From: hardpreacher@aol.com
To: dayspringbap@
Subject: Sermon Outline
As A Pastor, What Can I Do To Help The Church I Pastor Grow?
by: Bill Kinney
Ephesians 4: 11-13
Introduction:
1. God Placed Pastors In His Church For Specific Purposes:
A. To feed the Flock of God.
Acts 20:28
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
B. To be overseers- counsel, lead, warn, & to be out front as Shepherds.
1 Peter 5:1-3
5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
C. To Preach His Word.
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2. What must I or any other man of God do as a pastor to fulfill the purposes for which we were called?
Ephesians 4:11-12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Note: The comma after the word saints does not need to be
there. Ephesians 4:11-12 is not a list of what the pastor is to
do; but, rather it is a list of what the pastor is to teach his
flock to do.
I. The Pastor Must Do The Work Of An Evangelist:
A. Pastors must share the Word with everyone lost & saved.
Acts 20:27
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
B. Pastors must teach the unsearchable riches of His Word.
Ephesians 3:8-11
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
C. Pastors must live a Christ-like life.
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
II. The Pastor Must Study The Word Of God:
A. Search the Scriptures.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
B. Understand the Scriptures.
1 Timothy 3:6
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
C. Be directed in his preparation by the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 2:7-8
7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
III The Pastor Must Be In Much Prayer:
A. Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17
17 Pray without ceasing.
B. Teach others how to Pray.
Luke 11:1
11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
C. Learn how to Pray in public.
Matthew 6:5-8
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
IV. The Pastor Must Not Lose Sight Of His Calling.
A. He is to like the farmer who picks out a place at the end of the row and keeps that place in sight while plowing.
Luke 9:62
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
B. He is to focus his attention so intently upon his vocation so as not to be swayed by any purpose alien to his calling.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2
2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified.
C. He is to serve in the capacity he has been called in such a way that He Who called him will be able to say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Matthew 25:21-23
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
V. The Pastor Must Not Think Of Himself More Highly Than He Should.
A. His life is to be a life of meekness and gentleness as exhibited by his Savior.
2 Corinthians 10:1
10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
B. His life is to be an example of submission as was exhibited by his Lord.
Philippians 4:12
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
C. His life is to reflect the life of God living in him.
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
VI. The Pastor Must Be Acutely Concerned For His Flock.
A. He must guard against the entrance of false doctrine whether that involves withstanding a brother in error, a teacher with itching ears, someone who has entered the flock to have the preeminence or whatever presents itself. The pastor is protect his flock whether the flock wants that protection or not. Woe be to the undershepherd who compromises rather than stands his ground for the truth.
Galatians 2:11
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
2 Timothy 4:7
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
B. He must be willing to do battle with the wolves that would destroy his flock.
Matthew 7:15
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Acts 20:29-30
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
C. He must never lower the principles, precepts or practices laid out in the Word of God in order to increase the church he pastors in number or finances.
Jeremiah 6:16
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Acts 20:27
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Ezekiel 33:7-9
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
VII. The Pastor And His Wife Must Be The Leaders In Visitation:
A. One to visit the Shut-ins.
Acts 6:1
6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
B. One to visit the Sick.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
C. One to visit contacts.
John 1: 29-51
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and
findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.