Author Archives: jimperdue

The Role of the Pastor- Part 1

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This series, The Role of the Pastor, comes from a study that we’ve been doing on Wednesday nights at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA.

It is absolutely essential that we learn what the Bible says a pastor ought to be.  No doubt we all have our own ideas and opinions, but the Word of God sets the standard. Pastors should know their God-given roles and responsibilities according to God’s Word; and churches should know what the Bible says a pastor ought to be. We must have some objective standard by which to write the pastor’s job description and then to measure it faithfully.  That standard is the Bible.

I want to be clear about what this series is and what it is not. This is not about the qualifications of a pastor.  Those are spelled out very clearly in the pastoral epistles and is not the subject of these blog posts. Maybe we’ll get there one day, but not today.This is a series about the function of the pastor or the job of the pastor; what the pastor must do according to the Word.  So we are not dealing with the requirements but the role; not who he should be, but what he must do.

We will cover four major topics: love, lead, protect and feed.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, but any list that does not include these is certainly not exhaustive.

There are three major words in the NT that are used to refer to the pastor.  They are used interchangeably but describe a different facet of pastoral duties.

  1. Episkopos – “bishop” in English; means an overseer.  This title emphasizes the leading and ruling function of the pastor.
  2. Presbuteros – “elder” in English; refers to age or spiritual maturity. It often refers to the maturity of their spiritual experience.
  3. Poimen – “pastor” or “shepherd” in English; refers to leadership and care.  The word refers to a shepherd who takes care of sheep or flocks, It means more than one who feeds them, but who protects, looks out for, and will give his life for them.

Let’s focus on the first responsibility and role of the pastor – love the people.  John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Let’s focus on three words…

1. There is a requirement: we are commanded to love: 34a

Jesus says, “a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…” This is not an option; it is a requirement for all believers.  And if it is a requirement for all believers, it is certainly a requirement for pastors. A shepherd cares for his flock and pastors must care for their people.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that there are three things that remain, faith, hope and love but the greatest is love. Why? Because faith will be sight and hope will be realized in Heaven, but love will always remain constant.

Love is the first listed in the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.  We must be characterized by love for one another and love for others.  We should love those within our church and those outside of our church.

And of course, the pastor should faithfully and consistently show love to the people of God entrusted to his care.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “A pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to a pastor that he may become its accuser before God and man.”

The great pastor, Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “To love to preach is one thing, to love those to whom we preach quite another.” The trouble with some of us is that we love to preach, but we are not always careful to make sure we love the people to whom we are preaching.

Now remember, love doesn’t always do what you want or tell you what you want to hear; love hurts sometimes. A good doctor will tell you the truth, even when it hurts.  The same is true of a good pastor.

2. There is a reality: we are provided a perfect example of love: 34b

We are to love others as Christ has loved us…that’s a big job! Jesus says here, “love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another.” There’s no doubt that some people are harder to love than others.  God uses those people in your life to teach you how to love like He does.

In John 13, Jesus pictures Himself as a shepherd, He provides an example for us all but especially for pastors.He is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd; the Shepherd loves and lays down His life for the sheep.The pastor is called to love the people as Christ loves the people.  That’s impossible without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “A man must have a great heart, if he would have a great congregation. His heart should be as capacious as those noble harbors along our coast, which contain sea-room for a fleet. When a man has a large, loving heart, men go to him as ships to a haven and feel at peace when they have anchored under the lee of his friendship.”

3. There is a reward: we are blessed when we love: 35

There is a reward promised here for followers of Christ.  Our love for one another is a strong and undeniable testimony to the world. Jesus says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples.” A pastor that loves his church and a church that loves its pastor is an incredibly strong testimony to a world that’s watching.

I describe a good marriage as one where the husband thinks he’s blessed to have his wife and the wife thinks she’s blessed to have her husband. I think the church is very much the same way.  A good relationship between pastor and people is when they both think they got the better deal!

No doubt there is an eternal blessing when we love as Christ commanded.  But think about the immediate blessings as well.  A pastor who truly loves his congregation will have more joy in ministry and also more influence in leadership.

Next up in this series, we will examine the pastor’s role to lead the people of God.

Personal Growth Plan

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I’ve noticed something very important for my own spiritual growth; I need goals and I need a plan to reach those goals.  I don’t know who said it, but I know they were right.  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  This is true spiritually as well.  Through a tweet from a friend, I came across this Personal Growth Plan for spiritual development.  This seems to be an incredible tool to assist in setting goals for essential spiritual disciplines.

I’ll include the entire document below, but if you want to download the PDF for yourself, you can click here – Personal Growth Plan.

Personal Growth Plan for: __________________________________________

The number one command in the canon of the Bible is: “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and all your mind.” That sounds like a lot of effort. The purpose of this plan is to help you accomplish God’s heart and your desire; to obey the first commandment.

Jude 20-21: “But you beloved, building yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”

Quantify the spiritual disciplines below so you can measure them. They can be measured by differing amounts of time or pages.

BIBLE READING: ________________ (pages or chapters – daily or annually)

Psalm 19:7-8: “The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

My recommendation is to read the entire Bible annually. Options: App____________, read straight through, Bible reading record, Chronological Bible, 1 Year Bible. (Straight-through reading is not recommended for the novice, as it is easy to get bogged down in some of the Older Testament.)

FAITH

BIBLE STUDY: _______________ (amount of time, topics, books to be studied, studies)

2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth … All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

You may choose topics of interest, character studies, book studies, word studies, Small Group Bible studies, prepared studies, e.g., Beth Moore, Precepts, etc.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY: _______________ (# of verses annually) Psalm 119:11: “Your Word have I treasured in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Use areas of growth you need: evangelism verses, prayer promises, faith (I would suggest the “Roman Road” to salvation – Romans 3:10; 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-10; 13)

MEDITATION: ___________________ (amount of time)

Psalm 104:34, 119:97-99: “Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; as for me I shall be glad in the Lord.” … “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.”

Daily in the Scriptures, names of God, doctrines, attributes of God, memory verses, etc.

SILENCE: _______________ (amount of time)

Psalm 46:10, 62:5: “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth.”… “My soul waits in silence for God only, for my only hope is in Him.”

Structured listening to God, listening to the Holy Spirit, discerning the Will of God, reflecting on issues, reflecting on events, reflecting on your day, problems, or the future.

SOLITUDE: _______________ (amount of time)

Psalm 27:5; 31:2: “For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent he will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.” … “You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.”

When, where, rest, bask in His presence and His glory, receive His power. PRAYER: ______________ (specific amount of time)

I Samuel 12:23; I Thessalonians 5:17: “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing the pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.” “Pray without ceasing.”

Create a list of family, friends, co-workers, spiritual leaders, political leaders, church Family, harvest of souls, revival, ministries, missionaries, etc.

FASTING: _______________ (# of meals, days, seasons)

Matthew 6:16: “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting, Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

I would recommend starting with one meal and working your way up to one full day, three days, seven days, and longer. Plan for prayer times during the fast. Study Isaiah 58 in preparation.

EVANGELISM: _______________ (# of people you will share the Gospel with this year)

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Create a list of people to pray for and share with:

FAMILY

_______________ _______________ ______________

FRIENDS

_______________ _______________ _______________

CO-WORKERS

_______________ _______________ _______________

BOOKS READ: _______________ (# of books for the year) Consider topics, areas of interest or growth, areas of strengths or weaknesses. (I recommend one out of

every ten books be a positive attitude book, areas of professional proficiency, areas to stretch you) CDs, DVDs, PODCASTS, BLOGS: _______________ (# listened to)

Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Leadership, sermons, worship. (Enroll in U. of A. – University of Automobile by making the best use of

time in the car and travel!) SERVING: _______________ (Amount of Time)

John 13:14-15; I Peter 4:10: “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you”… “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Inside the church, out in the community, with the poor, visiting jail or prison, areas to which you feel called.

MISSION TRIPS: _______________ (Annual trips? When do you plan to go?)

Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

LIST AREAS IN YOUR SPIRITUAL WALK THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT:

_____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Your personal plan should reflect all of the disciplines and the areas in which you want to grow. “Your life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.” ~GOD

Thank You

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In honor of my favorite holiday, I thought I would take a moment to say “thank you.”  This is a simple thanks to so many who have meant so much to us.

  • Thanks to the people of Crosspointe.  You have loved, encouraged and followed us faithfully during our time with you. “I thank the Lord in all my remembrance of you.”
  • Thanks to the staff of Crosspointe. God has an incredible future in store for Crosspointe and you all are a big reason why.  Continue to allow Christ to build His church the right way.
  • Thanks to the deacons of Crosspointe. You guys are amazing and I love each of you dearly.  It has been a joy to lead you and a pleasure to serve alongside of you.
  • Thanks to the Lord. God has done amazing things at Crosspointe over the past four years and it’s been an honor to lead as I sought to follow the Lord.
  • Thanks to Second Baptist Church.  While we are certainly in the midst of a transition and won’t begin our ministry until 1/1/12, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as your pastor.  Although I have extensive experience with SBC in the past, I believe that the best days of our church are ahead and I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to lead us to that future.
  • Thanks to my family. Glory to God for a wife who loves me and follows the Lord’s leadership in my life. Thank the Lord for four healthy (although very active and energetic) children who have a heart for the things of God.

It would be very easy for this to be a very long post as I consider all of the things I’m grateful for and all of the people I’m grateful to.  But, for today, I’ll leave it at that.  Again, thank you.

A Time of Transition

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Below is a copy of the letter I recently sent out to my church family regarding this time of ministry transition.

Dear Crosspointe Family,

My family and I love this church! Crosspointe is an amazing fellowship filled with incredible people.  We have never felt so loved, appreciated, encouraged and accepted.  It has been so incredible to see how God has moved in our church over the last several years.  Honestly, it is nothing short of a miracle.

That’s why this letter is so difficult for me to write.  My home church, Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA, has asked me to be their new pastor.  As of Sunday, November 13th, I have accepted their invitation.  It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation from the position of pastor at Crosspointe Baptist Church. My tenure will conclude on the last day of November.

Please believe me when I say that we are not hurt, angry, mad, frustrated or disappointed.  On the contrary, we love Crosspointe more than ever and we are eternally grateful to the Lord for the privilege of serving as your pastor.  But, we must follow the Lord’s will and direction.  If you know me, I hope you know that my deepest desire is to be faithful and obedient to the Lord’s call.  Only God could bring me to Crosspointe and only God could move me away.

The future of Crosspointe Baptist Church is incredibly bright. I firmly believe the best days of Crosspointe are ahead.  I will pray for you all and humbly ask that you pray for my family and me during this transition. I love each of you dearly and am grateful for the privilege of knowing you and serving with you.

Love in Christ,

Jim Perdue

My Great Need for Grace

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I am deeply indebted to and in need of grace.  Grace is not a one-time need and it is not a one-time provision. I need grace today just as much as I needed grace on the day of my salvation. This is saving grace and this is sustaining grace.

In Titus 3:3-7, Paul paints a beautiful picture of grace. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

The law simply points out my weakness and utter helplessness in meeting God’s standards, but God’s grace makes it possible to be accepted by Him.  God will only accept those who are righteous in His sight.  We are made righteous and made acceptable through the power of Jesus Christ and the grace that He brought to mankind.

God’s grace has done something that no one and nothing could ever do for us.  Through His death, He offers life. Through His suffering, He offers salvation. Through His wounds, He offers healing.

I have a great need for grace.  But thankfully, my need for grace is matched by God’s great supply.  If you ever get over grace you’ve gone too far.