Pastoral Ministry, Part 3: A Pastor’s Secondary Roles

Since the pastor’s primary role is prayer and scriptural exposition, it cannot be evangelism or ministry. Although some individuals are uniquely gifted as evangelists by the Holy Spirit, evangelism is a personal responsibility of each believer including the pastor. Each believer is responsible to be Christ’s witness in his own personal Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and uttermost parts of the earth. When the pastor prayerfully and faithfully expounds Scripture, believers in the church will be equipped to witness effectively to all those within their sphere of influence. Like all individual believers, the pastor is responsible to win those to Christ who are within his sphere of influence. That includes, but is certainly not limited to, those within his congregation who are lost. The congregation is his Jerusalem, the neighborhood his Judea, the town his Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth his goal.

While evangelism is each believer’s responsibility, according to Scripture, ministry is the primary responsibility of deacons. When the pastor prayerfully and faithfully expounds Scripture, deacons under his teaching will be equipped to minister effectively to the church. In turn, their effective ministry allows the pastor to devote himself to prayer and the exposition of Scripture, as he should. Because of his loving, personal relationship with the church, the pastor continually ministers also—just not to the neglect of his primary role.