September 25, 2022 Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Dear Friends in Christ,
In any profession it is always interesting to talk with someone about how they got their job. It is no different for a Pastor. Except the question is usually phrased, “What made you decide to go into the ministry?” From my days at seminary there are 100 different answers. The common thread is how God worked to call these men to the ministry. Some came willingly. For some it took years. The story begins and ends with Jesus.
I’ve never preached on this text but today is a great opportunity for learning. In our congregation we have Pastor’s kids. We have members who have relatives that are Pastors. Some of you have been good friends with your Pastor. Then there is a segment sitting here today that don’t know that much about the ministry. How does it work in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and what does the future hold. This sermon may even get one of you men thinking about this profession. Because, after all it is . . .
“A NOBLE TASK”
The Apostle Paul writes this letter to young Timothy. The saying in verse 1 was a well-known adage in the Early Church. Having a Pastor lead a congregation helps with the Order of the Church. Those who are served prayerfully benefit greatly. The task, or the work, requires energy and devotion. The Pastor is on call 24/7.
Paul then goes on to list the qualifications of a Pastor. They reflect what the Lord needs from this man to lead His Church. These are all reasonable expectations. If you can’t handle yourself or your family, then overseeing a congregation is never going to work. Here’s the danger. Some congregations might read through this list and do a mental evaluation of their Pastor and decide whether he should be in or out. If things get tough, a congregation could turn to 1 Timothy 3 and begin to make an argument for or against the Pastor.
God cares for His Church by having instituted the Office of the Ministry. Within this office the Pastor is supported by deacons or as most Lutheran Church’s call them elders. These men also have certain qualifications for their task as listed in our text.
Think of all the Pastors that God has put into your life. Prayerfully they have been faithful. What have they done for you? They have preached the Law. They have told you that you are a sinner. Maybe they called you a filthy rag. They preached on a topic that made you squirm in your pew. They called you out on attitude that had no place in God’s Church. Did the Pastor do this to hurt you? No. It was done to call you to repentance. It was for the purpose of turning from your wicked ways. How would you know the sweet taste of the Gospel without the bitter nectar of the Law?
The Pastor directs the affairs of the church. Shepherds the flock. Guards it from error. Administers the Sacraments. Preaches Good News of your justification. You are a filthy rag but you are made clean in the blood of Jesus Christ. The cross is the never-ending symbol of your spiritual freedom. Your Pastor has the privilege of touching you personally right here, right now. He loves to share Jesus with you. And not just from the pulpit. By the hospital bed. In the jail. Confined at a nursing home. In a counseling session. On the phone, in a text, standing in the narthex. It is a ministry of presence, and the best clergy are those who are in the game fighting the devil alongside you. It is a noble task.
Some seem to think the ministry is all about the coffee and doughnuts, oh the time wasted on that subject in the past. To me one of the greatest advantages of this profession is that I have always had my own bathroom . . . and the soft toilet paper to go with it. Didn’t aspire to this, just one of the nice perks. What are the protocols for ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod?
Before going to the seminary, you need a four-year degree. Study whatever you want. It will all be helpful. Then we have two seminaries you can attend. St. Louis MO and Ft. Wayne IN. It will be four more years of school. Two years of study, a third year of vicarage. You are assigned to a church for a year under a Pastoral supervisor, I went to Quincy IL. You learn a lot and then you return to seminary for a fourth year. You talk a lot about the vicarage experience and get ready for your first call. In the LCMS the first call is assigned. Which means you go – no questions asked. They try to send you to a church that lines up with your traits. My first call – Littlefield TX. From this point on in your ministry, any of the 6,000 churches of the LCMS can call you. If a call is received, the called Pastor has a choice. He’s prays about it and either stays at his call or accepts a new call. I have done both. The Lord through the Holy Spirit has always led me to the right decision.
The ministry is about the faithfulness of our Lord. That is where the focus needs to be. I have been blessed in this noble task for 31 years. Three wonderful congregations where my family and I have been loved and taken care of. Has it got you thinking about the ministry? If so, come talk to me.
God entered into a saving human relationship with us. He began this good work in the Church and continues to work through human relationships. He leads not only though words but also through life. God offers a list of qualities for Pastors so that He can work through them to form congregations that work for the good of others.
Amen.