Led by the Chief-Shepherd: Following Biblical Leadership in Christ's Church
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Imagine a world where we didn’t need government … like u-topia - which you should know means no place. So many of these dreams - take a grain of truth run with it to the neglect of others. Like state imposed socialism, communism - live for greater good - but in world of sin end up with state controlling all, and know sense of the individual that socialism was designed to free. Part of the reason for this is sin, and that would make sense of the quotation: Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.
But actually government rooted in the creation order before sin itself, and the fact is as Creatures we need the Creator’s leadership, and some of that leadership that God has built into fabric and structures of marriage, family, the state, your place of work. There is such a thing as legitimate, limited, delegated authority, and it is to exist in a way that respects this other truth of the freedom and importance of the individual.
Anarchists and social justice warrior trumpet to the exclusion of all other truths - that we are created equal in dignity, individual freedom. The Bible’s teaching on the role of a leader, the function of a leader, is not such that a leaders calling somehow how more worth or dignity than the universal calling all human beings share, or the universal calling that all Christians share with Christ in the office of believers, as servant of the Lord ministering grace as Christ apportioned it. Eph 4.
Even in civil government we can se this idea worked out: Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
So two of the saddest and most grotesque commentaries on the desire of our modern culture are on one-hand to get rid of all authority - to be completely autonomous individuals, comes at the end of C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy That Hideous Strength - I have shown you this picture before - NICE takes over - evil going - their leader - is headless - just a corpse kept alive by test-tubes and machines - but he has no head.
But on the other-hand to have that extreme of having a form of government that does not severe and considers itself autonomous, not receiving authority from God, for which it is accountable and indeed under his leadership! This is what we see in our text in Ezekiel 34, and what Jesus calls the way of the world in governing of Lording it over.
Well our goal tonight then, as we have seen how important this new character in God’s drama is to working out salvation in the world, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well what kind of leadership do you and I need to follow for God’s church to achieve its purpose?
Key Truth: The Church is to be led by elected, ordained servants, whom you follow because of their work in the Lord.
Key Truth: The Church is to be led by elected, ordained servants, whom you follow because of their work in the Lord.
A. God’s Way of Selecting Leaders is Election & Ordination
A. God’s Way of Selecting Leaders is Election & Ordination
And we can see even from this selection f the first official leaders in God’s OT community with the selection of elders. Look at Deut 1:13-15
Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ And you answered me, ‘The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.’ So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.
Even among the tribe of Levi, were there were hereditary priests, they did not put themselves forward like job candidates, but they were approved from among their brethren. God’s people had a part in their coming into office of priest: Leviticus 8:4-6
And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
The same thing happens when Aaron is stripped of his priestly robes, and Eleazar the next high priest takes over, the people are there and involved: Numbers 20:26-27
And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
There was never just a bare appointment as in the Guido’s Day in the Roman Catholic Church. The practice of Simony - of buying and selling church offices by rich family and the higher some poor uneducated monk to be priest, while your son would rake in all the offerings. Such was how John Calvin actually grew up and had his university paid for up to the point he was converted.
And we clearly see this practice of of selecting from among peers, of electing in the NT too. When Judas had to be replaced as the 12th apostle. We read: Acts 1:21-26 how they had to select from among them men who accompanied the apostles from the beginning and were witness to the Resurrection, the 120 disciples are involved in putting such men forward, two are found and put forward.
The principle is the same in the selection of 7 men who would serve as proto-deacons. Acts 6:3
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
And finally we see also when the NT church is set up with its offices for the time after the apostolic age. Paul and Barnabas setting up and then leaving these churches makes sure they appoint elders in each church as they go through Asia Minor.. Look how Acts 14:23
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
And that word, appointed in Greek is “choose, elect by raising hands.”
Even before the Roman Catholic church, after the times of persecution had ended and it kind of got swallowed up and taken by the Roman culture and took the form of Roman civil administration, so that each position was appointed by a higher up authority, listen to how the early church was organized with elders /overseer, same word bishop and with deacons!
The Didache the earliest Christian writing, during the end of the Apostolic age between 60 AD - 120 AD says:
Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of money, and truthful and proved” (15:1).
Similarly, Cyprian who was the Bishop in Carthage N.Africa a little later said about the people of God the congregation:
[They] have the power either of choosing worthy priests, or of rejecting unworthy ones . . . Which very thing, too, we observe to come from divine authority, that the priest should be chosen in the presence of the people under the eyes of all, and should be approved worthy and suitable by public judgment and testimony . . . And the bishop should be chosen in the presence of the people, who have most fully known the life of each one, and have looked into the doings of each one as respects his habitual conduct.8
It is no small thing the people of God do in looking for and putting forward spiritual leaders.
Listen in Reformed Churches, the polish pastor who organized Dutch refugee congregation in England fleshed out the practice like this:
degrees. In the Dutch refugee congregation in London under the leadership of Johannes à Lasco, a day of fasting, prayer, and instruction as to the qualifications and duties of church office was held. Then, before the coming Lord’s Day, the members had opportunity to vote. The next week the existing council met to elect those with the most votes. Then they announced these men to the congregation and installed them.10
15 days were given for Reformed congregations to consider who was being called.
ii. But there is a second part to this, that avoids the opposite extreme in leadership. That was that it was a purely democratic human affair of choosing the most appealing charismatic leader.
Context today - ceo - board structure, democratic rep or “yes” men or charismatic leader… Context then: Anabaptists - John of Leiden -not examined according to qualities of Scripture and life for role either pastor, elder or teacher, But claim to direct line to HSp, so don’t need deliberation of Scripture and lead together discerning that; ie marriage of civil government not legitimate dissolved , took 16 best looking wives for himself, dissolved idea of personal and private individual property. . So alongside idea of people selecting leaders, was also the teaching of ordination- that these leaders actually called by God. We read in the case of Matthias being selected: the apostles prayed and asked God, and for that age God’s choice made clear by the lot!
Later we read, as the congregation put forward men for elders: Acts 6:6
These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
And similarly when those leaders in the new churches nominated by the congregation we read, that they were brought before the church, prayed over, and had hands laid upon them in a symbolic gesture of the Holy Spirit equipping and gifting them for service. It worked that way with Paul and Barnabas for missionary service:
Acts 13:3
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
It worked that way for Timothy as elder/pastor: 1 Tim 4:14
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
This is what it means that God himself calls by means of his church. It is why we believe that leadership is both internally God working a desire for an individual to serve in this way, they feel the Holy Spirit equipping them despite all weakness we all have and feel that call. Can’t overlook that desire is an important qualification: 1 Tim 3:1
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
None even the Apostle feel worthy of the ministry, and if you fell unqualified probably actually a good sign that you aren’t shoving yourself forward and actually have the humility to lead. Watch out for people who are over eager to lead -
But at the very same time God says there will be an External call, where God’s people recognize those gifts and say yes this one we will follow ass God leads us! And here it should be very clear that you are not asked to volunteer on your own accord to stand, but that through the Church, God himself doesn’t ask you, but calls you. The church isn’t a human act, but an act of faith, its God’s act, and leadership we follow is to be undertaken with this sense of God’s call, purpose, commission. not a laissez fair, -well just decide what is best to be done.
Solemn first question in our ordination and installation of leaders here - Do you believe that in the call of this congregation God himself is calling you to these offices?
Not just rigamoral of warming-seats each spring, for meetings, but God calling leaders we need to follow into ministry.
And so this practice of wisely desiring and choosing leaders from among us, and ordaining them as God’s servants is a biblical given for the good of the church. Not here to organize or lead by . Sure quite a variety of applications in term of how many, how often, but this simple process to be followed! Many things adapted for good order and our times unique challenges in our setting, but the basics remain clear and simple!
But our confession then moves on from the selection by election and ordination, to the manner in which our leaders must lead.
B. Office Bearers Do Not ‘Lord-Over’ Individually, but Lead with Servant-Leadership Lead as a Plurality
B. Office Bearers Do Not ‘Lord-Over’ Individually, but Lead with Servant-Leadership Lead as a Plurality
This is best seen in our text from 1 Peter 5. Do you see there is only one chief-shepherd and that is the living Jesus, but he doesn't physically appear among us yet, and he has appointed a plurality, a group of under-shepherds and delegates his leading authority equally among them. They all are to have real spiritual authority - but it isn’t their authority, it isn’t in there person - and the purpose of it isn’t for their church - but for the flock of God.
Through elders and deacons and pastor equipping for work of ministry - through their exercising oversight- means like coach - encouraging, means organizing for practice and then game day, it means correcting with gentleness it means seeing the big picture, it means making decisions for the organization.
And do you hear Peter tone - he’s the great apostle, but he says to these elders - 1 Peter 5:1
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:
Look I have no more status in the church assembly than you do as an elder - I partake the glory and minister the blessing here from the same Word of God, and I partake in the suffering of leading Christ’s body into ministry. Like the words of Jesus to church leadership: Mark 10:42-43
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
Equality among all minsters of the word - only authority they hold is ministerial or serving authority. The church is led not by one super-leader humanly speaking, but spiritual oversight and leadership through a plurality of elders, and mercy ministry wise through plurality of deacons. We saw in Acts remember the elders and the apostles gather in a council to hash out what should happen with the Gentile mission - and we read: Acts 15:6
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
Peter and James stand up and they debate much about what God’s Word is directing them, how to apply it, how to move forward in mission. Together as assembly, a deliberative body - with each an equal voice. Even later in the church when started to appoint bishops as kind of more senior lead pastors, each had to have their own congregation, and none had more say or authority. Sure One set up to lead and administer and fill role as president presider of meetings, even as we do. but servants of God’s word. So too in our council, not just most forceful personality, loudest voice, but God’s word leading as each and together we seek to follow chief Shepherd, universal bishop Ea
But lastly we must consider not only the attitude of those who lead, but also those who follow.
C. Godly Leadership is as much a calling as Godly Following
C. Godly Leadership is as much a calling as Godly Following
There are elders, deacons, pastors, who don’t want to do it Jesus style - not undershepherds serving, but cowboys who want to drive the flock, not beside the sheep but behind with cattle prods. Here is my vision, we need to do this - no give your money, start this program, do it. But there are also sheep, who by the way happen to have teeth with a pretty strong bite, who in the culture we live in don’t really want to be part of a flock that undershepherd and the Chief Shepherd actually directs leads, protects and provides for.
I guess if you think of what the leaders of a church are to lead us in - living out our profession of faith, fulfilling our vows to grow in Christ, to walk and serve with Him, and then to band together to really do the work of mercy in our midst but also beyond to the world - there is a much greater pressure in our culture for the church to meet felt needs like entertain me, or provide the kind of nurture for my kids - that we are to be busy to do at home. Instead of sheep truly led and cared for , rather be consumers getting religious services according to our preference.
And if our leadership were to cater to that, rather than really leading, guiding, protecting, knowing and caring , even at times correcting us as sheep - its no wonder that they command very little real respect!
But boy oh boy, if you know someone who with integrity and with example of life - really gave spiritual direction here in his home in the church family , who really showed up in caring for sheep in all stages of life - someone like Wayne Veenstra, like John van Schubert - deep care but also wise leadership - and don’t get me wrong not putting them on a pedestal - that they didn’t have weakness, struggle, and flaws like the rest of us - but listen to 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13a
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
How it works in a family too doesn’t it? Children don’t always agree with the personality, the attitude or mindset of a parent, but a family works when God-ordained properly function authority is followed, not because hey, at the very moment I feel all warms fuzzies in following my parents, but because you know - God’s put them in position to lead and provide in a certain way. Well so too you know your elders and deacons and myself not perfect, and don’t ask for that respect because of who we are or our personality , but because of their work.
I have coached a bit, and I have taught a classroom, and much rides on leadership it is true, but just as much we could say rides on follower-ship. All of us called to lead in some way even if just tiny corner of your house, your bedroom, or your dog, All called to lead ourselves. But it is also true we are all called to follow, to be in submission, come under and along side and join greater mission. And the best leaders are those who are also in the very practice of following. I love the way our charge to elders puts it:
Pray continually for the church Remember at all times that if you would truly give spiritual leadership in the household of faith, you must be completely master by our LORD.
I can’t lead if I am not following and haven't been following. And we as a council given the charge from Jesus to lead the flock - and together we together must as our confession puts it keep Gods holy order from being violated or despised.
The ministry in Guido Day was despised, the church had in a mean and crude way taken over every area of life, and its sticky greedy fingers on everything. Big fights with political realm, but also controlling nature in a ll of life. And guess what - standard spiritually for priests so low -that they were ridiculed and despised. And doing church doing discipleship together ground to a halt.
Can see the same today, where abusive selfish power hungry warped leaders prey on the sheep. Leaders who aren’t following Christ in repentance from all known sin, and being led into service themselves, I can tell you from personal experience if people lose trust in you, ministry together stops, a holy order is violated.
Elders, deacons, pastor - there really is holy work that you are called to among us, can’t take up your office with cavalier, same old same old manner - do our work in this church not lightly, though a sense of humour and joy is essential but never lightly. But reverently, Understand that God expects real leading of God’s people hear, and that those of us elected and called by God to lead like that will give Him an account, we are to steward here! Hebrews 13:17
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.
Real shepherding that Christ would do through us, real administration of of God’s word , and of discipleship and discipline , real offer and applying of the gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation, real work of mercy , real prtextion of whole church.
And congregation as you follow - it can be a hard thing to submit and respect and follow for the sake of the gospel work in us. The devil says do it on your own, don’t need them. Often it is a family member or peer or someone younger or more immature in faith. But listen to God’s word: 1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
Listen to how Paul tells those in Phillipi to welcome a servant of the LORD: Phil 2:29
So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
We live in age where priests and pastors are ranked down there with shark-like lawyers, and ridiculed like Ned Flanders on the Simpsons. Were serving the congregation as an elder or deacon in the past a real dignified service, now looked upon as an insignificant as being a treasurer or board member of some long forgotten voluntary association.
It really is no wonder that like neighbours pastor - leaving or forced out, because there is grumbling, quarreling and fighting. No wonder can’t fill slate , and that infighting and resignations. But if we will see that the way God has chosen to get us growing in His Word get people being saved, the way we'd have us and our children - being baptized, and coming to the table, the way that pastoral care effectively and personally given way that provision in all our times of need and - it is through the work and leadership - that we are to join in. Then we will do what we can for our leaders - pray for them, as musch as it is up to us live a peace and and encourage them.
So many sad stories in the areas of church leadership. Calvin called to city just starting to Reform, many rich libertines, and they hated Calvin, but elected as elders and city counselors, and they had Calvin thrown out. Relief to young Calvin, happiest time of this life in Strasbourg. But friends writing - saying not coming to the Lord’s table, fighting in all the wrong ways, and Calvin’s simple reply in terms of the Supper, in terms of actually following God’s elders - didn he give you them for nothing! If our church can exist without elders without deacons, without pastors, it is a a sign we are not doing God’s ministry of grace and gospel, God’s way. But if we do you know what we are experiencing? Witnessing ongoing fulfilment of Christ’s words in Matthew 16:18b
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
May it be that this work of leading and the usefulness of it for following Jesus, here is not a burden but a joy and blessing from jesus to each one of us. Amen.