The Privilege of Being a Pastor

John Murray, while giving an ordination sermon for Wayne F. Brauning, stated that the two main functions of pastoral ministry are first, the preaching of the Word, and secondly, pastoral care.

Under the primary responsibility of preaching/teaching the Scripture, Murray warns against allowing other responsibilities to keep the pastor from his time studying and also encourages the pastor to rely upon the Holy Spirit for a proper understanding and proclamation of the Word.

Finally, he mentions the privilege of preaching and teaching the Word of God.

"It is yours to be a fellow of the Gospel - of the glorious, the blessed Gospel. It is yours to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. It is yours to be the ambassador of the King eternal, immortal, invincible. It is yours to be the ambassador of him who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, of whom you have heard already that He walks among the candlesticks. There is no greater vocation on earth. There is no greater vocation that God has given to any than the vocation of proclaiming the whole counsel of God - proclaiming the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, and proclaiming the unsearchable riches of the Redeemer. Think much of your privilege."

Under the second main responsibility, pastoral care, Murray stresses the importance of shepherding the church of God, giving the audience to your people, and remembering that you are a servant of Christ in the exercise of pastoral care.

Speaking of shepherding the church, Murray writes,

"You do not get your sermons from your people, but you get your sermons with your people. You get your sermons from the Word of God, but you must remember that the sermons which you deliver from the Word of God must be relevant. They must be practical in the particular situation in which you are. It is when you move among your people and become acquainted with their needs, become acquainted with the situation in which they are, become acquainted· with their thoughts, become acquainted with their philosophy, become acquainted with their temptations, that the Word of God which you bring forth from this inexhaustible treasure of wisdom and truth will be relevant and will not be abstract and unrelated. "