Did you know that churches are responsible for caring for their pastors?

In his first letter to his protégé, Timothy, Paul addresses church life in both theological and practical terms. One of those church-life lessons, in 1 Timothy 5:17–6:2, is the need for churches to watch over their pastors. While this passage is not always easy for pastors to teach, as it could seem self-serving, it is vital. Church members rarely consider this passage’s principles, but they are essential for church health.

Bill Abernathy is an independent church consultant with forty-plus years of pastoral ministry experience.