Servant Leaders in the Church

Introduction

Suspicion of (Church) Leadership

attributed to the 19th century British politician Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Perhaps the sentiment behind this quote is why you tend to see suspicion of leadership in many areas today.

top of politics

World leaders

down to your boss at work

also leaders in the church.

This hasn’t been without cause. Many a leader has abused their position and power, and yes, it is true even in the church.

Influential pastor (Mark Driscoll) accused of abusing his power and was removed from leadership of the megachurch he planted causing the church to practically disintegrate.

More recently, pastor (Robert Morris) of a church that boasts 100,000 people attending each weekend recently resigned after it was revealed that “inappropriate relationship” the pastor had confessed to decades before was actually committed against a minor

i could give more examples and I’m sure you could give some personal examples as well.

Some of you can give personal stories of being hurt by church leaders or at the very least seeing church leaders who do not display the character of Christ

With this (unfortunate) knowledge we need to ask the questions:

Who leads the church?

How should they lead the church?

These are questions the current leadership of Granger MC have been asking as we move toward the next season of the mission God has for us.

This message is important for two reasons:

1. The leaders of the church have a profound impact on the mission of the church.

2. You lead the mission of the church. If the mission of the church is to make disciples and thereby show the glory of God, and if we are each called to make disciples as commissioned by Christ, then we each lead in the mission of the church.

You may not lead as a named role or church leader within the church, but each of us has a sphere of influence that we lead.

Maybe as a parent, maybe you’re a boss, or a teacher, or a husband. Each of us is leading, or should be leading people to take their next step in Jesus first life, i.e. discipleship.

Acts 20 - Paul is on his way to Jerusalem by ship; however, he stops at a city called Miletus - about 20 miles from Ephesus

— Paul had spent 3 years at Ephesus

— he set up elders to lead when he left

— asked elders to meet him at Miletus

— probably last time he will see them

— In this we will hear from a church leader to a group of church leaders the heart he has for the church and what he expects from them as they lead the church.

Acts: Verse by Verse Paul Says Farewell to the Elders from Ephesus (20:13–38)

This is Paul’s only speech recorded in Acts to a Christian audience. He knows this will be his last time with these friends from Ephesus, though not for the reason he thinks, and so this is a farewell speech.

Acts 20:17–38 (ESV)

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 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. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Elders are servant leaders of the church:

Elders = men who are appointed by the Spirit and affirmed by the church to oversee the leadership of the local church.

(grateful for David Platt’s message on elders as I borrow some of the main points of his sermon - just said it so well)

Lead under the authority of Christ (28)

28 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.

The church belongs to Christ

Christ bought it at the highest price.

Church leaders are first (and foremost) Christ-followers.

You cannot lead the church without following Christ, and the better one follows Christ, the better one can lead Christ-followers in the church.

Elders have no more authority than Jesus allows.

The church is led by the elders

This is not the first time we see elders leading the church

(See chart by Gene Getz)

Elders = men who are appointed by the Spirit and affirmed by the church to oversee the leadership of the local church.

appointed by the Holy Spirit

accountable to God,

assisting the church

Elders lead the church as servants of Christ.

Feed with the Word of Christ (20-27)

20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

One of the qualifications that Paul will give Timothy to look for to appoint elders in Ephesus (and beyond) is the ability to teach the Word of God

Not necessarily preaching

Not necessarily formal teaching

Means they KNOW the Word and can COMMUNICATE the Word

Elders have authority ONLY because the Word of God has AUTHORTY

Acts: Verse by Verse Paul Says Farewell to the Elders from Ephesus (20:13–38)

There are three results when God’s word governs the life of our churches and of each one of us: (1) We are built up or edified, meaning we ourselves as individuals and a corporate whole are God’s great construction project. Then (2) we are the recipients of Christ’s “inheritance,” one of the beautiful themes of Scripture, referring to the future and final blessings God has for his people in Christ (Eph 1:14, 18; Col 1:12; 3:24; Heb 1:14; 9:15; 1 Pet 1:4; 3:9). Finally, (3) we are placed “among all those who are sanctified,” or “made holy,” thereby becoming “saints” who have been set apart for God and are called to live apart from sin and the world (Acts 26:18; Rom 15:16; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13).

Elders must know God’s Word

THEOLOGICALLY

Titus 1:9 (ESV)

9 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.

Titus 2:1 (ESV)

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

PRAGMATICALLY

Can they apply the Word of God my situation?

Care for the Body of Christ (29-31; 34-35)

Two ways:

Protect the church

Love the people

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

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;

Elders should be the first to serve, not the first to be served.

Model the character of Christ (18-19)

18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

[Paul] “Find men who are mature and godly to lead the church”

[Timothy] - “How will I know what to look for”

1 Timothy 3:1–7 (ESV)

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

This is servant leadership. It is what Jesus modeled and it is what Jesus, Peter, and Paul expect and call for from church leaders today.

Notice that none of the things we saw were talent-based or skill-based. They are character-based.

Church leaders are not “super Christians” doing things (living in a way) that other Christians cannot; rather, they are those called by God and the church because they are setting an example of how Christ is calling all believers to live.

John 13 - upper room - last lesson Jesus leaves with those who will become the leaders of the Church

Even here the disciples are still immature

Jesus gives them their last lesson before he heads to the cross on what it means to be a leader

Servant leaders lead like Jesus:

Humble

1 Peter 5:3 (ESV)

3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

An arrogant Christian is an oxymoron and not a Christian

If the position to come to Christ is one of humility, then the disposition of the Christian life can be nothing less.

Too often, I have seen church leaders attempting to build their own kingdoms instead of recognizing they are called to lead GOD’S KINGDOM

*We tend to do that in all of our kingdoms.

Those areas you lead (work, home, school), do you tend to believe everything rests on you? that you call the shots? That those around you are lucky to have you?

Matthew 20:20–28 (ESV)

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” . . .

. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

*What is your disposition toward those you lead?

humility?

Service?

Would YOU want to follow you?

Holy

Jesus modeled holiness as the only sinless human and he called his disciples to pursue holiness as well.

Jesus didn’t stand and point, he led.

You can’t lead people into a place you are unwilling to go.

Paul told the Corinthians, Philippians, and Thessalonians to imitate him (1 Cor. 4:16–17; 11:1; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:7–9). He told Timothy to set an example for the Ephesians “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). He instructed Titus to be “a model of good works” (Titus 2:7). He made special lists of elder qualifications that start with the call to be “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:6–9). In fact, the New Testament expectation is that the elders will be so known for their holiness that it would be ridiculous to accept an allegation against them unless there are multiple accusers (1 Tim. 5:19).

Failure on my part can never diminish God’s glory, but it may make a mockery of his grace

2 Timothy 3:5 (ESV)

5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Faithful

First to Christ Second to those called to lead

*ILLUST- What is success as a pastor? Faithfulness

Acts 20:24

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Matt 25:21 - well done, good and FAITHFUL SERVANT

Where has God placed YOU to lead?

Who are those whom you lead? (have influence over)?

What is the mission God has placed you to be on?

Will you pray for me and our leaders as we look to develop elders to lead well?