Some Pastor's have become so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.

1. To preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2) (2 Corinthians 3:6).

2 Corinthians 4:5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake". 1 Corinthians 2:1-5And I brethren when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Thessalonians 2:4-13)

2. To not tolerate sin within the church. Even if it is within his own family (Acts 5:1-11) 1 Timothy 3:5 "For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God"? The Pastor is to keep peace and order within the church at all times. Any disruption should be approached with love and correction from the Pastor. Many non-denominational churches and such have circus atmospheres and God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) 1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order". Proverbs chapter 6 speaks of "seeds of discord", this ought not to be (James 3:10). 1 Corinthians 1:10 "that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement". This is the Pastors responsibility as a teacher of truth. (Romans 16:17)
3. To visit the fatherless and widows, visit the sick in the hospitals (James 1:27) (St. Matthew 25:34-46). Have the name and number of everyone who has come through the church doors and have attended a service. It is imporatnt to be acquaintanted with the flock. Jeremiah 23:4 "I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will and be missing". (Acts 20:26-35) When someone gives his or her life to Christ at the church, the Pastor becomes the shepherd of that person. It is the duty of the Pastor to disciple that person. The Pastor accompanied by either his wife or another member of the church should immediately after the service take that person and their family to dinner. Show that person true love and compassion. Dip into the church building fund if finances are needed for the dinner. Most churches have too much money in the bank to begin with. (James 5:20), (St. Matthew 6:19-20), The Pastor is to help bring understanding to the new life a person is starting. Ephesians 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints". If someone misses a church service the Pastor needs to call that person to see why he or she were missing. Whether they were sick, or on vacation isn't important, the fact that the pastor cares is the most important aspect. Acts 20:28 "keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood". (Ezekiel 34:6) Jeremiah 24:4 "And I will set up shepherds over them, which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, thus saith the Lord". The Pastor should greet everyone as they enter the church and bless him or her on the way out. Psalms 121:8 "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore". (Deuteronomy 28:6),
4. The Pastor and his wife and/or a member of the church should drop in on the sheep unexpectedly from time to time. To check on the families of that he is shepherding. A surprise visit truly reveals the state of the sheep and shows the church his true compassion for them. Philippians 4:10 "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again." Jeremiah 23:2 "You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them".
5. If the church congregation is so large that the Pastor cannot personally meet with all those who needs his counsel, then the Pastor needs to shuffle his outside activities to minister to the congregation personally. Even after hearing of the death of John the Baptist while Jesus was mourning this loss he found time for his flock. St Matthew 14:14 "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick".
6. The Pastor is not a missionary, an evangelist, and his sole purpose is to take care of his flock. He needs to be the one in the pulpit not traveling the world and sending post cards home while someone else is tending to his flock. St. John 10:12 "But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep". To get out in his community, feed the poor, knock on the doors, go out into the highways and byways, to those who are not attending church. Invite the community to visit. But always take at least one other man from the church, as the bible requires. (St. Matthew 11:2) (Luke 19:29) (Luke 10:1) St Matthew 22:9 "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage".
7. Remember it is not religion, nor man's doctrine that needs to be promoted! He is to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the message of Jesus Christ? It is servant hood out of compassion from a changed heart. It is enduring persecutions and giving up his life for his flock (2 Corinthians 6:1-10) St. John 12:25 "He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour".
8. Once a month or so the Pastor should meet with the deacons, bishops, and/or those who work beneath him for his own counsel and advise (1 Timothy 6:12).
9. When there is no church service the Pastor should visit other churches for spiritual nutrition. Watching a T.T. evangelist or listening to the old time gospel hour on the radio is not the same as fellowship with believers. Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". It is important that a Pastor be a man of faith and works! James 2:17 "Faith without works is dead".
10. It is important to keep a clean and tidy church, both inside and outside. (Matthew 21:13) 1 Peter 4:17 "The time has come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God"? The name of the church can be a deterrent to folks who are looking for a place of worship. If the name of your church sounds like a cult "The Church of the First New Gospel Temple of the Holy Savior Lord Jesus Christ Assemblies" this could frighten people away. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) (Romans 14:16).
11. The Pastor is to keep peace and order within the church at all times. Any disruption should be approached with love and correction from the Pastor. Many non-denominational churches and such have circus atmospheres and God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) 1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order". Proverbs chapter 6 speaks of "seeds of discord", this ought not to be (James 3:10). 1 Corinthians 1:10 "that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement". This is the Pastors responsibility as a teacher of truth. (Romans 16:17)
12. Be seen in the community, be a person that everyone recognizes and respects. Why do people respect some more than others do? Because they show respect. Proverbs 18:24 "A man that has friends must show himself friendly". St. Luke 4:14 "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about". Jeremiah 3:15 "And I will give you pastors according to mine own heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding". The key to this verse is "a man after God's own heart", a man who seeks the will of God, a man who desires what God desires.
13. Always remember who called you. The importance of the service. Being a Pastor is an honor and a privilege and those who are called to take up this position in the church must be a special breed. The Pastor is like a surgeon a physician who weekly makes repairs to the body of Christ. The church is a sort of spiritual hospital. Where the sick come for healing and the hungry come to be fed. The eternal lives of human beings lay in the balances. The Pastor is responsible and accountable to God for what he has been given charge over (1Corinthians 3:5-8) (1 Thessalonians 2:4 "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts"). John 15:16 "ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit." (1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 4:11).
14. As an example of servant hood the Pastor should be humble and modest in all things while still keeping control of the church in greatness. The word greatness here means maturity. (St.Matthews 20:26) (St. Matthews 10:16 "wise as serpents and harmless as doves") (2 Timothy 2:24 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves) Jeremiah 12:10 "Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness". To not preach for vainglory or greed. (1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil).

A Pastor needs to: "make full proof of his ministry", The motives and

the calling! 1 Peter 5:2 "Feed the flock of God which is among

you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly;

not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: Neither being lords over

God's heritage, but being an ensample to the flock".

Written By Dale Thompson