Letters To Leaders 4

A - God our father in heaven thank you for your WORD it is good and Holy and profitable for us at all times. We thank you for the Church, this body of believers, your bride and our adopted family.

C - Lord we confess that we do not honor your bride as we should, we do not always fulfill our role within your family as we ought. We ask for your forgiveness for this.

T -

S - Send your Spirit Lord, renew us and fill us. Make us ready and willing to fulfill our each individual roles here at ABC weather in a specific office of Elder and Deacon or as a member of the body.

MESSAGE

Leading One Another: Church Leadership (Main Idea)

While Elders have a special responsibility to preach the Word and Deacons to shepherd the church, the whole congregation is accountable before God for the church’s doctrine, discipline, and discipleship.

Congregational Command

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 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.

Obey your leaders and Submit to them.

These are keeping watch over your soul

They will have to give an account

Jesus owns the sheep… we just work here

1 Pet 5.2 “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;” = they are doing this willingly… unpaid !!

Make their work a Joy and not a grief.

Have you ever volunteered for something and then deeply regretted that you did?

I remember a time I helped a friend move… No pre packing done !!

James 3.1 “1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

They are seeking your advantage

Imitate and learn from them.

1 Corinthians 4:15–17 ESV

15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

They ought to be worthy of imitation… mature?

More is caught then taught… imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Congregational Commitment

1 Timothy 5:19–22 ESV

19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

Trust your leaders and give them the benefit of the doubt.

They are fighting for you not against you

Preference and opinion is not the same as SIN

two or three

witnesses

Hopefully this will fix the issue

If they need correction do it with zeal.

Public office requires public rebuke

Church Discipline is everyones duty

Matthew 18:15–20 “15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.””

In the presence of God, Christ Jesus, elect angles !!

no partiality… pastor, elder, in-law, etc.

Restoration / Calling = as the congregation you are responsible for them

Pray for them regularly and earnestly.

Hebrews 13:18 ESV

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 ESV

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray for:

clear consciences

honorable living

worthy of the calling

fulfill work by faith

Christ be glorified !!

No-one is immune to temptation / danger

Matt 26.31 “31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

If I were satan…

Congregational Convalescence

Convalescence is the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness or injury. It refers to the later stage of an infectious disease or illness when the patient recovers and returns to previous health, but may continue to be a source of infection to others even if feeling better.[1] In this sense, "recovery" can be considered a synonymous term. This also sometimes includes patient care after a major surgery,[2][3] under which they are required to visit the doctor for regular check-ups.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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, 14 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. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 ESV

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Eph 4.11-16 ::.

God gave leaders

to equip the saints

until we all attain the fulness of Christ

so you would not be tossed

rather we are to grow

1 Thes 5.12-13::.

Respect your leaders

Esteem them highly

Your Leaders strive with you after spiritual maturity in the fullness of Christ.

all of us are in a process of sanctification and we need one another to walk along side us.

Your Leaders speak the truth in love, seeking to encourage and strengthen you.

All of us are responsible for one another to care for and guide.

To rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Your Leaders jealously guard you by the word of God holding fast to sound doctrine.

We are to stand firm in our convictions knowing that our adversary the devil prowls for one to devour.

We will teach and preach this word without shame because it is the word of God!

These letters to leaders are not just to those who hold the official title of Elder or Deacon they are to any that claim to have been given the gift of the second birth when God himself named you “Christian”!

Group Questions

Read Acts 6.1-7 and Acts 15:1-29. What important principles do these two passage teach you about the elder congregation relationship in the decision making process in the church?

Compare 1 Tim 3:2-7 / Titus 1:6-9 & 1 Pet 5:1-3. List the reasons that Elders are qualified to lead and why we should willingly submit to their leadership.

What does submitting to and obeying your church’s leaders look like in real life (Heb. 13:17)? Give some concrete examples.

Does the command to submit to and obey church leaders mean that they can command us to do whatever they want? Why or why not?

Does it seem self-centered or proud to you for one Christian to say to another, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ”? Why or why not?

Why do you think Paul tells the Corinthians to imitate his conduct, in addition to giving them instructions in writing? Why is imitating others’ good examples an important aspect of discipleship?

Within the life of the church, what are some practical steps which the call to imitate godly examples requires you to take?

As a Christian, you have the responsibility—and the joyful opportunity—to set a godly example for others to follow. How should that impact the way you live your day-to-day life? What are some practical steps you can take to personally model godliness for others?

Why does Paul require that elders receive specific protection from unsubstantiated accusations?

What will be the consequence for us if we disobey Paul’s charge to judge other elders openly and fairly?

What are the consequences for the elder council if they are too hasty in restoring an elder or in appointing an unqualified or untested elder?