Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

say."The Highest CallWhat a Layman Expects from His PastorBy R. E. RobbContinued from last weekRecently the author of our weekly Bible studies,R. E. Robb, was asked by Dr. S. W. Hahn of theSouthern Lutheran Theological Seminary to addressthe seniors there. While Mr. Robb is on vacationhis Bible studies are being replaced by his messageto the Seminary students on the subject, "What aChristian Layman Expects In and From a ChristianPastor?"This is the latter half of his address.It takes a real HE MAN to be a successful pastor.Now what does a Christian layman expect FROMhis pastor?I. He expects, probably first, that he shall be agood Preacher. He will need to :1. Know the Bible.That Book is, without compare, the book par excellence in the world. It is a veritable mine in Whichare buried veins of precious ores and pockets of costly gems. And the deeper one digs the richer becomethe veins and the more dazzling the gems. It is madeup of history, poetry, drama, biography, science; itcontains the finest literature and the purest Englishextant. But above all, transcending all else, it showsus God's plan of salvation for lost mankind.To understand that Book, even partially, a manmust study it constantly and should have at least aworking knowledge of Hebrew and Greek. And hewill need to have a fluent command of English topresent properly its beauties and its teachings to hishearers.2. Be well educated.The uneducated evangelical pastor is an anomaly,a misfit. The expounding of that Book, which contains the most profoud truths ever penned on earth,requires the most careful and extensive educationpossible, within the limits of practicability.3. Sincerity in a pastor is a sine qua non.This applies to both his preaching and the lifethat backs it up else, "What you do speaks so loudI cannot hear what you4. His type of sermons should vary.Some should be hortatory, some exegetical, someteaching, some evangelistic, some missionary.5. His style should be agreeable.It should be natural, direct, clear, simple and sofar as possible without any distracting elements. Certainly a course in elocution should be a must in anyseminary course. There is a very real place for dramain the pulpit, but it is easy to overdo it.6 And of utmost importance, he must Preparehis Sermons.The preacher who gets up before his congregationwithout careful and prayerful preparation is falseto his trust. He is defrauding his listeners and he is118disloyal to his God. For "By the foolishness ofpreaching"the word has been and will be spread.7 Perhaps the most important aspect ofpreaching, though mentioned last, is prayer.If the preacher does not go to the throne of gracein private, where will he get the power to win hishearers? And his public prayers can and should bea powerful component of the Whole service, in whichhe leads his flock to the fold where they may findhealing, comfort, protection and life everlasting.II Lastly, what does the layman expect of hispastor as a Pastor ?I think he expects him to :1 Take the Oversight of the congregation asits Spiritual Head.In this he should : Constantly strive to raise thespiritual level of the congregation by means of attendance at church services ; extend the influence ofreligion in the home, especially by means of thefamily altar ; increase the interest and effort in missions; extend the work among the young people;promote and fostor evangelistic work in his congregation and the community.2 Take the lead in the Management of thecongregation in his work with the Church Council.This involves receiving and training new members, matters of churchdiscipline, and all matterspertaining to the growth and well being of the congregation.3 Dispense the Sacraments as God's ministeron earth.4 Conduct Marriage ceremonies.5 Bury the dead.6 Visit.In many respects this is one of the most important, and perhaps the most time-consuming, of all ofhis ramified duties. He should of course visit the sickand the dying to bring them the comfort and solacewhich can come only from belief in Jesus Christ asour personal Saviour. But in addition he must visitand talk with the Enquirers, the Tempted, the Doubting, the Troubled andSorrowing, the Mentally Sick,the Quarreling, the Alcoholic, to mention only a few.And through it all he must remember that he is in avery special way a representative of the Lord JesusChrist, an ambassador of the King.very7 Sell Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.Upon his ability as a salesman will depend to agreat extent his over all success as a pastor.You, yes we, for all professing Christians should beon the job all the time a salesmen for Christ, havethe greatest product on earth to sell salvation forCOVENANTER WITNESS