Featured Primary responsibility of a pastor?

Its just not true in todays church.

 

Years ago (60's - 70's) there seemed much more activity at the local churches.
Sunday - morning and evenings services
Wednesday - prayer meeting/
Thursday - Visitation/AWANA

I looked forward to visitation - Visitor cards were used, elderly, students were visited, sick...
many souls were added to the church through our visitation ministry.
We never felt pressured and we enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie.

A whole lot less social and communications technology in those days.

I was the assistant pastor/youth director.

 

My, but this post is so very true!

Simple marking it as agreed didn’t seem enough.

 

Society changed.

Look at the typical Sunday School.

Where are the greater majority of those children, now?

Hard, lethargic, more interested in the worldly that the heavenly.

Resent studies have indicated Sunday School has actually been harmful for a church.

Most millennials want nothing to do with “graded classes” but thrive in small life groups.

Some churches have moved from educating the young in isolation to total immersion with parents in small groups where they emulate the adults listening and discussing the things of God.

Here are two published articles pertaining to SS which may be valuable to the discussion:

The Sunday School Syndrome

What's the Pastor's Role in Sunday School?

 

Acts 20:28-29 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
1 Peter 5:1-3 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

 

Pastors Must Practice Evangelism

"In his final letter, Paul charges Timothy, his son in the faith, to 'do the work of an evangelist' (2 Tim. 4:5). By these words, the aged Apostle establishes the timeless standard for pastoral ministry, not only for young Timothy but for all pastors in every generation and in every place."

"With Apostolic authority, this imperative command comes with binding force. All pastors must do the work of an evangelist....[This] requires going where unconverted people are and unashamedly sharing Christ....May every pastor enter joyfully into this privileged task of doing the work of an evangelist."


Hallelujah!

 

This is not just for pastors. Every member is given the commission by the Lord.

In a recent business meeting, evangelism was discussed, and a question by one of the oldest members was, “How much will that cost us?”

Being a witness is the obligation of every believer, however, I do present that the ministry of evangelism is a gift.

Just as evangelist would show up from time to time in the walk of Pilgrim, the evangelist isn’t just a soul winner, but encourager to those in the walk.

In fact, the greatest work an evangelist can do is engage believers to get busy, encourage others to being the faithful witness, to bring some vision in their own life demonstrated that the assembly my earnestly seek the wisdom and vision from God in their own estate.

John R Rice is an example of one far more influential as an encourager as well as superb soul winner, for his influence continues we’re others died with them.

 

D

The older I got the less involved I was. I'm 77 now and only get out to go to the store or church. I do get to witness to the JWs and Mormons when they show up, sometimes at the clinic or the Walmart parking lot also.

 

uh, well it's almost 50 years ago. Looking online i see two services but that's all.

 

Do you (as some do) consider the office of pastor and teacher the same?

I do not.

As with any list the coma separation is optional prior to the "and."

However, I also recognize the greek did not include a conjunction between, but pastor then an instructor.

 

The first time I ran across the view that it is "pastor-teacher" in Eph. 11, and not "pastor and teacher," was in the writings of John MacArthur. He quoted the Granville Sharp rule for his interpretation that pastor-teacher is one office and not two. (See: https://www.theopedia.com/granville-sharps-rule) However, he was mistaken in this, because the Granville Sharp rule is applicable only to singular nouns, but the nouns in Eph. 4:11 are plural.

Having said that, the passage answers the OP: the offices of Eph. 4:11 are designed not to do ministry by themselves, but to train the believers for ministry.

 

To be fair, a Greek scholar friend is working me through the possibility that the Granville Sharp rule can be applied to plural nouns in certain cases. (I'm not sure I get it yet, but I'm working on it.) He believes that the GS rule can apply to Eph. 4:11, so "pastor-teacher" is a possible interpretation.