Parish Council Commissioning
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Who are our Parish Council Leaders?
Who are our Parish Council Leaders?
Today I’m not going to preach a normal sermon - I hear sighs of relief!!
Instead I want to explain why we’re going to focus on the commissioning of our Parish Council members
Today isn’t just another Sunday - instead I want us to reflect on what it means to be a Church leader
For St Paul’s the Parish Council, along with the Minister & Intern together are leaders of this church community
They play an important role in the life of this church
First I want to look at the 2 scripture passages that were read out
In Paul is speaking to the leaders of the church is Ephesus
He is about to leave for Rome, so this was possibly the last time he was going to see them
There are several things Paul wanted to remind the leaders of that church
So let’s have a look at this passage;
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. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Firstly notice Paul used the same metaphor or word picture that Jesus had used
He describes church members as sheep & the leaders as shepherds
Paul wanted the leaders to protect the people they were responsible for...
Like the shepherds protect the sheep
Paul warns the leaders about people who might come into or already be in the church
And these people will try and use the bible, our church traditions, our relationships...
So they can benefit themselves in some way
It might be to make someone do something for them....
Might be to try gain power over other people
Might even be so they can turn the people against the minister!
All these things happen far to often in churches today
So its the leaders job to protect the church members from those who may want to hurt/ exploit them
The second passage that was read out was from 1Peter
Now Peter also wrote the leaders in the church and used the same metaphor / word picture as Paul
Let’s have a look at that passage;
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
In this passage Peter wants to remind the church leaders how he expects them to behave
Firstly he says - don’t be leader if you feel like you have to / must
Instead be a leader because you’re happy& willing to serve people in that way
And because you believe that God’s called you to be a leader
Next Peter tells leaders to not be greedy i.e don’t be a leader so you can take all the money
Then better says leaders shouldn’t lord it over those who have trusted you to lead them
What does it mean to lord it over them (hear suggestions)
Yes it means to boss people around & them to do things you should be doing
Or treating people as if you’re better than they are
Lastly Peter says leaders should be an example - they’re to behave in ways that people can look up to
And they’ll think “this person knows what he’s doing / this is someone I can respect / this is someone I want to be like
So if you’re going to lead people well, you need to be someone others will want to follow
So if you’re going to lead people well, you need to be someone others will want to follow
Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus & in his letter he explains the main purpose God gives us leaders
to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Eph
Leaders are there to do all they can to help the rest of the church accomplish what God’s called them to
Leaders help the church grow & become strong in faith & knowledge of God & in doing good for others
So today we’re commissioning our Parish Councillors to become the leaders of St Paul’s along with Jacqui & I
Instead I want to explain why we’re going to focus on the commissioning of our Parish Council members
You have nominated them & accepted them as your leaders for the coming year.
Today isn’t just another Sunday - instead I want us to reflect on what it means to be a Church leader
And they are now taking on the responsibility of leading - because they’re willing & believe God’s called them to lead
And they are now taking on the responsibility of leading - because they’re willing & believe God’s called them to lead
They’re now responsible to you to serve you as Christ-like examples for you to follow
For St Paul’s the Parish Council, along with the Minister & Intern together are leaders of this church community
They’re now responsible to you to treat you fairly & justly /
They’re now responsible to you to be trustworthy, especially when dealing with money
And lastly They’re now responsible for protecting you, encouraging you, & helping you in your faith journey
They play an important role in the life of this church
In Paul is speaking to the leaders of the church is Ephesus
He is about to leave for Rome, so this was possibly the last time he was going to see them
There are several things Paul wanted to remind the leaders of that church
Acts
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.
Wow - no pressure! But that’s all part & parcel of being a leader in Jesus Church
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.
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
He describes church members as sheep & the leaders as shepherds
Paul wanted the leaders to protect the people they were responsible for...
Like the shepherds protect the sheep
Paul warns the leaders about people who might come into or already be in the church
And these people will try and use the bible, our church traditions, our relationships...
So they can benefit themselves in some way
It might be to make someone do something for them....
Might be to try gain power over other people
Might even be so they can turn the people against the minister!
All these things happen far to often in churches today
So its the leaders job to protect the church members from those who may want to hurt/ exploit them