Page 5 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Except in the most rare of cases, if divorce becomes a fact, a pastor should prayerfully considering stepping
down from his pastoral position. In most cases, this decision will be made for him.

A pastor, as a model for his people, should work the hardest of all people to keep his marriage intact and
flourishing. Few things bring greater discredit to the church than pastors who divorce or are divorced by their
wives. Many Bible scholars believe that the passages often translated “husband of one wife” are more properly
translated “a one-woman kind of man.”

Many Bible scholars believe that the passages often translated “husband of one wife” are more properly
translated “a one-woman kind of man.”

3. Sober-minded, self-control, respectable (Temperate) (1 Tim. 3:2)

The Greek word used here is “nephalios” which includes the idea of being watchful or circumspect. Temperate
people are free from the excessive influence of passion, lust, or emotion. The Temperate person places
limitations on his own freedom. He is not drunk with wine, power, lust or anything else.

The other qualification mentioned in the same verse is “Self-control that could mean that an elder must control
his internal state or emotions and his outward actions. He should show decency in his conduct and not rash in
his thinking but sensible and wise. It means “to be strong in a thing” and “self-controlled,” especially in the area
of our appetites. The key thought is moderation.

We are to avoid excesses whether those excesses consist of observing long work hours or practicing gluttony in
our eating habits.

Here’s a thought that applies to some pastors; if the pastor lives in a pretentious manner, dresses excessively
well, or continually drives the most expensive cars, he is not being temperate.

4. Hospitable / Prudent (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:8)

According to Thabiti. M. Anyabwile in his book entitled “Finding faithful elders and deacons gives the following
reasons for upholding the above quality.

First, hospitality expresses love. God calls Christians to love one another (John. 13:34-35) and their enemies
(Matt. 5:43-47). Hospitality gives practical form or meaning to that kind of love.

Second, hospitality expresses care for strangers. How can it be known that we are caring for the strangers in our
boundaries according to Lev. 19:33-34? One measure might be how close we get to them and allow them to get
to us. Hospitality brings us close in a meaningful Christian manner; it establishes intimacy in relationships and
reflects the love of Christ to strangers.

Third, hospitality enables evangelism; perhaps the failure to be hospitable by the Church explains why so many
Churches have less membership.

We cannot share the gospel with a person we fail to greet or speak to a person with whom we refuse to spend
time.

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