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What Makes a "Good" Pastor?!

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by javalady, Dec 26, 2001.

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  1. javalady

    javalady New Member

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    Some people rate a pastor as "good" (or better) because he's a great preacher. We've had a couple of good-to-great preacher pastors that also lacked warmth, compassion and personal discipleship among his congregation.
    Others say a "good" pastor is someone who listens and cares. But what if he doesn't feed the flock of God? We've seen a host of these also.
    Many are impressed with crowd-drawing men. Personal charisma, impressive styles, etc. that draw a host. Plenty of cults are manned with people like this; so that can't go far.
    Looking at the epistles to Timothy, Titus and other places where eldership (pastoral ministry) is fully explored, we note these things:
    1. A fervent love for Christ & His Word. Coupled with this--and proof of it!!--a godly personal life.
    2. A godly wife; a house in order. He ministers to his "first flock" (his family) first and doesn't let them go wanting for love, attention & discipline.
    3. A self-controlled, humble man. A man in whom the fruits of the Spirit are blossoming.
    4. A man trustworthy with teaching & preaching of the Word; giving it clearly, understandably & truly.
    5. A man of compassion towards God's sheep; who is willing to "be there" for them. If they are sick he visits them & prays for them. If they are disobedient, he loves them, prays for them & tries to reconcile them to Christ. If they are weary, he comes alongside of them & encourages them. If they are new to the faith, he disciples them.
    6. A man who isn't jealous over his ministry. He looks to strengthen the faith of other men in the church, seeking whom God would bring into eldership also. He gives support to "the priesthood of the believer" by giving opportunity to all to minister one to another, and to the lost.
    Well, there's 6 from PreacherDave & I. How about adding to the list?! Or, give us testimony of how God has used you or your pastor to exemplify the shepherding heart of Jesus?! [​IMG]
     
    #1 javalady, Dec 26, 2001
  2. DocCas

    DocCas New Member

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    #2 DocCas, Dec 26, 2001
  3. Kenneth77

    Kenneth77 New Member

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    Someone must have not gotten what they wanted for Christmas. :( JavaLady is probably PreacherDave. I noticed another of his threads that had the screen name JavaLady but he signed Dave. And Dave is a Preacher so he has the right to post here. And I think what he posted hit home.
     
    #3 Kenneth77, Dec 27, 2001
  4. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    They are married to each other.

    To javalady -- this is not 'adding' to your excellent list, but just to mention something that I have seen and appreciated in two of the pastors I have had the blessing to learn under.

    The first is that they both preached expositionally/exegetically rather than topically. This resulted in people thinking more about God's Word than having extra opinions on the topics. That's not a bad thing!

    The second is probably something that is a God-given skill which they simply honed -- it was the remarkable ability to start with the simple (and go back to it several times during the course of the sermon) and pick up more and more people as the sermon went more and more in depth, so that not only the new believers were given something, but those who were mature in Christ also went away with something.

    But these two things are 'sermon' things, and that's why I'm not trying to add to your list. I would say that unless he can hold with number 6, number 5 will be impossible! It's a God-guided balance in the life of a minister that cannot be achieved without a close relationship with God Himself.

    I liked the list.
     
    #4 Helen, Dec 27, 2001
  5. DocCas

    DocCas New Member

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    One last time. The Rules are the rules. We expect the evolutionists who come into the free for all forums to obey the rules, so what is so hard about Baptists also obeying the rules. What kind of example do we set when we think we can break the rules but want to come down hard on non-christians who act just as we do?
     
    #5 DocCas, Dec 27, 2001
  6. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

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    Thomas,

    Can a woman pastor post here, then?
     
    #6 Michael Wrenn, Dec 27, 2001
  7. Pastor_Don_Kirk

    Pastor_Don_Kirk New Member

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    Back to the topic.... To me, a GOOD pastor, is one who does not preach in a manner to get the most people in attendance; but he preaches "from the Bible; what the Bible says". Too often today, preachers preach what will fill the pews, instead of what God says. If people won't come to your church because you preach the truth, then so-be. Good preachers preach to God's rules, not the perticular church one is speaking to.

    May all members of this site be "GOOD PREACHERS"
     
    #7 Pastor_Don_Kirk, Feb 1, 2002
  8. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    Actually Thomas, men can post in the Women's forum to ask questions or get feedback from women. Likewise, I don't see why non-pastors cannot post questions here to get feeback from clergy.

    Joshua
     
    #8 Rev. Joshua, Feb 1, 2002
  9. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    Javalady, although I wouldn't say "a man who" when describing a pastor, I think your list is a good one.

    Joshua
     
    #9 Rev. Joshua, Feb 1, 2002
  10. PreacherDave

    PreacherDave New Member

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    Being just a little protective over Javalady, her (AND MY) post is from quite a number of years worth of experience, not all in the capacity of ministry. Right now, unless the ministry is the outgrowth of God's working within, the 1 Corinthian 3 "letter of recommendation" - namely those who are being ministered to that validate the minister, true ministry just doesn't happen.

    The aspect of ministry according to Eph 4 is for the maturation of the Body of Christ so that we are not blown about by every wind of doctrine. This truly happens when one has the tenacity and courage to actually sit with someone who hurts, or shows their carnality through immaturity and the minister has the wisdom to see that it is immaturity (refraining from judging them).

    True ministry is getting down into the muck to pull out the straying sheep.
     
    #10 PreacherDave, Feb 8, 2002
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