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How Does a Busy Pastor Plan His Daily Schedule?

What: Be shepherds of God’s flock.

Who: The flock that is under your care.

How: Not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

When: Until the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, returns for his flock placed in your care.

A pastor’s true calling, then, is to shepherd the souls of God’s people humbly, willingly and eagerly, and to do all of this on behalf of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. This has not changed from the time Peter wrote these words until today. Though our culture has changed and life is quite different today than it was in the first century, the basic responsibilities of pastoral ministry have not changed.

The word of God is sufficient to provide us with an outline of a pastor’s divine calling, and it is sufficient to instruct a pastor in how he should prioritize his daily schedule. God’s Word consistently highlights the priorities of faithful shepherds and affirms that these priorities revolve around the core callingto “be shepherds of God’s flock under your care.” God’s Word has the power to cut through the demands, pressures and expectations that crush a pastor’s spirit.

This is the purpose behind this new book, The Pastor’s Ministry. If you are a pastor reading this book, my hope is that by studying and meditating on the calling and priorities of pastoral ministry you will better understand what God is truly asking of you and where he wants your time to be spent. The aim of this book is simple: to reveal the priorities that God sets for every pastor. God reveals these priorities throughout the Scriptures, he establishes them in the life of Israel, roots them in his full redemptive plan, and confirms them in the instructions he gives through Jesus and the Apostles. The Pastor’s Ministry focuses on 10 key priorities that should be at the heart of every pastor’s ministry.

1) Guard the Truth (2 Tim. 1:13-14)

A pastor must be committed to the Word of God and the apostles’ teachings and willing to preach, teach and defend them when they are contrary to the culture.

2) Preach the Word (2 Tim. 4:1-2)

A pastor must faithfully preach the whole counsel of God’s Word, carefully explaining the meaning of the text and applying it to the lives of those under his care.

3) Pray for the Flock (Eph. 6:18)

A pastor should be an intercessor, bringing the needs of his church before God and modeling prayer both publically and privately.

4) Set an Example (1 Tim. 4:12)

A pastor is an example to his flock and should always be aware that others are looking to him as a model. While a pastor should model righteous behavior, he must also model confession and repentance, acknowledging that he is also a sinner and teaching his people how to apply the gospel to life.

5) Visit the Sick (James 5:14)

Pastors should visit those who are sick and in need of care and encouragement, and they must train up others in the congregation to help care for others in need.

6) Comfort the Grieving (1 Thess. 4:18)

In the face of death, a pastor should grieve with those who grieve and should sensitively remind those who are grieving of the hope and encouragement of the gospel. This involves preaching gospel-focused messages at funerals and graveside services.

7) Care for Widows (1 Tim. 5:3)

A biblical teaching that is much neglected today, pastors are responsible for the widows of the church and should find creative ways to model care for widows by involving their families and other members of the church in caring for these special women.