Body Building – The Pastor
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
1. “Pastors” Should:
a. Work Hard. (Vs. 12b)
b. Lead and Protect. (Vs. 12b, 1 Pet 5:1-3, Matt 20:26-28)
1 Peter 5:1-3, “I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
Matthew 20:26-28, “It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
c. Give Warning. (Vs. 12b, 2 Tim 3:16-17)
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2. By Choice, the Church Should:
a. Honor and Care For their Pastors. (Vs. 12a, Gal 5:13-15, Heb 13:17)
Galatians 5:13-15, “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.”
Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
b. Lovingly Esteem Them Without Restraint. (Vs. 13; 1 Tim 5:17-18, 19-20; 1 Pet 1:22)
1 Timothy 5:17-18, “The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,, and, The worker is worthy of his wages.”
1 Timothy 5:19-20, “Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.”
1 Peter 1:22, “Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly.”