Years ago I was visiting a church on the Sunday they were installing a new pastor. The message that was shared came from these verses in John and focused on the ministry of a pastor. Over the years - as I’ve thought through what was said on that Sunday and the message here in John - I’ve been challenged in my thinking about ministry in the Body of Christ. This morning I’d like to share with you from what I’ve been challenged with - coming from the perspective of a pastor - but thinking through how each of us are called to work together.

John 1:6-8 - this is a description of John the Baptist: There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light - meaning Jesus - so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

There are three important truths here about pastors and shared ministry that we want to look at. The first is that PASTORS ARE PEOPLE.

I was at a banquet a while back - someplace else - not here. Maybe you’ve heard an introduction like this. The introduction was so long - so flowery - on and on listing accolades and just about everything about the speaker including his height - weight - and age - that the introduction was actually longer than the speaker’s message.

There are a number of ways John the Baptist could have been introduced. John is the forerunner of the Messiah - the announcer of God’s coming gracious salvation. He was a powerful preacher with a ministry to thousands. Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11) In the Bible, John the Baptist is described as a man of courage - humility - holiness. Alone in the dessert - dressed in camel’s hair and eating locusts and honey - John was a man of great dedication - piety - towards God.

Of all the descriptions of John, the one that’s the most powerful is right here in verse 6. In the simplicity of the Apostle John’s words: “There came a man....” No flowery language - no glowing larger than life introduction. He’s a man.

Beyond the gift and calling, pastors are people - pilgrims on the same journey with everyone else - by God’s grace living in service to our Savior.

A few years back I was given a list of what is sometimes expected of pastors:

If the pastor’s hair is gray, he’s too old
If he is young in appearance, he lacks experience
If he visits too much, he ought to be in his study
If he doesn’t visit, he’s lazy
If he visits only the poor, he’s trying to get recognition for being spiritual
If he visits only the wealthy, he’s after money
If he makes suggestions to improve the church, he’s a dictator
If not, he’s a figurehead
If he preaches an hour, he’s too long
If he preaches short sermons, he’s lazy and doesn’t study enough
If he fails to please everybody, he hurts the church
If he does please everybody, he has no convictions
If he gets a large salary, he’s getting too much
If he preaches on financial stewardship, he’s only interested in money
In fact, whatever the pastor does, someone can always tell him how to do it better!

Too often pastors are expected to be what God never intended them - or any of us to be. Sometimes that expectation comes from the congregation. Sometimes it comes from the pastor.

We use this term "verabadveli" - very reverend - and its very misleading. Because it can put the pastor in a position which God never intended. "Verabadvel" - to reverence - to venerate. It comes from "ver" - above, and "badvel" - to honor. “To honor above others.” But there’s only One who is worthy of reverence and veneration - our Lord Jesus Christ - the Head of the Church.

1 Corinthians 12 is a familiar description that we saw in the children’s message - the Church as the Body of Christ - one Body - many gifts - some more visible - some less visible - all important. “Pastor” - "hoveev" - is one gift of many. Its interesting that we don’t call others in the Body of Christ by their God given titles: Mercy Torrosian - Giving Torrosian - Helps Torrosian - Faith Torrosian.

John is a man. In Scripture there’s no distinction between clergy and laity. The congregation - a group of amateurs - is not called to somehow assist while the pastor - the professional - this elevated person - does the ministry of the church. We’re all people called by God’s grace - ministers together - called to serve Jesus together - in humility exercising the gifts given to us. When we can realize that truth we can begin to be released to fulfill our calling in this broken world.

Second truth: PASTORS ARE CALLED BY GOD.

The Apostle John writes, “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John....”

About 30 years before Jesus was born - there was a priest by the name of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth - who were living in the hill country of Judah. They were a Godly couple - righteous - obeying the commands of God. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to bear children. But, even though the were beyond the age of being able to have children - they were still praying for a miracle - that God would gift them with a baby.

Zacharias was a high priest of the division of Abijah. In those days the priesthood was divided into 24 divisions of priests - each division served in the Temple 2 weeks out of the year. Not a bad job - two weeks of work and 50 weeks of vacation. When they were working each priest was given his own individual responsibilities. The work they were assigned to do was decided by casting lots - by random choice.

The most coveted and solemn duty was the burning of incense. Burning the incense required the priest to come closest to the Holy of Holies - the innermost room in the Temple - the holiest place on earth. The honor of burning this incense was given only once in a priest’s lifetime and only to a select few. Which means that many priest were never given the honor. It was a unique and sacred privilege. On this one day, Zacharias - by seeming random choice - Zacharias was chosen.

Picture this scene. While this huge crowd is outside praying - at the appointed time - Zacharias and His two assistants proceed to the door of the Holy Place. Then, leaving his assistants outside - Zacharias proceeds inside to place incense on the burning coals. Inside - as Zacharias goes in - standing next to the altar - is the angel Gabriel - the messenger of God.

Gabriel says to Zacharias “....your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. He will be great in the sight of the Lord - His message will be to call the hearts of Israel to repentance - He will be the forerunner of the Messiah.” (Luke 1:5-12, 13-17, 18-25)

What must have been going through Zacharias' mind. This is no ordinary answer to prayer. God answers the prayer of this Godly couple in a way that goes beyond anything they could have imagined. God has called John from the womb to be His messenger.

Sometimes we think that we call a pastor. But, who are we? - servants together acting in obedience to God. Ordination and calling to pastoral ministry are not the work of man but our acknowledgment - our recognition - of the work of God in and through the one He has called and in the life of a church.

God says to the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

David declares of God, “Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance - you saw me when I was conceived - and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

Jesus tells us that the very hairs on our heads are numbered and that number is known to God. (Matthew 10:30) Consider this for yourself.

The Apostle Paul - writing about His own calling - being set apart from the womb - writes in Ephesians of us - “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Galatians 1:15; Ephesians 2:10)

God calls pastors. God has called each one of us to be here today. Its no accident - that today - we’re here together. He called you - to be here - before you were born. You are uniquely created by Him and for Him.

Third truth: PASTORS ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY OF JESUS.

The Apostle John writes, “He - John - came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light - Jesus - he was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.”

A while back I was listening to a Christian radio station that was advertising an upcoming series of meetings. The enticement to come was the main speaker - the size of his church - one of the biggest on the West Coast - the scope of his ministry - and all of the national religious organizations that he belongs to. In other words, this guy is a big shot in the ministry and so you ought to come and hear him.

I hope this pastor didn’t have anything to do with how he was represented. We fall into the trap of thinking that ministry is because of us or a pastor or a program. Sometimes we forget who’s church this is. We’re so tempted to judge our accomplishment by the number of people attending services and the number of kids in our Sunday School or youth group. We feel good when we meet budget. We show off our church facilities and we’re impressed with the value. It is so easy to stumble and loose sight of what the Holy Spirit is doing.

If a church grows - if ministry develops - if people come to Jesus and grow up in Him - if there’s blessing and revival - its the work of the Holy Spirit - or it better be. Ministry and growth should be to God’s glory - not ours. As a pastor - as a Christian - one of the great challenges is to not take credit for what God does.

John the Baptist was in the midst of a powerful ministry - thousands were coming out into the wilderness to hear him speak. Sometimes its hard for us to get up and come to church and sit in comfortable pews. John had thousands of people - out in the hot - dry - dusty wilderness sitting on rocks.... and loving it. They were comparing Him to the great prophet Elijah. He had become like a messiah to the people. What a head trip.

During the height of his ministry someone asked him, “Who are you?”

John answers, “I am not the Christ. I am not a great prophet. I’m just the advance messenger - the forerunner of the one whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie.” (John 1:20,21,23,27)

When Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized, John points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

This is the calling of a pastor - God’s calling for each of us - testify of Jesus - the Savior of the world.

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light

On this Sunday of renewal we need to be reminded that we are called to demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the world. That only happens if He indwells His church. If we lay down our lives before Him - and allow Him to build in us a community of people who will lay down their lives for each other - and build each other up - as He uses us according to His unique gifting and calling of each one of us.