to lead from the platform of personal charm. They feel they can please all the people all the time. They treat ministry like a popularity contest, but pastors who rely on charm will have short tenures. The pastor is not called by God to be a diplomat. He is called by God to share His Word openly and clearly, with humility and a sincere heart.
Some try to lead from the platform of the latest programs and ministry fads. Others try to rally their people to causes. Some pastors try to lead from the platform of self-promotion. I once read a church-growth book suggesting that pastors should be strong leaders. One way to convey this is by placing the pastor's name in larger font than the church's name on the letterhead. I'll reserve comment on that suggestion. The real question is, what kind of leader is the pastor going to be?
I believe the real answer is found in 1 Timothy 4:12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young" (1 Timothy 4:12). Literally, "don't let anyone underrate you because you are young." In essence, what Paul is saying to Timothy is this: there are going to be some older members of your church. They're probably going to dislike being lectured to and having their conduct dictated by so relatively young a pastor. Paul advises Timothy to foster respect among his followers. Paul advises Timothy to earn respect through his actions rather than relying on charm, popularity, or self-promotion. Paul says that the unchangeable factor of his youth can be overcome by exhibiting exemplary character. People rarely give respect as a gift to a leader or pastor; it has to be earned. Most take a wait-and see attitude. Pastors face the challenge presented by Paul's words to Timothy: to earn the respect. Don't let anyone look down on you just because you're young.
How a Pastor Earns Respect
Focus your life and ministry in three areas. And these three areas will define the kind of respect that will enable someone to be an effective pastor.
Earn respect through character.
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
It's amazing that Paul didn't begin with technique, style, or task performance. He begins with the question of basic personal integrity. When I go to an ordination, I can determine pretty quickly whether or not a person is orthodox. I can quickly assess his theological soundness. But my main question becomes this: how is your integrity? How is your walk with God? How do you treat your wife? Who are you? Can I trust you? These are the questions that determine effectiveness in ministry. Personhood is the ultimate make-or-break issue in effective leadership.
Paul says in verse 12, set an example in five areas:
- Speech – your words about others; your everyday language; your conversational tone
- Life – your visible conduct; your consistent behavior patterns; your treatment of family; your response to opposition; your management of daily affairs; your relational dynamics
- Love – your embodiment of Christ's central virtue; your treatment of adversaries; your unconditional acceptance; your grace toward theological differences; your patience with difficult personalities
- Faith – your faithfulness and fidelity
- Purity – your character when unobserved; your integrity in private moments; your inner thought life
Ephesus was a center for sexual impurity, and Timothy was faced with temptations. Stay sexually pure and also maintain purity in your motives, heart, conscience, finances, time management, and relationships. As Proverbs says:
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
(Proverbs 4:23-27)
Being around someone who consistently shows these five traits would naturally earn your respect. Many pastors fail due to poor people skills, inadequate leadership abilities, but most often due to a lack of integrity. It's an indispensable element of a pastor's ministry. He is to set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
There's a second way for a pastor to earn respect.
Earn respect by preaching.
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)
The fundamental need of every believer is to understand and know the Bible and live in obedience to its truth. People come to our ministries expecting that in some way their innate spiritual hunger will be satisfied. The aim is not to be the best preacher but to be an effective communicator who meets the spiritual needs of their audience with God's truth.
When I began my ministry, I thought I could coast in this area. I could get away with hastily prepared sermons – for a while. Over time, I noticed the impact of this, and now I spend many hours each week preparing God's Word to nourish those in need. I may not be a Spurgeon or Swindoll, but I'm fulfilling my role by feeding the sheep. And God calls us to ground our ministries in the proclamation of his unchanging Word to a new generation.
Look at the word Paul uses in verse 11. "Command and teach these things" (1 Timothy 4:11). The word "command" is a strong one, with military overtones. The pastor is told to command and speak with authority from God's Word. The pastor can never try to be a people-pleaser in his ministry. Never shy away from preaching God's truth just because it isn't popular. He must preach the Word of God accurately. Preach from the Scriptures, not from your own ideas and perspectives. Relate the Word of God to the needs of your flock. Clearly communicate the Word of God to the church and they will respect you for it.
Throughout Christian history, other elements have overshadowed the preaching and teaching of God's Word. It's like the little girl who was vigorously stirring a glass of ice tea. She sipped some of it, grimaced; stirred it again and contorted her face with displeasure once again. She complained, "Mother, this tea won't come sweet." Her mother answered, "Of course it won't. There's no sugar in it. All the stirring in the world won't do any good." All the stirring-up of people in a church won't do any good unless the gospel is proclaimed. So the pastor must proclaim the Word of God.
A pastor must earn respect through his character and preaching. There's a third way a pastor must earn respect.
Earn respect by not neglecting your gifts.
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. (1 Timothy 4:14)
Timothy's commission as a church leader was confirmed by the laying on of hands by the elders of a church. Timothy was not a self-appointed leader; no pastor is. God calls the pastor into the ministry. God grants pastors spiritual gifts. God may have gifted him as a teacher, a merciful person, a servant, an encourager, or an administrator. But whatever his gift is, God calls him to proficiency in using that gift.
He shouldn't covet the gifts of others. Instead, he should lead others to use their spiritual gifts. Some church members believe they hire the pastor to do all the work, but the pastor's role is actually to equip the congregation for service. He must be diligent in cultivating what it is God has gifted you to do. He must become, as Paul says elsewhere, a workman who needs not be ashamed.
I love what Paul says in verses 15 and 16:
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:15-16)
These concluding verses distill the entire passage. The pastor establishes authority through earned respect, as congregants witness genuine progress. Complete dedication to ministry must accompany vigilant attention to both personal conduct and theological integrity. The stakes couldn't be higher: "Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." The pastor enjoys the privilege of guiding his congregation toward salvation through effective teaching and genuine leadership.
Why am I preaching this message? I spoke these words at an ordination of a good friend yesterday. But as I did, I was reminded of my need to be challenged in these areas. I thank God for this church. I am asking you to pray for your pastor. I am humbled and honored to serve you in this way. But I know that to be effective I need your prayers. You know my weaknesses; I know my weaknesses; now all we can do is go to God and ask him to bless our church in spite of who I am.
I'll close with a simple request. Would you pray for your pastor? Pray that he might earn respect through his character, faithful preaching, and diligent use of his gifts. Your prayers matter deeply as he strives to serve with integrity. No pastor can fulfill this calling alone—we need your support through prayer.
