All Christians are called to do ministry, but some are called specifically to lead and feed the body of Christ for God’s glory!  They are to give direction, govern, and instruction through the head, Christ!

Status of the Sheep

1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

All those who are saved are to minister, but some are called to lead.

 

Statement about the Shepherd v.1

This is what the Bible say about pastors

Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith.”

Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account.”

1 Thessalonians 5:12, “We beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Acts 20:28 “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God.”

 

Standards for the Shepherd vv.2-7

Why should we have standards for leadership?  They must be men of repentance, restoration, spiritual reproduction, and good reputation.  Shepherds must have standards because they are leading others spiritually.  Are their times when these standards can be overlooked? No, if they are about repentance and restoration, they are striving to fill the listed standards.  Paul deems these standards so important he list them in Titus chapter 1 in a very similar way.

What about verse 2 were it states “the husband of one wife.”  The Greek literally says “a one-woman man.”  It is not about marital status, but about marital morality.  Why does Paul mention this, because marital infidelity is an area that leadership can fall in.    

A shepherd must guard himself!  I’m not sure how bad the church of Ephesus was in this area, but the church of the US is bad.  There is a reason this is listed, so that pastors do not fall. 

 

Standards for the Servants vv.8-13

Basically the same standards for the shepherds are for the deacons as well.

 

Structure for the Saints vv.14-16

Verse 14 and 15 clearly identify why Paul wrote this to Timothy, the pastor of the church of Ephesus, in order to instruct the structure of the church.  Order for God’s glory!