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The life of a pastor is not easy. It involves the divine calling to “preach the word . . . in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2). In this calling, hardship will inevitably come. For when the pastor faithfully exercises his preaching ministry, criticism will come his way, and he will have to endure a measure of suffering (see v. 5). This will naturally cause the pastor to reconsider his words. He will be tempted to withhold the message that challenges his people and makes them uncomfortable. When the sheep snap at the hand that feeds them, the shepherd is more cautious in putting his hand back out there.
As a result, pastors need encouragement to keep on keeping on. We need encouragement to be faithful and true in our words and bold in our preaching. We need the same kind of encouragement that Paul gave to Timothy when he challenged him to “fulfill [his] ministry” (v. 5).
How can you encourage your pastor to be bold in his ministry of the Word? Let me suggest the following encouragements from the life of the Apostle Paul.
an example to follow
In Acts 20, Paul meets with the Ephesian elders for the final time. On two different occasions (vv. 20, 27), he states that he “did not shrink from declaring to [them]” anything that was profitable for them. Indeed, he preached to them the whole counsel of God. Even though there were certainly occasions to fearfully “shrink back” in his preaching, to soften the message and speak smoother words to the Ephesians, he did not do so. Paul’s ministry was one of boldness. He preached the truth of Christ crucified from the Scriptures—the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. This is the ministry that Paul commends not only to the Ephesian elders but to all others who would preach the Word.
In 2 Timothy 1, Paul reminds Timothy that he (Paul) is not ashamed of the gospel; therefore, Timothy should not be ashamed of the gospel but should instead “follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (v. 13). In a similar way, you can encourage your pastor that he has a bold example to follow in the Apostolic ministry of Paul.
a prize to win
In 1 Timothy 4:13, Paul encourages Timothy, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” He goes on to admonish Timothy to “keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching . . . , for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (v. 16). Of course, Paul is saying not that Timothy is the source of salvation but that the teaching and preaching of Christ from the Scriptures reveals the only way of salvation, which is Christ Himself. This teaching can be hard. This teaching can bring criticism, suffering, and outright persecution. Why do it, then? Because ultimately God uses such teaching to save men, women, and children. To shrink back from the bold preaching of the gospel might decrease the amount of criticism that one receives here and now, but such “shrinking” preaching shuts the way of eternal salvation. And to withhold this message from others out of fear of man ultimately withholds the same message from the preacher himself. But to preach it openly and boldly with clarity and conviction is to open wide the gates of eternal redemption for all to hear, receive, and enter in.
When Paul came to the end of his life and ministry, he had suffered much, but he had no regrets:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:7–8)
Remind your pastor that he is preaching the great message of eternal salvation, and that on the last day, he will not be disappointed that he “did not shrink back” (Acts 20:20, 27). The prize of heavenly glory for himself and his people will be worth every trial and affliction he endured.
a grace to sustain
Finally, encourage your pastor that not only does he have an example to follow and a prize to win, but through it all he has a grace to sustain him. He is a recipient of the very grace of God. In all his charging and admonitions, Paul never lost sight of the hope that is ours through the sustaining grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:1, while challenging Timothy to go forward with a strong preaching ministry for himself and those in his charge, he prefaces his charge with these simple words: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Remind your pastor that this is where the power for his preaching ministry comes from. It is this grace that saves and this grace that sustains one in ministry. When your pastor is feeling weak and afraid, when he is discouraged at the criticism he is facing, remind him that Paul himself faced such discouragements. He was often discouraged in his own life and ministry (see 2 Cor. 1), and what sustained him was the voice of Jesus Himself declaring to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). The grace of Christ sustained Paul, and it is sufficient to sustain your pastor. Remind him of this grace. This will be the greatest encouragement that you can give him to sustain him in a bold ministry to the end.