Gifts of the Spirit - Leadership

Big Idea:

The gifts of spiritual leadership point people to Jesus.

Intro:

[Walter read Psalm 23 in spanish]

In March 2020, we were having Life Group at my house when the news came in that kids weren’t going back to school for a while. I felt my world come crashing down. Not because of COVID-19, but because my kids were now going to be home all day. Even worse, I was going to have to sit with them sometimes during their distance learning until they figured out their iPads.

All joking aside. The first two years of COVID were crazy. A lot of chaos. A lot of tragedy. A lot of confusion and fear. And the church was not immune. Many left churches during those years. Many left the faith. Some churches closed. Many are still struggling to recover. The COVID pandemic was an extremely traumatic time.

However, there were a few bright spots in this valley of darkness. The pace of life slowed down. And though we were stuck at home, we started to realize how special our homes were. People started resting. Families started hanging out. Those years were serious, but they were also special. In the absence of distractions, we remembered the truly important things in life.

And at The River Church, while many churches truly struggled, by God’s grace, we actually flourished. We even grew. That’s not to say it wasn’t difficult. They were!

As a new pastor of a small, new church, I had no idea what to do. Furthermore, things were always changing. I remember having “decision-fatigue” - that experience of making so many critical decisions that your mind gets burned out. Nevertheless, God did an amazing work during those chaotic years. And much of the spiritual momentum we’re experiencing today was built on what happened during COVID.

And here’s what we built on: We kept Jesus the main thing. Our leadership team could’ve been pulled in a million directions, but we resolved to keep our eyes on Jesus and walk towards Him. And we flourished.

And today, in the final week of our Gifts of the Spirit series, that’s something helpful to remember as we discuss our final spiritual gifts...

Just a reminder… the Scriptures tell us that when we repent - turn from our sins - and put our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are forgiven and made brand new. And the Holy Spirit now lives inside of us and empowers us with spiritual gifts.

...And some of these gifts help us lead the church. Today, I’d like to look at three leadership gifts.

Body:

Romans 12:6–8 NLT

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Two of those gifts are found in this passage: The gift of teaching; And, the gift of leadership (or adminstration).

And here’s the third gift...

Ephesians 4:11 NLT

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

The third gift is listed here as “pastors and teachers.” Now, I know that sounds like two gifts. And it kinda is, since we see the gift of teaching listed separately in Romans 12, but the gift listed here is actually the “gift of shepherding,” which can also be referred to as having a “pastoral gifting.”

And in the original language (the Greek), Paul seems to write in a way that teaches us that the gift of shepherding, or the gift of pastoring, is a gift combined with the gift of teaching. In other words, when God gives someone the gift of shepherding (or a pastoral gift), it includes the ability to teach.

We could say it this way:

Pastors are teachers.

But teachers are not always pastors.

Clear as mud? Good… because it’s likely going to get a lot muddier. But if God has given me a pastoral gift, which includes a teaching gift, then I should be able to make it clear. Hopefully...

So, let’s talk definitions first...

The gift of leadership (or administration):

Those with this gift have a God-given, Spirit-empowered ability to lead, oversee, manage, and organize. They help the church get things done. They may create systems or have a knack for putting people in the right position.

A good example of this gift in action is our Office Assistant, Hannah. She may not technically be serving as a leader in our church, but she has the gift of administration. I get sick to my stomach thinking about the fact that we only have 6 more months before she moves back home. Since we’ve hired her, honestly, life has been better. She has a gift for overseeing, organizing, and getting things done. Very rarely does she have to be shown how to do things - she just figures it out. She’s amazing.

The gift of teaching:

This gift is pretty straightforward. It refers to someone who is a master of instruction. They skillfully bring clarity - and in the church, they help make God’s word clear to their community. And that’s not easy.

I’ve said before, “The gospel is simple. Teaching the Scriptures is not.” That’s not to say we shouldn’t read our Bibles. We can and should. But you need the Holy Spirit’s help to teach the Scriptures well - you need the gift of teaching.

And here’s a hint to whether or not God has given you this gift… not only can you clearly teach God’s word, but when you do, people listen and understand. If you teach the Bible and people fall asleep or walk away saying, “Huh?,” you may not have the gift.

Actually, the Book of Nehemiah has a good description of what the gift of teaching would look like...

Nehemiah 8:8 NLT

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

God has given the church the gift of teaching so the same thing happens today. The Bible - God’s eternal Word - was meant to be read and understood. And teachers have that responsibility.

The gift of shepherding (pastor):

This is an interesting gift. It can even be a controversial gift - I’ll get to that in a minute. Part of the complexity is this gift seems to be paired with other gifts. As I mentioned before, the gift of shepherding is paired with the gift of teaching. Additionally, those gifted to be pastors implies a leadership responsibility.

All that to say, I think it is accurate to believe that a pastor will have all the leadership gifts working together - shepherding, leadership, and teaching. But what else does a “shepherd” or “pastor” do?

Well, to answer that question, we should look to the Bible. And in the Bible, we read about the greatest Shepherd, Jesus:

The apostle John recorded Jesus calling Himself “The good Shepherd.”

And the apostle Peter called Jesus “the chief Shepherd.”

And king David (who was a shepherd himself) wrote about a special Shepherd, who I believe was Jesus.

Therefore, I believe we can learn a lot about what the gift of shepherding (or pastoring) looks like by looking to the life of Jesus, specifically through the lens of Psalm 23…

Psalm 23:1–2 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

One thing those with the gift of shepherding do is lead people to rest. Don’t miss how important this is. We live in a world where work and production are the highest values. And don’t get me wrong, God appreciates hard work, but He also commands us to rest.

And I don’t have time to fully explore the biblical theology of rest, but the truth is, “God has called us to work from rest, not work to rest.” And in a world that preaches the opposite, shepherds (or pastors) help us get right with God.... which leads me to the next thing...

Psalm 23:3 NLT

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Shepherds guide people according to God’s word. Pastors help people to live for the glory of God’s name!

Psalm 23:4–5 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

So much good stuff here, but here’s the gist:

Good shepherds (or pastors) are with the people. They don’t isolate in ivory towers or hide in green rooms. They live with you. They eat with you. You can text them and they text you back.

They also remind you to not fear, but live by faith.

Pastors protect and comfort you. They tell you the truth. They help you to see blindspots or traps. And they sit with you in the brokenness.

Shepherds are hospitable. I know the context for “preparing a feast” is a little different here in Psalm 23, but the verbiage is still helpful. You should have fellowship with your pastors. They should make your feel at home in the family of God.

And pastors anoint your head and cause your cup to overflow. In other words, by their ministry, you experience healing and blessings.

Finally, they point you to Jesus. Pastors don’t make it about themselves, they make it about Jesus. The most important thing for them is that everyone “lives in the house or the LORD forever!”

Let me add one more quality of a pastor. Their lives should model what it is like to live for Jesus.

1 Peter 5:1–4 NLT

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

Pastors are leaders, but not like worldly leaders. Pastors are humble. They are eager to serve. They care. And they lead by example. With integrity, they can say...

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

If it’s not clear, those given the gift of “shepherding” have a lot of responsibility. They aren’t better or more important than anyone else, but God has entrusted them with the lives of people made in His image. That’s a heavy burden!

And when it comes to officially operating in this gift, not just anyone can do it whenever they want- at least not in a leadership capacity. That’s why the Bible gives qualifications. In writing to Titus, Paul said this...

Titus 1:5–9 NLT

I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

And Paul wrote to Timothy...

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NLT

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

There is a high responsibility that comes with the gift and calling of a pastor (which by the way is synonomous with elder, bishop, and overseer in the Bible)...

Now, some of you Bible detectives noticed something… Paul seems to be using ONLY male pronouns in his qualifications. He even says things like, “he must be faithful to his wife.”

Wait a minute… why are both of the pastors here at The River Church males. Oh wait… wasn’t there something in the media about a denomination kicking Rick Warren out because he ordained women pastors.

…and this is where the controversies come in!

And I’m going to talk a little about, but only in a very limited way. However, before I do, I need to make a few statements...

I need to ask for your grace. The temptation will be to emotionally react to things you personally disagree with. But please, give grace - react with God’s goodness even if you don’t believe I deserve it.

I also want to remind us that how we react will reveal our spiritual maturity. Spiritually mature people keep the main thing the main thing. AND THE MAIN THING IS JESUS.

… You may not agree with what I’m about to say, and that’s okay. It truly is. Why? Because although spiritual gifts and callings are important, but they aren’t a major doctrine. Even Wayne Grudem (the theologian I’ve referenced often in this series) writes, “church government is NOT a major doctrine.” What that means is we are allowed to have different interpretations on this subject and still belong to the same church family. In fact, our biblical unity is a sign of spiritual maturity.

3. Don’t force our current issues on an ancient culture. The temptation will be to make this a women’s right issue, because that’s what’s important to us today - rightfully so. I assure you, what the Bible has to say about women and leadership is NOT oppressive. Ultimately, God wrote the Scriptures. God loves women. He made them in His image. He has created and called them to flourish.

With that said, let’s dive in. [And please don’t throw anything at me…]

I’m going to present you with three different options. However, this is NOT exhaustive. I will not solve today something that has been debated by intelligent, godly, Spirit-filled people for the past 2000 years. But here we go...

Option 1: Keep it Simple:

Many times, the plain, simple, literal reading of the Bible is best. We have great translators who have given their lives to accurately interpreting the ancient Scriptures. Therefore, if we appropriately take a literal approach to what the Bible says about pastors, it would not be wrong to say it seems limited to men. Not only considering the qualifying passages we just read, but also consider the following passages...

1 Timothy 2:12–14 ESV

I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

Again, let me remind you to keep your modern, personal perspectives in check, as hard as that might be…

1 Corinthians 14:33–35 ESV

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

These are difficult passages to read and hear. I’m a man and I don’t like reading them! Nevertheless, for this option, a literal reading seems to support male pastoral leadership.

Additionally, the biblical history of leadership seems to support this. The Israelite priests were all men. The Jewish leaders (with a few rare exceptions) were all men. The twelve apostles were all men. In marriage, God has called husbands to lead. So, based on this pattern, it would not be inconsistent to see this as additional support for male pastoral leadership. And throughout the church ages, many solid, faithful, Spirit-filled churches have operated this way.

However, let me give option 2… I call this...

Transformer Theology:

Let’s bring back a phrase I used a couple of weeks ago. As we read these passages, maybe there is “More than meets the eye” (a line from Transformers). While the plain, simple, literal interpretation of the Bible is good, sometimes it’s not the best way. Sometimes the biblical authors wrote a specific way - or to a specific situation - that requires more than a literal reading. In other words, CONTEXT MATTERS!

If I were to say to you...

That’s cap. The Dolphins are going to kill the Bears. All Tua has to do is throw it up and let the Cheetah get it.

Some of you are very confused right now. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. What I’m absolutely sure of though… is if I said that 2000 years ago, NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT!!! A literal interpretation would be very confusing.

The same is true in reverse. The Scriptures, especially Paul’s letters, were written first to a specific people, for a specific purpose. And when they read them, they knew EXACTLY what he was talking about… BUT WE DON’T!

It is very possible that Paul was not saying women can’t be pastors or speak or teach in church. He could’ve been correcting disruptive practices happening in a specific church. He could have been addressing a culture that viewed women as superior, and Paul was saying, “Don’t be like that pagan religion!”

All that to say, there are plenty of solid, biblical, faithful interpretations that could lead to an accurate argument that women CAN hold pastoral positions of leadership.

And this also would be in line with many of the cultural norms Jesus broke as he often elevated women. In fact, if you consider the Twelve apostle (who were leaders of the early church), where were they at the Cross?

They had all ran away!

You know who were faithfully with Jesus?

The women.

What about the Resurrection? Where were the men?

Hiding like chumps!

You know who were the first to see Jesus?

The women.

And if the phrase “apostle” means “messenger sent out with the gospel of Jesus,” the WOMEN were the FIRST apostles! They were apostles TO THE Apostles!

Okay, option 3…

What’s in a name?

Right now, we’ve been lumping a lot under the term “pastor.” But did you know that “pastor” is the least used word when it comes to this subject? In the Bible, it’s more common to use “elder” or “bishop” when discussing church leadership. And while some parts of the church still use these titles, most just use “pastor.” It’s the word that currently communicates the clearest.

It’s similar to another word (and office, job, role) found in the church - deacon. Deacon is a specific type of servant in the church. And again, some churches still use this title. But like elder and bishop, deacon is a biblical word, but (depending on the context) may not be helpful. And if we’re honest, maybe sounds a little weird. Like at The River Church, our deacons are our Team Leaders and Team Coaches. They are head servants, just like deacons.

I’m saying all of this not to muddy the waters, but to show you that sometimes we will use words in ways that are most helpful. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

And while Paul may have written certain things about women to address specific cultural practices, the reality is the qualifications for an “elder” or “pastor” still seem to be directed towards a male. So, what do we do with that?

Well, option 3 is “What if the qualification for an elder/pastor is WORD referring ONLY to the lead or senior pastor of the church?” That person would obviously have the gift of shepherding, but they also hold a specific office that comes with extra authority and responsibility, that goes beyond simply having the gift of shepherding.

That being said, since the gift of shepherding, leadership, and teaching are not gender specific, both men and women are free to use their gifts for the building up of the church and glory of God. And since we have biblical freedom in organizing church structure, what if the pastors and/or elders choose to ALSO use the word “pastor” to describe roles that the early church would’ve never even thought of… like “worship pastor, youth pastor, women’s pastor.” Not to overstep biblical guidelines, but because the language is helpful to describe people serving with the shepherding gift? And yet, the lead or senior pastors over the church are still male?

Honestly, I think that’s an option too. Again, there are many other rabbit trails we can go down, but I think these are three solid options to consider.

So, here’s the question that I’m sure many of you are wondering… as the lead pastor of The River Church, where do I stand?

I DON’T KNOW.

That’s just honest. It’s not a cop-out. And I’ve changed my position multiple times. For women pastors and not. I’m not afraid to take a stand on what I believe according to the Scriptures. But because it’s not a major doctrine, I believe there is freedom to change my belief based on study and prayer. In fact, the Executive Leadership team here is all over the place.

We have women who don’t feel comfortable with women pastors.

We have men who do feel comfortable with women pastors.

But here’s the thing: As the lead pastor of this church, I love and support my entire team, even if they don’t agree with me. Why? Because we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

And though I’m not sure if women can biblically hold the official position of pastor, I will say this...

My prayer is The River Church would be a community where men and women can reach the highest level God has called them to.

My friend Josh (the guy who discipled me) was helping me process this earlier this week. And when I said that, he said, “And what level is that?” And in answering his own question, he said, “I don’t know, but let’s find out.” Meaning, what’s most important is not titles, but stewardship. I love that.

Also, let me make a statement. Most likely, I’m the most theologically trained person in the room. And yet, I will publicly and humbly say, “I may be wrong.” And I think it’s reasonable to say that if I’m willing to admit that, you should be too.

God is doing something special in both the men and women of The River Church. And it is my responsibility to ensure that every person can become exactly who God has called them to be… according to the Scriptures. Meaning, we don’t do things because culture says so. We don’t do things because tradition or feelings tell us to. We do things based on God’s word.

That’s why - currently - at The River Church. We have two male pastors. But at the same time, we have two women Directors (soon to be three), who (honestly) have the gift of shepherding and have the authority to lead their ministries.

Are we trying to be cute by naming them “directors,” as if we’re fooling God? Of course not. We’re trying to be biblical. Just as there is diversity on our Executive Leadership Team, there is diversity in our church family. And for some, having a woman with the title of pastor may be a huge stumbling block. So, why do that, especially if I don’t believe God has told me to do so? Why make people struggle over personal preferences? Romans 14 is all about that. Paul teaches us to live in a way that honors both Christ and our church family.

I’ve said it before, I’ll gladly take a different title if that helps. I’ll be a Director of Church Leadership. I don’t need to be called pastor to do what God has called me to. But, I haven’t changed my title because...

It’s biblical for someone in my position to have the title and responsibility of pastor.

My leadership team won’t let me do that! They tell me “People need to know our pastor - the one who is shepherding us.”

Response:

So, as we close [and the worship team comes up], let me encourage you in three ways...

Wherever you stand on this issue, be humble. Everyone say “Bah!” Yea - that’s you. That’s me. Regardless of gifting, we’re all sheep. And there is ONE Shepherd. His name is Jesus. He’s in charge. So, stop trippin, love your church family (even if you don’t agree with them), and be humble.

If God has given you a gift of leadership, then start taking steps towards using those gifts. We want to biblically support you: male, female, young or old. And a good place to start your leadership journey is to serve. In the Kingdom of God, leaders are servants. Even Jesus - the Great Shepherd - served others. And He also says...

Luke 16:10 NLT

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

If you can’t be faithful by serving in small ways, you can’t be a leader in the Kingdom of God.

And for those with a gift of teaching and shepherding, a great place to start serving is in Life Groups, River Kids, and Youth Ministry. Because here’s the thing… if you can’t teach God’s word to small groups or little people, you probably can’t teach the rest of us either.

If God is calling you to leadership, pray… and then start serving today.

3. Finally, let’s keep the main thing the main thing. God is doing something ridiculously special in our church. And the reason why has nothing to do with our church government. It has to do with the fact that we make JESUS MOST IMPORTANT. Let’s keep doing that. And here’s what Jesus says is MOST IMPORTANT...

Matthew 22:36–39 ESV

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We’ve talked about a lot today. We’ve talked about serious stuff. And again, I could be wrong on some things. But here’s something I know I’m NOT wrong about.... at the end of the day, what’s MOST IMPORTANT is...

To love Jesus with all of our heart.

To love one another the same way.

And to keep sharing the gospel and making disciples!

If we keep doing that (even if we biblically disagree on other things), we will continue to experience the Kingdom of God.

Let’s pray...

Jesus, this is all about You. Help us to always to remember that. We love You. We exalt You. We worship You. This is NOT about our gifts. This is about how our gifts help us bring people to You. We cast our gifts (our crowns) at Your feet. You alone are worthy of glory. Be glorified in our lives Jesus. We love you. In Your name we pray, amen.