Today concludes Pastor Appreciation Month. As this month closes and as a pastor, I want to encourage you to look ahead. As so typical of our loving church family, Sonrise served us pastors so well. Last weekend we enjoyed lunch as a church family together celebrating the pastoral team God has granted us in this season. No doubt the pleasure is greater for us than it is the church; however, our church family graciously communicated once again their love, appreciation, and gratitude. For all of these things we as a pastoral team recognize none of it would be possible outside of God’s grace in our lives and in the life of our church.
As pastors, none of us deserve praise. We serve at God’s direction as under shepherds of His flock. The love it takes for a congregation to follow a pastor and/or pastoral team comes from God. As pastors, we are sinners who struggle in our own sanctification like every member. Some days demonstrate our “A-game” and other days embarrassingly “prove” we are not perfect. The not-so-perfect days highlight God’s grace and kindness. It still amazes me that members of a church will come year after year and listen to the same man do his best to serve them through public teaching and preaching as well as in private ministry. Yet, in God’s kindness, God allows many of us to enjoy that kind of ministry.
Pastors serve under God’s direction, by God’s will, and by the congregations invitation. None of these things we take for granted. The four constituencies of every pastor bring significant responsibility and joy. The four groups a pastor serves include in order: 1) the Godhead as under shepherds of God’s flock, 2) his family as a husband, dad, son, or granddad, 3) his church as a saint and sinner leading God’s children who are also saints and sinners, and 4) his community as a leader and influencer for faith and righteousness as well as a proclaimer of the gospel. Each of these relationships provide many many opportunities to demonstrate his love for God and people.
The Responsibility the Pastor Labors Under
Your pastor serves under the weight of a heavy responsibility. In addition to the normal burdens of personal sanctification, your pastor seeks to serve as God’s Word requires. Consider the following two passages:
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)
Your pastor serves your church as a gift from God.
God gives His church a pastor to equip the saints to edify the body of Christ which is the work of the ministry. As such, he serves a role that God provides to the church. This verse serves to remind both the pastor and the congregation. For the pastor, he recognizes that he fulfills a role that God designed as a special gift to the church with specific responsibilities. For the congregation, the pastor-teacher serves to help you and the congregation grow and change for the glory of God.
Your pastor watches out for your soul.
God lays the burden of your soul on your pastor and holds your pastor accountable for you. Of course God holds you responsible for your own decisions; however, your soul rests under the care of a pastor. (Just as a side note, this is one of the reasons that you must stay active in a local church so that you receive the best care from God through a pastor.) Your pastor lives under the load of your soul. The decisions you make, the concerns you have, and the burdens you carry are also shared with your pastor. He walks beside you as you make those decisions, have those concerns, and bear those burdens. He seeks to lead you by example, through teaching, and personal exhortation as you walk down the path of life seeking to live for God’s glory.
Consider Your Role Today and Throughout the Year
Did you notice your role in those passages? You too bear responsibility as members of the church.
Fulfill your role in the church by learning God’s Word and speaking the truth in love
God provides the church (and you) pastors so that you can grow. As you grow in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son, unto maturity, and toward Christlikeness, you have the opportunity and responsibility to speak the truth in love with each other. As you do, you help others grow into Christ. Your attitude, words, and actions fulfill a necessary role in the body of Christ. Without your words and actions, others around you suffer. The body fails to grow like God intends if you neglect your role in it. Every joint and every part – which includes you – plays a part in the spiritual growth of the church.
Make your pastor’s responsibility to you as easy as possible
God lays the burden of your soul on your pastor. Therefore the author of Hebrews exhorts you to let your pastor do that with joy and not with grief. Ask yourself, “As a church member in this body for which my pastor is responsible for me, do I make his burden greater or lighter?” What role do you play in the burden of your pastor? Do you make his responsibility more of a job or a delight? Do you build up your pastor increasing his joy or do you encourage grief? As a pastor, may I be honest enough to tell you we praise God for all those who, even in their own personal struggles, increase our joy rather than our grief? We do not ask or expect people to not have personal problems, struggles, pressures, and burdens. In fact, it is our delight to walk alongside you through these. God just challenges you as a member of His family and His flock to make the walk together with your pastor, brother, and under-shepherd as joy-filled as possible.
Thank You for the Encouragement
Whatever you did this month to serve your pastor, thank you. Thank you for the word of encouragement, demonstration of love, and extension of kindness. In a world wear the burdens pile high around every person and the pressures of life demand time and attention, your pastor appreciates your words and acts of kindness. Pastors do not demand appreciation, but when you do, you infuse extra grace, love, and warmth. Please do not take these things for granted throughout the next year. Yes, the official month to “appreciate” may be in October; however, the blessings and burdens of pastoral ministry continue throughout the year. Therefore, serve Christ and your pastor by doing your part as he strives to serve Christ and you by doing his.
Along the way, God will provide you and your pastor(s) joy. As you walk down life’s road together this next year, enjoy the journey together. God gives each of you the other. He intends for your pastor to serve Him and you in a special and specific way. Furthermore, He intends you to help your pastor as well.
As a pastor to other pastors and congregants, may God receive our best effort as our offering to Him and service to you. What a privilege God calls us to do this work.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
