What Should I Do If I Want to Become a Pastor?
Posted On December 21, 2022
Written by Dr. John Tweeddale, vice president of academics and professor of theology
I am so very delighted that you are interested in becoming a pastor. As the Apostle Paul states, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Tim. 3:1). Recognizing an inner compulsion to serve the church of Jesus Christ is an important first step in discerning a potential call to vocational ministry. But there’s more to becoming a pastor than simply desiring to be one. Here are seven recommendations to consider.
1. Pursue Christ.
The most important calling in your life is the calling to know Jesus Christ. You should not seek to pastor a Christian church if you are not a Christian yourself. Don’t settle for superficial knowledge of Christ. Strive to grow in your faith, hope, and love in Christ. If you’re not following Christ in your life, how will you lead others in knowing Him? Your ability to serve the people of God well is directly related to your relationship with Christ (see 1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1; Phil. 3:10–17; Heb. 13:7).
2. Study Scripture.
Get the Bible into your soul. Read and reread the law, the prophets, and the writings. Master the gospels, the epistles, and the apocalypse. Know the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. Pay attention to the defining moments in redemptive history, such as the exodus, the exile, the life of Christ, and the day of Pentecost. As you study God’s Word, linger especially over those passages that relate to being a pastor (start with Acts 20:13–38; 1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; and 1 Peter 5:1–11).
3. Plant yourself in a local congregation.
Seek to be an active and faithful member of your home church. Attend public worship services. Participate in prayer meetings. Volunteer for VBS. Get to know as many people as possible within the congregation. Welcome visitors. Pay attention to how decisions are made. Plug into your church. The point is to be a part of the body of Christ (read Rom. 12 and 1 Cor. 12).
4. Learn from others.
Ask individuals within your church family questions about themselves, and then just listen to their answers. Talk to your pastor. Spend time with your elders and deacons. Have coffee with a variety of people in the congregation––young and old, single and married, rich and poor, and everyone in between. So much of ministry involves walking with God’s people through whatever providence brings. When chatting with someone, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this brother or sister in Christ?” Be teachable. Take joy in the gifts that God gives other people (compare Eph. 4:7–16 and 1 Peter 4:7–11).
5. Get as much experience as possible along with your education.
If you want to be a pastor, you will likely need to pursue a Master of Divinity or its equivalent, which is often the standard education qualification for ordination. Pick a seminary where the professors have pastoral experience, and continue to serve in local church ministry. You want to surround yourself with godly examples. In addition to education, you need experience. This often comes in the form of an internship. The goal here is to simulate the full range of pastoral ministry under the caring supervision of a seasoned pastor. On this point, read through the Pastoral Epistles and notice how Paul invests in men such as Timothy and Titus (take note of 2 Tim. 2:2).
6. Create a feedback loop.
As you gain more experience in the life of the church, solicit constructive feedback to assess your work. As you teach Bible studies, lead meetings, make hospital calls, visit the housebound, and counsel the brokenhearted, get input from a cross-section of people who love you and who will be honest with you about your aptitude for ministry. This is a season of evaluation and preparation. If you don’t have the gifts and skills for pastoring, this is the time to find that out. If you do, a feedback loop will reinforce your sense of calling and will help you become a more effective and faithful pastor (consider 1 Tim. 4:15–16 and James 3:1).
7. Trust God.
No matter how intensely you feel drawn to pastoral ministry, you are not called to the pastorate until you receive a specific call to a definite work among God’s people. If you desire to be a pastor, submit your request to God. He knows what is best for you and for His people. Trust Him to deploy you in a way that He deems best. Rest content in the wisdom of God. Be grateful for what God gives you. And be faithful in whatever responsibility God puts before you. Do these things today, as you trust the Lord to lead, guide, and direct your steps (pray Prov. 3:5–6).