Church Growth Tips: How to Be a Good Pastor

Visit a typical church service and chances are you'll hear a good sermon. And while preaching is important, leading and disciplining a congregation requires more than just preaching a good weekly message. The Apostle Paul told a young pastor named Timothy that pastors must "study to show themselves approved" (2 Timothy 2:15). Church leaders should not only strive to be great preachers, but also the best pastor possible.

Common Characteristics of Good Pastors

Good pastors spend a lot of time in prayer. Jesus said, "No one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first bind the strong man" (Mark 3:27). "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). While prayer alone will not cause a church or ministry to flourish, no great work for God has ever been accomplished without prayer.

Pastors should be able to teach. While there are teachers in the church who are not pastors, a pastor is always a teacher. Peter said, "Feed the flock of God which is among you" (1 Peter 5:2). One of the pastor's primary responsibilities is to teach their congregation the Word of God -- and how to apply it to their lives. Paul said, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).

Pastors must shepherd their flock or congregation. The pastor (or shepherd) is to be the primary overseer of the church, with Jesus being the chief shepherd (1 Peter 5:4 and 2:25). The word shepherd is the word poimen, which means to shepherd or to pastor. The pastor is called to exercise oversight (management or direction) of the congregation, including all ministries, departments and other projects of the church.

Pastors must protect their congregation from false teachers. Pastors are to protect their congregation from wolves (false teachers) by teaching them sound doctrine and confronting erroneous teachers. Paul told the Ephesian elders, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:28-30).

Pastors should follow up on missing/hurting church members. A good pastor, like a shepherd, goes after lost or stray sheep. Jesus illustrated this in Luke 15 with three examples: the lost sheep, a lost coin, and a wayward son. If a church member has not attended services for a while, something may be wrong. The pastor may not be able to follow up personally on every member (especially in a large church), but if possible, he should have another member of the church call or visit the person to make sure they are okay.

Pastors should have vision or a plan for the future. "Where there is no [progressive] vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). The vision a pastor receives from God is continually unfolding. A good pastor will seek direction for the church daily, and then plan accordingly. Structure and order are essential for the success, prosperity and growth of the church. Without vision, there will be no church growth.

Are you a good pastor?

While the previous list of characteristics is certainly not exhaustive (and no pastor has expertise in every area), good leaders will have a burden to become the best pastor they can be. Fortunately, if a pastor is not gifted in a certain area, God will typically bring people into the church who have the gifts and talents needed to grow the church.

Sources:
Pastor or Preacher?, Ministrymaker Magazine