Remember Your Leaders

Hebrews 13:7–17 NIV84

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1. Good leadership is essential for the health of any church

Leaders provide vision and direction

They inspire us, motivate change and encourage us

They provide resources, tools and create the environment necessary for success

Leaders create order from chaos and bring clarity

Leaders seem to carry us on their shoulders when we are weary and can go no further

Leaders need help (Moses had Aaron and Hur; David had his mighty men; Gideon had 300; Pastor Jose has?)

2. A challenge to the church to remember leaders

Leaders need encouragement, an uplifting word or a note

Leaders need rest

Leaders need your prayers

James 3:1 NIV84

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Leaders who teach you should be honored

Leaders who protect you should be honored

1 Timothy 5:17 NIV84

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Clergy used to be honored

People trusted them

People sought their counsel

Find ways to support the leaders in your life

Be a blessing to your leaders (five-fold ministers)

3. Consider the outcome of their lives

Look at their marriage (don’t judge the spouse)

Look at their children (don’t judge their children)

Look at their life

Consider their faithfulness in the midst of chaos

Consider their commitment in the midst of need

Consider their loyalty in the midst of a broken heart

Imitate their faith

Imitate their faithfulness

Imitate their commitment

Imitate their loyalty

Don’t imitate the negative

Imitate them as they imitate Christ

4. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority

You can’t submit to someone you don’t trust

You don’t know submission until there is a disagreement

Your submission makes the work a joy

Your lack of submission makes it a burden (that doesn’t benefit you)

Attending church is much more than just receiving a Word

Attending church is much more than just a duty to fulfill

Attending church is a commitment to God and the leaders God placed

Leaders have the responsibility of watching over you

As a church member, you have the responsibility of making yourself available

A good shepherd will give his life for you

5. The constant of our faith—Jesus

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever

He is the ultimate source of our Faith

Our leaders should emulate Jesus in every way possible

Jesus, however, also submitted Himself to the Father even to the point of death

Imitate Jesus by having a teachable spirit

We must be like Jesus