🧾 Lesson: The Duty of the Congregation to Support Pastors

1. Purpose

To teach believers to understand that supporting pastors is a religious duty clearly based in the Word, not merely an option or charity.

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2. Biblical Basis

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✅ Point 1: God Commands Believers to Support Those Who Preach the Good News

📖 1 Corinthians 9:13–14

"Do you not know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

🔎 Teaching: God commands believers to support ministers so they can continue their service in the kingdom successfully.

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✅ Point 2: Pastors Are Considered Worthy of Honor

📖 1 Timothy 5:17–18

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker deserves his wages.'"

🔎 Teaching: Pastors should receive respect and support, both emotionally and materially.

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✅ Point 3: Support is Sharing in Good Deeds

📖 Galatians 6:6

"The one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor."

🔎 Teaching: Support is a generous act of respect towards those who teach us in the spirit.

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✅ Point 4: Pastors Are a Direct Gift from God

📖 Ephesians 4:11–12

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

🔎 Teaching: Pastors are valuable gifts from God to the church, not chosen by man.

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✅ Point 5: Support Helps Build the Church

📖 2 Timothy 2:2

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."

🔎 Teaching: Supporting pastors helps in training new leaders and the growth of the congregation.

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✅ Point 6: Giving is Pleasing to God

📖 Acts 20:35

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

🔎 Teaching: Supporting pastors with sincerity brings abundant blessings from God.

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3. Conclusion

Supporting pastors is a faith-based duty that every believer should perform sincerely to support the gifts God has given for the advancement of the kingdom.

📖 "Those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel"
— 1 Corinthians 9:14