What is the most important job of a pastor? Numerous answers are given today. But the number one priority of any pastor is teaching Gods Word. Thats it.
Think about the greatness of Scripture and then you will understand why that is. According to the Bible itself, the Word of God is like a hammer that can break the hard heart (Jer. 23:29), a mirror which reflects ones true condition (James 1:23-25), a seed that springs up into life (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23). It is like rain and snow to nourish the seed (Isa. 55:10-11). It is also like food: milk for babes (1 Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:12-13), strong meat for the mature (1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-14), and honey for all (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23; 2 Pet. 1:19). It is even like a sword discerning the heart (Heb. 4:12), and like a fire compelling the believer to speak (Jer. 20:9).
With all these beautiful pictures, could there be any job the pastor does which is greater than feeding the sheep? In my opinion, no! Strong biblical preaching has fallen on hard times. If spiritual strength can be measured by ones understanding of the Word, then this would account for why we have so many weak churches being led by weak leaders. That is in part due to the fact that ministry has become more of a "profession," where many pastors are like managers, with little time left over for serious study. As one writer has recently explained it, "A pastor may find himself overseeing the Sunday school program, directing the Awana ministry, leading the mens Bible study, or maintaining unlimited availability for counseling."
Todays prevailing concept of what a pastor is to do is the opposite of what Luke wrote in Acts 6:2-4, where the Apostles said that a group other than themselves must be raised up in order to take care of the more menial work of the church. The purpose of this was so that the Apostles could labor over teaching. As Paul explained it to Timothy in 1 Tim. 5:17, preachers/teachers should labor to the point of weariness in their effort to faithfully feed the flock. Anything less is a shirking of the pastors responsibility.
According to a contributor of "A Biblical Theology of the Church," Ephesians 4:11 teaches that a pastors main job is teaching. However, that same writer then adds that "Some shepherds will not like this message. They have taken a position of leadership without the intellectual discipline and preparation required and prescribed in Pauls writings."
Another contributor to the same book states that the primary task of the pastor is "To teach. To set forth doctrine and truth." Without being properly equipped to accurately handle the Word (2 Tim. 2:15), and without devoting the necessary time to studying it, pastors will be unprepared to faithfully carry out their calling (assuming they have in fact been called to this position in the first place).
Paul himself was always prepared, having been a devoted student of Scripture. Just read through Acts and examine how his life was completely committed to preaching and teaching the gospel. He expounded (28:23), exhorted (20:1), disputed (9:29), reasoned (19:8-9), persuaded (28:23), discoursed (20:25), admonished (20:31), commended (20:32), and made a defense (24:10). Paul was able to do all this, and do it all well, because he was committed to the study of the Word; he was committed to his calling of being a teacher.
Now compare the example of Paul with what we see so much of today: in the place of disciplined biblical teaching, we are inundating with cute anecdotal stories which are offered by those who are ill-equipped to properly feed the church. Stories are not evidence of good teaching; rather, they point out that one is unprepared to draw his hearers into the rich truths of Gods Word. Stories have become a replacement for true teaching.
Further, put this into a broader context and the point becomes even more apparent. We are a society that wants (or better, demands) precision and knowledge from those to whom we look. We want the most qualified carpenters, physicians, surgeons, lawyers, mechanics, etc. When our dollar goes out, we want the best, most highly skilled person we can find (that is, if we can afford it!). But when it comes to what we expect from our "pastors," the standard drops to the lowest possible level. Why? Because we have become convinced that "book knowledge" is not very essential, and in fact may be a hindrance to the leading of the Spirit.
What we need in our churches today are those who are committed to the discipline of hard study, and then the faithfulness to feed the Word to their churches. Pierre Marcel made a statement several decades ago with which I completely agree: "Preaching [/teaching] is the central, primary, decisive function of the Church." And Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said: "Is it not clear, as you take a birds-eye view of Church history, that the decadent periods and eras in the history of the Church have always been those periods when preaching had declined? What is it that always heralds the dawn of a Reformation or a Revival? It is renewed preaching." Of all the things which pastors do, their stewardship in teaching the Word is their highest priority.
