JEFF TURNER

The question of whether God is calling someone to serve as a pastor is one that many young men wrestle with, and scripture does give some direction for working through it honestly.

A key passage that speaks to this comes from Paul’s letter to Timothy, where he writes that if a man desires the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. The desire itself is the starting point, and the strength of that desire matters. If a person is divided about whether they want to pursue ministry or something else, it may be worth waiting before making the commitment.

Beyond desire, there is the question of what the role actually requires. A pastor’s calling is to feed the people of God through the faithful teaching of scripture and to live in such a way that others can follow his example. That means a life given over to studying the word, being shaped by it, and then proclaiming it week after week for a lifetime. It is demanding and it is not for someone who sees it as one option among many.

If the passion remains strong after honestly weighing all of that, the path forward becomes clearer.

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