Lesson 01
Pastoral Ministry
Jeremiah 23.2-4, 18-22
2 shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.
3 “I myself will gather the remnant of
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my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.
4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
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18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORDto see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm of the LORDwill burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.
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20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
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22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
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Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3.15
GOLDEN TEXT
* Understand that pastoral ministry is not a profession, but a vocation;
* be aware that pastoral work has an impact on questions of eternal life, but is also very important in building a society where solidarity, love and ethics prevail;
* understand that the lack of vocation pastors - and prepared - opens a great breach for sin, secularism and apostasy.
OBJECTIVES
In a context of chaos and deep crisis in the history of the people of Israel, the Lord used the prophet Jeremiah with a message of faith and hope, through the following declaration: And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge with intelligence (Jer 3:15).
INTRODUCTION
THE CURRENT MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY
1 - THE CURRENT MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY
The need for leaders who are faithful
God's eyes are on His people
The selection criteria
Just as God decided to give a new direction to the weakened reality of the people of Israel, today, in the same way, He is in control of History and will continue to lift people up to lead His people, according to His heart and purposes.
1 - THE CURRENT MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY
1.1 – The need for leaders
who are faithful
Faithfulness to God and to people is one of the most evident characteristics of a pastor after God's own heart. Such virtue is part of the greatness of spirit of the minister who acts according to the character of the Most High and according to the nature of His calling.
1.1 – The need for leaders
who are faithful
This is undoubtedly a great need today, since many have presented themselves in the media as bearers of a message that edifies, guides and brings hope for better days.
1.2 – God's eyes are on
His people
Jehovah is not insensitive to the present moment; He continues to tend his flock. In due time, the Lord will choose people and place them in strategic positions to bring relief, comfort and deliverance to His people.
1.3 – The selection criteria
The Bible recommends that people to be placed in a position of leadership of the people of God, be, a priori, tested. The apostle Paul makes a very quick reference to Apelles, sending him a greeting and distinguishing him as an approved worker in Christ (Rom. 16:10).
1.3 – The selection criteria
The person approved in Christ is the one who has been subjected to a test and, in the end, achieved a positive evaluation. Pastors after God’s own heart are ministers approved by the Lord Jesus, recruited for the mission of preaching the gospel (Mt 28.19,20).
SHEPHERDS AFTER JEHOVAH'S OWN HEART
2 - SHEPHERDS AFTER JEHOVAH'S OWN HEART
God promised, through the prophet Jeremiah, that he would give the people shepherds with a distinctive mark, that is, shepherds according to His own model.
God is the shepherd of shepherds;
2 - SHEPHERDS AFTER JEHOVAH'S OWN HEART
The shepherd's work;
The challenges of pastoral ministry;
Characteristics of Pastoral Ministry
2.1 – God is the shepherd of shepherds
Jeremiah's prophecy is emblematic when it says that the choice of these people would be according to the divine prototype, that is, according to His heart.
In Psalm 23.1, David expresses himself as follows: The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2.1 – God is the shepherd of shepherds
From this figure of speech, one can infer some characteristics of the pastoral function: the shepherd is the one who guides, protects, provides, supports and guides his flock to green pastures and calm waters; at the same time, his sheep hear his voice, know him, and follow his firm and tender leadership.
2.2 - The shepherd's work
In the book of the prophet Ezekiel, chapter 34, God presents himself as the one who assumes the role of shepherd of His people.
This portrayal of the shepherd who, with sacrificial love, goes in search of the stray (Ez 34.12), is notably observed in the parable of the lost sheep (Lc 15.4).
2.2 - The shepherd's work
This clearly illustrates the tender and loving qualities of the Old Testament God (Ps 78:52,53; 79:13; 80:1; Is 40:11; 49:9,10; Jer 31:10).
2.3 – The challenges of pastoral ministry
The scenario and circumstances experienced by the prophet Jeremiah were not the most encouraging: false shepherds had destroyed and scattered the sheep of the Lord's pasture.
The Lord holds to account those who have spiritual authority over his people.
2.3 – The challenges of pastoral ministry
Therefore, Jeremiah declares that He would raise up a new generation of kings, who would uphold the welfare of the nation and His will. For the first time in Scripture, God reveals himself as Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord who is our righteousness (Jer 23:6)
2.4 – Characteristics of Pastoral Ministry
Many call themselves pastors, or have been promoted to a pastoral position, without having the biblical qualifications required for the job.
A large number of men and women, invested with the pastoral title, are very far from the mission delegated by God to his servants, pastors.
THE DIGNITY OF PASTORAL MINISTRY
The way Jesus lived and developed His ministerial vocation must be a model, a pattern, for the performance of pastoral activity. He presents himself in the scriptures as the good shepherd, helpful and zealous for His sheep, to the point of giving His own life for them (Jo 10.1-18).
Clarifications about pastoral ministry;
A pastor’s responsibility;
A Shepherd's Routine.
3 – THE DIGNITY OF
PASTORAL MINISTRY
Far from the minister of Christ is the personal desire for human power, recognition or economic, political, or any other nature foreign to his essence (Jz 18.19,20).
3.1 – Clarifications about pastoral ministry
Pastoral ministry should not be seen as a profession; it is a vocation, a calling.
It is legitimate for the minister to receive a living wage to support his family; however, pastoral service cannot be seen as a job, nor as a means of enrichment (Jz 18.4).
3.1 – Clarifications about pastoral ministry
Nor should it be seen as a simple human delegation (Rm 9.16), or motivated by self-will (Zz 17.7-9).
3.2 - A pastor’s responsibility
The pastor must ever remember this: the church he is in charge of belongs solely to Christ, who purchased it with His own blood (Matt. 16:18).
3.2 - A pastor’s responsibility
About the human ministers who work for their edification and growth, the Holy Spirit makes a solemn warning:
Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, taking care of them (...)
(1 Pe 5.2,3).
3.3 - A Shepherd’s routine
Pastoral practice must bear the mark of love, meekness, honesty, sincerity of heart and, above all, trust in God's fidelity and provision.
The shepherd of biblical times went before his sheep to guide them. He didn't allow them to go ahead, because
3.3 - A Shepherd’s routine
he didn't want them to be vulnerable to the dangers of the walk. Pastors must lead the people of God, protecting them so that they do not become hostage to percussion accidents or to the enemy who is always on the prowl (1 Pet 5.8,9).
MINISTERIAL ETHICS
Ministerial success lies in the private life of the minister, who needs to consider the points highlighted below.
4 – MINISTERIAL ETHICS
Your relationship with the Lord;
Your relationship with your family;
Your relationship with people.
4 – MINISTERIAL ETHICS
4.1 – Your relationship with the Lord
Zeal for the business of the Lord of the harvest cannot be practiced at the expense of the need to be in his presence, in obedience, fear, reverence, holiness and love.
4.1 – Your relationship with the Lord
The pastor called by God must have a firm personal commitment to his beliefs and values. He must invest the best of his time in the presence of God, whom he claims to believe in and whom he claims to serve.
4.2 – Your relationship with your family
If there's one place a pastor needs to be ethical, it's in his own home, as a husband and father. Your messages pronounced from the pulpit cannot collide with your way of life in your family nucleus.
Taking good care of the family, in the first place, leads to the affirmation of faith and to ministerial success and longevity (1 Tm 5.8).
4.3 – Your relationship with people
The people who made up the church in early times gave a good testimony and, for that reason, it gained the sympathy of all the people. Due to their good treatment, respect and consideration, they were well regarded by the community, and this opened a wide path for them to preach the gospel of Christ (Acts 2.47).
It is necessary to understand, in fact, that the church is of him, and for him, and for him (Rm 11.36). In this way, your challenges, resources, adversities, dreams, plans, joys and goals are also His.
May the Lord continue to provide for his people, shepherds after his own heart!
CONCLUSION
GOD BLESS YOU!
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