End week 19 begin week 20 – still on topic of elders/leaders/pastors

Recap –

  • Elders/overseers/bishop/pastor – synonymous terms
  • The other is deacon
  • Elders are appointed by godly leaders, not voted in
  • This is the example in acts and the pastoral epistles
  • Their task is to focus on building up the church
  • Spiritual priorities trump physical ones
  • Servants – its not about you!
  • Pride has NO place
  • An arrogant leader is NOT spiritual
  • The mentality of leadership is to understand their authority but only use it in service of others
  • They have authority
  • Limited – in spectrum (it is to equip not direct)
  • Teaching in particular
  • Limited – in scope (the flock among you)

1 Peter 5:1–2 (NKJV)

1The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

2Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,

  • Not by compulsion
  • Being forced… because I have to
  • What starts as a passion becomes a commitment
  • This, is, not, ok
  • My expectations weren’t met
  • I had parts of my job I didn’t like
  • wow
  • I didn’t start a revival
  • Willingly
  • Not against my will but with it
  • Also means “purposely”
  • We must not lose the purpose, as happens when we serve by compulsion
  • Also means “voluntarily”
  • Deborah’s song - Judges 5:2 (NKJV) 2“When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!
  • Do I drag my feet to the tasks of my ministry?
  • Do it willingly
  • The heart…
  • It’s NOT “only do what you feel you desire to do”
  • God wouldn’t call you to a ministry you don’t like
  • Really?
  • Have you read Jonah?
  • Paul seems called to Gentiles but would prefer to reach Jews
  • If you follow your heart into ministry you will eventually follow your heart right back OUT
  • Don’t dream about the ministry that would be best for you
  • Just teaching, then nothing, then teaching, then nothing
  • NO!
  • SERVE the body, minister to the needs of the flock
  • What if I’m doing it by compulsion
  • It doesn’t mean you quit!!!
  • My goodness!!!
  • Why do leaders always want to quit?
  • Did you come to serve or be served?
  • Start doing it willingly
  • Heart surgery
  • It’s a choice

not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

  • Money -
  • Is it right to pay elders
  • Yes
  • 1 Timothy 5:17–20 (NKJV) 17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
  • Context indicates that this “honor” is in the form of material pay
  • Galatians 6:6 (NKJV) 6Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
  • Give where you are fed
  • How far do we take this?
  • 1 Corinthians 9:3–18 (NKJV) 3My defense to those who examine me is this: 4Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
  • Paul served for free… for ministry reasons
  • Can the local church afford it?
  • Is there a need?
  • Is there a good reason not to?
  • That being said
  • We must guard ourselves
  • “you can not serve two masters”
  • Do you want to do ministry or make a living doing ministry?
  • There’s a difference
  • I’m going to do it either way!
  • It often starts about ministry and ends about money
  • We can’t approach ministry the way we approach other jobs
  • I may be convinced by money to do a job I would otherwise never do
  • I can’t serve in ministry as a spiritual leader (janitor is fine) FOR money
  • That’s dishonest
  • hireling
  • I’m not here to care for and tend the sheep, I’m here for the fleece
  • Jesus talked about it
  • John 10:11–13 (NKJV) 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
  • I don’t think that ministry is a path to wealth
  • Nor should the pastor be asked to be in poverty
  • Don’t do it FOR money
  • Hireling
  • Wrong motive, wrong ministry
  • Would you do it for free?
  • Guard your heart

3nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,

  • You are not Jesus
  • He is Lord
  • How we respond to challenges, whispering, lies… this is big
  • We should love
  • Pastor – “loyalty”
  • Wrong!
  • This is a trap
  • Taking praise personal
  • Taking hurt personal
  • Servants don’t take things personally.
  • Not a martyr syndrome
  • Leaders have limited authority
  • Leaders ought to consider those limits when dealing with others
  • Sometimes people want me to be lord
  • I refuse
  • I’m not God’s magic 8 ball
  • I’m not the voice of God
  • I will seek wisdom but not lordship
  • I’ve been put in this spot…
  • Tell me what to do?
  • Don’t assume they will have that answer
  • God CAN do this, but don’t assume it
  • And then put it all on them
  • Why go to them?
  • For help with applying the Bible
  • Biblical principles
  • So, don’t filter the story

but being examples to the flock;

  • Lead by … example
  • 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) 1Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
  • Character is MORE important than skill
  • Read the quals for elders
  • 1 Timothy 3:1–7 (NKJV) 1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
  • Skill: able to teach, rules his own house well
  • Character: everything else
  • Examples
  • 1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV) Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
  • Take heed
  • Focus more on your living than on your presentation
  • More on substance than on appearance
  • A big train can take a while to slow down
  • A sink hole takes years to form but only moments to cave in
  • Every man that falls is a warning to us all
  • 1 Timothy 5:19–20 (NKJV) 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

4and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

  • Jesus is the Chief Shepherd
  • We are under Him, we are not Him
  • We have a ministry that is wow
  • THEN you will receive
  • Don’t try to get your tank filled
  • Jesus brings your reward with Him
  • We are always to serve for THAT crown
  • Not the crowns of men
  • Praise to us or thanks or admiration
  • Those who get into it for praise from people get a crazy shock.
  • Their praise isn’t enough
  • And it twists the ministry