Showing Yourself Approved To God (2 Timothy 2:14-19)

What should you expect from your pastor? What is a pastor’s role? What is to be a pastor’s focus? What should you expect and demand from me? There are a variety of opinions on this matter in the church today. Some view the pastorate like a chief administrator. His priority is to ensure that the various ministries of the church are organized. Some view the pastorate like a visitation guru. His priority is to visit the hospitals, the members, and the community. Some view the pastorate like a jack of all trades. His priority is to maintain the church buildings and vehicles, clean the buildings, maintain the various church contracts, and entertain the members. Some view the pastorate like an events planner. He priority is to plan various events and programs. Some view the pastorate like an extended vacation. His priority is to do as little as possible. Yet, as we examine Scripture, we discover that none of these are accurate. 

When considering the priority of the pastor, texts like 1 Peter 5 should come to mind. Peter instructs that the pastor is to shepherd the church by exercising oversight. In 2 Timothy, there are two important texts which present the priority of the pastor. One is found in chapter 4 and the other is the text we will look at today. Each of these texts reveal that the priority of the pastor is the discipleship of the church through the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word of God. As we work through the text today, the message should serve to be informative to you and convicting to me. It should help you know what you ought to demand from me and should convict me of what I ought to be doing.