Leading Like Jesus/ Leading Jesus' Way
Acts (To Be Continued...) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 20. Acts 20:17.
Last words are often important in movies and stories and in life.
They have a sense of gravity, of importance, of this is a big deal.
Sometimes they are funny and unexpected—Winston Churchill, acc. to historians is reported to have said as his last words, “I’m bored with it all.” Seems about right for him.
Apple Co-founder Steve Jobs was reported to have said “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
But usually last words, especially if you get the chance to say them to a loved one or hear from a loved one---are just so special.
I remember when my grandma Schwartz was dying, I had the chance to visit her on hospice, and she was still with it until the last 24 hours. and she looked at me…I still remember it, and said, “Ricky…don’t you worry about me. I know where I am going!”
In our passage today, Paul is giving some final instructions…some last words…he is not dying—but he knows he will never see them again.
let me read verse 17 to set the context.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
Paul is giving final instructions to Christian leaders called elders. (the actual Greek work is Presbuteros—where we get our word Presbyterian)
These elders were Christian leaders in the church at Ephesus, where Paul had spent 3 years.
You see… Paul’s mission strategy to advance the Gospel was not just to preach the good news of Jesus,
but start new churches, gatherings of people…that would continue to grow in Christ and advance the Gospel--
and also this:
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Paul knew that leadership was vitally important....
so Paul would go around, starting new churches, and raise up leaders to keep leading the church while he was gone—called elders.
so I believe healthy churches have healthy leader and something called elders—
and it’ beautiful because it’s not based on one individual but it’s godly leaders—shepherding and leading the church TOGETHER...
so the words Paul says—he says to these Christian leaders—called elders. This text will call them overseers as well, and also describe them as shepherds.
so I am going to apply this to our elders…as part of it.
you may be wondering who are they...
here is a list:
in chronological order...
Luke Liechty (currently serving as chairman of our board)
Brad Abnet
Chris Hawbaker
Lloyd Sarasin
Jerry Amstutz
Larry McMullen (our eldest elder)
2 of these guys are finishing their elder term at the end of the year, and according to our bylaws must come off the board for at least a year, and 2 guys are being designated to replace them.
(now I didn’t mention our Church Board—these 6 individuals make up 14 positions on the Church Board—working together)
so what I am about to read especially applies to them…as well as our pastoral leadership...
but hold on....don’t just check out…because this passage applies to all of us.
How?
1. because it’s our job as a congregation to hold our leaders accountable....to do what these verses say.
2. I also think it applies to anyone who thinks they are a leader at some level (all of you) and all Christians
so pay attention—what are these last words—that Paul gives these elders, these church leaders
what does he want them to be about—what does he want our church and its leadership to be about...
Let’s stand...
Paul’s going to look in the past first.
18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.
19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Paul’s life is a model of humble, yet bold leadership.
he served humbly, he preached boldly, not shrinking from the truth…you must repent from your way of life and sin and turn to Jesus Christ
so he talks about his past way of life among them…and they had been through so much together the last 3 years...
now his present...
Acts 20:22–27 (NIV)
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (that was his mission—we talked about that last week—and what is your mission?)
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.
26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.
27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
so we see this combination—this example of Paul…of humility, of willingness to lead by example and suffer...
and boldness…speaking God’s Word and truth plainly.
let me keep going as he really brings it up home now—these are the verses where he gives that final charge to the elders...
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Let’s pause…you may be seated…
what are some of the Last Words of Leadership...
Last Words of Leadership:
1. Watch yourself (vs. 28)
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
we cannot care for others—if we neglect the care and nurture of ourselves.
we cannot give to others…what we don’t have.
Paul will tell Timothy—a pastor he was mentoring similar words…maybe the scariest words of all for Christian leaders...
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
it is possible that the hardest person to lead is whom…yourself. we are getting into the end of the year, and soon to start a new year—and it’s the time of the year we reflect on goals we made—did we meet them or not…why not? making new ones? why is it for some of us so hard to meet those goals? self-leadership is challenging!
we can so deceive ourselves…we can make excuses for why we are the way we are…or why we haven’t reached a certain point...
but I think these words are so important. here’s why—I used to think in ministry that the most important thing I do every day is....what? helping people. I am here to help people. but I actually don’t think that’s the most important thing I can do everyday. it’s shifted for me.
I actually think the most important thing I can do everyday…is being with Jesus, loving Jesus, enjoying Jesus. it’s allowing Jesus to help me watch me. it’s soaking in His presence. and I don’t believe this is selfish…after all—Jesus commanded us to love God with our heart soul mind and strength. that’s important! Jesus spent time with the Father—he would withdraw from the crowds.
and I find as I am connected more to the vine…I have the resources I need to help people. I have the wisdom I need to know when to say “yes or no” to situations. I am in a much more discerning, healthier spot.
so if you find yourself running ragged helping others—remember—you are first of all responsible for you and the care of your own soul. and if you don’t care for it—that’s when all sorts of things creep in—addictions, pornography, affairs…compromise—that you never thought you would as a form of a release vale in your life
so watch yourself…take care of yourself—not just spiritually but physically—do you take care of your body that God has given you—exercise and sleep and nutrition. do you have friends that you can just be you around.
it’s amazing that in the other lists of elder qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4) - most of the list is character driven. not as much skill driven.
2. Watch others (vs. 28)
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
keep watch over the flock—that’s a reference to the people of God—the church. and he uses a new title different than elders—overseers (Greek word episkopoi—where we get our word Episcopos)
the word elders implies wisdom, life maturity, a certain experience....overseers is getting at function...
you are overseeing people’s lives, souls, spiritual maturity, you are overseeing practical things in the affairs of the church or organization—things like a budget. or a student ministry renovation center
but as you watch yourself, knowing your own heart, letting Jesus shape you into the person of God He has called you to be…you can then watch others.
you do this for the sake of maturity...
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
you want everyone to be fully mature in Christ.
now there are a couple of qualifications in this verse—on how we watch others—and I think Paul puts them here so we remember we are not too big—this leadership stuff should not go to any of our heads..
2a…Keep watch....remembering…that the Holy Spirit put you there (you are not there by accident) (vs. 28)
Acts 20:28 (NIV)
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
the Holy Spirit put you there—so be confident. some of us in leadership—wherever you are—need to remember that. don’t shirk or back down from your responsibilities. being a leader is hard work. it’s demanding and taxing. “Lord, send someone else” but the HS put you there.
also don’t let it go to your head..the HS put you there—He can take you down from there. none of us are entitled to leadership.
2b…Keep watch...remembering how precious the church is to God— (vs. 28)
Acts 20:28 (NIV)
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
So God owns it—the church is His...
he cares for the church so much He bought it with his own blood.
the church is the people of God—the flock. Jesus bought it, died for it, spilled His precious blood for it—to purchase us from sin to the kingdom of God, new life.
so this is a good reminder—we are simply stewards of the church. God owns it! this isn’t my church or elders church or yours—it’s God’s!
it’s a good reminder—because we see a tension. people are called flock—sheep.
Theologian John Stott reminds us of sheep — he says “sheep are not at all the clean and cuddly creatures they may appear. in fact, they are dirty, subject to unpleasant pests, and regularly need to be dipped in strong chemicals to rid them of lice, ticks, and worms, they can be unintelligent, wayward, and obstinate.”
look at your neighbor and say “that’s me.”
and look at your neighbor and say “that’s definitely you.”
that’s the language used of us—even shepherds—leaders are still sheep.
leading people is difficult because they are PEOPLE.
leading yourself is difficult because you are part of that description.
but don’t forget---God says—I love those sheep. even the most annoying sheep/people that you cannot stand. You see them coming down the hall—you gook for an escape “don’t make eye contact.” You see them in the balcony..I guess I am sitting in the first row. even the person who disagrees with you politically—bought with the precious blood of Jesus christ. Keep watch over them too.
3.... Protect the flock from…division and doctrine distortion (vs. 29-30)
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
division
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.
some people can be very divisive — have an agenda. protect the flock from those kind of people. Titus issues strong warnings—the person here is involved in all sorts of minor issues, almost like internet conspiracy theories—and in a way that stirs up the people. divides the people. don’t tolerate that. or people that have an agenda and want to get a following not for Jesus’ sake but their own.
doctrine distortion
Paul said people would arise even within the congregation and distort the truth.
what are some modern examples of false teaching that arise?
speculations, conspiracy theories, not keeping the main thing the main thing
legalism - I have to do something to win God’s favor…yes we may preach the Good news of Jesus that you are saved only by what Jesus did—but there is this unwritten cultural rule that true Christians have to do something to be really saved.
prosperity gospel - God owes me wealth, health, and blessing…life will always be good…God owes me this…or I just have to have enough faith to unlock them. While I do believe all blessings ultimately come from God—you can be the most faithful person in the world, and face tremendous suffering—i.e. Job in the OT, Jesus in the NT.
related to this...my happiness is most important “as long as you are happy...”
making God in my own image… “God always has to agree with me or I get upset when I come to an uncomfortable passage in God’s Word.” “or God has to bless my plans...” instead of surrendering...
the Disney way - follow your heart…look inside your heart, discover it, affirm it, express it. but the problem is Jer. 17:9 says our hearts can be deceitful? what if we find sin in our hearts? how do we know what to affirm and not to unless Scripture tells us?
i have to have certain spiritual gifts or experiences to really be a Christian....
only i have the true teaching, only this way of following Christianity or this church doing it is the “true church.”
at the core of all these are works based....a kind of legalism that adds to the finished work of Jesus. we believe it is only by grace alone we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone—to the glory of God alone.
while it is the job of church leaders to make sure no false teaching creeps into our church…it is all of our job to make sure we are teaching and resting in the beautiful Gospel of Jesus!
4. Live with integrity…(vs. 18-21, 33-35)
we already saw in vs. 18-21—how Paul lived among them…with great humility, tears, severe testing....
but now look at verses 33-35, (we will come back to verse 32)
33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
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.’ ”
Paul lived and ministered in an age where traveling speakers and philosophers were paid well and took advantage of their people…but not Paul.
now, sometimes Paul would take financial support—but he never did from the current congregation he was working at—but from previous.
all so the Gospel could go forth.
5. Trust the Word of God to do the hard work. (vs. 20, 27, 32)
Paul was not embarrassed by the hard parts of Scripture.
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
has not hesitated…there are difficult parts of Scripture…here in the West—we might say things like God’s judgement, or accountability for sin. or the teaching of the doctrine of hell. those are difficult. Those may not be as difficult in other places in the world—where they may struggle with things like “turn the other cheek...” forgive 490 times...
Trust that even the uncomfortable parts for us—that parts that make us squirm—are for our good and teach us something so good about God.
and then I love this
Acts 20:32 (NIV)
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace (the Gospel), which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
this can build you up…this builds the church
this gives the church a current and future inheritance
this makes people sanctified—which means set apart—holy. God’s Gospel—when you believe in Jesus—he declares you holy—just as if you have never sinned…as just as if you have done everything Jesus did.
this is God’s plan A —for His Word and His Good news to do what it has been doing since creation—when He spoke “let there be light...”
it’s God’s Word that gives life..
it takes the focus off ourselves and puts it on Him
Only God can give it...
are we really on Him to do it—or ourselves...
If we had to summarize all of this—God calls us to lead Jesus’ way…to lead like Him...
you see—there had been a cry for a long time for a shepherd or leader like Jesus.
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
honestly—all us should see ourselves in this—we don’t always lead for the right motives. we need help!
but Jesus comes along…and says this...
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
Jesus is not like the hired hand...
He is the one who came for us. stayed with us—all the way to the cross. Even on the cross, he could have called 10,000 angels to rescue him—but He said not my will but yours be done.
He stayed b/c our sin needed paid for…we needed a new heart. only through Him could be rescued.
I called this sermon leading like Jesus—or leading His way—b/c when we lead like Him…we are constantly pointing others to Him, relying on Him, depending on Him. It’s all about Him. If we stay connected to the vine—Jesus Christ—we will bear much fruit.
this comes from a relationship that is dependent on Him. b/c none of us can do this perfectly.
only through Jesus the Good Shepherd of the Sheep can we do this...
