Concerning Leaders

Difficult passage to break; also difficult to fully cover in one session

Not a lot of cohesiveness of thought from here to 19

We’re chase one theme at a time

Tonight—the matter of leaders

Next week—regarding Jesus

vv 7&17 form a bracket around the rest of the passage; it will be handled as such

Verse 7

Commentary on leaders; quite likely (from the context) those who had passed already

Remember

Consider

Imitate

Remember—the action of keeping something in mind; mnemonic devices

Image of something being held in front of you and burned into your brain

Leaders---those set over the church, not a matter of political or social leaders

…we could go to Romans 13 and find that

These leaders spoke to them the Word of God; the Apostles and early preachers, teachers, evangelists are in view here

Consider—their lives did not always end well, by human standards, allusion to ch. 11, hall of faith;

Imitate—The faith that took them through much, often to their graves, but on to a glorious reward

The Faith of those Leaders

Always in Christ—who is the one thing constant in that day and time…and yet today

If those leaders were to be remembered and honored, what about the current leaders

We translate this into today’s culture as pastors, elders, deacons

Verse 17

Advice to the sheep:

Obey

Submit

Advice to the shepherd

…are keeping watch over their souls

....will have to give an account

…must work joyfully, without groaning