The Importance of Godly Leadership
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
Talk about all that we have discussed with Preaching of the Word and the Right administration of the ordinances (the ordinances point us to the gospel)
Now for the next two weeks we will be talking about
2 marks that I believe are necessary for a church to be a healthy church
godly leadership
biblical understanding of church membership
The Reality of Leaders
The Reality of Leaders
We see this all through the Bible, the Lord gathers together His people and He raises us leaders for His people.
Lord gathers together His people and He raises us leaders for His people.
The Lord had His people in the land of Egypt and He does not just leave them to themselves to try to figure out what He was doing and how they were to leave the land of Egypt
No He raised up a leader, the Lord called a leader to speak His Word to His people and to lead His people
He prepared Moses and called Moses, we see that in Exodus 1-3 and Moses is raised up to lead God’s pe
He prepared Moses and called Moses, we see that in and Moses is raised up to lead God’s people
We also see, while we are thinking about Moses, that the burden of leadership is heavy and that the Lord gave Moses others to help
Aaron originally labors with Moses and as we continue to read in Exodus we see the Lord providing others
The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.
As we continue to read we see other leaders that the Lord raises up
Moses
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
David (and you have the priests and the prophets in the OT)
Then when we come to the NT
At the birth of the church we have the Apostles that the Lord gave to the Church
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Ephesians 4:
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Responsibility of Leaders
Responsibility of Leaders
What are the responsibilities of the leaders of God’s people?
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;
Shepherd
One of the words that may summarize these responsibilities is that the leaders of God’s people are Shepherds
Listen to what Paul says as he charges the leaders of the church in Ephesus
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. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
We see that Paul exhorts these men whom he refers to as overseers and he calls them to care for the church of God or to shepherd the church of God.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 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. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 Peter 5:1-4
Again the same verb is used here by Peter as he exhorts the leaders in the church that he is writing to.
He refers to them as elders and he exhorts them to shepherd the flock of God that is among you.
Another interesting thing that we see here is that these shepherds will have to give an account to the Chief Shepherd, the One who purchased these sheep with His blood.
So what are some of the implications of this?
Caring is one of the words that comes to my mind. Caring for people, shouldering their various needs, and bearing them for Christ, the Chief Shepherd.
One of the things that this clearly implies is naming and knowing the sheep. We have to have names of who those are who are under our care and we have to know them. Sheep know that they belong to certain shepherds and the shepherds know which sheep belong to them. The sheep are named, they are known, and they are counted every day. The shepherds get to know the disposition and the tendencies of each of the sheep. The more the sheep is nurtured, counted, checked, nursed back to health, rescued, protected, and feed the more the shepherd gets to know the sheep and grows to care for the sheep.
The church is not a business, but is a group of persons; individuals with feelings, aspirations, convictions, needs, weaknesses, tendencies, struggles. The church is a gathering of those who have been called out of this world and are being shepherded by the Chief Shepherd toward the Celestial City (as John Bunyan would put it). Each one has perspective shaping histories, unique callings, each one must be discipled and encouraged in the way best for them and in order to know what that way is they must be known.
Leaders must cultivate relationships within the church, they must build intimacy so that they might care for people entrusted to them by the Lord.
So first, leaders have to build relationships within the church if they are going to care for the members.
But what does this care look like?
1. Provision
Feeding is a necessary part of shepherding. There must be adequate, balanced nutrition. Shepherds must make sure that the sheep are eating on that which is nutritious and not something poisonous, not something that is harmful and not eating trash.
Paul said in
Let no one deceive you with empty words ( ESV)
And there are all sorts of warnings concerning false teachers and false teachings throughout the New Testament.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
( ESV)
Leaders are called to give healthy teaching. Called to make sure that the people are being fed by the Word of God. Scriptural truth alone is sufficient for rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. These are the tasks of the shepherds, the elders, the pastors.
How did Jesus exhort Peter?
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. ( ESV)
One of the chief roles of the spiritual leaders is to feed the sheep by teaching the Word of God, hence the qualification in "able to teach" and then also in , "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."
2. Healing
Leading also means healing. It means assessing the flock to see if there are symptoms of spiritual sickness. If there is symptoms that the cancers of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, anger, envy, or pride have begun to grow within a brother.
To know if and how a brother is struggling, to be able to encourage him and to pray for him and with him. Being able to prevent spiritual diseases if you will and to prevent the spread of spiritual disease within a body.
Leading also means going and finding the sheep that have gone astray. There are one billion sheep in the world and each one belongs to a shepherd and matter to that shepherd. Good shepherds can give an account for each and every sheep. There is not one that the shepherds do not know about. Although shepherds may be responsible for thousands of sheep they would feel ashamed if they could not account for one that was lost.
Brothers, like sheep people wander off and lose their way. They need to be rescued and returned to the flock where they belong. They need to be "saved". One of the essential tasks of shepherd leadership is the arduous retrieval of those who for whatever reason have lost their way. Most don't even know that they are lost until it is too late. We could go on to say that the goal is not just to find them, but to also lead them to repentance.
Think of verses like this:
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. ( ESV)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ( ESV)
Leaders or shepherds of the church are to lead in this restoration within the church.
3. Protection
We have already seen this but I will mention it again here.
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. ( ESV)
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ( ESV)
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. ( ESV)
4. Guidance/Leadership/Oversight
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. ( ESV)
Here we see that the oversight, the leadership and the guidance of the leaders is one of the means that the Lord uses in order to cause His people to persevere. It is through the faithfulness of the elders within a body that the pilgrims are safely guided all the way to the celestial city.
This guidance, this leadership and oversight is not driven by opinions or preferences, but ultimately it is driven by the Word of God and prayer. This is why the gift of teaching is one of the qualifications for spiritual leaders, because ultimately any authority that leaders may have is an authority that comes from the Word of God.
Thus says the Lord is how spiritual leaders are to lead and to guide a group of believers.
Elders are not called to lead harshly or inconsiderately, but to lead lovingly, gently.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
2 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;
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ( ESV)
I believe included within this oversight is not only the spiritual oversight of the souls, but the direction of the Church, the vision of the church. So this includes a general oversight over all and over the direction of the church and a specific oversight over the souls of each of the members in the body.
shepherd
page 149
exercise oversight
Disposition of Leaders
Disposition of Leaders
Leaders lead in humility knowing that ultimately these sheep do not belong to them, but that they belong to the Great Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd who laid down His life to purchase His sheep. Elders lead by looking to the example of the Chief Shepherd and looking to the commands of the chief Shepherd.
Elders are not called to lead harshly or inconsiderately, but to lead lovingly, gently.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
2 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;
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ( ESV)
I believe included within this oversight is not only the spiritual oversight of the souls, but the direction of the Church, the vision of the church. So this includes a general oversight over all and over the direction of the church and a specific oversight over the souls of each of the members in the body.
But we see that this leadership is done in a humble, gracious, willing manner.
We think of other marks of the spiritual leaders within the church
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
desire to be a leader
exemplifies godly character; above reproach, self controlled, gentle, not greedy
ability to teach
leads one family well
a man 1 timothy 2.12
an established believer
The Importance of godly leaders
The Importance of godly leaders
What happens when there are ungodly leaders?
Think of ungodly kings
Think of ungodly prophets and priests
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
If someone does not do this, it will be so easy to water down the truth, to tell people what they want to hear, to tickle people’s ears(this temptation is real)
they will compromise doctrine to fill the seats and they will give a very religious reason for doing so
Dangerous things ungodly leaders do
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; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
do not live holy lives
do not preach truth
If you notice back in
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. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
The leaders within a church are either the greatest blessing or the greatest curse on the church.
tickle people’s ears (this temptation is real)
do not protect the sheep from wolves and from wandering that is from themselves ()
give carnal people what they want (like a doctor giving someone sugar and not medicine)
But a group of men that takes seriously passages like this:
You are a sheep and you need godly leaders to watch over you soul and to shepherd you
You are a sheep and you need godly leaders to watch over you soul and to shepherd you
You are a sheep and you need godly leaders to watch over you soul and to shepherd you
I am a sheep and I need godly leaders to watch over my soul and to shepherd me
Listen to what Paul says to Timothy and this can apply to every leader within the church.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Men like that are a blessing to the church, and God can use men like this to lead even the sickest of churches into health and prosperity.
Brothers and sisters, pray for the leaders of your church, pray for me, pray for Kenny , pray for Landon
Pray for the lay leaders
Pray for the deacons