The Single Most Important Task of the Pastor

Primary Calling

Preaching is central to the pastor’s ministry because that is our primary calling. We are told explicitly by the Apostle Paul as he speaks to Timothy, “Preach the Word, preach the Word.”

We’re also told take heed to ourself and to our doctrine. Paul tells Titus, “Proclaim the Word with all authority and let no one circumvent that.” We have one primary task and that is to take the Word of God and disseminate it to the people of God and then to the world. We are, above all things, preachers.

In fact, when you look at the qualifications for a pastor in 1 Timothy 3 or Titus 1, there’s only one skill—there’s a lot of character qualifications—but there’s only one skill, and that is able to teach. We are primarily teachers and preachers of the Word of God.

Biblical Doctrine

John MacArthur, Richard Mayhue

Systematizing the robust theology that has undergirded John MacArthur’s well-known preaching ministry for decades, this comprehensive overview of basic doctrines taught in the Bible will give Christians a solid foundation for what they believe.

And to add to the focus of that, remember that Paul said to the Corinthians that the preaching of the cross is to the world—to the ungodly, to those that are perishing—foolishness, but to those that are being saved, it is the power of God unto salvation.

Preaching is central to the pastor’s ministry because that is primarily our calling.

Take the Word of God Everywhere

One other way to look at it is that Christ is the head of the church—that’s clear in Scripture. He’s the head of the church and he exercises his headship or his leadership over the church by his Word. He speaks to his church and he speaks through Scripture. How is he going to be heard in the church unless those who are shepherds give his Word to his people and then give his Word to the world?

And then people say, “Well, why am I an expositor?” I say, “What else would I say?” If I’m not telling them what the Lord of the church says to the church, if I’m not telling them what God says to the world, then I’m not fulfilling my calling at all. It’s not about me, I’m not the hero of my own stories. I don’t have anything to say, my opinions don’t matter. The Lord has spoken in his Word and our job is to give to God’s people and to the world the full counsel of God, to unfold the full revelation of God.

So, first and foremost, we are preachers of the Word of God. Now we follow that up, as Paul did, by preaching publicly. He says in Acts 20 he went from house to house. So we take the Word of God into the pulpit and then we take it into life. We’re still teaching and proclaiming the Word of God even in our personal relationships as we shepherd people on a more personal level.

John MacArthur (1939–2025) is the late pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, where he served since 1969. He is known around the world for his verse-by-verse expository preaching and his pulpit ministry via his radio program, Grace to You. He wrote or edited nearly four hundred books and study guides. MacArthur also served as chancellor emeritus of the Master’s Seminary and Master’s University.

3 Practical Ways to Remain Faithful in Ministry

John MacArthur

March 20, 2019

Practical things you need to do in your life to remain faithful in ministry are the same means of grace that are available to every believer.

Pastoral Concern about Evangelical Prophecy

Joel R. Beeke, Paul M. Smalley

April 20, 2019

The question about the cessation or continuation of special revelation has very practical ramifications for the Christian life, for God’s special revelation carries great authority.