Four Ways to Let Your Pastors
Shepherd You with Joy
By Pastor Josh Wamble
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” This is a very serious statement. On judgment day, you will each have to give an accounting of your life before God. If you are trusting in Jesus, you will not face condemnation on that day—you will plead the blood of Jesus over your sins and receive mercy and forgiveness.
On that same day, pastors will give an account of their own lives just like other believers. However, they will also have to give an account for how they kept watch over the souls the Lord has entrusted to them. Your pastors will have to give an account for their own life and an account for your life—how they led you to follow Christ, how they shepherded you by feeding you, protecting you, providing for you, guiding you toward Christ, and how you followed that leadership.
Above, I only quoted the first half of Hebrews 13:17. The rest of the verse says, “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” The relationship between pastors and their flock ought to be one of love, respect, honor, commitment, trust, affection, joy, and each of these characteristics should be mutual. They should go both ways. It is heartbreaking that far too often in far too many churches this is not the case. When the Lord works this type of relationship between His church and her pastors, we should rejoice and give Him thanks.
We should also work toward making this joy present in our church. Below, I want to suggest four ways that you can follow the instruction at the end of Hebrews 13:17—to “Let them do this with joy.”
1. Regularly Pray for Them.
The Lord uses the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes in the world and especially in His churches. Pray that your pastors would remain faithful to God and His word. Pray that we would rest in Jesus and His work for our salvation. Pray that we would resist sin and temptation. Pray that we would be quick to go to God in repentance when we do sin. Pray that we would love the church fully. Pray that we would work hard at studying and understanding God’s word. Pray that we would preach and teach His word well and effectively and that God would use it in our church. Pray that we would manage our time well and rest well. Pray for your pastors’ families. Pray for the salvation and faithfulness of your pastors’ children.
2. Encourage Them
Just like all believers, pastors can get discouraged as well. Sometimes we question the effectiveness of our sermons or teaching. We question whether we are doing enough to take care of our people. We worry about individuals in the church that we know are struggling. Your pastors need encouragement. There are many ways you can do that.
Don’t just pray for us, let us know that you are praying and what you are praying. Tell us when the Lord is using His word in your life and when He is using our sermons and teachings to do that. Be specific. We always appreciate when someone says, “Good sermon.” but it is much more encouraging when you let us know something specific that you learned or a specific way God used the sermon or teaching to encourage you or convict you or call you to more faithful living. You can do these things in person or through a simple card or text message. You can also encourage your pastors by deliberately being a blessing to their wives or children.
3. Be Present
One of the most troubling and concerning things for a pastor is when weeks go by, and we don’t see you. All kinds of thoughts go through our minds. We begin to wonder if we’ve done something to upset you or if you are disappointed in us or the church somehow. We wonder if you are watching the sermons online. We wonder if you are staying in God’s word and remaining close to Him. We wonder if there’s something you need that we can do for you. Something as simple as being present or letting us know why you are not goes a long way in helping us to pastor you, shepherd you, watch over your soul with joy.
4. Follow Their Teaching
Probably the greatest joy your pastors get is to see you following the teachings of God’s word. Of course, we don’t want you to follow blindly. We rejoice when you study the word for yourselves and test what we tell you to make sure that it is from God. We don’t want you just to know God’s word, we rejoice and worship God in thankfulness when we see you walking in His word, putting our sermons and teachings into practice.
In Philippians 2:1-5, Paul charges the church in Philippi with these words, “So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
Brothers and sisters, make your pastors’ joy complete. Let us watch over you “with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage for you” or for us.
