1 Corinthians 12:4-7 English Standard Version

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Being a pastor today may well be the most difficult ministry in our present churches. What is expected of them, why they are hired, often goes far beyond the primary duties of a defined pastor. A defined pastor is one who feeds the sheep. That is their primary responsibility.

Before we expand on what else we ask of pastors, let us examine this primary role and what that has to accomplish for the common good. That means everyone, 8 to 80, newborns and mature believers.

What is fed to babies is digestible for everyone. The milk of the word will help babies grow but others might need something else to eschew. Some babes need not have that presented to them.

So let us dismiss a group of young people to Sunday school where each one will be ministered to according to their maturity. Who is left in the congregation to be fed by the pastor? We must remember that physical age and kingdom age are two very different things. Now this pastor has to develop food to feed both the older newborns and those with a matured digestive system. That is no easy task.

Spiritual digestion of what is fed takes on different manifestations of the spirit for each listener. That is determined by the will of God according to His knowledge of the needs of each individual. The mature in Christ might find that much of what they feed on goes right through them undigested adding no sustenance until they receive the meat needed for their growth.

Some might choke on what they are fed.

Psalm 2:4 English Standard Version (ESV) He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

Derision according to the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon is spoken in a foreign language. Those in the world could not understand it even if they heard God because they did not have spiritual ears to hear. We have spiritual ears. What do we hear?

Since they will not listen or obey what God has said and provided, then God put His own King on the throne of earth.

Now we have entered into the realm of Kingdom living.

Psalm 2:6 English Standard Version (ESV) “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

God speaks to us here in the past tense. When this psalm was written did they look to the past to identify who this King on Zion might be?

We live in a future time and Christ has come and done the work of the cross.

Where does Christ rule and reign?

The more we read the word of God the more questions we have.

Isaiah 1:18 English Standard Version (ESV) “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

This is the essence of Sunday school. We discover that we do not know it all. We should have questions. We should be allowed to speak about these things and not be made to just listen.

Speaking up in the congregation during a sermon is not the place to voice questions. That is disruptive and disrespectful. If we should find ourselves wanting an answer during a sermon, great, write it down and ask questions about that in the proper place.

Sunday school is one place. Life groups is another. Bible studies is another.

Choosing where to ask our questions will often come from the comfort we have found with others, our safe place.