By Joel Smit
What Does a Pastor Do?
When my son was in kindergarten, he brought home a biographical sketch he had completed at school. It included a self-portrait and basic information about himself and his family. One of the questions asked was, “What does your father do for work?”
I would have loved for his answer to be something like, “He’s a minister of the church,” “He preaches God’s Word,” or perhaps, “He tells people about Jesus.” But no—none of the above. Much to my chagrin, his response was simply, “He works on his computer and drinks coffee.”
While I trust that my son’s understanding of his father’s vocation has matured over the years, that humorous moment made me realize that the question “What does a pastor do?” might not be so easily answered, even by adults.
So, what does a pastor do?
A Distinct Calling
A pastor’s work, first and foremost, flows from his calling. The call to gospel ministry is distinct from the general call to salvation. The Apostle Paul reminds his young protégé, Timothy, of this distinct calling through “the laying on of hands,” describing it as a “holy calling” (2 Tim. 1:6–9). It is indeed a holy calling, for the minister is set apart by and through the church to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in word and deed as His ambassador who is entrusted with the authoritative keys of the kingdom (2 Cor. 5:20; Matt. 16:19).
This representational authority is never to be used for self-promotion (2 Cor. 4:5), nor to dominate those under one’s care (1 Peter 5:3). Rather, the pastor’s office is one of humble service, modeled after our Lord Himself, who washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17). Those who serve in this manner, with this calling and purpose in view, are honored by the Lord—and are to be honored by the congregation under their care (1 Tim. 5:17).
From this calling flow three primary responsibilities.
1. Lead
The first is to lead the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. A pastor is a leader. But this leadership must not be confused with the kind seen in corporate America, where success is often measured by bottom-line results.
Leadership in Christ’s church is, above all, leadership by example—an example of godliness and Christlikeness. When Joshua led the people of God into the promised land, the Lord did not provide military strategies as the key to victory. Instead, He instructed Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh. 1:8).
Similarly, when addressing the church in Corinth—a church plagued with division and moral confusion—Paul pointed to his own example as a guide to godliness: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
It is from this foundation of personal integrity and godly example that the minister is able to lead the people of God in both the worship of God and the ministry of the church.
2. Provide
Second, a pastor is called to provide for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This provision comes through the ministry of the Word, the sacraments, and prayer. These are the special—yet ordinary—means of grace that God has appointed to fully and sufficiently minister to His people, communicating to them the benefits of their redemption in Christ.
The minister’s task is to faithfully and consistently administer these means to the flock entrusted to his care. He must not become overly distracted by other concerns, however valid they may be. The Apostle Peter makes this priority clear in Acts 6, when pressing needs arose in the early church regarding the daily distribution of food. Peter responds, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables . . . But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:2, 4).
A pastor’s work, first and foremost, flows from his calling. The call to gospel ministry is distinct from the general call to salvation.
This emphasis does not diminish the importance of other ministries within the church; rather, it rightly orders them under the foundational provision of spiritual nourishment. Peter learned this priority directly from our Lord, who commissioned him three times to “feed my sheep” (John 21:17).
3. Protect
Third, a pastor is to protect the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This responsibility goes all the way back to Adam, the first man, who was placed in the garden of Eden “to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). Adam was tasked with cultivating the garden and guarding it from anything that might hinder its flourishing. Tragically, Adam failed in this protective role, succumbing to the serpent’s deception through his wife Eve, and thus plunging all of humanity into sin.
To this day, sin and Satan continue to plague the world—and especially the church. The minister, therefore, must be vigilant in guarding the flock. He is called to warn against spiritual danger and to wage war against the attacks of the evil one (Eph. 6:10–20). In doing so, he proclaims that the ultimate victory has already been won by the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Even amid the ongoing struggle with the fallenness of the world and our own hearts, the church stands victorious in Him.
Furthermore, the pastor must labor to maintain both the peace and purity of the church. The Apostle Paul exhorts the elders of Ephesus with this solemn charge:
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock . . . Therefore, be alert. (Acts 20:28–31)
These three responsibilities—to lead, provide, and protect—can be summed up in the most frequent biblical analogy for leaders of God’s people: the shepherd. Even the title “pastor” comes from this image of tending, feeding, and nurturing Christ’s flock.
This shepherding model finds its perfect example, its ongoing strength, and its eternal security in the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, “who lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). For this reason, the Apostle Peter offers this enduring charge to ministers of the gospel:
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight . . . willingly . . . eagerly . . . being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:2–4)
May the Lord, by His grace, raise up many pastors who will faithfully shepherd the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
Source: Ligonier Ministries