Pastors as Disciples: Our Ongoing Need of the Grace of God in Sanctification

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-12 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these

things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,

love, steadfastness, gentleness.


12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of

the eternal life to which you were called and

about which you made the good confession in

the presence of many witnesses.

THE PASTOR AS DISCIPLE

OUR ONGOING NEED OF THE GRACE

OF GOD IN SANCTIFICATION

3 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS

#1: Our primary identity is not being pastors

or ministry leaders or disciple-makers; our

primary identity is being disciples of Jesus.



things. Pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.


#2: Sanctification is a life-long process for all

disciples of Jesus, including us pastors.



things. Pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12

Fight the good fight of the faith.

PAUL TRIPP (DANGEROUS CALLING)Pastors, we're still a bit of a mess. We're all at

times very poor examples of the truths we

teach…We often forget how much we need

everything we teach. We give evidence everyday

that we are people in the middle of our own

sanctification, that we still need the moment-by-

moment rescue of grace.


#3: Perseverance is a crucial necessity in our

salvation.


12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold

of the eternal life to which you were called

and about which you made the good

confession in the presence of many

witnesses.

1 TIMOTHY 4:16 ESV

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the

teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you

will save both yourself and your hearers.

JOHN PIPER

Pastors who are saved by grace through faith

must give evidence of that divine work in

their lives by tireless attention to personal

holiness and doctrinal fidelity. It teaches that

the pastoral ministry is the proving ground

for eternity.

“FIGHT”Greek agonizo – “to contend, struggle with

difficulties and dangers antagonistic to the

gospel.”

“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH”

SERIOUS FIGHT

MESSY FIGHT

GOOD FIGHT

HARD FIGHT

JONATHAN DODSONWe have to fight to believe this gospel.

Otherwise, we will slide back into individualistic,

indifferent, or professionalized discipleship. This

fight is a fight of faith. It is a struggle to believe

what the gospel truly promises over what sin

deceitfully promises.

JONATHAN DODSON

We fight to behold the image of the glory of

God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. This

faith fights not for perfection, but for belief.

We fight to believe that Jesus is more

precious, satisfying, and thrilling than

anything else this world has to offer.

HOW TO FIGHT

KNOW YOUR SIN.

CONFESS YOUR SIN.

ESV GOSPEL TRANSFORMATIONRather than trust in idols, God’s people are called to return to him, not by cleaning themselves up but by confessing their sin. What an amazing and counterintuitive pathway of healing. God offers healing, restoration, and comfort to those who mourn over their fallenness rather than those who seek in a self-generated way to overcome it.

PAUL TRIPPTo the degree that you forget you are a

sinner, you will underestimate your daily

need for Christ and the relationships in his

body that are his tools of change.

HOW TO FIGHT

KNOW YOUR SIN.

CONFESS YOUR SIN.

TRUST YOUR SAVIOR.

FIGHT WITH OTHERS.

HOW TO FIGHT

LUST?

PRIDE?

ENVY?

SMALL GROUP SHARING1. How is your identity as “pastor/leader” hindering

AND helping you grow as a disciple?

2. What sin/s are you presently struggling with?

How will you replace “lies” with “truth”?

3. What aspect of the character of Christ you need

to grow most today?

Spiritual

Pastors as Disciples: Our Ongoing Need of the Grace of God in Sanctification