Called to a Higher Standard

Song Service: Praise Team (3 songs)

Welcome: Brief welcome between songs (Pastor Billy)

Good morning, LRBC family! It’s so great to see all of you here today, whether you’ve been with us for years or this is your first time joining us. Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.

If you’re visiting with us, I hope you feel right at home. This is a place where we love Jesus, love each other, and strive to live out His mission in our daily lives.

Listen, today is a special day in the life of our church. It isn’t just a regular Sunday service—today, we get to celebrate God’s calling on a faithful servant and affirm the leadership He has placed in our church.

We’ll continue to worship together, because everything we do is rooted in praising the Lord. But after that, you’ll notice today’s service will feel a little different. We’ll hear about the ordination process, receive words of encouragement, and take time to pray over this new elder as we commission him for the work God has called him to.

Listen, if you don’t have a Bible, we have some available in the back—please grab one! And as we move through today’s service, my prayer is that you see the beauty of God’s design for His church and the weight of this calling to lead with wisdom, humility, and faithfulness.

So let’s continue to worship together and celebrate what God is doing in our church today! 

Scripture and Prayer: Deacon on Duty

Offering: Deacon on Duty (Pastors/Elders take seats on stage during the offering)

Read minutes of Ordination Council (give summary of key points?):Elder Dan D

Pastoral Encouragement: Randy N. (2-3 minute encouragement)

Ordination Sermon: Pastor Billy (10-15 min.)

Good morning everyone, thank you pastor Newton for those words of encouragement to Bryan, and LRBC.

Today is not a normal Sunday by any stretch, but it’s an important Sunday. It’s important because we are growing and continuing to see a need for more and more leaders here at LRBC. Part of that leadership is Elders…This is the group of men that Spiritually lead LRBC. These are the men who guard the theological fidelity of LRBC. These are men who have been called out to do a specific task, and that is what Eldership is all about, recognizing that call on a persons life.

Now, this is not an easy call that one can simply jump in to. You see, there are qualifications that must be upheld as we seek men to be Elders. However, this is more than an office that we appoint men to in order to lead the church. This is a responsibility that they have taken up and even more than that…this is a charge before God.

We’ve seen the idea of having leaders called by God throughout Scripture…Noah, Moses, David, the Apostles, Paul, Timothy, the list goes on and on…

We see this in church history too. Back in the first century we have Clement of Rome who said that Elders should be appointed in local churches. Fifteen years later Ignatius of Antioch saw a need for Elders. He said that elders were crucial for maintaining doctrinal purity. It’s not just there…through the early councils, Elders were discussed as necessary for the church’s doctrinal fidelity. Even through the Reformation the importance of Eldership was seen and maintained. Today, many Baptist churches are coming back to a model of being Elder led, which places a high importance on the Elders.

From the earliest church writings to modern times, elders have been seen as a necessary part of church leadership. The consistent theme is that elders were viewed as essential for shepherding, teaching, and church governance.

Today, we affirm and set apart a man for eldership, recognizing that this is a high calling with high standards, and a long history. What are

The Biblical Qualifications of an Elder:

We are going to read a couple of passages here real quick and then I will simply point out a few small things.

Titus 1:5–9 ESV

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 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.

"If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." (1 Tim. 3:1) On overseer is an elder…these are the same thing.

This morning Im’m going to put all of this down into 3 qualifications for us to look at and 1 warning.

Character Over Charisma – Elders must be above reproach, faithful, self-controlled, hospitable, and spiritually mature. They must have a strong character pointed towards the Lord.

2. Family & Personal Integrity – Faithful in marriage, leading their household well, setting an example in their private life. They must be well thought of both inside and outside of the church.

3. Doctrinal Soundness – Must hold firm to the Word of God, be able to teach sound doctrine and refute error. The Elder is the theological watchdog over the church, so they must be prepared to step up if necessary.

A Warning: The qualifications are not for "super-Christians" but for mature believers. The danger comes when the church lowers these standards. Here’s how we know not to lower this standard. Paul told Titus to find men like this in Crete. Crete was a place that was filled with people that were awful to each other. They were despicable, lying, lazy , and that was what their own people said about themselves.

The church is not to lower these standards in order to “fill a slot”, we have to wait for God to raise up the right men and we must always be discipling so that men are prepared.

Now, let’s take a moment to talk about

The Higher Standard of an Elder

Again, we are going to read a couple of passages, and then I will point out a couple of things.

James 3:1 ESV

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

also

1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV

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.

Now let’s take a look at three things that we see from these passages.

Elders Are Held Accountable – Not only by the church but more importantly by God. They are under-shepherds accountable to the Chief Shepherd. Listen, this is the most impactful statement I want you to take from here today. The Elder of a church is held to a higher level of accountability. What does that mean? Well, let me give you an example that I learned from a good friend of mine years ago.

My friend is a black belt in karate and was teaching younger kids classes for his dojo. He told me how all of the standards were actually the same. If he, as the instructor, calls them to attention and they do not comply, they will face consequences. However, the consequences were dependent on their age. If a kindergarten class got out of line and did not immediately come to attention, they will be reminded. However, if his upper level classes fell out of compliance with what he said…it was going to hurt. They would be either running, or doing pushups something, until they learned to listen and obey him as the instructor.

That is what an Elder is stepping into. When an Elder doesn’t listen to what God is leading us to…it’s gonna hurt a little bit more because the Lord is calling us to a higher level of accountability. Of course that leads to these next things.

2. Elders Must Lead by Example (1 Peter 5:3) – Not domineering, but serving. An Elder is not serving for selfish gain, but with eagerness to serve the church, and reach the lost.

3. Elders Must Watch Their Life & Doctrine Closely (1 Tim. 4:16) – An elder's fall does not only affect himself but the church. We live in the internet world where church leaders are falling by the wayside it seems like weekly. Some leaders that I have respected greatly are no longer in church leadership. The elder must rely on the strength of the resurrection and not on his own strength because an elder is a leader in the church. The elders actions can and do lead others to do and believe certain things.

Let’s go ahead and stop right there for a few minutes and have Pastor Randy S. come up and encourage Bryan as I have just terrified Bryan. :)

Invite Pastor Randy S.

Pastoral Encouragement: Randy S. (2-3 minute encouragement)

Ordination Vows: Elder Dan G.

Ordination Prayer: Pastor Randy N.

All Elders lay hands on Bryan (including visiting pastors)

Thank you for leading us in that prayer Pastor Randy. Now I’m going to take a moment and speak to the church as a whole, and then I’m going to speak to Bryan.

Charge to the church: Pastor Billy (10 min.)

Church, for the next few minutes I want to speak to you specifically. Let’s start off by reading

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

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.

Church, leadership is not a solo effort that is taken by one man. A faithful elder is only effective if the church receives his leadership in a biblical manner. Today we are ordaining Bryan Dyck to the office of elder. This is not just a call to him…it is a call to all of us here. Listen, God has been working in the heart of Bryan over the last few years and we, as the elder board, have tested Bryan over this last year. As a testament to that calling, I am going to be asking you, the church, to commit to certain things. Now, We are not going to be asking one by one, but this is the challenge I am putting before you.

1. Recognize His Calling & Authority – Bryan has been set apart for the work of an elder, not by his own ambition but through the affirmation of the elders and the work of the Holy Spirit. This means we must recognize his role as a shepherd, teacher, and overseer of our souls. That means that what Bryan says and does, actually hold a different authority than it has before. Bryan is a person that historically has largely helped to maintained the building, and while the passion for the building and facilities isn’t going to leave Bryan, he is transitioning to caring for you in a different way. In order for Bryan, or any of the elders of LRBC to be effective, you as the members of LRBC must be willing to receive that leadership.

2. Pray for Your Elders – Church leadership is a spiritual battlefield. Elders face unique burdens, and they carry the weight of shepherding God’s flock. Will you commit to praying for Bryan, for his wisdom, endurance, and faithfulness? That is an important prayer. As Bryan steps into this role there will likely be various thing that will come against him, that’s normal and that’s why he will need you to pray, just like the rest of the elders. While you are praying for Bryan and the other elders, don’t leave out your prayers for their spouses. Their spouses will have their own stress resulting from this leadership. Please commit to pray for the elders.

3. Follow with Joy – Hebrews tells us to submit to leadership in a way that brings joy rather than groaning. An elder’s work should not feel like pushing a boulder uphill. A church flourishes when its members respect, support, and follow their leaders in the Lord. Listen, I know it’s hard sometimes, and the reality is that the elders are going to upset you at some point in your time as part of LRBC. However, your response shouldn’t be to push against them with anger, but to speak with them and encourage them. There will be many times that the elders may know something that they are unable to share with you that has played a part in their decision making. What I am asking you to do, is to be charitable to your elders knowing they are seeking to please the Lord with their work right here at LRBC.

Church, let this be a moment where we renew our own faithfulness with each other—not just expecting our elders to lead well, but committing ourselves to be a people who follow well, pray well, and serve well. Let’s do all of that together today as I lead us in prayer for that purpose.

Pray that the church will be commited to follow well, pray well, and serve well here at LRBC.

Charge to Bryan: Pastor Billy (10 min. or less)

Of course that’s not all we need to talk about this morning. Let’s go ahead and talk to Bryan too. Let’s begin by looking again at

1 Peter 5:2–4 ESV

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.

Bryan, today we have laid hands on you, not just as an affirmation of your gifts, but as a solemn call to faithfulness. The office of elder is not a position of prestige—it is a call to sacrificial service. Much of what the elder will do is behind the scenes and not known by many people. however, we do it cheerfully. Why? We do it cheerfully because we have an opportunity to serve the living God who has called us out of our sin and darkness to lead this church right here in Leaf River, IL.

We don’t do this in order to lead people, but instead to serve people more fully. I would like to talk a little about that service this morning. I’m going to show you three aspects of that serving that I expect you to strive to exemplify not only to the other elders, but to the church as a whole.

1. Shepherd with a Willing Heart – Peter reminds us that shepherding is not a duty we bear reluctantly but a joyful responsibility. There will be hard days, but your calling is not merely to endure the flock—it is to love them as Christ does. That means joyfully stepping outside your comfort zone, approaching those you may not know well, and asking how you can serve them. It means seeing the struggling person—not continuing with your own tasks—but stopping to reach out, encourage, and care for them.

As an elder at LRBC, your calling is to see the people of this church as Jesus sees them—as people continually in need of God's grace, just like yourself. Now, you have the privilege of joyfully and willingly putting their spiritual needs above your own, humbly carrying their burdens as your own, and shepherding them in the way the Chief Shepherd has called you to shepherd.

2. Lead by Example – The most powerful leadership is not in words alone, but in how you live. The flock will follow your faithfulness, your love for Christ, your devotion to the Word, and your integrity. As Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). This is your opportunity to call others to follow you as you follow Christ—but that means you must first be fully committed to following Him yourself.

As a church, we are always striving to please the Lord—as an elder, you are called to please the Lord in your leadership. Your leadership will not always be something announced; more often, it will be something felt. The people around you will reflect your leadership, so lead with humility, faithfulness, and Christ-centeredness. Pay attention to their spiritual well-being—not for the sake of your own reputation, but to ensure you are leading them toward Christ.

Above all, leading by example means consistently pointing people toward Christ and modeling a life where He is above all else. That is the heart of godly leadership.

3. Serve with Eternity in View – This work is not about recognition. It is not about applause. It is not even about success in human terms. Your reward comes from the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who will give you an eternal crown that far outweighs any earthly honor.

So, if you expect this to be a glamorous role, let me be clear—it will not be. You are not working for the praise of men or public recognition; you are serving for the commendation of Christ. That reward will not come today, nor will it come from this congregation. It comes when Christ returns. Until then, you labor faithfully, trusting that He sees every act of service, every sacrifice, and every moment spent shepherding His people.

As you serve others, remember that you are serving in light of their eternal, not just their present needs. Your shepherding is about leading them toward Christ, ensuring they grow in faith, and longing for the day when they will stand before Him in glory. Bryan, today you are being set apart for this holy work. From this day forward, you serve the Lord by serving the people of LRBC.

Bryan, here is the bottom line—today, you are being set apart for a holy work. The road ahead will be challenging, but the One who called you to this, is faithful. So…

Shepherd well. Stand firm. Stay humble. Let’s pray…

Pray for Bryan to shepherd well, stand firm, stay humble.

At this time I have the honor of presenting to LRBC a brand new Elder…Bryan Dyck, would you please join me, and the other elders up here.

Present New Elder: All Elders

(Present with Certificate of Ordination)

Signing of Elder Covenant: All Elders

The covenant will be read to the congregation by Pastor Billy

Brief Announcements: Pastor Billy  (see below)

Remind people to check the bulletin/and online for all the regular events.

Purpose Discovery Meeting, Saturday, February 15th @ 8am: All are welcome to attend.

The Mission of the Month is Lifeline Coalition: Last year around 800 women contacted Lifeline Coalition looking for help with an unplanned pregnancy. Change For Life is our opportunity to give every young woman in our community somewhere to go when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. It's not too late to pick up a baby bottle and join us in saving lives! Bottles are due back on February 16th. You can also donate online at lifelinecoalition.org/give/.

Benediction by newly ordained Elder: Bryan D.

Bryan shares his heart for the church and prays to close (and for food) 

Dismiss to Potluck