Pastors

2nd Corinthians 4:1-5 “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Titus 2:1-15 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine . . . and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.”

Jeremiah 23:1-2 “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.”

Matthew 12:30 “. . . he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

Ezekiel 34:1-10 “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”

The Love of Money

2nd Kings 5 [Elisha wasn’t like his servant!]

1st Timothy 3:1-3 “A bishop then must be . . . not greedy of filthy lucre. . . .”

v. 8 “Likewise must the deacons be . . . not greedy of filthy lucre. . . .”

Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers . . . who subvert whole houses . . . for filthy lucre’s sake.”

1st Peter 5:1-4 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight . . . not for filthy lucre. . . .”

“But what about:”

Luke 10:1-16 “. . . the labourer is worthy of his hire.” [Read the whole context!]

1st Corinthians 9:1-19 “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.” [the whole doctrine]

(4:11-13 “Even unto this present hour we . . . labour, working with our own hands. . . .”)

Exercising Authority

Matthew 20:25-28 “. . . they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. . . .”

1st Corinthians 12:18-27 “. . . there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”

Qualifications

2nd Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must . . . be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient . . . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Duties

2nd Timothy 4:1-5 “But watch thou in all things. . . .” (Don’t be like the others out there!)

(Isaiah 56:10-11 “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”)

Self-Discipline

Isaiah 28:7 “But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”

Ecclesiastes 10:17 “Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!”

Finally

1st Corinthians 4:6 “. . . learn in us not to think of men above that which is written. . . .”