Everybody’s busy. This is the reality of our modern culture, there is work to be done, a family to care for, a house and a car to maintain, friendships to cultivate, doctors to visit, there are activities for children to plan and guests to receive. For those of us who are Christians, you can add to the normal occupation of participating in church life, possibly volunteering once a week. Life in the 21st century seems to be a frantic and endless career. We only slow down when there is a crisis or the disease forces us to pause.
Those who lead God’s people experience the same demands, pressures, demands, and responsibilities as other Christians, and because a pastor is called to get involved in the lives of the people in his congregation, he must also learn to reconcile his own program with the occupied. and the hectic schedules of his church members. Their occupied lives created additional tensions in the ministry, causing the failure of many pastors, even before they began.
Do a lot of shepherds fall here in two traps?
In some cases, a pastor quickly realizes that he cannot provide adequate attention to his congregation, so he does not. Even in a smaller congregation, it is not possible to be in every surgical operation, football match, funeral, medical visit, etc. family invitation, day of work in the church and request for counsel. Discouraged, some stop trying altogether. A pastor may choose to focus more broadly on managing large activities, managing active programs, and overseeing the overall functioning of the local church, leaving the work of the “Department” to others, or neglecting it altogether.
On the other hand, some determined pastors recognize that they cannot do everything, but that they can suffer, they put a passionate hand on the plow and hope that with enough effort at least some people can please, but this approach has its own dangers. The pastor is now enslaved to the demands and needs of his church. The congregation, directly or indirectly, largely determines how its time is spent. Their loyalty and fertility will be based on the satisfaction of the congregation with their efforts, and even if some will be satisfied, there will always be people who will never be satisfied. Pleasing people becomes your way of measuring fidelity, but it will make you feel exhausted and empty.
The pastor’s true biblical call
A pastor is not called to direct crowd programs, nor is he called to do everything and try to please everyone, God is the one who calls pastors to ministry and the details of this call are clearly described in the Word of God. The only way a pastor can avoid these traps, and stand firm throughout his life and ministry, is to know what God has really called him to do, and to do it!The Apostle Peter urges the elders/pastors [1] to feed themselves, that is, to care for God’s people, he writes:
Feed the flock of God, who is among you, caring for him, not by force, but voluntarily; not out of greed, but in good spirits; nor as having dominion over God’s inheritance, but as an example to the flock. And when the High Shepherd appears, will you attain the incorruptible crown of glory?(1 Peter 5. 2-4).
Peter’s exhortation to the shepherds can be summed up in one sentence: “Feed the flock of God, who is among you, taking care of him until the High Shepherd appears. “And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, Peter is pretty clear about who, what, when, and what a pastor’s biblical vocation is like.
What: Feed the flock of God
Who: The pack that is between you, takes care of it.
How: not by force, but voluntarily; not out of greed, but in good spirits; nor as having dominion over God’s inheritance, but as an example to the flock.
When: Until the High Shepherd, Jesus Christ, returns to his flock entrusted to him.
Therefore, the true vocation of a shepherd is to guide the souls of God’s people in a humble, voluntary and jealous way, and to do all this in the name of the High Shepherd, Jesus Christ, that has not changed since Peter wrote those words to this day. Although our culture has changed and life is today very different from that of the 1st century, the fundamental responsibilities of pastoral care have not changed.
The word of God is enough to give us an idea of a pastor’s divine call, and it is enough to instruct the pastor on how he should prioritize his daily agenda. The Word of God constantly highlights the priorities of faithful shepherds and states that these priorities revolve around the essential call: “feeding the flock of God in your care”. The Word of God has the power to eliminate the demands, pressures, and expectations that overwhelm the pastor’s mind.
This is the purpose of the new book, The Pastor’s Ministry. If you are a pastor who reads this book, I hope that as you study and ponder the priorities of vocation and pastoral ministry, you will better understand what God is really asking of you and where you want your time to be. Spent. The purpose of this book is simple: to reveal the priorities God sets for each pastor. God reveals these priorities through the scriptures, establishes them in the life of Israel, rootes them in the whole of his redemptive plan, and confirms them in the instructions He gives through Jesus and the Apostles. The pastor’s ministry focuses on ten key priorities that should be at the heart of every pastor’s ministry.
1) Protect the truth (2 Timothy 1:13-14)
A shepherd must be attached to the Word of God and the teachings of the Apostles; and willing to preach, teach and defend them even when they are contrary to culture.
2) Preach the Word (2 Timothy 4: 1-2)
A pastor must faithfully preach all the counsel of God’s Word, carefully explain the meaning of the text, and apply it to the lives of the people in his care.
3) Pray for the herd (Ephesians 6. 18)
A pastor must be an intercessor, taking the needs of his church before God and directing prayer, both in public and in private.
4) Give an example (1Timoteo 4. 12)
A shepherd is an example to his flock and should always be aware that others consider him a role model. While a pastor must be a standard of righteous behavior, he must also be a model of confession and repentance, recognizing that he is also a sinner. and teaching his people how to apply the gospel to life.
5) Visiting the sick (James 5. 14)
Pastors should visit those who are sick and in need of care and encouragement, and they should train other members of the congregation to help care for those in need.
6) Comfort those who suffer (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
In the face of death, a shepherd must weep with those who suffer and must reasonably remember those who suffer the hope and encouragement of the gospel. This involves preaching gospel-centered messages in funeral services and funeral ceremonies.
7) Widow care (1 Timothy 5. 3)
A very neglected biblical teaching today is that pastors are responsible for the widows of the church and must find creative ways and ways to provide assistance to widows, involving their families and other church members in the care of these special women.
8) Face sin (Matthew 18:15-17)
Pastors must face sin and guide the church in exercising discipline, in the hope of repentance and restoration.
9) Encourage weak sheep (1 Thessaloniki 5. 14)
While it is tempting to overlook those who are difficult to change, God calls pastors to be models of patience and lasting hope as they work with those who are difficult, discouraged, and challenging.
10) Identify and train leaders (2Timteo 2. 2)
The primary responsibility of pastors is to identify, raise, train, and appoint leaders in the church. Each pastor should have a plan on how to do this in their local church and actively seek out the next generation of leaders.
All of the priorities listed above are based on the Word of God and must therefore be fulfilled practically in the context of life and ministry. We must rely biblically on these pastoral imperatives before we can develop the practical tools to dedicate ourselves to them. Tasks.
Conclusion
Finally, my wish is that every pastor who feels the burdens and pressures of the ministry, and who deals with the impossible expectations of guiding people, will be freed from slavery to feel responsible for meeting all needs, by participating in a time that is not available. , trying to be in two places at the same time and postponing the completion of countless arduous tasks. My hope is that the power of God’s Word will invigorate each pastor to see what God wants for his life and ministry, and to better discern what he can do to please the Great Shepherd.
By: Brian Croft. © 2015 Practical Shepherding, Inc. Facebook; Twittering; Original: How does a busy pastor plan their daily schedule?
Translation: Camila Rebeca Almeida. Review: William Teixeira. © 2016 Faithful Ministério. All rights reserved. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br: 10 central ministerial priorities for each pastor
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