"Separated Unto The Gospel Of God" Romans 1:1

Soon I will leave you, and you will be seeking someone to fill the pulpit here. I have loved you earnestly and given myself entirely to the task of ministering to your souls for the past nine years. As you seek a new minister, I trust that God will graciously give you someone who is more than a man to fill the pulpit three times a week---I hope he will give you a pastor separated unto the gospel of God. Let me point out some things that you should look for in a pastor.

1. A Pastor Must Be a Man Of Constant Study.

Paul told Timothy to "give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Meditate Upon these things; give thyself wholly to then; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." A minister must be a man given to the study of the gospel. By prayer, study, and meditation he must seek a message from God for every service of the church. It is impossible for your pastor to feed your soul unless he is deligent in preparation.

2. A Pastor Must Preach The Gospel.

He must preach the word of the gospel in season and out of season, when his hearers rejoice to hear it and when their itching ears desire flattering words. Every true servant of Christ has a twofold message which he must declare continually. We must abase the pride of man, declaring that all flesh is grass. And we must exalt the glory of God, declaring that he is majestic in holiness, glorious in sovereignty, and merciful in salvation. We must constantly preach the glorious truth that salvation is of the Lord.

3. A Pastor Must Be A Spiritual Overseer.

The servant of Christ must take the oversight of his congregation. It is his task to rule in the house of God by the Word of God. And it is the responsibility of the congregation to obey the Word preached by them and submit themselves to God's messengers. A pastor cannot be a puppet manipulated by deacons or extra-biblical policies. He must be the Lord's servant.

Don Fortner