You want to be a Pastor / Minister? Be a Disciple First!

The Lord’s apostles might be called the premier leaders in His church. They were hand-picked by Jesus, himself. God literally spoke His word through them. When they spoke it was God speaking. That miracle was then overwhelmingly confirmed by countless miracles of healing, resurrection, speaking languages they did not know, etc. Since the apostle’s time, there have never again been such leaders among us.

However, all of them started as disciples. The word “apostle” means messenger, in particular one who speaks for and with the authority of another, ambassador. The word “disciple” means a learner or student who becomes an imitator and a follower of his master (teacher). The apostles were all from humble circumstances in life. They were not respected or admired. They needed the Lord and they knew it. When He called them, they followed. They did not do well as disciples. The Lord regularly rebuked them for impulsive, misguided reactions, for not understanding the spiritual nature of the kingdom, and for their proud, competitive efforts to be great. The single most frequent reason for rebuke was their pride. Jesus humbled them over and over again.

When nobodies, like the fishermen Jesus called, become somebodies, because of Christ, they face a new temptation. All of us want to be important. We want to be special, to be heroes and to be recognized. It may be our biggest weakness. If you want to be great in the kingdom of Christ, become the servant of all — look like a servant, talk like a servant, act like a servant.

There is a reason that pastors in the Lord’s church were older married men with mature children, among several other requirements (1Timothy 3:1-7). There is a reason that James writes “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment’ (James 3:1).

We need to learn to be true, faithful, knowledgeable followers before we set ourselves before other people as leaders. You can become a great spiritual leader for the Lord, if you first become a true disciple. Have you studied the Lord’s instructions for and requirements of disciples?