The Pastor's Heart
Welcome to Living Word Cast! I’m Pastor Michael Chilcott, coming to you from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This podcast exists to proclaim, teach, and explore the Word of God together. Our goal is to provide sound theological and biblical guidance on all things Scripture, helping you grow deeper in your understanding of the Bible and your relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Whether you’re seeking answers, encouragement, or a closer walk with God, this podcast is here to help you stay firmly rooted in the truth of God.
Today’s episode is deeply personal, as I’m about to walk with you through what it truly means to have the heart of a pastor. This is a topic that I’ve prayed over for many days, because being a pastor is not just a job. It’s a sacred calling—a calling that demands everything and yet is so full of grace and purpose. If you're someone feeling the stirring of God to serve in this role, or someone simply wanting to understand the pastoral heart more deeply, I believe today's message will help you understand the weight, beauty, and power of this calling.
1. What Is A Pastor?
A pastor is not a CEO or an administrator running a business. A pastor is a shepherd, chosen and appointed by God to care for His sheep. The role of a pastor is a weighty responsibility, not one that is taken lightly. It is a role of service, and it begins with a deep understanding that the church doesn’t belong to the pastor—it belongs to Christ. In Acts 20:28 (ESV), Paul exhorts the elders: "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."
Think about that. God entrusted the church to pastors, not because of their own greatness, but because the Holy Spirit has called them to this task. And this church is not just any organization—it was bought with the blood of Jesus. Every person in the congregation is a precious soul that God loves beyond measure. A pastor must never forget that weight. It’s a sacred trust, one that calls for humility and deep reverence.
The very name "pastor" comes from the Latin pastor, meaning "shepherd." And when we think about a shepherd, we think of someone who guides, protects, and nurtures. A pastor’s role is to lead the people of God, not by force or manipulation, but by example and love. In 1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV), we are called to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
A pastor, at the heart, is a servant. Jesus Himself demonstrated this when He washed His disciples' feet in John 13. The Son of God, who had all authority in heaven and on earth, knelt before His disciples and served them. And as pastors, that should be the model we follow—humble, sacrificial service, reflecting the character of Christ.
