Five Questions if You're Considering Ministry

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

You’re wondering if you should pursue pastoral ministry. You’ve had thoughts about it and you’ve briefly talked to your pastor. But you’re not sure what else to do to figure it out.

Consider five questions to examine if you are called to pastoral ministry.

1. Do you have a constraining desire?

Do you aspire to the pastorate? There’s probably a wide range of things you could do with your life, but start with your desires. Do you want this? Does it excite you? Does something within you burn to do it?

A constraining desire is a desire you can’t escape. It burns red hot within you. No matter what else you could do with your life, you keep coming back to a yearning to be a pastor. If there is anything else you can do with your life and be satisfied, that’s what most godly men should do. Nonetheless, a few will be eager to teach God’s Word and shepherd God’s people. They might take other jobs, but they aspire to enter the pastorate. They won’t escape this unshakable desire.

2. Do you meet the biblical qualifications?

You might have a desire for the pastorate but not yet be ready because of character deficiencies. The pastoral epistles (1 Timothy 3; Titus 2) offer a list of character criteria for pastors. The apostle’s benchmarks map out a mature Christian—it’s a profile of godliness in action.

Read over these texts and pray through the qualifications. Examine yourself to see if you fit the criteria. Then go to several close friends and mentors and ask: “Do I meet the list of qualifications on this list? If not, what ways do I need to grow?”

Many will be kind and won’t want to offend you. That won’t help you in your pursuit of pastoral ministry. Ask people who will give you honest answers (Proverbs 12:17; 24:26). Lord willing, as you grow in Christian maturity, Christian friends will see godliness displayed in your life. Mature men are recognized as pastoral long before they ever take up the office.

If there is a besetting sin in your life—like pornography—then you’re not qualified. Porn addictions are the single greatest reason why men aren’t ready for the pastorate. If this describes you then work on your porn problem. Take it seriously so it doesn’t keep you out of pastoral ministry. Find mature Christians in your church and ask them for help. I’ve seen men overcome their addictions and become fruitful pastors, so it is possible to defeat this problem. Don’t give up. Keep fighting.

3. Have you been affirmed by your local church?

Before you rush into a pastorate, you need to be affirmed by your local church leaders. Do they think you’re qualified and ready to serve as a pastor? Do they think this is a good way to spend your life? Far too many students rush into seminary, only to find out they were not a good fit for church ministry.

Let’s say you have the desire I described above. Go to your church leaders and say, “I aspire to be a pastor. Do you see the potential in me to one day be a pastor?” And then brace yourself for their answer.

You might not like what the pastor says: “No, you’re not ready and you’re a long way off.” Ouch. That’s not what you were hoping for. Yet, you want your pastor to be honest with you, even if it’s painful. If that’s your pastor’s response, you should take it slow—pray, be patient, and focus on growing in Christ. The best preparation will be to grow spiritually—study your Bible, pray, evangelize, serve your church and live as a faithful member. Then a few years later, ask the question again if you’re still aspiring for pastoral ministry.

The pastor might say: “Maybe.” In which case, ask, “How else do I need to grow before I’m ready for a pastorate? What else can I do to prepare?” Then whatever your pastor says, pursue it with great eagerness.

Perhaps the pastor says: “Yes, I see the distinct possibility of you one day being a pastor.” Wonderful! Ask your pastor, “What next?” Many will say: “Go to seminary.” But I’d suggest there is another step to consider (see #4) before you jump into seminary training (see #5 below).

4. Will your local church give you exposure to pastoral ministry?

Before you rush to seminary, see if your pastor can provide an internship where you’ll learn about, read about, and experience different aspects of pastoral ministry. Not every church has a training mentality, so be deliberate in asking what they might offer. If they can’t or won’t do it then look around to see if you can find a church that will give you some opportunities.

5. Can I attend seminary and remain in my local church?

So many students move away for seminary. There is value in going on campus to a seminary. You will…

• Form beautiful friendships with Christians who are also training for ministry;
• Build closer relationships with faculty;
• Experience a rich campus life (chapels, special conferences, meals with faculty and friends); enjoy a campus bookstore with a treasury of theological books!

But there’s great merit to staying at your local church and taking online classes to complete your theological education. After all, your fellow church members and leaders will know you better than anyone else (apart from your spouse and parents!). They’ll continue to help you grow in faith. They’ll be eager to hear about what you’re learning. They’ll pray for you, support you, and help you to persevere in faith, hope and love. If you’ve got deep connections in your church community and good opportunities to train in your own church, you might consider doing seminary online.

Conclusion

Many will never go into the pastorate. That’s as it should be. There’s a weighty responsibility and stricter judgment for pastors (James 1:3). Are you interested? Is the pastorate a good fit for you? Is God on the move—drawing you into this role? Pray that the Lord provides you with wisdom and surrounds you with godly people so you can live your life fully for the glory of God.

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