The New Pastor's User Manual: A Manual for Pastors with Questions

By Juan M. Perez

What is the authority of the Pastor? What areas of a Christian’s life does the pastor have a “right” to involve himself into? When can a pastor affect what may seem to be a private matter of a Christian’s life? To what point is a Christian accountable to the pastor? Where is the line that a pastor does not want to cross, when dealing with his “flock?” In addition, I want to offer ideas to the new pastor on how to conduct the service, collect offering, and organize volunteers and more.
I have read books about, and spoken with, people who have had bad experiences with pastors who have seemingly “crossed the line” in the exercise of their authority. In some of these cases I could see immediately that the person’s concern was valid. In others, it was not as clear.
As a pastor, my first reaction was to evaluate myself. Am I in any way abusing the authority given to me in the role? The answer was not as clear as just saying, “To the best of my knowledge I am doing just fine.” I know that over my sixteen years as pastor I have offended various people. Sometimes out of ignorance, and sometimes I really thought I was helping them. In most cases I (of course) feel that I was justified in my behavior, and that they were just being overly-sensitive. In the cases where I recognized that I was wrong, I went to these people and made amends. So, where is the problem? The problem is that for you to do a job right, you must clearly understand what the job is, and what is expected from you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Juan M. Perez
• Release date: Aug 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310363870

Juan M. Perez

Rev. Juan M. Pérez has counseled for over 30 years. He has counseled hundreds of people for thousands of hours. He has written several books relating to counseling, and/or Christian ministry. Rev. Perez and his wife, Lydia, have been married for 40 years, and almost divorced in their 7th year. They are the parents of two grown sons, who have given them six wonderful grandchildren. Rev. Pérez applies not only a sound Scriptural basis for all of his counseling, but includes his life experience in resolving issues with practical answers. He is also the pastor and Lead Counselor of New Life Christian Counseling Ministry, a ministry of New Life Outreach of Dallas, Inc. The ministry offers counseling to people in and around the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex. As well, they hold Faith Based Counseling training and certification.

Book preview

The New Pastor's

User Manual

A Manual for Pastors with Questions

Rev. Juan M. Pérez

The New Pastor's User Manual

Copyright © 2015 by Rev. Juan M. Pérez. All rights reserved.

_______________________

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

_______________________

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Other version uses are identified when used.

_______________________

Book design copyright © 2014 by Rev. Juan M. Pérez, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Rev. Juan M. Pérez

Interior design by Rev. Juan M. Pérez

_______________________

Published in the United States of America

ISBN: pending

1. Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / General

2. Religion / Biblical Studies / General

INDEX

Preface

Dedication

Chapter 1 - What is a Pastor?

Chapter 2 - Warnings to the Unfaithful Pastor

Chapter 3 - What God wants from His Pastors

Chapter 4 - Bringing it Home

Chapter 5 - According to His Heart?

Chapter 6 - Feed My Sheep

Chapter 7 - Tend My Lambs

Chapter 8 - "Serve as Overseer

Chapter 9 - Give them Rest

Chapter 10 - Be a True Shepherd

Chapter 11 - Know Your Sheep

Chapter 12 - Church Things Which Must Be Done

Chapter 13 - Grow it like a Garden

Chapter 14 - Now For the More Unpleasant Things

Chapter 15 - Trying to do What Worked for Others

Last Word

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to all those persons who have obeyed the calling of God on their lives, and have taken on the job as a pastor. A pastor’s job is often a thankless one. Many times the people you invest your time and life into will turn on you and your family. They will punish you for not doing things the way they want by holding back offerings and tithes, and refusing to help do those things which are needed. On the other hand, it is one of the most rewarding professions on this earth. Many will be the people whose lives you impact. And, with God’s support, many will be the lives you bring to Him for salvation, and Christian maturity.

PREFACE

My purpose for writing this book was, first of all, to clarify in my own mind how the Lord sees the role and position of the pastor. Secondly, to give myself a pattern to follow when comparing how I am doing with what God expects from me. And finally, to share this perspective with other pastors (most specifically, new pastors) to review and contemplate.

What is the authority of the Pastor? What areas of a Christian’s life does the pastor have a right to involve himself into? When can a pastor affect what may seem to be a private matter of a Christian’s life? To what point is a Christian accountable to the pastor? Where is the line that a pastor does not want to cross, when dealing with his flock? In addition, I want to offer ideas to the new pastor on how to conduct the service, collect offering, and organize volunteers and more.

I have read books about, and spoken with, people who have had bad experiences with pastors who have seemingly crossed the line in the exercise of their authority. In some of these cases I could see immediately that the person’s concern was valid. In others, it was not as clear.

As a pastor, my first reaction was to evaluate myself. Am I in any way abusing the authority given to me in the role? The answer was not as clear as just saying, To the best of my knowledge I am doing just fine. I know that over my sixteen years as pastor I have offended various people. Sometimes out of ignorance, and sometimes I really thought I was helping them. In most cases I (of course) feel that I was justified in my behavior, and that they were just being overly-sensitive. In the cases where I recognized that I was wrong, I went to these people and made amends. So, where is the problem? The problem is that for you to do a job right, you must clearly understand what the job is, and what is expected from you.

Chapter 1

What Is a Pastor?

Please don’t let the way I present this first chapter throw you off on the rest of the book. I feel a need to define what a pastor is, and explain the role as I believe the scriptures present it.

In the Hebrew (using Strong’s numbering system) the word pastor appears eight times in the King James Version. It appears 25 times as Shepherd. The Hebrew word (7462. RA`AH), pronounced raw aw has as its primary root: to tend a flock; generally: to rule; by extension: to associate with (as a friend); to be a companion, keep company with.

In the Greek (4166) POIMEN, pronounced poy mane, which literally or figuratively means: shepherd, pastor. The word pastor appears only once, but 13 times as shepherd, in the New Testament (in the King James Version).

In either case the interpretation is of a person who tends sheep: a shepherd. I knew that in studying the Word of God to reach a clear conclusion, I would also need to become more acquainted with the responsibilities, duties, and what is to be expected of an actual shepherd. The Lord used this occupation comparatively for a purpose. He intended that we relate the position of pastor to the work of a shepherd. With this perspective I reviewed and studied the following.

The word shepherd is used interchangeably with the word pastor and is used that way often except in (Jeremiah 2:8; Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah12:10; Jeremiah17:16). Shepherd is also used figuratively to represent the relationship of rulers to their subjects as well as of God to his people (Ps 23:1; Ps 80:1; Isa 40:11; Isa 44:28; Jeremiah 25:34 35; Nah 3:18; John 10:11 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4). Early in the morning, the shepherd would lead the flock from the fold, walk at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, careful that none of the sheep would go astray. And if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, He would seek it diligently until he found and brought it back. In those lands, sheep must be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure that none were missing. Nor did his labors always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief (see 1st Samuel 17:34)...

(From the NavPress WordSearch Computer Bible Program, The teachers Commentary, the following two passages were very useful.)

True Shepherd recognized. In Israel sheep were not herded with dogs or by men who walked behind them. The shepherd of the Middle East led his sheep. He knew each one by name, and the sheep recognized his voice. At night several herds of sheep might sleep in the same fold. In the morning, when the one door was unbarred, each shepherd could unerringly pick out his own flock. And each member of that flock would be able to distinguish his shepherd from the others because the sheep would know the shepherd's voice, just as God's people would recognize Jesus as the living Word of God. The Pharisees who claimed to speak for Moses would be followed, but not by those who belonged to God. The true sheep would hear the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Good Shepherd identified. Now