The qualifications of a pastor are clearly outlined in Titus 1 and in 1Ti 3. The qualifications in both these Books are similar, but not identical. The Biblical qualifications are the basis for an examination when considering a pastoral candidate. On another note, does a church have biblical responsibilities, or a code of conduct that serves to govern the pastor and people relationship? The answer is, yes! They are not found in a Book and chapter like the qualifications of a pastor, but there are truths that must be interpreted and implemented if pastor and people will labor together with God in a spirit that honors the Lord.

Regarding your pastor, or those over you in the Lord: 

1. KNOW HIM (1Th 5:12)

1Th 5:12, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you…”

Know your church leaders. The word “know” seems to imply that they were not to be strangers, but pastor and people should seek to be personally acquainted with each other. Jn 10:4-5, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

I clearly remember Pastor Tom Crichton’s call soon after I accept the unanimous vote to be the senior pastor at First Baptist in Groton, MA. He said before we ended our conversation, “sit next to your people when you have your next fellowship or your next pot luck dinner, and get to know them.” Fellowships are a great opportunity for a pastor and his people to foster their relationship which will strengthen the unity of the church.

2. ESTEEM HIM (1Th 5:13).

1Th 5:13, “And to esteem them very highly in love for their work s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”

The word esteem means to count, consider, or regard meaning “to have a high regard.” To have a high regard refers to respect, or admiration.

Two thoughts:

• First, members are to esteem their pastor very highly “in love.”
• Second, members are to esteem their pastor very highly in love “for their work’s sake.”

3. SUBMIT TO HIM AS HE FOLLOWS THE LORD (He 13:17)

He 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.”

The word “obey” means “to persuade, or convince.” He 13:17 is not speaking of blind loyalty, or a cult-like allegiance, but rather a submission that comes from being fully persuaded. When a church is convinced that their pastor speaks on the authority of God’s Word, or when a church is convinced that their pastor is called by God to be our caring shepherd, they will respectfully submit to his oversight.

Regarding Abraham in Ro 4:19-22, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded (convinced) that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

4. HONOR HIM (1TI 5:17)

1Ti 5:17, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Honor means to value. In fact, we are to value all those in authority over us. Honor is expressed by appropriate attitudes and actions. For example, children show honor by obeying their parents (Eph 6:1-3); and honor is expressed by our submission to higher powers or to governmental authority (Ro 13).

• Master/Servant: 1Ti 6:1, Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
• Parent/Children: Eph 6:1-2, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
• Government/Citizen: Ro 13:1, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Verses 7-8. “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
• 1Pe 2:17, Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Illustration: Epaphroditus, (Php 2:25-30), perhaps a church officer (Php 1:1) traveled from the church at Philippi in Macedonia to Rome to hand deliver a relief offering to Paul. The words “your lack of service toward me” (30) is not a rebuke for irresponsible, but simply acknowledging a season of time when they lacked opportunity to send support (See Php 4:10). Epaphroditus therefore, when the church was able to resume support, made a special trip to Rome to help Paul during which time he fell sick. Recovered and desiring to return to Philippi, Paul prepares to send him home with instructions. “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” (Php 2:29-30)

“Hold such in reputation” or hold such a man “in reputation” means to value, prize, or honor.   

5. SUPPORT HIM (1TI 5:17-18)

1Ti 5:17-18, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Financial support was at least a part of the “double honor” to which Paul referred. It is not improbable to conclude that all the officers of the church, regardless of their rank/position, were compensated for the time they labored in their office/ministry. This is not only reasonable, honorable, but its scriptural.

Paul used the O.T. expression about muzzling the ox in reference to himself in 1Co 9:1-14. In verse 3 we learn that Paul’s apostleship was questioned as one would question a politician’s claim to run for public office. The word examined is usually applied to a court judge. The Apostle answers his examiners in the following verses. Those who examined him may have been from the church in Corinth which explains why the Apostle refused their support.

Though Paul refused support, he made it clear “that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” Those who are committed to labor exclusively for the Gospel, should be supported by the church for they labor like the Tribe of Levi who labored in the Tabernacle for the eleven tribes of Israel (13-14). Failure to do so is inexcusable.

Illustration: James 5:1-4, records the consequence of rich employers  who have misappropriated, defrauded, or robbed their laborers/employees of their wages (4).

An ox that labored for its owner in his fields, and had a part in producing a harvest should partake of the harvest. He that plows a field, plows in hope of reaping a harvest. Meaning that the man who plows to prepare the earth for a harvest of crops should also hope to enjoy the fruit of his labor. And that he that thresheth in hope ought to partake of the fruit of his hope. It is reasonable, respectable, fair, and scriptural to compensate those that labor for you in the Lord.

6. PRAY FOR HIM.

Romans 15:30-32, “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.”

• To be delivered.
• To be accepted.
• To be refreshed.

7. FOLLOW HIM AS HE FOLLOWS THE LORD (1CO 11:1)

1Co 11:1-2, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.”

We will not follow the Person of Christ as they once did, but we can follow Him through the light of His Word (Ps 119:105), by yielding to the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13), and by following God-called pastoral leadership that is following the Lord.

• 1Co 4:14-16, “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”
• Php 3:17-21, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
• Mt 4:18-22, “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”

1. Follow purposely, meaning to be fed, to learn, to be instructed, edified, to serve under his leadership as a member of the church, and for fellowship.
2. Follow collectively. Sheep stay close to each other when threatened, or they are kept close and protected by shepherds for their own good. Sheep are known to wander, however, this is never good. Sheep that wander are helpless, and seldom return to the fold. The shepherd must leave the fold, to search until found. Shepherds tend their flock (Jn 10)
3. Follow faithfully.