Introductory Statement: The senior pastor serves as the primary preacher and teacher within the local church. This role is essential to the spiritual health of the congregation. And, for the pastor, ministering the Word of God is not merely one task among many; it is the very lifeblood of a pastor’s calling.

“The public ministry of the word is the most responsible part of our work—the grand momentum of Divine agency—the most extensive engine of Ministerial operation.” Charles Bridges

The Context: In a typical week, I preach and teach three times. Once a month, I also visit nursing homes and assisted living centers, which adds another four messages, bringing the total to seven messages during that week. While this can be demanding, especially for a young pastor trying to figure things out, these opportunities to proclaim and teach God’s Word are important to my ministry. Each opportunity, whether in the pulpit, behind a music stand, or in care homes, represents an important aspect of my calling.

The Concern: Since I’ve been here, a few well-meaning people have suggested that I lessen my preaching and teaching load to prioritize visiting members and participating in community events, functioning like a community chaplain. While I appreciate their concern and the heart behind their counsel, this shift would ultimately detract from my central calling: the ministry of the Word.

“The supreme work of the Christian minister is the work of preaching. This is a day in which one of the great perils is that of doing a thousand little things to the neglect of one thing, which is preaching.” John Broadus

Thesis of this Blog: Because this has been suggested, I wanted to explain why I believe a pastor’s chief responsibility is the ministry of the word. While visitation and community involvement are valuable, they must flow from—and must not supersede—the ministry of the Word.

The Primacy of Preaching and Teaching in the Gospels

Beginning of Jesus’s Ministry: We see the primacy of preaching in the gospel narratives. God the Father commissioned His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to preach the Word. When Jesus embarked on His public ministry in Galilee, His approach was centered on preaching (Mark 1:14). Even after performing numerous healings that drew the attention of the crowds, Jesus made it clear that His primary purpose was not to carry out a healing ministry: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mark 1:36-38). This demonstrates that Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, not primarily to heal but to preach and teach about the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43). This pattern remained true throughout His earthly ministry.

End of Jesus’s Ministry: Toward the end of His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus ascended a mountain in Galilee and entrusted His disciples with the Great Commission—a continuation of the sacred task He Himself had begun. Just listen to this charge that carries the full weight of divine authority: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19). Here, we find an explicit mandate that prioritizes teaching and preaching as the means of extending Christ’s kingdom to the ends of the earth. From beginning to end, Jesus prioritized preaching and teaching and taught his disciples to do the same.

“Preaching was the prominent feature in the ministry methodology of Jesus, the stated reason for which He was anointed of the Spirit of God. It was the specific work to which He called His disciples, the reason for which they, too, would be clothed with the power of the Spirit.” Arturo Azurdia

The Primacy of Preaching and Teaching in The Acts of the Apostles

Preaching at Pentecost: We see the primacy of preaching and teaching throughout the book of Acts. It was through the faithful proclamation of the Word that the church was not only birthed but also nourished. On the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly “lifted up his voice” to declare the truth of Scripture (Acts 2:14–41). Following this incredible moment in redemption history, we read that the church in Jerusalem “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). This pattern—where the Word births the church and then nourishes the church—is seen throughout Acts.

What About the Widows: Also, because preaching and teaching were central to the apostles’ ministry, they refused to get sidetracked by needs, even incredibly urgent ones. Shortly after the church was birthed by the Spirit, people were complaining that Greek widows were being neglected while Hebrew widows were being cared for. Shockingly, the apostles said it would not be right to “give up preaching the word of God” to serve widows (Acts 6:2). Instead, the church needed to appoint some godly men (deacons) to minister to the widows (Acts 6:3). This would allow the apostles to devote themselves “to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

“Preaching the Word is the primary task of the Church, the primary task of the leaders of the Church, . . and we must not allow anything to deflect us from this, however good the cause, however great the need.” Martyn Lloyd Jones

Preaching Amid Persecution: Lastly, because of the paramount importance of preaching and teaching, the apostles were relentless and unwavering in this work. After they were arrested and beaten, they were told to keep their mouths shut and let go. The apostles refused: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:41-42). This pattern—preaching and teaching in the face of opposition—is evident throughout the book of Acts. Consider the last verse: The apostle Paul is under house arrest with a soldier guarding him, yet he continues to preach and teach (Acts 28:30).

The Primacy of Preaching and Teaching in the Pastoral Epistles

Paul On Elders: The Pastoral Epistles reveal the priority of preaching and teaching. According to Paul, for a man to be an elder/overseer/pastor within a local church, he must “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). So, pastors must not only hold firm to good, sound apostolic doctrine, they must also instruct and refute—which primarily takes place in preaching in teaching. Elders who do this well ought to be compensated for their work because “a laborer deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). So, preaching and teaching are considered toil and labor. It is honest work.

“Preaching and teaching is the highest calling of a minister. It is tragic that so many in our day have been diverted from that. They spend their time on nonessentials, and their people end up spiritually impoverished.” John MacArthur

Paul to Timothy: If we move beyond Paul’s instruction about elders to his instruction to Timothy, the centrality of preaching and teaching becomes even clearer. Paul commanded Timothy to give himself tirelessly “to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13). Paul wanted Timothy to dedicate so much time to these tasks that all would be able to see his progress (1 Timothy 4:15). As Timothy relentlessly gave himself to preaching and teaching, Paul wanted him to “rightly handle the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). He wanted him to cut it straight, showing himself to be a faithful and able herald of sacred Scripture. This was not an inconsequential task. It was so important that Paul gave Timothy a solemn charge: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

“Public and continual preaching of God’s word is the ordinary means and instrument of the salvation of mankind. . . By preaching God’s word, the glory of God is enlarged, faith is nourished, and charity is increased. By it the ignorant are instructed, the negligent exhorted and incited, the stubborn rebuked, the weak conscience comforted, and to all those that sin of malicious wickedness, the wrath of God is threatened.” Archbishop Grindal

Preaching and Teaching: God’s Ordained Means to Mature the Church

Faith Comes By Hearing: In Romans 10, Paul teaches the centrality of preaching in the justification of sinners. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, it’s clear: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13). But how can people call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ if they have never heard of Him? “And how are they to hear without someone preaching” (Romans 10:14)? Paul’s conclusion: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). As you can see, God works through the preaching of the Word; it is one of the primary means He uses to draw men to Himself.

“Here Paul magnifies the office of the gospel preachers; it is God’s good pleasure by their proclamation of his amnesty to bring his mercy home to those who believe the message.” F.F. Bruce

“The great design and intention of the office of a Christian preacher is to restore the throne and dominion of God in the souls of man.” Cotton Mather

Faith is Nourished By Hearing: Once individuals are justified, preaching and teaching play a crucial role in nourishing and sustaining their faith. Just as bread is essential for physical sustenance in a dry and barren wilderness, so too is God’s Word vital for our spiritual nourishment amidst the wilderness of this world (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). And consider how an infant thrives on milk, gradually maturing to handle solid food. Similarly, a diet of spiritual milk enables a new believer to grow and develop, preparing them to humbly receive the deeper truths found in the meat of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13). These figures of speech teach us that our faith is nourished through the ministry of the Word. It is food for the soul.

“It was by the ear—by our first parents listening to the serpent, that we lost paradise; and it is by the ear—by hearing of the Word, that we get to heaven. . . God sometimes in the preaching of the Word—drops the holy oil into the ear, which softens and sanctifies the heart!” Thomas Watson

Faith Matures By Hearing. Our heavenly Father desires for us to mature in the faith and be further conformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Preaching and teaching play an instrumental role in the maturation process. One of the primary goals of God-breathed Scripture is Christian maturity and wholeness: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

In His wisdom, the Lord Jesus provides the church with gifted leaders—“apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers” (Ephesians 4:7-11)—to minister His Word. As these faithful servants proclaim the Scriptures, the body of Christ becomes increasingly equipped and empowered for ministry. Consequently, as each member faithfully exercises their God-given calling, the entire church grows in maturity, reflecting the character of Christ more fully (Ephesians 4:12-16).

“Our goal as pastors is not to do all the work of the ministry ourselves, but to equip our people for ministry. We can only accomplish this effectively through preaching based on thorough study. So I know that time spent in preparation will result in more sharing of my load by a maturing church.” John MacArthur

Conclusion

As I reflect on the role of the Senior Pastor and the weight of the Biblical witness, I am convinced that my chief responsibility lies in the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word. Church, we must stand against the troubling trends that have infiltrated some corners of evangelicalism, where the ministry of the Word is diminished in favor of lesser pursuits. Instead, let us wholeheartedly affirm and prioritize the centrality of preaching and teaching in the life of both the pastor and the local church.

“The primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.” Martyn Lloyd Jones

A Few Applications

As a church, we can take some small steps to prioritize the ministry of the word:

Pray Regularly: As a congregation, I encourage you to pray regularly for those who minister the Word of God, especially for me. Ask the Lord to fill me with His Spirit. Ask Him to give me boldness, clarity, and courage in proclaiming the truth. Ask Him to gift me with a deeper ability to exercise the spiritual gifts of preaching and teaching. And pray fervently for the salvation of souls and the edification of the church.

“Grant, Almighty God, that as thou wouldest have us to be ruled by the preaching of thy word,—O grant, that those who have to discharge this office may be really endued with thy celestial power, that they may not attempt any thing of themselves, but with all devotedness spend all their labours for thee and for our benefit, that through them we may be thus edified, so that thou mayest ever dwell among us, and that we through our whole life may become the habitation of thy Majesty, and that finally we may come to thy heavenly sanctuary, where thou daily invitest us, as an entrance there has been once for all opened to us by the blood of thy only-begotten Son. Amen.” John Calvin

Raise Up Teachers: As a church family, it is crucial for us to prioritize the cultivation of faithful preachers and teachers from within our own ranks. We must invest in the discipleship and equipping of godly men who are prepared to bear the responsibility of teaching and preaching. This will enable our church to thrive and grow. And it will also allow me, as the senior pastor, to share the preaching and teaching responsibilities among a group of qualified and capable men who can effectively minister the Word of God to the people of God.

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1–2

Elect Faithful Deacons: Visitation is a significant part of the church’s life. Caring for widows is a matter close to the Lord’s heart, and our local church must not overlook it. In alignment with God’s design, this responsibility should fundamentally rest upon the shoulders of deacons. Therefore, it is essential to nominate and elect deacons who have demonstrated their commitment to visitation and the care of widows, ensuring that this ministry receives the attention it deserves.

“Biblical deacons, then, are like a congregation’s offensive linemen, whose job is to protect the quarterback. They rarely get attention, much less credit, but their labors are utterly indispensable for both guarding and advancing the ministry of the Word. Without effective deacons, elders will suffer incessant distraction and get sacked by an onrush of practical demands.” Matt Smethurst