Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is doing an extensive study of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here are notes to Session 4. The Ministry Gifts serve to reveal the plan of God. They are characteristic of a full-time office or calling. In Session 3 we continue our look at the Ministry Gifts. In Session 3 we talked about the Apostle and Evangelist. In Session 4 continue our study of the Ministry Gifts with the Teacher and Pastor/Shepherd. To hear an audio recording of the session click the YouTube link at the end of the notes.
Spiritual Gifts we are studying are in:
Romans 12:3-8 NKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
I Corinthians 12:1-12 NKJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-15 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 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; 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, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ--
Peter mentions them at;
I Peter 4:10-11 NKJV As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Romans 12:3-8 NKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
I Corinthians 12:1-12 NKJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-15 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 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; 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, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ--
Peter mentions them at;
I Peter 4:10-11 NKJV As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Teacher
This is the divine enablement to understand, clearly explain, and apply the Word of God to the lives of listeners. The Teacher explains what the Prophet proclaims.
The Prophet has the divine enablement to proclaim God's truth with power and clarity in a timely and culturally sensitive fashion for correction, repentance, or edification.
There is New Testament evidence which indicates that future foretelling may accompany this gift, although some caution needs to be exercised.
Characteristics: The focus is on correcting behavior and applying biblical truth to culturally sensitive issues. These people identify and try to correct deception and sin. They often seem blunt and opinionated. Generally they can cause one to be uncomfortable. The results of this gift cause strengthening, correction, encouragement, and ultimately comfort. It helps if the person using this gift has built up a credible reputation.
Those with the gift of prophecy are sensitive to both the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the needs of the church body. They should be humble and continually study the Scriptures in order to test these revelations before speaking them. When they do speak, they should allow and even expect others to weigh what is said against the Scriptures and interpret the message accordingly.
1 John 4:1 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Matthew 24:22-25 NIV “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NIV Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The Greek word for “teach” is didaskalos, which means “to instruct.”
A teacher’s basic motivational drive is to discover and validate truth. Teachers are very sensitive to doctrinal integrity, they have great research skills, and they are sincere.
We see examples all through the Bible of teaching. Jesus Himself was the Great Teacher, and Jesus commanded His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Jesus commanded His disciples to teach new disciples everything He had commanded, instructing them in both doctrine and holy living. Christ’s ministers are not to teach the commandments of men or anything that is of their own or other men’s devising, but only that which is ordered by Christ.
Teaching is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit. One without this gift can understand the Bible as he hears or reads it, but he cannot explain it as one with the gift can. Although it can be developed, the spiritual gift of teaching is not something that can be learned or acquired, as with a college degree. A person with a Ph.D. but without the gift of teaching will not be able to expound the Bible as one without a degree but having the gift of teaching.
There are several contexts in which the gift of teaching can be used: Sunday school classes, Bible schools, colleges, seminaries, and home Bible studies. The one with the gift can teach either individuals or groups. A person with the natural talent to teach can teach just about anything, but a person with the spiritual gift of teaching teaches the content of the Bible. He can teach the message of a book as a whole book or break it down to individual paragraphs or verses. No new material originates from one with the gift of teaching. The teacher simply explains or expounds the meaning of the Bible’s text.
Christians who have the gift of teaching search for truth.
The Bible warns about hypocritical teaching.
Matthew 23:1-3 NKJV Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Romans 2:21 NKJV You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
and false teaching
Acts 20:28-31 NKJV Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
I Timothy 6:3-4 NKJV If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
In fact, whole books of the Bible are devoted to countering false teaching in the early church (2 Peter and Jude).
As we said about New Covenant Prophets,
1 John 4:1 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The test for any teaching is whether or not it aligns with the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.
Characteristics: The teacher is a good communicator. This person has a thirst for knowledge and loves to learn. He is generally self-disciplined and usually prefers to teach groups, more than one on one. Gifted teachers do not just teach Bible knowledge and doctrine, but when they explain God's truth, people are set free of sin, natural limitations, depression, fear, anxiety, and the anointing breaks bonds off the listeners, freeing them from Satan's lies and the world's deceptions. A naturally gifted teacher may be able to explain to people why they sin and what the Bible has to say about the sin, but a teacher who is spiritually gifted releases the Holy Spirit's power through the gift to set the other person free.
Cautions: The teacher may struggle to keep things simple because they are too detailed, not wanting to miss anything. They can be too profound, theological, and even esoteric. This can result in a sense of superiority and the teacher becomes unteachable. They can also get frustrated when others don't get it and can't keep up pace for knowledge and insight. Teachers are often good communicators and lousy listeners.
Scripture Example: Timothy and others
2 Timothy 2:1-2 (HCSB) 1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
The day is coming when teaching, or for that matter all the gifts, will be unnecessary
Hebrews 8:10-12 NKJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
That comes from;
Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
And then;
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 CEV Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten. We don't know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn't perfect will then disappear. When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.
This is the divine enablement to understand, clearly explain, and apply the Word of God to the lives of listeners. The Teacher explains what the Prophet proclaims.
The Prophet has the divine enablement to proclaim God's truth with power and clarity in a timely and culturally sensitive fashion for correction, repentance, or edification.
There is New Testament evidence which indicates that future foretelling may accompany this gift, although some caution needs to be exercised.
Characteristics: The focus is on correcting behavior and applying biblical truth to culturally sensitive issues. These people identify and try to correct deception and sin. They often seem blunt and opinionated. Generally they can cause one to be uncomfortable. The results of this gift cause strengthening, correction, encouragement, and ultimately comfort. It helps if the person using this gift has built up a credible reputation.
Those with the gift of prophecy are sensitive to both the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the needs of the church body. They should be humble and continually study the Scriptures in order to test these revelations before speaking them. When they do speak, they should allow and even expect others to weigh what is said against the Scriptures and interpret the message accordingly.
1 John 4:1 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Matthew 24:22-25 NIV “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NIV Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The Greek word for “teach” is didaskalos, which means “to instruct.”
A teacher’s basic motivational drive is to discover and validate truth. Teachers are very sensitive to doctrinal integrity, they have great research skills, and they are sincere.
We see examples all through the Bible of teaching. Jesus Himself was the Great Teacher, and Jesus commanded His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Jesus commanded His disciples to teach new disciples everything He had commanded, instructing them in both doctrine and holy living. Christ’s ministers are not to teach the commandments of men or anything that is of their own or other men’s devising, but only that which is ordered by Christ.
Teaching is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit. One without this gift can understand the Bible as he hears or reads it, but he cannot explain it as one with the gift can. Although it can be developed, the spiritual gift of teaching is not something that can be learned or acquired, as with a college degree. A person with a Ph.D. but without the gift of teaching will not be able to expound the Bible as one without a degree but having the gift of teaching.
There are several contexts in which the gift of teaching can be used: Sunday school classes, Bible schools, colleges, seminaries, and home Bible studies. The one with the gift can teach either individuals or groups. A person with the natural talent to teach can teach just about anything, but a person with the spiritual gift of teaching teaches the content of the Bible. He can teach the message of a book as a whole book or break it down to individual paragraphs or verses. No new material originates from one with the gift of teaching. The teacher simply explains or expounds the meaning of the Bible’s text.
Christians who have the gift of teaching search for truth.
- Teachers study diligently, “sifting through” the Scriptures as an archaeologist would carefully sift through artifacts from past civilizations, hoping to find answers to numerous questions.
- A teacher’s passion to discover and validate truth is commendable, but they must not become so focused on their mission that they lose balance in their perspective about their role.
- Teachers help keep the Church focused on truth. They are alert to false doctrine and do not honor experience over the authority of Scripture.
- A teacher instinctively questions anything that seems inaccurate, and usually that doubt motivates them to search out the answers needed to establish truth.
The Bible warns about hypocritical teaching.
Matthew 23:1-3 NKJV Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Romans 2:21 NKJV You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
and false teaching
Acts 20:28-31 NKJV Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
I Timothy 6:3-4 NKJV If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
In fact, whole books of the Bible are devoted to countering false teaching in the early church (2 Peter and Jude).
As we said about New Covenant Prophets,
1 John 4:1 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The test for any teaching is whether or not it aligns with the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.
Characteristics: The teacher is a good communicator. This person has a thirst for knowledge and loves to learn. He is generally self-disciplined and usually prefers to teach groups, more than one on one. Gifted teachers do not just teach Bible knowledge and doctrine, but when they explain God's truth, people are set free of sin, natural limitations, depression, fear, anxiety, and the anointing breaks bonds off the listeners, freeing them from Satan's lies and the world's deceptions. A naturally gifted teacher may be able to explain to people why they sin and what the Bible has to say about the sin, but a teacher who is spiritually gifted releases the Holy Spirit's power through the gift to set the other person free.
Cautions: The teacher may struggle to keep things simple because they are too detailed, not wanting to miss anything. They can be too profound, theological, and even esoteric. This can result in a sense of superiority and the teacher becomes unteachable. They can also get frustrated when others don't get it and can't keep up pace for knowledge and insight. Teachers are often good communicators and lousy listeners.
Scripture Example: Timothy and others
2 Timothy 2:1-2 (HCSB) 1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
The day is coming when teaching, or for that matter all the gifts, will be unnecessary
Hebrews 8:10-12 NKJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
That comes from;
Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
And then;
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 CEV Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten. We don't know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn't perfect will then disappear. When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.
Pastor/Shepherd
The spiritual gift of Pastor is the supernatural ability to direct, protect, correct lead, care for, and nurture individuals or groups in the Body as they grow in their faith towards spiritual maturity.
Description:
We we have confused our definition with the person who leads the Sunday morning services. The Greek word for Pastor is the word Poimen, which means overseer or Shepherd. Someone who is graced with the gift of Pastor/Shepherd may or may not be in full time vocational ministry. The pastoral gifting is not limited to full time pastors but can be expressed in a variety of different ways.
When this gift is present:
The spiritual gift of Pastor is involved with in the lives of people more than any other spiritual gift. Believers who are gifted in this are responsible for helping a group of believers mature spiritually through directing, protecting, and correcting them on their journey towards Christ likeness.
When this gift is absent:
When the pastoral gifting is absent in a local church the congregation will lack the guiding force towards spiritual maturity. In turn believers will wander towards their own interests and become susceptible to false doctrines and spiritual con artists.
In the Life of Jesus:
In John 10:11 Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd, and later the apostle Peter refers to Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).
Example from the Scripture:
The two clearest examples of a Pastor are Timothy and Titus, who both were spiritual sons of Paul the apostle. In his Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) Paul encourages these young men to lead their congregants and to appoint other overseers, literally pastors, to do the same. In these letters it becomes clear that the qualifications to be a pastor are not the amount of people that follow you but personal character and the care you have for a certain group of people.
Characteristics: This is the one who guides, protects, and nurture's God's sheep. They provide oversight and feel the responsibility for individuals under their care. They teach and help others grow by serving as role models of faith and patience through hard times and mistakes. Their purpose is to disciple others in their personal, emotional, and spiritual growth. They have a divine anointing that breaks bondages off people, bondages that cause them to be independent, isolated, and insecure. The Holy Spirit guided words that come out of the hearts and mouths of pastors make their listeners able to relax, come together, and feel secure in the Body of Christ. They are excellent at one on one development over long periods of time.
The pastor is to be the teaching elder. In the New Testament he is also called "shepherd," or "bishop." He is to teach and guide the congregation. Peter wrote:
I Peter 5:2-3 NKJV Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
The Apostle Paul wrote some of the qualifications of a pastor.
Titus 1:7-9 NKJV For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Simply put, a pastor is to minister to the needs of a group of believers.
Cautions: They may have the potential of taking on too much responsibility for the development of others, not leaving the Holy Spirit as the agent of change. The fact that they are good at one on one may be a liability when the care of large groups and large ministries is what is really needed. They also may devote too much time to trying to "save" the black sheep at the expense of the others. The fact that we title modern day church leaders with the term "pastor'' only serves to hurt the church.
Many people expect the kind of treatment a spiritually gifted pastor shows from most of their church leaders. Instead, most leaders are apostles, prophets, or teachers, NOT pastors.
Scripture Example:
The two clearest examples of a Pastor are Timothy and Titus, who both were spiritual sons of Paul the apostle. In his Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) Paul encourages these young men to lead their congregants and to appoint other overseers, literally pastors, to do the same. In these letters it becomes clear that the qualifications to be a pastor are not the amount of people that follow you but personal character and the care you have for a certain group of people.
The spiritual gift of Pastor is the supernatural ability to direct, protect, correct lead, care for, and nurture individuals or groups in the Body as they grow in their faith towards spiritual maturity.
Description:
We we have confused our definition with the person who leads the Sunday morning services. The Greek word for Pastor is the word Poimen, which means overseer or Shepherd. Someone who is graced with the gift of Pastor/Shepherd may or may not be in full time vocational ministry. The pastoral gifting is not limited to full time pastors but can be expressed in a variety of different ways.
When this gift is present:
The spiritual gift of Pastor is involved with in the lives of people more than any other spiritual gift. Believers who are gifted in this are responsible for helping a group of believers mature spiritually through directing, protecting, and correcting them on their journey towards Christ likeness.
When this gift is absent:
When the pastoral gifting is absent in a local church the congregation will lack the guiding force towards spiritual maturity. In turn believers will wander towards their own interests and become susceptible to false doctrines and spiritual con artists.
In the Life of Jesus:
In John 10:11 Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd, and later the apostle Peter refers to Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).
Example from the Scripture:
The two clearest examples of a Pastor are Timothy and Titus, who both were spiritual sons of Paul the apostle. In his Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) Paul encourages these young men to lead their congregants and to appoint other overseers, literally pastors, to do the same. In these letters it becomes clear that the qualifications to be a pastor are not the amount of people that follow you but personal character and the care you have for a certain group of people.
Characteristics: This is the one who guides, protects, and nurture's God's sheep. They provide oversight and feel the responsibility for individuals under their care. They teach and help others grow by serving as role models of faith and patience through hard times and mistakes. Their purpose is to disciple others in their personal, emotional, and spiritual growth. They have a divine anointing that breaks bondages off people, bondages that cause them to be independent, isolated, and insecure. The Holy Spirit guided words that come out of the hearts and mouths of pastors make their listeners able to relax, come together, and feel secure in the Body of Christ. They are excellent at one on one development over long periods of time.
The pastor is to be the teaching elder. In the New Testament he is also called "shepherd," or "bishop." He is to teach and guide the congregation. Peter wrote:
I Peter 5:2-3 NKJV Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
The Apostle Paul wrote some of the qualifications of a pastor.
Titus 1:7-9 NKJV For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Simply put, a pastor is to minister to the needs of a group of believers.
Cautions: They may have the potential of taking on too much responsibility for the development of others, not leaving the Holy Spirit as the agent of change. The fact that they are good at one on one may be a liability when the care of large groups and large ministries is what is really needed. They also may devote too much time to trying to "save" the black sheep at the expense of the others. The fact that we title modern day church leaders with the term "pastor'' only serves to hurt the church.
Many people expect the kind of treatment a spiritually gifted pastor shows from most of their church leaders. Instead, most leaders are apostles, prophets, or teachers, NOT pastors.
Scripture Example:
The two clearest examples of a Pastor are Timothy and Titus, who both were spiritual sons of Paul the apostle. In his Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) Paul encourages these young men to lead their congregants and to appoint other overseers, literally pastors, to do the same. In these letters it becomes clear that the qualifications to be a pastor are not the amount of people that follow you but personal character and the care you have for a certain group of people.
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