Elders Induction

Paul’s suffering… and serenity!

Friends it gives me great pleasure today to induct two more men to the office of elder in the NRPC. Out of the many quality people in this church, people who are mature and godly, people who serve others and have a good and growing understanding of the Scriptures… these two men have been approached and both have put their hands up to be elders in our Lord’s church here in the Nambucca Valley.

And the congregation has affirmed this choice by voting unanimously for both men.

To some people it may appear that these two men now have more status and privileges than other people. After all, they are now rulers in the church.

We remember Mk 10:42-45

Mark 10:42–45 NIV84

42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

So what I’m saying today applies not just to these two men but to all those in Christian leadership. Those who lead youth group; Bible studies; leaders of households and businesses and leaders of other ministries.

So what gets offered when God’s people step into positions of leadership is the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus.

There will be endless opportunity for service and suffering for the sake of others, the opportunity to bear the burden of guilt and sin on behalf of those they lead; the opportunity to be misunderstood and maligned and falsely accused… because we follow King Jesus who was treated like that.

We are not leaders of Fortune 500 company CEO’s or presidents or prime ministers, who rate their leadership by how many serve them.

We are under-shepherds and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered unfairly, for the sake of others and did it willingly and gladly.

Today we are going to look briefly at 2 Tim 1, the last letter written by Paul to be included in the Scriptures.

As Paul writes this letter he is not sitting on a beach in a comfortable chair or in a coffee shop, thinking back over his glorious ministry.

Once again, Paul is languishing in prison in Rome.

He’s awaiting trial.

He says many of his friends have deserted him 2 Tim 4:16 “16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.”

He’s awaiting a trial that he senses that it will not going to go well.

2 Tim 4:6-7 “6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

He longs to see Timothy to be encouraged by him and bring him his cloak and scrolls.

Paul tells us in v3 that he has a clear conscience. He is in prison… but his conscience is clear. He is suffering… but he hasn’t done anything wrong.

That’s kingdom leadership!

Of course suffering is part of the universal lot of humanity.

God’s people suffer because we’re part of a fallen world.

Diseases, accidents and other people can cause us to suffer in many ways… irrespective of how we live.

Sometimes God’s people who suffer because we’ve been stupid or immoral or we refuse to bow the knee to worship and honour and obey Jesus are (God willing) corrected by our suffering.

If we’ve made a stupid, suggestive or lewd comment in public and now relationships are strained and we’re been asked to attend a meeting with someone or offer an apology… and we suffer because we know we’ll be embarrassed, humbled and the meeting will be tense… well… that’s good good suffering that comes from bad choices!

Maybe we’ll be transformed to be a little more like Jesus as we navigate through the whole mess!

But sometimes leaders are called to say something we know won’t be popular as we lead a Bible study or preach on Sunday morning? Or when something comes up and we know someone has to be called to account for gossiping about a church member or flirting with someone of the opposite sex?

Suddenly leaders are suffering because we’ve made good and necessary choices.

It can be pretty hard to stomach graciously and well.

We can easily learn the wrong lesson: Saying the right thing to the right people at the right time can make us suffer… perhaps they’ll see the error of their ways and change… and all without us saying anything.

So today we’re going to see how Paul encourages Timothy to enter into good ministry when (he and we) might be tend towards being too fearful to do what God calls us to do.

A friend and colleague who preached on this had three headings for this passage.

Take it on the chin; chin up chum and not by the hair of my chinny chin, chin!

How to take suffering - v8, On the chin!

The first thing Paul told Timothy was the importance of a clear conscience and a sincere faith.

v6 We’re not making these men leaders today by this induction service.

We are recognising the work of God in them over the years and asking that God give them the spirit of power, love and self-discipline necessary to be effective leaders of God’s people.

Then he says 2 Tim 1:8 “8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,”

Later in this letter he says 2 Tim 3:12 “12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

No one has to look for suffering and go out and find it.

Unjust suffering will find everyone who wants to live a godly life… especially leaders.

What do we do?

Take it on the chin, chum!

Man up. It comes with the territory.

Just live a godly life. And that is the call of Christian leadership. Christian leaders… well just keen Christians don’t choose suffering… they choose to be obedient to God and follow his will and do what is right… even when it means we will suffer.

Any Christian who thinks that because we know God and because we are mixing with God’s people that we won’t suffer need to look again at some of the words of Jesus.

John 15:18–20 NIV84

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Mt 5:10 “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

So take it on the chin.

Cambridge dictionary says taking it on the chin means accepting unpleasant events bravely and without complaint.

You want to follow Jesus closely? Good!

You want to lead God’s people in growing discipleship and increasing holiness. Great!

But you’re going to suffer.

Take it on the chin, chum!

We might say, “Really? Doesn’t sound like much fun! Why would someone even consider a life that won’t just have the suffering that comes from living in a fallen world… will have some suffering from our own sin… AND.. the cherry on the top is we also suffer because we’re serious about God?”

Why would I do that?

Thank you for asking… the apostle sitting in jail with a clear conscience says.

The gospel sustains us in suffering, v9-10, so chin up chum!

Well there are very good reasons why Christians might remain loyal to God and not complain in the face of very unpleasant events.

On the dark cloth of suffering Paul pours a cupful of the most exquisite diamonds that just sit there in pure sparkling splendour!

Look at vv9-10. (Starting with But join with me in suffering… v8).

Lead and suffer for the doing the right thing because God has saved you by the gospel of Jesus!

And he has called us to live a holy life!

Why did he do that? What did I do to deserve that?

Was it my purity that impressed him? My church attendance? The fact that I’m a good person who would rather do you a good turn than a bad turn every day of the week?

No! Not because of anything you have done!

Well why did God do that then?

Because of his own purpose and grace. God saved us because he chose to save us. And when it cost the life of his own dear Son to save us… well he kept going. He made that choice before he made anything. Before God made the empty space in which to make the universe… he made the choice to save his people.

Well, that’s amazing!

How do people learn about that?

Well, v10, it has been revealed through the earthly appearance of our Saviour Jesus.

Really, what did he do?

Well he killed death, and showed us by his bodily resurrection on the third day that indeed human beings don’t have to cram everything into these few short years of this life… life and immortality mean we have forever to enjoy God and life and relationship and satisfaction and fullness and fruitfulness!

So chin up chum!

Miriam-Webster says that means to stay cheerful and hopeful in difficult times.

You think you’re being hard done by because someone is gossiping all around church what an idiot you are for chiding them about gossip? Or for pointing out how your choices are dishonouring Jesus.

Chin up chum!

Through Jesus appearing death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered. You have life, BIG L Life, eternal life in the presence of Jesus on a glorious cleansed earth forever.

Chin up chum!

The Christian’s life direction even while suffering - v11-12, Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin!

And lastly, don’t be moved to one side by the sinfulness of others.

v12-14.

Suffering, sure. But I won’t turn aside. I have a life of honouring my Lord to offer him for the last day.

I will guard the gospel, keep the faith, teach people, work tirelessly for my Lord.

Me… get tired, fizzle out, give up, turn aside.

Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin!

As a young preacher from Zimbabwe so memorably expressed it:

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

I have the Holy Spirit’s power.

The die has been cast.

I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made;

I’m a disciple of His!

I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.…

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

Turn aside, give up, slow down… not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin!

The Leader’s honour and privilege… to suffer for the gospel. Take it on the chin Chin up chum Not by the hair of my chinny, chin, chin!

Status? Privilege? Power? Authority?

Yeah… it does happen, occasionally.

But don’t rely on it… because it will be fleeting.

The crowd that yelled Hosannah, Praise the one who comes in the Name of the Lord to Jesus on the donkey was the crowd that bayed for his blood before Pilate on Good Friday.

Suffering for doing right? Yep, for sure.

Take it on the chin.

But don’t forget.

Through the gospel Jesus killed death and brought Life and immortality to light. You’ve been appointed a herald and teacher.

So chin up, chum.

Turn aside from that holy task?

Not by the hair of your chinny, chin, chin!