“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.  Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” (2 Timothy 2:20-23)

Every Book of the Bible is for Every Believer

Although we identify certain books of the New Testament as pastoral epistles, every book of the New Testament, and Old Testament for that matter, are for all believers. Paul told Timothy, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…that the man of God may be mature (2 Timothy 3:16,17). If you try to make certain books only for certain individuals, pastors, teachers, etc. you would have to go further and say that one book is only for Christians living in Rome, or Galatia, or Ephesus. All scripture means all scripture.

It can be taken also, that all scripture is meant for pulpit ministers too. You can’t declare yourself above living righteously because you are divinely set in a ministry position over the congregation. Godliness is profitable for all believers, including those called into full-time ministry, those deriving their total income from preaching and teaching the Word of God to others. So I say it again, all scripture is meant for all believers.

Also

The keyword found in our passage we will be studying from 2 Timothy is the word also found in verse 22, “flee also youthful lusts…” Not only is the congregation to flee youthful lusts, so is the pastor also. The Greek definition of youthful lusts is “sins of immaturity.”  Sins of thoughts and actions are warned of in the Old and New Testament. Unlike David who fell into adultery, Joseph ran from the sin. We also, like Joseph, are told to flee fornication, run from it (1 Corinthians 6:18). Now we are warned in the same manner, along with Timothy, to flee or run from, youthful lusts, sins of immaturity.

Paul is telling Timothy that running from sinful lusts is not just for the congregation, but for the minister as well. There are no separate rules toward sin for the clergy than the congregation. God will not judge a minister by a different standard than He does every other believer when we all stand before the Judgment Seat Of Christ. Iniquity is iniquity and righteousness is righteousness. Even Jesus was judged in His earthly life by this standard. When He sat down at the right hand of God, after completing His earthly ministry, the Father said to Him, you have loved righteousness and hated iniquity… (Hebrews 1:9). That is a great rule to govern our own lives by.

The Minister and Sins of Immaturity

Yet, according to the instructions given to Timothy by Paul, there are certain sins that are associated with youth, or immaturity. All sins of immaturity are associated with arrogance. Sadly, it is true, that many young ministers think they have found answers no one else has found or even thought of. They can’t wait to enter the pulpit to prove to their local church, and also the vast number of other ministers, that their ideas are what everyone has been waiting for. But when the same problems occur with their ministry, that occurs within other ministries, they become confused. Instead of opening up to the possibility they may have been wrong, they dig in their heels and become obstinate, fighting for a lost cause. Sadly, not only do seasoned ministers recognize their wrong attitude, so do the members of the congregation. People leave and the minister ends up blaming the people, not his own blindness. It has been said, “arrogance is the only disease that makes everyone sick except the one who has it”.

I want to address certain sins of immaturity found in the pulpit today. This is certainly not an exhaustive list but should cover enough to help ministers recognize they are not alone in their wrong attitudes and also in the answers to them.

Sins of immaturity include:

1. You are driven by numbers attending.

   Not everyone is called to pastor a large church. Even the churches of the book of Acts were different sizes. And not all large churches preach and teach the Word of God. Many churches are large because of their youth, children, or music programs. I would rather see a city with many smaller churches that preach the word of God than one or two large churches built on programs. The number of people attending does not indicate success. Jesus purposely tested the crowds with difficult statements to weed out those who did not want to truly follow Him and grow in the Christian life. On one occasion, when Jesus challenged the multitudes with a difficult spiritual choice, they all left. Jesus did not get upset or look for a “group hug” from His disciples. He asked them if they too wanted to leave (John 6:53-68).

2. You must have the largest church in the city.

   Not everyone is called to pastor a large church. Even the churches of the book of Acts were different sizes. And not all large churches preach and teach the Word of God. Many churches are large because of their youth, children, or music programs. I would rather see a city with many smaller churches that preach the word of God than one or two large churches built on programs. Numbers of people attending do not indicate success. Jesus purposely tested the crowds with difficult statements to weed out those who did not want to truly follow Him and grow in the Christian life. On one occasion, when Jesus challenged the multitudes with a difficult spiritual choice, they all left. Jesus did not get upset or look for a “group hug” from His disciples. He asked them if they too wanted to leave (John 6:53-68).

3. Each Sermon must outdo the last.

   You are not called to compete with the church down the street. But you are also not called to compete with yourself. When we preach a sermon which has everyone saying “amen” and shouting for joy, we often feel compelled to make the next sermon even better. Your standard for the next sermon should not be the quality of the one you just preached. You obeyed God’s voice and preached the sermon God led you to preach. Jesus told the crowds He did the works and spoke the words of His Father (John 8:28,38,10:37).

4. You look for compliments to judge the quality of your sermon

   This is close to the previous point in it’s application. Your stamp of approval is not the compliments, or lack of, from your congregation. Most who tell you the sermon was good are lying. They did not like the message, but would never tell you so. They see you coming down the aisle and say, “good sermon, pastor.” You would say the same thing to another minister. The only compliment you need is the peace in your heart you preached the sermon God told you to preach. He will never lie to you. So quit being too moved by compliments and criticism. You are never going to be loved by everyone. But you are always loved by God.

5. You preach to impress other ministers.

   When you really preach a sermon that you know came from God, even receiving revelation while you preached you not only want all the congregation to take a copy of the message home, but wish they would share it with a notable minister in town. Not only that, they may share it with a notable national minister. You feel somehow, your sermons must be heard by those you consider leaders in your area or even the nation. It is true that most ministers who are invited to speak at a minister’s conference do not speak to the needs of the ministers present, but to impress the other speaker sitting on the front row. They hope to be invited to their church someday. It is not up to you to spread your fame, it is up to God. Jesus did not try to make His fame increase, but preached and healed by obedience to His Father. Then,“his fame was spread” (Matthew 4:23,24).

6. You preach your own view on subjects to distance yourself doctrinally from the group your church came from.

   Your church might have come out of a denomination, spiritual movement or a specific doctrinal background. You might have come from the Assemblies of God, the Word of Faith or the teaching of Grace. You have a disagreement with certain parts of these beliefs, so you distance yourself completely from it. You end up splintering and fracturing the congregation. When those issues come up in a sermon, tread lightly and walk in love. You may think some people treat grace as a license to sin. You may think some ministers use the message of prosperity to just get money from others. When you come to a passage, preach on it in love and in balance. Teach the truth on the subject and approach the excesses with an abundance of scriptures. Most of your congregation will thank you.

7. You preach to reach an age group or demographic.

   There are many things you can do to draw in the youth but not by what you preach. Fill the positions of greeters, ushers, and praise and worship leaders with a variety of qualified, faithful and spiritual young, middle aged and old. Include all colors and nationalities. What people see when entering makes an impression, that in this church, anyone can be used by God. But, the Word of God is without age, color or nationality. The Word and it’s preaching is for everyone. So, be yourself when you preach. You have a style that is unique. Use it. Don't try to draw a particular group of people in with someone else’s style. Just be you and preach to whoever walks in.