Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
PASTORAL MINISTRY
Bible portion: 1 PETER 5: 1 -7
Key Verse
“I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5: 2 – 3).
Devotion
Key Verse
“I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5: 2 – 3).
Devotion
The first letter from Peter was addressed to Christians, who are called “God’s chosen people,” who were scattered throughout the northern part of Asia Minor. The main purpose of this letter is to encourage the faithful who were facing persecution and suffering for their faith.
Today we are meditating on the subject “Pastoral Ministry.” We cannot understand the Pastoral Ministry unless we understand the Ministry of Jesus Christ. All other ministry is subsidiary to His and derives its authority from Him. He is the “Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2: 25). His Ministry was three-fold; Teaching, Preaching and Healing. He is the Teacher. He taught many things mainly through parables. He is the Preacher. He preached the Gospel in the synagogues and other places wherever he went, and He is also the Healer. He healed infirmities/sickness of innumerable people during his public ministry, and He still heals. He humbled Himself and came down to serve and not to be served and gave His life as a ransom for many. Jesus said to His disciples, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). The main work of a priest in Old Testament is to offer sacrifice. Jesus Christ has offered himself as sacrifice once for all to redeem the world from sin and death.
What should be the style of functioning of a priest/elder is explained in the Bible portion we meditate today. The word ‘pastor’ literally means ‘shepherd‘. It emphasizes the caring heart and attitude of concern which should characterize the ministry. St. Peter here advises the elders to tend the flock of God that is in their charge. The elders are shepherds who tend the flock of God for Him, not for themselves; not for any personal gain and monetary benefit and not be greedy. Pastor should be an example and a role model to those to whom he ministers, should see that they are led, protected and fed well. If one goes astray, he is concerned for one’s recovery and reinstatement. (St. Luke 15: 3 – 7 – Parable of lost sheep). In the New Testament times a pastor was not a church official in the sense in which the term pastor or priest is used today. He was a man gifted by God to take his part in the life of the church.
Apostle Peter also speaks here about the importance of being humble. He advises the youngsters to be humble and be subject to elders and says “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.” (v.5). Spiritual authority is humble, because the person who wields it knows that its source is nothing within himself. Its source is from Christ, who humbled Himself and came down to this world.
The words of Solomon about his kingdom, as recorded in Proverbs 11: 14, which says “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety” is equally true of shepherding the flock of God. In order to attain spiritual growth of the faithful, Spirit-filled pastoral guidance is a must.
All pastors/priests will have to give an account of stewardship bestowed on them when the Chief Shepherd will come to judge the world. It is a very serious thing to be answerable to God. How do we trade the talents entrusted to us and how much we gained for the Lord? “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
Today we live in a time of self-styled elders and pastors, some of whom pretend to be shepherds of the flock, domineer over those under them, and demands unquestioning obedience to them for personal gain and not for the glory of God, and live like wolf. This happens when pastors fail to recognize the seriousness of their call and commission and their responsibilities as Christian stewards.
The modern theologian Jurgen Moltmann (1926-2024) says “With every righteous action, we prepare the way for the New Earth on which righteousness will dwell. And bringing justice to those who suffer violence means to bring the light of God’s future to them.” The Church led by pastors/priests is the called-out community of people of God to alleviate the pain and sufferings of the people around us by spreading the rays of Christian hope and salvation for furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth.
In nut-shell, the main focus of pastoral ministry should be to teach the commandments of Jesus Christ to all nations and make them His disciples (Mathew 28:20), to preach and take the gospel to different places, be a Christ’s witness through Christ-centered life by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and to heal the sick (spiritual, mental, and physical healing), and be a spiritual bridge to the world around we live, so that we are not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind and be a living sacrifice (Romans 12: 1).
May God enable our pastors, priests and all of us to minister like Jesus to attain this goal, make a difference in the lives of others, and to glorify the name of God.
Today we are meditating on the subject “Pastoral Ministry.” We cannot understand the Pastoral Ministry unless we understand the Ministry of Jesus Christ. All other ministry is subsidiary to His and derives its authority from Him. He is the “Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2: 25). His Ministry was three-fold; Teaching, Preaching and Healing. He is the Teacher. He taught many things mainly through parables. He is the Preacher. He preached the Gospel in the synagogues and other places wherever he went, and He is also the Healer. He healed infirmities/sickness of innumerable people during his public ministry, and He still heals. He humbled Himself and came down to serve and not to be served and gave His life as a ransom for many. Jesus said to His disciples, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). The main work of a priest in Old Testament is to offer sacrifice. Jesus Christ has offered himself as sacrifice once for all to redeem the world from sin and death.
What should be the style of functioning of a priest/elder is explained in the Bible portion we meditate today. The word ‘pastor’ literally means ‘shepherd‘. It emphasizes the caring heart and attitude of concern which should characterize the ministry. St. Peter here advises the elders to tend the flock of God that is in their charge. The elders are shepherds who tend the flock of God for Him, not for themselves; not for any personal gain and monetary benefit and not be greedy. Pastor should be an example and a role model to those to whom he ministers, should see that they are led, protected and fed well. If one goes astray, he is concerned for one’s recovery and reinstatement. (St. Luke 15: 3 – 7 – Parable of lost sheep). In the New Testament times a pastor was not a church official in the sense in which the term pastor or priest is used today. He was a man gifted by God to take his part in the life of the church.
Apostle Peter also speaks here about the importance of being humble. He advises the youngsters to be humble and be subject to elders and says “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.” (v.5). Spiritual authority is humble, because the person who wields it knows that its source is nothing within himself. Its source is from Christ, who humbled Himself and came down to this world.
The words of Solomon about his kingdom, as recorded in Proverbs 11: 14, which says “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety” is equally true of shepherding the flock of God. In order to attain spiritual growth of the faithful, Spirit-filled pastoral guidance is a must.
All pastors/priests will have to give an account of stewardship bestowed on them when the Chief Shepherd will come to judge the world. It is a very serious thing to be answerable to God. How do we trade the talents entrusted to us and how much we gained for the Lord? “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
Today we live in a time of self-styled elders and pastors, some of whom pretend to be shepherds of the flock, domineer over those under them, and demands unquestioning obedience to them for personal gain and not for the glory of God, and live like wolf. This happens when pastors fail to recognize the seriousness of their call and commission and their responsibilities as Christian stewards.
The modern theologian Jurgen Moltmann (1926-2024) says “With every righteous action, we prepare the way for the New Earth on which righteousness will dwell. And bringing justice to those who suffer violence means to bring the light of God’s future to them.” The Church led by pastors/priests is the called-out community of people of God to alleviate the pain and sufferings of the people around us by spreading the rays of Christian hope and salvation for furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth.
In nut-shell, the main focus of pastoral ministry should be to teach the commandments of Jesus Christ to all nations and make them His disciples (Mathew 28:20), to preach and take the gospel to different places, be a Christ’s witness through Christ-centered life by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and to heal the sick (spiritual, mental, and physical healing), and be a spiritual bridge to the world around we live, so that we are not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind and be a living sacrifice (Romans 12: 1).
May God enable our pastors, priests and all of us to minister like Jesus to attain this goal, make a difference in the lives of others, and to glorify the name of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to foster a caring and encouraging pastoral ministry, so that others are brought to the saving grace of Christ and His glorious kingdom, Amen.
Thought for the Day
Priests - A Spiritual Bridge to the world.
Philip Jacob
The Mar Thoma Church Staten Island
Lord Jesus, help us to foster a caring and encouraging pastoral ministry, so that others are brought to the saving grace of Christ and His glorious kingdom, Amen.
Thought for the Day
Priests - A Spiritual Bridge to the world.
Philip Jacob
The Mar Thoma Church Staten Island