What is a teaching pastor?

Response

The role of a teaching pastor is distinct in churches that typically have multiple elders or pastors. The primary focus of the teaching pastor’s role is on the teaching ministry within the church. This individual is usually responsible for delivering weekly sermons and may also supervise various Bible studies or Sunday school classes. The teaching pastor is often viewed as the main pastor or the primary leader of a church, in contrast to roles such as worship pastor, education pastor, or young family pastor. In some churches, there are multiple teaching pastors who share teaching duties, overseen by a senior pastor. It is important to note that these specific titles are not explicitly mentioned in Scripture.

The term “pastor” originates from “shepherd,” indicating that a pastor is the guide and caretaker of the congregation, or church. “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” (Acts 20:28). One of the qualifications to be an elder/pastor is the ability to teach: “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). Teaching holds a fundamental role in the church: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12). When Paul wrote to Timothy, he stressed the significance of preaching the Word and providing “careful instruction”: “preach the word; be instant in seas.On, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” , (2 Timothy 4:2). Teaching is clearly to be a critical part of the mission of the local church.

The teaching pastor is the primary teacher in the church, and he will be found in the pulpit most Sunday mornings. In preparation for the weekly sermon(s), most teaching pastors are afforded plenty of time in the study to pray, study, and meditate on the Word. Because of the time commitment teaching requires, other elders on the pastoral staff often take up other pastoral duties such as visitation and the daily administration of business.

In most churches with such a position, the teaching pastor is seen as an equal partner with the other pastors/elders. Together, they develop a plan for each worship service, care for the congregation, and ensure that the mission of the church is being fulfilled. As part of the teaching pastor’s duty to equip the saints for ministry “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: “, (Ephesians 4:12), preach and defend correct doctrine “holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”, (Titus 1:9), and nurture spiritual growth “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”, (Titus 1:7), he will train up other teachers, deacons, pastors, and missionaries.

As the Holy Spirit gives out spiritual gifts, He gives “some pastors and teachers” “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;

And some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; », (Ephesians 4:11). As he faithfully fulfills the role, the teaching pastor edifies the Body of Christ “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” «till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: », (Ephesians 4:13).

The teaching pastor has a mandate to “teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine” «But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: », (Titus 2:1). His desire is that the believers under his care be “no longer infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” «that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; », (Ephesians 4:14). A teaching pastor prioritizes God’s plan for the church: that “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:15-16).