The Path to Being a Pastor

1. Aspire, Don't Just Feel "Called"

Instead of saying “I’m called to ministry,” say “I aspire to be a pastor.”

Reframe your desire. Many Christians use the language of "calling" to ministry, implying a subjective, divine imperative. However, the Bible primarily uses "called" for salvation, not vocation. This subjective language can lead to problems like entitlement or shielding one from necessary criticism. The New Testament, particularly 1 Timothy 3:1, encourages aspiration to the office of overseer, highlighting a noble desire for the work.

Distinguish roles. Aspiration clarifies two distinct questions: Are you qualified to be an elder? And should serving as an elder be your paid job? Not all elders are paid, and not all paid ministry roles are eldership. The New Testament consistently shows churches having multiple elders, but only some are financially supported for their dedicated teaching.

• Elder: Oversees, teaches, shepherds (1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).
• Paid Pastor: An elder specifically gifted in teaching, whose full-time labor warrants financial support (1 Tim 5:17-18).

Advantages of aspiration. Shifting from "calling" to "aspiration" offers several benefits:

• More biblical: Aligns with 1 Timothy 3:1.
• More humble: Acknowledges you're not there yet.
• More accurate: Recognizes uncertainty in the future.
• More fruitful: Directs focus to cultivating godliness and gifts.
• More freeing: Relieves pressure of discerning a private "call."

2. Embrace Humility and Seek Wisdom

Invite criticism. And when criticism comes uninvited, hear it, pray about it, search for all the truth you can find in it, and then act on it.

Guard against pride. Aspiring to an authoritative office like the pastorate can easily be corrupted by pride. Godly authority sacrifices self to serve others, while ungodly authority sacrifices others to serve self. Cultivate humility by meditating on God's Word, praying, serving others, and allowing trusted friends to point out your faults.

Seek counsel. Wisdom is practical know-how that combines the fear of God with knowledge of Him, His commands, yourself, and the world. It's essential for both becoming and being a pastor. Don't rely solely on a subjective sense of divine guidance; actively seek advice from wise, mature believers, especially your church's pastors.

• Listen actively: Don't just seek confirmation; be open to having your mind changed.
• Ask probing questions: Good counselors help you identify variables and ask questions you haven't considered.

Make wise decisions. Use a decision-making framework based on three variables:

• Desire: What about pastoring truly appeals to you?
• Ability: Do you possess the character, content knowledge, and competence?
• Opportunity: What avenues are open to you now for growth and service?
  Your local church should inform your assessment of all three, providing affirmation and guidance.

3. Live the Biblical Qualifications Now

Whatever seeming detours God sends you on, make progress in godliness your prime directive.

Your compass. The biblical qualifications for eldership (1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) are not merely a checklist for appointment but a compass for your entire journey. They emphasize character, leadership in the home, and teaching ability. These qualities are largely expected of all Christians, but elders must exemplify them.

Key qualifications:

• Above reproach: Free of glaring, obvious inconsistencies.
• One-woman man: Sexual fidelity (married) or chastity (single).
• Self-controlled: Mastery over sinful desires.
• Manages household well: Children are generally obedient, demonstrating leadership fitness.
• Able to teach: Capable of explaining and applying God's Word.
• Not a recent convert: Avoids pride.
• Good reputation with outsiders: Demonstrates integrity.

Pursue godliness. Make these qualifications your daily pursuit. Memorize them, meditate on them, and pray through them. Ask trusted individuals, especially your pastors, to assess your growth in these areas. Your character, cultivated out of the spotlight, is the most strategic preparation for ministry.

4. Apprentice in a Healthy Church

Learn health from the healthy before you try to lead the unhealthy to health.

Observe and learn. Just as physicians learn through residency, aspiring pastors should immerse themselves in a healthy church. This provides a living model of biblical principles in practice, helping you discern the difference between spiritual symptoms and causes. If you're not in a healthy church, join one.

Informal residency. Seek opportunities to observe your pastor's work and the church's inner workings. Ask to sit in on meetings, join pastoral visits, and discuss how biblical principles translate into daily ministry. This "caught, not taught" learning is invaluable.

Be a faithful member. Before you can shepherd, you must be a sheep. Devote yourself to being a faithful member of a healthy church. This environment will naturally accelerate your growth in godliness, leadership, teaching, and prayer, preparing you for future pastoral responsibilities.

5. Master Scripture and the Craft of Preaching

The only way to pass both the daily exams and the final exam is to master and be mastered by Scripture.

Deep and broad knowledge. Pastoring demands a thorough, firsthand mastery of all Scripture. Cultivate this through:

• Regular Bible reading: Read through the entire Bible annually (e.g., M'Cheyne plan).
• Repetition: Read whole books multiple times (e.g., a book 30 times in 3 months).
• Meditation: Patiently press truth into your mind and heart, allowing it to reshape your soul.
• Memorization: Commit verses, chapters, or even whole books to memory for immediate recall and deeper internalization.

Apprentice in preaching. If you aspire to be a full-time preaching pastor, diligently develop your preaching skills. This is best learned by doing, but also by:

• Studying master preachers: Observe your pastor and other faithful preachers; analyze their preparation and delivery.
• Seeking feedback: Humbly ask experienced preachers for constructive criticism on your sermons.
• Preparing sermon skeletons: Practice outlining diverse passages to understand sermon anatomy.
• Wordsmithing: Read widely to improve your command of language, precision, and power in communication.

Be mastered by Scripture. The ultimate goal is not just to master Scripture intellectually, but to be mastered by it. Let God's Word expose your sins, humble you, and transform your heart, ensuring your teaching flows from a life submitted to Christ.

6. Prioritize Your Family as Your First Flock

Your wife is not a tool for you to use to advance your ministry. She is not a resource for you to spend on pastoring.

Family as proving ground. Paul points to family leadership as an entrance exam for church leadership (1 Tim 3:4-5). Your ability to lead your household well—providing, protecting, managing, teaching, and nurturing—is the primary indicator of your fitness to care for God's church.

Marry wisely. If single, seek a wife who is not only godly but also likeminded, understanding the unique demands and joys of ministry life. Proverbs 31:30 emphasizes that "charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." A wise choice in a spouse will multiply your ministry.

Lay down your life for your wife. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church, giving themselves up for her (Eph 5:25). This means sometimes sacrificing ministry ambitions or opportunities to serve your wife's needs. Your wife's flourishing is paramount, as harmony at home directly impacts the credibility and effectiveness of your ministry.

Pastor your children. Fathers are to bring up their children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph 6:4). Parenting is full-time training in character and leadership, requiring patience, teaching, and consistent example. Lead family devotions, adapt your counsel to their individual temperaments, and give them your undivided attention.

7. Serve in the Shadows, Endure Trials

The best preparation for the spiritual trials of the spotlight is serving cheerfully in the shadows.

Antidote to hypocrisy. Jesus warned against doing deeds "to be seen by others" (Matt 23:5). Humility is the antidote. Actively seek opportunities to serve outside the spotlight, performing menial tasks, giving rides, or serving in children's ministry. This tests whether your desire to serve is for God's glory or your own recognition.

Embrace suffering. Trials are an indispensable means by which God shapes a pastor's character and capacity for sympathy. Suffering produces endurance, character, and hope (Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet 1:6-7). Learn to "improve your trials" by:

• Seeking God's purpose: What weaknesses are revealed?
• Depending on God: Plead His promises more fervently.
• Learning to comfort: Your own comfort in affliction enables you to comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4).

Filter your character. God uses various "filters" to test and refine aspiring pastors. These include:

• Leading your family: Daily responsibilities and challenges.
• Your job: Learning diligence and perseverance, even in disliked tasks.
• Lay eldership: Serving without pay or prominent title.
• Entry-level ministry roles: Gaining experience under authority.
  How you respond to thwarted ambitions and slow progress reveals your maturity.

8. Understand God's Blueprints for the Church

You have to know what you’re building before you build it. Before you build a house, study the blueprints.

Scriptural polity. The New Testament provides a "mere and skeletal" but consistent pattern for church polity, which functions as binding precedent. This means church structure falls within the sufficiency of Scripture, and we must deduce its principles from various passages.

Four key areas:

• Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper define the church's institutional form, marking off God's people from the world.
• Membership and Discipline: These foundational questions define who the church is and how it oversees discipleship.
• Authority: Scripture teaches congregational authority (Matt 18:17) and the offices of elders and deacons (Phil 1:1, 1 Tim 3:1-13).
• Corporate Worship: How Scripture governs gathered worship, including its elements and forms.

Why it matters. Studying polity clarifies your responsibilities, accountability, and how decisions should be made within the church. It transforms a "crowd" into a committed "church," providing the structure necessary for effective ministry.

9. Filter Your Ambition, Cherish Christ

The more satisfied you are in Christ, the less you need ministry to satisfy you.

Slay selfish ambition. Ambition, if misdirected, can be a spring of vices. Selfish ambition:

• Aims at your glory, not God's.
• Neglects less glamorous duties for those that glitter.
• Fosters coveting and competition with others.
  Mortify this by pursuing communion with Christ, finding contentment in Him, and rejoicing in being saved more than being significant.

Resurrect godly ambition. The opposite of selfish ambition is not passivity, but selfless ambition. Be ambitious to:

• Preach Christ where He is not known.
• Proclaim the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph 3:8).
• Bring about the obedience of faith among all nations (Rom 1:5).
• Strive for the complete maturity of every believer (Col 1:28-29).
• Cultivate godliness in yourself and others (1 Tim 4:7-16).

Cherish Christ above all. As glorious as pastoral ministry is, Jesus is infinitely better. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things, including your life and ministry. Cherish Him more than you cherish serving Him, telling others about Him, or leading His people. Your ultimate joy and satisfaction must be found in Christ alone.

10. Navigate Ministry Opportunities Wisely

Be candid. A pastoral candidacy is like dating. Both parties put their best foot forward; both tend to be on their best behavior.

Candidacy is a two-way street. When a church considers you for a pastoral role, be transparent about your convictions and philosophy of ministry. Don't wait for them to ask; proactively share what they might find challenging. Simultaneously, you are interviewing them.

Key questions to ask:

• Senior Pastor: How well do you know and trust his preaching, theology, and leadership?
• Philosophical differences: Are there non-negotiables you hold that conflict with the church's practices? Don't underestimate how divisive these can be.
• Expectations and responsibilities: Get clarity on the job description, weekly schedule, and the church's priorities (e.g., preaching preparation vs. programs).
• Church culture: Understand decision-making processes, unofficial power pockets, financial practices, and the church's reputation in the community.

Associate pastor roles. These roles combine parity (as a fellow elder) and hierarchy (as an employee). Be careful to:

• Know the church and senior pastor well.
• Avoid underestimating philosophical differences.
• Not sign on for a role you don't truly want.
• Beware vague succession plans.
  Seek roles that offer general pastoral experience and align with your long-term aspirations, allowing you to learn and grow under trusted leadership.