As I have spent some time thinking about the truths in Acts 20:28, and how those truths relate to the ministry God has given us the opportunity to do, I have become humbled and excited. Humbled because teaching and discipling national pastors is serious work. Excited because God uses pastors to care for His church, which is so priceless to Him. Therefore, our ministry is not only good, but it is strategic. I’ll try to explain.
Paul had a short visit with the elders of the church in Ephesus as he was traveling to Jerusalem. Paul said some important things to these pastors, one of which was this in verse 28:
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.
There are four things that stand out to me as I look at the verse in reverse order:
- The church is precious and priceless to Christ. I don’t have the word to communicate or the mind to comprehend how much Christ loves His church. He obtained it with His own blood. Wow!
- The ministry of a pastor is invaluable, since the church is precious and priceless. Pastors are to care for the church of God.
- Pastors have a God-given authority. Their authority to oversee their churches comes from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
- Pastors have a God-given responsibility. They are to pay careful attention not only to themselves but to all the flock.
The ministry of teaching and discipling national pastors is so important and strategic in making disciples of all nations. AND this ministry is greatly needed in many places throughout the world. We would be honored for you to keep up with our ministry. It is not about us at all. It is about equipping pastors to care for and disciple their families and church who can then disciple others.
The Suddeth Family 