A note from our Pastor:

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1 Timothy 3:5

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

As is often the case with the writings of the Apostle Paul, our study verse this morning is a statement made as a parenthetical. A parenthetical statement is intended to clarify or qualify the preceding statement. In this instance, it reads as though the Apostle wanted to make sure his audience understood the need for the qualification of pastors that he previously delivered.

In the prior verse, the Apostle told Timothy pastors should be able to rule their own house well. As discussed in last week’s study, a man ruling his own house well means he must be present, he must be patient, and he must be encouraging.

With this parenthetical statement, the Apostle clarifies the need for this qualification. As with many vocations which require soft skills, one cannot fully evaluate the ability of the individual to engage with others until they are in the job. The Apostle knew a pastor needed these skills, but the best way to know if they existed prior to the man being called as a pastor was to see if they existed in the home.

A pastor to be effective in leading a congregation well must be present, must be patient, and must be encouraging. First, a pastor must be present. This does not mean just physically present. Rather it means to be emotionally, spiritually, and mentally present with the congregation. In order to do this, there must be consistency in the teaching. Constantly have visiting ministers or each Sunday’s sermon jumping from subject to subject does not allow the pastor and the congregation to be present together.

A pastor must also be patient and encouraging. If the congregation is not growing the pastor is not fulfilling his duties, but growth most often is at a snail’s pace not a cheetah’s pace. In other words, the pastor cannot demand understanding, adherence, and growth. Rather, the pastor must take the approach of patiently teaching and encouraging the congregation to reach their own understandings and organically grow in the word of God.

Thus, the qualification the Apostle provided in the prior verse was important but is even more important as an indicator of ability within the pastor to lead the congregation.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah