God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

8. THE MINISTRY OF THE EVANGELIST.

An evangelist is a proclaimer of the good news of salvation. The gift of faith characterizes this ministry. Not only does the evangelist strengthen the Church and stir the believers, but also he is gifted with a strong public ministry in reaching the unsaved - an extension arm of the Church. Conviction will be with this ministry. Philip is a New Testament example. Acts 8:5-8; 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5. A. The pastor is the shepherd of the local church flock; a ministry of tender concern that cares for the spiritual state of the congregation – shepherding, correcting, admonishing, teaching and disciplining. B. Each church should develop a multiple-ministry of elders (or bishops) who help in the oversight of the local spiritual program. The pastor is considered one of these elders, but the nature of his ministry makes him the overall director and supervisor of the activities and operations in the church. C. The pastor is worthy of support that will enable him to be in the fulltime ministry. 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; l Corinthians 9:9-14; Matthew 10:10; Luke 8:3. D. This is not a traveling ministry, in the sense that the pastor is away for long periods of time. You never see a shepherd wandering all over the country, he stays with the sheep to care for them. Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2, 3. E. While an apostle is founding a local church or churches, he may reside in the area for a time and literally fulfil the ministry of a local pastor as well as that 204

9. THE MINISTRY OF THE PASTOR.